Anatomy and Essential Oils

A Quick Glance at the Anatomy and Essential Oils by Rehne Burge, C.A.

Anatomy has been recorded as the oldest known medical science. And throughout the history of anatomy, there have been many theories, a great deal mostly inaccurate or simply wrong, explaining anatomy and physiology. These theories, some dreamed up, were by physicians, surgeons, quacks, witch doctors, alchemists, faith-healers, astrologers, and charlatans. These professionals in their day were for the most part highly paid and respected “professionals”.

Hippocrates, also noted as the Father of Medicine, was the most famous and well known of them all. His knowledge of internal medicine was remarkable, although limited due to the lack of dissections. Based on his history, Hippocrates could be said to be the father of holistic medicine.

There have been brilliant discoveries and true clear thinking that has brought us to what we now know as modern medicine.

Moving forward, it was an English doctor named William Harvey that showed that blood circulated around the body and further proposed that the heart pumped the blood through the arteries and understood the significance of the valves of the heart. Although many thought this to be outlandish, his findings were confirmed by the invention of the microscope in the late 17th century. This allowed scientists for the first time in history to be able to observe so much more than what the naked eye could reveal.

By the 19th century, practices and procedures were able to be performed with anesthetics. In 1896 the first x ray machine was invented. Soon after, the first MRI came about. Prior to these inventions, many dissections and crude methods were used.

Now we can study and learn about the human body more freely. By understanding it, we can better understand and learn how the body and specifically the circulatory system and aromatherapy work hand in hand. And how it can benefit the body.

The lymphatic system, a part of the circulatory system, has its own important function of draining access fluid from the tissues of the body and filtering out bad bacteria as well as producing lymphocytes to fight off infection. The lymphatic system runs up the body. However, the circulatory system flows in both directions; up and down the body and includes the arterial circulation, CSF (cerebral spinal fluid) a clear watery substance, and pulmonary function.

The arterial system carries blood from our heart to provide nourishment as well as oxygen to the organs and tissues of the body. The CSF is part of the central nervous body system and surrounds the brain as well as the spinal cord. The cerebrospinal fluids job is to protect the brain and spinal cord from injuries. It also cushions the organs of the body. The nervous system is divided into two parts, the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). It consists of 12 pairs of cranial nerves which emerge from the brain stem and 31 pairs of spinal nerves which arise from the spinal cord. The nervous system includes the neurons, the myelin sheath, the peripheral nerves, the autotomic nervous system and the parasympathetic system.

The pulmonary system (respiratory) is located within the lungs. The vessels extend from the heart to the lungs. Its function is to deliver de-oxygenated blood to the lungs. Here it is re-oxygenated and removes the waste of carbon dioxide. It enables blood to come in contact with the function structures of the lungs called the alveoli and this allows the gaseous exchange to take place. Once absorbed into the circulatory system, whether topically or through olfaction (inhalation), we can see how and why the essential oil components that have entered the blood can affect our central nervous system and other functions of the body with each action depending on the oil(s) and its components.

Human Body , Understanding Anatomy by Jane De Burgh, pg. 7, 8-11
Dr. Jean Valnet, The Practice of Aromatherapy, Edited to English by Robert Tisserand