THERAPEUTIC OIL
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a therapeutic oil and to a method of producing such a therapeutic oil.
A known therapeutic oil consists of olive oil that has been ozonated by subjecting the oil to ozone. This oil has become very popular in the cosmetic industry as well as for the treatment of wounds. The olive oil is ozonated by bubbling concentrated ozone gas through pure olive oil. The consistency of the ozonated olive oil depends on the extent to which the olive oil is subjected to the ozone.
The known ozonated olive oil suffers from a number of disadvantages. For example, owing to the chlorophyll content of the olive oil and the relatively high concentration of short-chain fatty acids relative to long-chain fatty acids, the ozonated olive oil is highly unstable. The oil therefore has to be used shortly after preparation otherwise it becomes stale.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a therapeutic oil and a method of producing such a therapeutic oil, which is a useful alternative to known
therapeutic oils and with which the aforesaid disadvantages can be overcome or at least minimised.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of producing a therapeutic oil including the steps of: providing an organic oil of a plant source having a relatively higher concentration of long-chain fatty acids relative to short- chain fatty acids; and - ozonating the oil by subjecting the same to a sufficient amount of ozone.
The organic oil may be of the type containing chlorophyll in its natural state and the method may include the further step of removing at least a major portion of the said chlorophyll.
Further according to the invention the organic oil is avocado oil.
The step of removing the chlorophyll from the organic oil may include the steps of heating the oil to a temperature of between 400C and 800C, preferably to 60 0C; adding a sufficient amount of a bleaching earth to the oil; allowing the bleaching earth to react with the chlorophyll to form a bleaching earth- chlorophyll complex; and removing the said complex from the oil.
The step of adding the bleaching earth to the oil may include the further step of adding between 3% and 12%, preferably 7% bleaching earth to the oil on a mass per mass basis.
The step of allowing the bleaching earth to react with the chlorophyll to form a bleaching earth-chlorophyll complex may include the further steps of agitating the mixture of oil and bleaching earth and allowing the oil and bleaching earth mixture to react for 10 to 60 minutes, preferably 30 minutes.
The step of removing the said complex from the oil may include the even further step of filtering the oil.
The step of subjecting the oil to ozone may include the step of bubbling the ozone in gas-form through the oil.
The step of bubbling the ozone in gas-form through the oil may include the steps of disposing the oil in a plurality of containers, each having an inlet and an outlet and passing the ozone gas emanating from the outlet of one container to the inlet of an adjacent container.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a therapeutic oil comprising an organic oil of a plant source having a relatively higher
concentration of long-chain fatty acids relative to short-chain fatty acids, which has been ozonated by subjecting the oil to a sufficient amount of ozone.
Further according to the invention the organic oil is of the type containing chlorophyll in its natural state and of which a major portion of the chlorophyll has been removed.
Preferably, the organic oil is avocado oil.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a composition for use in the treatment of any one or more conditions selected from the group consisting of bacterial, viral and fungal infections; skin cuts; abrasions; burn wounds; bed sores; herpes infections; eczema; fistulae; leg ulcers; gingivitis; haemorrhoids; vulvovaginitis; bee stings; insect bites; acne, and other skin related problems; secondary infections caused by aids; fistulae; decubitus; and mycosis, the composition comprising a therapeutic oil including an organic oil of a plant source having a relatively higher concentration of long-chain fatty acids relative to short-chain fatty acids, which has been ozonated by subjecting the oil to a sufficient amount of ozone.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of treating of any one or more conditions selected from the group consisting of bacterial, viral and fungal infections; skin cuts; abrasions; burn wounds; bed
sores; herpes infections; eczema; fistulae; leg ulcers; gingivitis; haemorrhoids; vulvovaginitis; bee stings; insect bites; acne, and other skin related problems; secondary infections caused by aids; fistulae; decubitus; and mycosis, the method including the step of applying a composition according to the third aspect of the invention to the affected area of a person.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention will now be described further by way of a non-limiting example with reference to figure 1 , which is an apparatus used to aid the production of a therapeutic oil, according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided an organic therapeutic oil of a plant source having a relatively higher concentration of long-chain fatty acids relative to short-chain fatty acids, in the form of avocado oil. As avocado oil contains chlorophyll in its natural state, in preparing the therapeutic oil, the chlorophyll is firstly removed. Thereafter the oil is ozonated by being subjected to a sufficient amount of ozone with the aid of the apparatus 10 illustrated in figure 1.
