Carrier Oils act as a medium for essential oils which are very concentrated and are blended into the carrier oil in low dilutions ( 3% ). This means that you will add a maximum of three drops essential oil per teaspoon carrier oil.

Carrier oils are usually extracted from seeds and fruit and are called fixed oils because they are not volatile. The chemical structure of vegetable oils is such that it is easily absorbed through the skin and also has therapeutic properties of its own.

While the vitamins and minerals of the different carrier oils have a role to play,it is the concentration of essential fatty acids,the presence of anti-oxidants and natural tocopherol (Vit.E ), that determine the ultimate benefit the carrier oils offer. EFA s are free radical scavengers and can protect the skin from pollution and sun and wind damage. Carrier oils containing Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA ) are important for healthy cell functioning and regeneration of skin cells. Carrier oils containing Vit.E promote soft and supple skin and act as a natural preservative.

Invest in quality, cold-pressed organic oils and store in dark glass bottles in a cool place. Create your blends in small quantities as exposure to light and oxygen over a period of time may turn the carrier oil rancid. Choose your carrier oils for the specific purpose you need it for,be it massage oil, bath oil, skin oil or barrier cream. Those with sensitive skin, should always do a test patch and people with a severe reaction to nuts should rather not use nut oils.

Almond Oil(Prunis Amygdalis var. dulcis)

Has been popular through the ages for use in face and hand creams. It can be used for all skin types and its concentration of oleic and linoleic essential fatty acids makes it a great moisturiser,soothing to itchy and inflamed skin,and a good lubricant and conditioner for the skin. It is used extensively on its own as a massage oil because of its light and non greasy nature.

Apricot Kernel Oil (Prunis Armenica)

Contains useful levels of EFA s, has a light texture for easy absorption and blended with other oils such as almond and sesame, offers enriching and nourishing properties for dry , damaged skin.

Avocado Oil (Persea Americana )

Traditionally used as a beauty oil by women in Mexico, avocado oil is rich in proteins and Vitamins A,B,D.,and contains anti-oxidants which gives it a long shelf life. Cold pressed, the oil is thick and viscous and is better used as addition to another carrier oil. Avocado oil is good for dehydrated skin and has the ability to penetrate into the deeper layers of skin. It also act as a natural sunscreen.

Grapeseed Oil (Vitus vinifora)

Grapeseed oil is popular as a massage oil as it has a light texture with good lubricant quality and is an odourless carrier for essential oils. It contains some Vit. E ,minerals and vitamins. Critcism against grapeseed oil is that it is obtained by hot extraction methods or solvents and is thus not as “wholesome” as cold pressed oils.

Olive oil( Olea europa )

Olive oil has been extensively used since ancient times,as food as well as massage oil.Olive oil has a high concentration of anti-oxidants as well as chlorophyll and carotenoids.This makes olive oil good to assist cell regeneration,to stimulate and nourish the skin,as well as softening and preserving the skin. Olive oil has an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory action due to its polyphenol content. Olive oil is used as a base for ointments, but blended with other oils for use as a massage oil.

Sesame Oil (Sesasum indicum )

Sesame oil is a clear pale yellow oil ,rich in minerals and vitamins and have a high Vit. E content. A natural moisteriser,it nourishes and detoxify the deeper tissue layers. A natural sunscreen ,it is also good for sensitive skins and has antiseptic properties. A good carrier oil to use on its own or as part of a blend.

The above carrier oils are readily available from health shops to offer their unique qualities to your skin and massage oil blends. Some specialized carrier oils are available to use in small quantities to enhance your blends even more.

Specialized Carrier Oils.

Evening Primrose (Oenorthera biennis )

Evening Primrose Oil is well known for its health benefits and are taken via capsules internally. As a carrier oil, it is used in small quantities in a blend where it acts as a preservative to the base oil,as well as bringing its unique qualities to the blend.The high GLA content of evening primrose oil moisturises and nourishes the skin,counter-acting premature aging. It has a beneficial effect on skin conditions such as eczema,psoriasis and dermatitis.

Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia Chinenses )

Extracted from the beans of this desert scrub, jojoba oil is a waxy substance,akin to sebum, making it an excellent lubricant, beneficial to all skin types. A natural sunscreen, jojoba oil is easily absorbed into the deeper layers of skin, is softening, moisture retaining and protective to the skin. Add to other carrier oils.

Rosehip Seed Oil ( Rosa mosqueta )

A wonder oil derived from the seeds within the rose hips,it is high in essential fatty acids, GLA and Vit. C. Research has found rosehip oil excellent for the healing and regeneration of damaged tissue. Rose hip oil has been used to treat burns, scars, ulceration of the skin,and radiation burns. Rose hip oil used as a night oil,is good for dry and aging skin. Blend in any dilution with carrier oils.

Wheatgerm Oil (Triticum vulgare )

A natural oil with a high Vit. E content, wheatgerm oil is used at a 10% dilution in other carrier oils for its anti-oxidant properties to increase shelf life. Wheatgerm oil will benefit dry or mature skin. Buy wheatgerm oil in small quantities and keep refrigerated.

A good quality vegetable , seed or nut carrier oil will enhance your skin as well as offer a wholesome medium for your chosen essential oils. Creating your own personalized blends is a satisfying process and good for body ,mind and soul.

