ETHER – antispasmodic
Ethers are very powerful spasmolytic components, they clear the intestinal tract, relax the digestive system and soothe the nervous system overall. These molecules are not very soluble in water
Therapeutic properties:
- Analgesic, anti-spasmodic, anti-infectious (law of all or nothing) more narrow spectre of action
- A specialist of the digestive system
- Antihistaminic, analgesic and antiviral (for example against viruses relating to nervous troubles – poliomyelitis, auto-immune pathologies. Also effective against the hepatitis virus, yellow fever)
Dangers and counter-indications:
None in normal doses; beyond, stupefying and toxic
Toxicity: irritating for the skin. It should be diluted to 50 % maximum in a good quality VO.
Examples of ethers: Safrole (analgesic), myristicin (doping, stupefying), carvacrol methyl-ether, chavicol methyl-ether (estragole), eugenol methyl ether, thymol methyl-ether, apiole, elemicin
Some EO containing ethers:
Main phenol methyl ethers:
– Chavicol ME or estragol; EO Basil, Tarragon,
– Trans anethole. EO green Aniseed (95%) et star Aniseed. Fennel
– Eugenol. EO cloves. Cinnamon
– Eugenol ME. EO noble Laurel
Main ether oxides:
– Myristicin. EO Nutmege and parsley.
ESTERS – anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory
Ends in -ate
ester = acid + alcohol
Psychological action: re-balancing of the nervous system (feeling good oils)
Physical action: anti-spasmodic
Esters are much less soluble in water than acids
Therapeutic properties:
- Powerful anti-spasmodic, spasmolytic
- anti-inflammatory close to that of aldehydes but not irritating like these
- relaxing qualities, calming, sedative and re-balancing
- analgesic et anxiolytic. They balance the cardiac rhythm, are hypotensive, and even fungicides
Dangers and counter-indications: none with perhaps the exception of methyl salicylates that can irritate the skin (do not apply undiluted).
Examples: linalyl acetate (the most commonly found), eugenyl acetate, myrtlenyl acetate, linalyl acetate, neryl acetate, terpenyl acetate, bornyl acetate, propionates, butyrates, methacrylates, isobutyle angelate (the most powerful), benzoate of benzyl, methyl salicylate (like aspirine!),
Some EO containing esters: noble chamomile – Cardamom – black spruce – wintergreen – Geranium – Italian Helichrysum – noble laurel – true lavender – hybrid lavender – Neroli – Palmarosa – Petit grain – Rose from Damascus – clary sage – lemon verbena – Ylang-Ylang