Comments for Robert Tisserand http://roberttisserand.com essential information Sat, 18 May 2013 16:20:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Therapeutic grade oils – read all about it! by robert http://roberttisserand.com/2010/04/therapeutic-grade-oils-read-all-about-it/comment-page-2/#comment-13234 robert Sat, 18 May 2013 16:20:39 +0000 http://roberttisserand.com/?p=1404#comment-13234 Amy, organic crops may be contaminated by pesticides from nearby farms, but 100% organic is not impossible, and contamination is the exception. Distillation probably does reduce the proportion of a biocide, but most of them do carry over and will be present in the corresponding essential oil, usually in the 1-10 ppm range. You will get very much more biocide into your body by eating non-organic foods than you ever could from a few drops of essential oil containing 2 ppm of a biocide. Getting back to your question, most certified organic essential oils are biocide-free, but some may contain biocides, and the only way to be sure is to analyze the oils. The presence of a biocide would be regarded as a contaminant, not an adulterant. (An adulterant is a substance intentionally added for profit reasons.) The bottom line is that a certified organic oil is, on average, very much lower in biocide contamination than one that is not certified. Having said that, some oils are biocide-free but are not certified. You might find this website helpful: http://www.ifoam.org/about_ifoam/standards/index.html Amy, organic crops may be contaminated by pesticides from nearby farms, but 100% organic is not impossible, and contamination is the exception. Distillation probably does reduce the proportion of a biocide, but most of them do carry over and will be present in the corresponding essential oil, usually in the 1-10 ppm range. You will get very much more biocide into your body by eating non-organic foods than you ever could from a few drops of essential oil containing 2 ppm of a biocide. Getting back to your question, most certified organic essential oils are biocide-free, but some may contain biocides, and the only way to be sure is to analyze the oils. The presence of a biocide would be regarded as a contaminant, not an adulterant. (An adulterant is a substance intentionally added for profit reasons.) The bottom line is that a certified organic oil is, on average, very much lower in biocide contamination than one that is not certified. Having said that, some oils are biocide-free but are not certified. You might find this website helpful: http://www.ifoam.org/about_ifoam/standards/index.html

]]> Comment on Therapeutic grade oils – read all about it! by Amy http://roberttisserand.com/2010/04/therapeutic-grade-oils-read-all-about-it/comment-page-2/#comment-13231 Amy Fri, 17 May 2013 15:48:58 +0000 http://roberttisserand.com/?p=1404#comment-13231 Thank you so much for the objective, thorough information! I have some questions about "organic certification". My understanding, with plants or foods that are produced organically, is that 100% organic is impossible because of cross contamination. So in the case of EO's is organic less important because any chemical (ie pesticides, herbicides) that is not part of the oil is removed in the distillation process, or it is considered adulterated? For example, a company might state their oils are "certifiably organic" but they could still be contaminated because this certification allows a small percentage of contaminants. Any clarification would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much for the objective, thorough information! I have some questions about “organic certification”. My understanding, with plants or foods that are produced organically, is that 100% organic is impossible because of cross contamination. So in the case of EO’s is organic less important because any chemical (ie pesticides, herbicides) that is not part of the oil is removed in the distillation process, or it is considered adulterated? For example, a company might state their oils are “certifiably organic” but they could still be contaminated because this certification allows a small percentage of contaminants. Any clarification would be greatly appreciated!

]]> Comment on Lavender oil is not estrogenic by robert http://roberttisserand.com/2013/02/lavender-oil-is-not-estrogenic/comment-page-1/#comment-12859 robert Mon, 06 May 2013 22:54:36 +0000 http://roberttisserand.com/?p=4521#comment-12859 Hi Don, I'm not sure why you say that the uterotrophic assay could not detect the potential to stimulate the release of estrogen. Surely it picks up on any estrogenic action, direct or indirect. I agree, the report does not completely vindicate lavender oil (which I do say in my post) but it makes the probability of an estrogenic action extremely remote. Hi Don, I’m not sure why you say that the uterotrophic assay could not detect the potential to stimulate the release of estrogen. Surely it picks up on any estrogenic action, direct or indirect. I agree, the report does not completely vindicate lavender oil (which I do say in my post) but it makes the probability of an estrogenic action extremely remote.

]]> Comment on Can essential oils raise blood pressure? by robert http://roberttisserand.com/2010/08/can-essential-oils-raise-blood-pressure/comment-page-1/#comment-12858 robert Mon, 06 May 2013 22:48:35 +0000 http://roberttisserand.com/?p=1788#comment-12858 Hi Naomie, and thank you for your contribution. I have given chemotypes when they are mentioned - which is rarely! But we can safely assume that the thyme referred to by Valnet, and used on dogs etc, is the thymol chemotype. This was mostly in the 1940s, and would not be ethical now, at least not in the West. I'm interested only in evidence - do you have any? Hi Naomie, and thank you for your contribution. I have given chemotypes when they are mentioned – which is rarely! But we can safely assume that the thyme referred to by Valnet, and used on dogs etc, is the thymol chemotype. This was mostly in the 1940s, and would not be ethical now, at least not in the West.