The inflammatory response is the body’s second line of defense if the mechanical(skin) and chemical(sebum, mucus, hydrochloric acid) barriers of the immune system are broken or overcome. The four cardinal signs of inflammatory response are:

1. redness

2. heat

3. swelling

4.pain

There are however, two very different perspectives as to how and why the inflammatory response comes about, much of which are based on the works of two very different men, Louis Pasteur and Antoine Bechamp.

Allopathic perspective – Louis Pasteur:

First we will explore inflammation from the perspective of the allopathic school of thought who base much of their thinking on the work of Louis Pasteur (even though it later emerged that much of ‘his’ work was not in fact, his own). Pasteur formulated the famous Germ Theory. In this he stated that the causes of disease were: 1. Every disease has specific germs (bacteria) specific to that disease.

2. Health= the absence of disease-causing micro- organisms.

3. If the micro-organisms which cause disease were destroyed, then there would be no disease. According to Pasteur bacteria were introduced int the body and would cause disease which would then be ‘fought’ by the ‘warriors’ of the immune system, the white blood cells (leukocytes). This fits with the allopathic perspective of the inflammatory response, which is as follows:

1. Injury occurs (or pathogen is detected), there is a brief constriction of the surrounding blood vessels which then almost immediately dilate and blood flow increases.

2. Injured tissue releases chemicals like histamine, serotonin and kinins ( a group of chemically related compounds). These chemicals cause vasodilation and increased permeability in blood vessels which allows components, which would normally be retained in the blood, to leak out into the tissue spaces.

3.Diapedesis takes place, this is when white blood cells move to the area of infection or injury then migrate to the wall of the blood vessel and within minutes pass through into the interstitial spaces near the injury, a process known as chemotaxis, this happens because of the attractive force produced by the release of kinins and other chemicals.

4. Injured tissue also releases leukocytosis-promoting factor (LP). When leukocytes and tissue debris accumulate at the focal point of the infection, pus may be formed and an abscess or cavity formed by the disintegration of tissues may fill with pus and surgical drainage may be needed.

5. Increased blood vessel permeability, increased blood flow and the migration and accumulation of white blood cells all contribute to the formation of Inflammatory Exudate. This accumulates in the interstitial spaces of the area of injury and causes edema or swelling and pain.

Inflammatory exudate contains white blood cells, tissue debris and ‘leaked’ substances, one of which is a soluble protein which is converted into fibrin in the interstitial spaces. Fibrin formation results in a clot developing which helps to seal of the injured area and lessen the spread of bacteria or other infectious material.

It now becomes apparent that:

redness - caused by increased blood flow and pooling of blood after an injury.

heat - largely because of increased blood flow to area of injury.

swelling – because of edema and the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the interstitial spaces.

pain – caused by the release of kinins (especially bradykinin) and other chemicals which are released following tissue injury and cellular death.

Pathogenic perspective – Antoine Bechamp:

The pathogenic perspective on the inflammatory response is mostly based on the work of Antoine Bechamp. Through years of work and experiments Bechamp came to the following conclusions:

1. Through his experiments re: fermentation he discovered ‘little bodies’, later renamed microzymes.

2. He deduced microzymes to be the smallest independent living organisms.

3. He demonstrated that microzymes naturally change into bacteria when given the right environment (when in a medium of alcohol, the waste product of cellular respiration), even after the death of an organic life-form.

4. Concluded that bacteria can only come alive if the pre-existing organic material had died.

5.Bechamps main conclusion was that bacteria is the result of disease, not the cause, thus directly opposing Pasteurs’ Germ Theory.

According to the pathogenic perspective leukocytes (white blood cells) are in fact particles of pathogenic matter which have been condensed into globular bodies which resemble cells. This happens in the lymph nodes of the lymph glands and the trabeculae of the spleen (this explains why when we are ill our glands often become swollen).

The pathogenic perspective of the inflammatory response is as follows:

1. Lowered vitality and resistance or some kind of invasion or obstruction by foreign matter causes the accumulation of pathogen in the circulation which makes blood more thick and causes congestion of blood in the affected area.

2. Because of the obstruction caused by the build-up of pathogenic material in the blood vessel it prevents the blood from flowing freely, causing it to surge back and gradually distend the blood vessels from the capillaries onwards.(redness and heat)

3. This distension of blood vessels causes the leukocytes (pathogenic matter) to be ‘pushed’ through into the interstitial spaces (not migration and chemotaxis as in the allopathic perspective ). ( swelling and pain)

4. Here the leukocytes engage in ‘battle’ with the bacteria and under the proteolytic action of the bacteria they disintegrate into pus.

5. These decomposed leukocytes form the food for the development of microzymes into bacteria which in turn destruct the leukocytes and so forth.

Conclusion on the two perspectives on inflammation:

The two perspectives are mainly opposed as to the origin of bacteria and cause of disease. The allopathic perspective states that bacteria cause disease whereas the pathogenic perspective subscribes to the view that disease is the cause, thus bacteria is the result of disease, not the cause. I myself like to believe that we have a responsible stake in our own health and thus subscribe to the pathogenic perspective, according to which health can be achieved by creating the right environment on all levels, physical, emotional, environmental etc. as opposed to health being merely a result of outside influences.