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Distillation of Essential Oils, Finca Fila Marucha
By Milo Bekins Faries
Plants not only play a vital role in the ecological balance of our planet, but they also have been linked to the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of people since the beginning of time. Essential oils (EO) are the most powerful part of the plant, Throughout history EO’s have been used medicinally to kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses. These fragrances also lift spirits and balance moods, not to mention creating romantic atmospheres.
To be called true therapeutic-medicinal grade, EO’s must be grown: organically, in the correct geographical area, quality in the species chosen, low temperature (100 degrees C.) of Vapor, and distilled in atmospheric pressure. This is the case , here at the Finca Fila Marucha, Londres Costa Rica, where our EO’s are the aromatic volatile liquids distilled from flowers, rhizomes, leaves, seeds, and barks.
However, having said that, we here at the farm take this further by planting out the various aromatic trees and plants in a designed Analog Forest landscape, whose ecosystem is based on native species and exotics which provide the structure of the original ecosystem pre-anthropogenic forest and the ecological functions of its species.
Post-harvesting practices also play an important part in obtaining a high (as possible for individual species) yield of EO’s. Whether distilled “green” or varying degrees of dehydration, or dried can make a difference in quality and yield. The time of year can also make a difference with the dry season providing more EO due to the hours of sun.
All of the above factors give us a quality essential oils which can be used externally in massages, baths, inhalations; as well as for culinary, medicinal, bio-pesticides in organic agriculture and household maintenance products.
Although, it has not been proven that EO enter or penetrate the circulatory system (except for certain constituents), the beneficial effects of the skin and mental relaxation are possible with treatments with essential oils.
Certainly, the induced mental benefits when using a pleasurable fragrance have to be recognized.
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