I’m interested only in evidence – do you have any?

]]> Comment on Can essential oils raise blood pressure? by Naomie Poran http://roberttisserand.com/2010/08/can-essential-oils-raise-blood-pressure/comment-page-1/#comment-12803 Naomie Poran Sun, 05 May 2013 12:21:12 +0000 http://roberttisserand.com/?p=1788#comment-12803 Dear Robert, How are you? Glad to access your website and happy to see the distinguished aromatherapists that visit and contribute to it! First, we have to start referring to oils in terms of their chemotypes (as well as other variables). Just using the generic term "rosemary" or "thyme" can be misleading and spread misinformation. I am saddened by experiments done on dogs with iv injections of essential oils - it goes counter to what we stand for as holistic aromatherapists. By now, since you came out with "The Art of Aromatherapy" we, aromatherapists all over the world have amassed enough experience to know how oils interact with human physiology - it would be nice if someone would come forth to compile a compendium of such information. In my experience most Rosemary chemotypes except for Rosemary verbenone do increase blood pressure as do oils from the cinnamon family and quite a few other known "stimulating" oils. Often the elevation is only temporary but those with high bp should use discernment and increased dilution. Dear Robert,
How are you? Glad to access your website and happy to see the distinguished aromatherapists that visit and contribute to it! First, we have to start referring to oils in terms of their chemotypes (as well as other variables). Just using the generic term “rosemary” or “thyme” can be misleading and spread misinformation. I am saddened by experiments done on dogs with iv injections of essential oils – it goes counter to what we stand for as holistic aromatherapists. By now, since you came out with “The Art of Aromatherapy” we, aromatherapists all over the world have amassed enough experience to know how oils interact with human physiology – it would be nice if someone would come forth to compile a compendium of such information. In my experience most Rosemary chemotypes except for Rosemary verbenone do increase blood pressure as do oils from the cinnamon family and quite a few other known “stimulating” oils. Often the elevation is only temporary but those with high bp should use discernment and increased dilution.

]]> Comment on Rosemary boosts brain power! by Matt Politics http://roberttisserand.com/2012/03/rosemary-boosts-brain-power/comment-page-1/#comment-12752 Matt Politics Sat, 04 May 2013 01:23:35 +0000 http://roberttisserand.com/?p=3826#comment-12752 Being content isn't necessarily a good thing... you can be happy but not content meaning that you'll be motivated to keep trying to improve your life. Being content isn’t necessarily a good thing… you can be happy but not content meaning that you’ll be motivated to keep trying to improve your life.

]]> Comment on Lavender oil is not estrogenic by Don http://roberttisserand.com/2013/02/lavender-oil-is-not-estrogenic/comment-page-1/#comment-12729 Don Fri, 03 May 2013 17:06:32 +0000 http://roberttisserand.com/?p=4521#comment-12729 The assay will detect direct estrogenic effects but would not be able to detect the potential to stimulate the release of estrogen in the body. The initial report suggested a link and it may be flawed but the above mentioned doesn't completely vindicate Lavender oil. The assay will detect direct estrogenic effects but would not be able to detect the potential to stimulate the release of estrogen in the body. The initial report suggested a link and it may be flawed but the above mentioned doesn’t completely vindicate Lavender oil.

]]> Comment on Florian Birkmayer: aromatherapists & psychiatrist by robert http://roberttisserand.com/2013/04/florian-birkmayer-aromatherapists-psychiatrist/comment-page-1/#comment-12513 robert Sat, 27 Apr 2013 18:11:22 +0000 http://roberttisserand.com/?p=4676#comment-12513 Lisa, what other smells or chemicals does your son find nauseating? Cigarette smoke, perfumes, cleaning products, paints... Lisa, what other smells or chemicals does your son find nauseating? Cigarette smoke, perfumes, cleaning products, paints…

]]> Comment on Florian Birkmayer: aromatherapists & psychiatrist by Lisa http://roberttisserand.com/2013/04/florian-birkmayer-aromatherapists-psychiatrist/comment-page-1/#comment-12495 Lisa Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:11:38 +0000 http://roberttisserand.com/?p=4676#comment-12495 Could you possibly tell me why my 15 yr old son would feel sick from the smells of good oils. He really doesn't like them Could you possibly tell me why my 15 yr old son would feel sick from the smells of good oils. He really doesn’t like them

]]> Comment on Interaction with SSRI medication? by robert http://roberttisserand.com/2012/03/interaction-with-ssri-medication/comment-page-1/#comment-12492 robert Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:55:19 +0000 http://roberttisserand.com/?p=3739#comment-12492 Ingrid - it's not impossible, but has not been tested. Ingrid – it’s not impossible, but has not been tested.

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