In removing the chlorophyll from the avocado oil, the following steps are followed:
1. the oil is heated to a temperature of approximately 60 0C;
2. 7% bleaching earth is added to the oil on a mass per mass basis;
3. the mixture of oil and bleaching earth is agitated to allow the bleaching oil to react with the chlorophyll for approximately 30 minutes to form a bleaching earth-chlorophyll complex; and
4. the complex is removed from the oil through filtration.
Once the chlorophyll has been removed from the avocado oil, ozone gas is bubbled through the oil.
Referring to figure 1 , in bubbling the ozone gas through the oil, three containers 12, 14 and 16, each containing oil 18, is used. A first container 12 provided with a first inlet 12.1 and a first outlet 12.2 and having a volume of approximately 3 litres; a second container 14 provided with a second inlet 14.1 and a second outlet 14.2 and having a volume of approximately 2 litres; and a third container 16 provided with a third inlet 16.1 and a third outlet 16.2 and also having a volume of approximately 2 litres. The first outlet 12.2 is connected to the second inlet 14.1 , and the second outlet 14.2 is connected to the third inlet 16.1. The first inlet 12.1 is connected to a source of ozone gas, such as an ozone generator (not shown). The third outlet 16.2 is open to allow excess gas to escape from the third container 16. The temperature of the oil 18 in the three containers 12, 14 and 16 is kept below 23 0C at all times while the ozone is bubbled through the oil 18.
The first container 12 and the second container 14 are both filled completely with the oil 18, whereas the third container 16 is filled only halfway with oil 18.
In use, the ozone generator is connected to the first inlet 12.1 and activated to generate ozone gas, which is bubbled through the oil. The ozone gas flows from the first container 12 to the second container 14 and is similarly bubbled through the oil 18 in the second container 14. From the second container 14 the gas passes to the third container 16, also being bubbled though the oil 18, while excess gas escapes via the third outlet 16.2.
The duration for which the ozone gas is bubbled through the oil, determines the consistency of the oil. For a relatively more viscose consistency and hence a relatively higher percentage of ozone, the oil is subjected to the ozone for a relatively longer period of time. Whereas, when the oil is subjected to the ozone for a shorter period of time, the resulting oil would be relatively less viscose containing a lower percentage of ozone.
The percentage of ozone in the oil determines its potency and is therefore determined by the type of treatment the oil is to be used for.
It is foreseen that the therapeutic oil product is useful as a massage oil; in the cosmetics industry for facial and skin treatments; and in the treatment of wounds.
The therapeutic oil has an advantage over known therapeutic oils, since avocado oil penetrates the skin more deeply than other plant oils and it is therefore an ideal base for transdermal treatments and a natural carrier for ozone to reach the deepest targeted areas. Avocado oil has the highest rate of skin penetration and the ability to transport active substances through the outer epidermis of the skin and into the dermis for increased effectiveness. Avocado oil further has healing, anti-bacterial and anti-wrinkle properties. The ozone, which penetrates into the skin assists cell healing and regeneration. Since the avocado oil has a high concentration of fatty acids, the therapeutic oil aids in skin moisturising and restructuring of cells. The oil also contains a high concentration of anti-oxidants, which are known to combat aging of living cells.
It is further foreseen that the therapeutic oil can be used for treatment of a large variety of skin ailments for human beings, as well as for animals. For example, in the treatment of any bacterial, viral and fungal infections; skin cuts; abrasions; burn wounds; bed sores; herpes infections; eczema; fistulae; leg ulcers; gingivitis; haemorrhoids; vulvovaginitis; bee stings; insect bites; acne, and other skin related problems; secondary infections caused by aids; fistulae; decubitus; and mycosis.
It will be appreciated that variations in detail are possible with a therapeutic oil and to a method of producing such a therapeutic oil according to the invention without departing from the scope of the appended claims.