Q&A - What are essential oils? How do they work? How do I use essential oils?

Q. What are essential oils?

Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts.

Obtained through steam distillation or cold pressing plant material (flowers, bark, fruits, leaves, etc.).

 

Q. What is Aromatherapy? 

Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of plant extracts to support immunity, healing, hormone balance, relaxation and hygiene — a practice dating back to circa 3,000 BCE, when aromatic plants were used for everything from ritual healing to plague prevention.

 

Q. What do I do with the essential oils?

• Inhale it directly from the bottle.
• Put a few drops on tissue and place tissue in pocket (or down bra). Heat from your body releases the aroma and benefits.
• Use an electric diffuser or vaporiser.
• Apply diluted in a carrier oil to your skin.

 

Q. How do they work?

It's complicated—just like it’s complicated how Panadol works, how anaesthetics work, how nicotine patches work or how morphine works. But we know they work.

Dolphin Clinic has been supplying the New Zealand public for over 30 years, we have seen first hand that they work, we have repeat customers who have been using our oils for over 30 years!!

Essential oils work through inhalation and skin absorption. 

Firstly Inhalation – this is the fastest path to the brain. When essential oils are inhaled, cells are stimulated which regulate hormone levels in the body.

Hormones control sooo many things in your body! They are chemical messengers that coordinate how organs work so the body stays in balance (homeostasis).

• Energy & metabolism: Insulin hormone which control blood glucose and metabolism.
• Stress & circadian rhythm: Cortisol hormone effects stress response, melatonin hormone effects sleep–wake timing. Adrenaline/noradrenaline are stress response hormones.
• Immune & inflammation modulation: Cortisol hormone tempers inflammation and your immune response. Calcitriol hormone modulates immunity—boosts innate defences (e.g., antimicrobial peptides).
• PMS, Libido, Mood - Progesterone and estrogen hormones play a major role in PMS, libido, and mood.

Secondly essential oils work through absorption into the skin. They penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream where they are transported to the organs and systems of the body. Research shows 60-80% of what you put on your skin is absorbed DIRECTLY into your blood stream.

It is because essential oils are lipophilic (mix well with fat substances) that they can partition into the skin’s lipid layer so well, and cross cell membranes more easily than non-lipophilic substances.

 

Q. Is there any evidence they actually work?

Absolutely — and the evidence is stronger than most people realise.

We are not talking about anecdotal stories or ancient folklore here. There are now hundreds of peer-reviewed, double-blind clinical studies published in respected medical journals demonstrating that essential oils produce measurable, physiological changes in the human body.

And I mean genuinely measurable — things science can objectively quantify. Heart rate. Blood pressure. Core body temperature. Immune response markers. Cortisol levels — that is your stress hormone. Sweat response. Cognitive performance. Memory and recall speed. Nasal airflow. Inflammatory markers. Even libido and mood — measured not by how someone says they feel, but by actual hormonal and neurochemical changes recorded in the body.

These are not subtle or subjective effects. These are real, repeatable, quantifiable physiological responses that show up consistently across multiple independent studies in multiple countries.

The science is there. It has always been there. Most people just haven't been told about it.

 

Q. Where can I get Dolphin Clinic essential oils?

Right here on our web site or visit one of our awesome retailers:

Health 2000 - stores nationwide

www.healthpost.co.nz

Bargain Chemist - stores nationwide

Many Health Shops and Pharmacies around NZ. Call us if you can't find your local retailer.