Can Essential Oils cross the Bodies Blood-Brain Barrier?
Answer A: Aromatherapy literature insists any Essential Oil can cross the blood brain barrier. I do not see why frankincense should be an exception, it has similar components to many other essential oils. Answer B: The blood-brain barrier is a semi-permeable barrier produced by cells in the capillary walls in the brain (the cells in the capillaries in the brain have no gaps between them unlike the capillaries elsewhere in the body) The function of the blood-brain barrier is to protect the composition of the fluid that bathes the neurons, if this changes appreciably then the brain cannot function normally. The blood-brain barrier is not uniform through the CNS so that free passage can occur at some parts i.e. the area postrema part of the medulla. Olibanum oil (aka frankincense oil) is derived from several different species of Boswellia according to geographic origin, and often alpha-pinene (to 43%) is the principle component. Other terpenes and sesquiterpenoids such as viridiflorol add
