Herbs - Plant Constituents - Volatile Oils

Well known and recognized for their aromas, volatile oils are not only sensory gifts but also valuable medicines. These complex, fascinating compounds require detailed explanation and are beyond the scope of this website.

Chemically, volatile oils are generally a mixture of oxygenated hydrocarbons and their polymers, and alcohols. Some of the components of volatile oils are: monoterpenes, pinene, geraniol, borneol, cineol, limonene, and thujone, to mention only a few. A volatile oil from a specific plant is a blend of a whole range of these components in different proportions.

Some of the properties associated with Volatile oils include antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-fungal, insect repellent, anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, rubefacient et cetera.