Why is it important to know the common and Latin names for the oils used?

[Pompal 09.]

Please help??

Question on one of my assignments and my answer apparently needs more.............. i have written:

Essential oils are usually called by their "common" names, such as "lavender," "chamomile," "eucalyptus," etc. While these common names are usually familiar, problems can arise because an essential oil may have more than one "common" name. Examples are [link=http://www.wlnaturalhealth.com/essential-oils-profiles/neroli.htm]neroli[/link], which also goes by "orange blossom”. Common names can also sound misleading. For example, "rose geranium" may sound like a mixture of rose essential oil and geranium essential oil, but in fact rose geranium essential comes from a unique, single species of plant.
Another source of confusion from common names is that more than one essential oil may go by the same “common” name, but the oils may have very different properties. For example, there are many different varieties of eucalyptus essential oil available, and each has its own unique therapeutic actions. Similarly, "chamomile" may mean Roman chamomile, German chamomile, or some other type.
The only way to really know which aromatherapy oil is which is to identify the oils using their botanical (Latin) names.
Another reason for knowing both names is that some manufactures list the Latin names and some list the common names so you will need to know both to know what you are buying.

 

[Nannie]

Interesting slant on botanical names.

[link=http://www.aromamedical.com/articles/botanica.html]http://www.aromamedical.com/articles/botanica.html[/link]

[link=http://www.aromamedical.com/new.html]http://www.aromamedical.com/new.html[/link]

 

[mestAlessebip]

Seperate out what you have written ie -

Need to know Latin names to identify ingredients in mixtures, to know precisely what you mean

Need to know common names because you want to explain to the client which oil you are giving (I took that from the fact that you say they are usually called)

Then see if you need more in one or the other - I think from what you have written that your bias is for Latin names!!

 

[Pompal 09.]

Its important to know the latin names because the oils may come from the same plant or same type of plant and although it is rare a person using essential oils foa massage say for example may be allergic to some types of oil.

You need to put the exact ingredients that occur in the products you give to clients with the exact percentage per volume of product in case they pass it on to a someone who is pregnant or taking medication which may contradict the medication this person is taking.

Also if you are giving someone a massage and using someone elses notes if you just read for example "orange" you could use any part of the orange plant whereas if you have the latin name you know which oil to use then.

Hope this helps

Clare x