The practice of using essential oils as medicines, rather than for just their aromas, is becoming more popular in the United States. The main reasons are simple: first, we are becoming increasingly disenchanted with our current health care establishment. The costs are outrageous, while the pharmaceutical and insurance industries are bleeding the system dry. On the other hand the value of "traditional" medicine, utilizing organic remedies, is becoming more apparent. Scientific investigation regularly supports the efficacy of herbs and other natural cures.

The amount of research on the medicinal uses of pure essential oils has been significant in recent years. The very same oils used in "aromatherapy" have been documented to possess potent antiviral, antibacterial and anti-fungal action. Probably most exciting is the emergence of data showing profound anticancer and anti-tumor activities of several essential oils. A recent look up of Pub Med, the National Institute of Health's online research database, produced over four hundred search results each for the particular phrases "essential oil cancer" as well as "essential oil tumor"'. Here is a sampling of these results.

The conclusion of a research in the March 2009 Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine observed that frankincense essential oil breaks down cancerous cells, and appears to distinguish between cancerous from normal cells. The study also outlines that frankincense oil might symbolize an alternative agent for cancer treatment. This is very promising in that this oil is easily obtained, affordable, non-toxic natural compound can eradicate cancer cells without hurting normal, healthy cells in the same body organ.

Lemongrass, right after frankincense, is the next most commonly researched essential oil for anticancer activity. In research published in the May 2009 journal of Chemico-Biological Interactions, scientists tested essential oil of lemongrass against twelve human cancer cell lines. Colon as well as neuron cancer cell lines were found most susceptible to the essential oil. The study pointed out that lemongrass essential oil induces natural cell death of cancer cells, a process which is inherently dysfunctional in cancer cells.

"Linalool" is actually a molecule naturally found in a variety of essential oils. Essential oils are naturally made up of many individual chemical constituents, and linalool is a sweet, relaxing aromatic molecule found in many floral and medicinal spice essential oils. Linalool itself, separated out of the essential oil of coriander (Cilantro seeds) was the subject of research made public in the June 2009 issue of the journal of Chemico-Biological interactions. Linalool was found to completely eradicate a type of liver cancer in really low concentrations. This interested revelation indicates that a great many essential oils might have anticancer activity, far more than is currently considered.

Skin cancer is a major concern for many people, and a series of studies have shown sandalwood to be effective at preventing tumor development. "Santolols" are substances found naturally in all sandalwood oils, which has anti-anxiety and relaxation enhancing activity. Research indicates a significant reduction in the development of skin cancers if skin is pre-treated with sandalwood oil prior to exposure to carcinogens and UVB light rays. Formulas including sandalwood could clearly make an excellent combination with a pre-sun body or facial care formula.

So, like many plant medicines, essential oils perform on a number of levels for many disorders, with cancer being one of them. The overall picture is very bright for the utilization of essential oils in cancer treatment, and further investigation is certainly needed by the scientific and medical communities for the progression of effective medical protocols for this profoundly life-altering condition.

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