Aroma Pets

Vegetable and Herbal Oils

Essential oils usually need to be diluted before use. For this we most commonly use vegetable and herbal oils, which is why they are called carrier of base oils. Vegetable oils are mostly extracted from the nuts, seeds, or kernels of plants. Some of them, such as hemp or neem, are therapeutic in their own right. Other have little or no inherent fragrance or therapeutic action and make  a perfect, neutral carrier oil for essential oils, especially for emotional ? behavioral problems. If you have only one vegetable oil in your kit, opt for cold-pressed or jojoba.

Herbal oil, also known as macerated or infused oils, is made by soaking herbs in a cold -pressed vegetable oil, such as sunflower. Lipid (fat) soluble molecules are drawn out of the plant into the oil. These herbal oils are true aromatic extracts with powerful healing qualities.

Because essential oils don't contain the heavier lipid-soluble molecules, diluting them in macerated herbal oils is like putting the plant back together. This creates a unique healing synergy. Herbal oils can also be used without essential oils in the long term care and conditions such as arthritis, or for wound care. Some vegetable oils, for example hemp or coconut, are good food supplements.

Good quality vegetable oils are not heated at any point in the production process, so always use traditional cold-pressed oil. Since pesticides and other chemical residues are easily carried over in the extraction process, choose organic whenever possible. Do not use the highly processed vegetable oils you find in supermarkets. Macerated oils should be made  using cold-pressed oils and pesticide free herbs.

Reference: The Aromatic Dog: Nayana Morag