During my career, I have worked with many systems especially in biochemistry and microbiology, but also the subject that is most interested in me as an Aromatherapist was Oxidative Stress Tests.
During the Oxidative Stress Measurements, we’ve found that almost one in two people were healthy or unhealthy conditions under oxidative stress so what is this oxidative stress?
Oxidative stress can be defined as the deterioration of the natural balance in the body due to the increase in free oxygen radicals formed during cellular metabolism and the absence of an adequate amount of anti-oxidants to remove the effects of these radicals. Antioxidants are protector against toxic oxygen molecules and free radicals.
What Are the Problems or Health Problems That May be Caused by Oxidative Stress and Affect Our Quality of Life?
Oxidative stress has been associated with more than 100 diseases and conditions by experts such as; weakness, depression, fatigue, muscle and joint pain we can not understand, concentration problems, obesity, fertility problems in men and women, skin problems it can be listed it like this.
Although other issues are very important, I want to focus on skin problems. We all take advantage of many products such as skin care creams, oils, make-up products, vitamin supplements to look younger and have healthier skin, none of us want to get old and look old.
We cannot escape the natural aging process due to genetic structure and time. But can we avoid external external aging? Definitely Yes.
UV rays, unbalanced nutrition, smoking, alcohol use, sedentary lifestyle are external factors that accelerate the aging process. Oxidative stress caused by these external factors also has broken elastin and collagen fiber structure.
For this reason, oxidative stress is seen as the most important reason for aging of skin. When we look at skin health, we can give the highest percentage among these factors to sun exposure…
We all know that we need to use sunscreen to protect our skin from the harmful rays of the sun, but are those agents that block or filter the UV rays inside these sunscreens are enough protection? Unfortunately no.
Some of the chemicals contained in the sunscreens interact with UV rays and can be converted into free radicals, it is also same effect for some vegatable oils, UV rays can disrupt the structure of oils and cause oxidation.
For this reason, the existing of anti-oxidant substances in sunscreens, oils and anti-aging creams are very important for a healthy skin. Anti-oxidants neutralize toxic oxygen molecules and free radicals to protect cells from oxidative stress. vitamins are the most commonly used as anti oxidants in product’s formulations.
Enzymatic antioxidants and plant extracts, essential oils are also used as anti-oksidan in formulation and they are effective as vitamins.
From vegatable oils used in aromatherapy such as;
Grape Seed Oil: A very strong anti-oxidant and free radical scavenger, this feature is said to be stronger than some vitamin E and C in some studies.
Aloe Vera Gel: It has the ability to soften and moisturize the skin as well as protect from UVA.
Borage Seed Oil: Borage seed oil with a large amount of GLA helps regenerate skin cells.
Essential oils showing anti-oxidant properties;
Frankincense, Basil, Cypress, Rosemary, Chamomile, Turmeric, Ginger, Thyme, Tea tree pine, pepermint, Marjoram, Lavender, citrus group, these essential oils are known as free radical scavengers.
Some of the essential oils contained very active compounds and act like enzymatic antioxidants which is the most potent antioxidants according to science.
In addition to this information, aromatherapy applications made with various techniques encourage healthy life by increasing the quality of life because of relieving or alleviating the conditions that prepare the ground for oxidative stress such as anxiety, stress, insomnia.
Leyla Çakır
Clinical Aromatherapist
Aromachologist
Medical Laboratory Professional
References
1. Wei, A. and Shibamoto T. (2010a) Anti-oxidant/lipoxygenase inhibitory activities and chemical compositions of selected essential oils.
2. Takahashi,Y. İnaba,N.,Kuwahara,S.and Kuki,W.(2003) ‘Antioxidatidative effect of Citrus essential oil components on human low-density lipoprotein in vitro ‘ Bioscience Biotechnology’.
3. Ankara Ecz. Fak. Derg. / J. Fac. Pharm. Ankara, 40(1): 36-53, 2016.
4. Oxidative Stress guide, Callegari SPA 2014 Pharma Italy.
