This page is contains my notes on essential oils.
The production methods required mean that they did not feature heavily in classical Chinese medicine but modern practitioners have been using them as massage oils, scents, or applied with a dropper to stimulate points.
The use of scents religious ceremony and the process by which the "essence" of a plant is extracted, mean that essential oils are seen as resonating with the Jing and the Shen. The compound term Jingshen 精神 refers to the spirit, consciousness or mind, so they are often used in deeper treatments of the Divergent Meridans and Extraordinary Vessels, although some are also used superfically to relieve aching muscles and release Exterior pathogens.
Methods such as concentration and composition vary between practitioners. Applied to points the blends can be quite strong (3% and occasionally more) and use few oils of similar notes depending on intention; in massage oil it must be more dilute (2%, or 1% on the face) and usually has a wider range of notes. 1% = approx 9 drops in 30ml of carrier. Top notes are seen as stimulating the Wei, middle as affecting the Ying and base notes as resonating with Yuan levels of Qi and selected accordingly.
Trachyspermum
Ocimum Basilicum
Cinnamomum Camphora
Syzyggium aromaticum
Eucalyptus globulus
Citrus paradisi
Cymbopogon citratus
Leptospermum scoparium
Rosmarinus officinalis
Picea spp.
Origanum majorana
Pimpinella anisum / Illicium verum
Ocimum Basilicum
Betula lenta
Piper nigrum
Carum carvi
Elettaria caramomum
Cinnamomum verum
Eucalyptus globulus
Bulbus Allii sativi
Zingiber officinale
Juniperus communis
Leptospermum scoparium
Listea cubeba
Origanum vulgare
Pinus sylvestris
Rosmarinus officinalis
Picea spp.
Origanum majorana
Thymus vulgaris
Gaultheria procumbens
Angelica archangelica
Myroxylon balsamum var. pererira
Benzoinum
Capsicum spp.
Cinnamomum verum
Zingiber officinale
Commiphora myrrha
Pogostemon cablin
Sassafras albidum
Curcuma longa
Valeriana officinalis seu jatamansi
Laurus nobilis
Citrus bergamia
Pelagonium spp.
Citrus paradisi
Laurus nobilis
Citrus bergamia
Citrus aurantium
Cymbopogon nerdus seu winterianus
Lavendula angustifola
Fructus Citri limon
Eucalyptus Citridoria
Aloysia triphylla / Lippia citriodora
Citrus limetta seu aurantifolia
Citrus reticulata
Cymbopogon martinii
Mentha x piperita
Citrus aurantium
Mentha spicata
Citrus sinensis
Achillea millefolium
Melaleuca leucadendron var. cajeputi
Daucum carota
Salvia sclarea
Matricaria recutita
Cinnamomum camphora
Lavandula x hybrida
Lavendula angustifola
Melissa officinalis
Citrus aurantium
Mentha x piperita
Citrus aurantium
Anthemis nobilis
Abies Sibirica
Mentha spicata
Melaleuca alternifolia
Cananga ororata
Cedrus atlantica
Cortex Cupressi sempervirens
Helichrysum angustifolium
Olibanum
Inula graveolans
Jasminum grandiflorum
Citrus aurantium
Santalum album seu spicatum
Nardostachys chinensis seu jatamansi
Vetiveria zizanioides
Juniperus virginiana
Cananga ororata
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted. Actions and indications are taken from traditional uses and do not necessarily reflect the evidence base which should be researched independently.
