Oil in medicine and cosmetics

Speaking of which are made from oil, we first recall the fuel and synthetic materials. However, oil is closer than it may seem at first sight, of this valuable raw materials make medicine that heals us from disease, and a variety of beauty products to help us take care of themselves.

Even the Sumerians believed healing oil and take bath in it. Today, this method of treatment is confusing, but do not jump to conclusions. Medicinal properties of oil, extracted from the ancient times in the area of ​​naphthalene (in present-day Azerbaijan), and are highly valued in our days.

This unique liquid almost no light ends, and its hydrocarbon composition is significantly different from oil produced in other fields. It contains a compound, which is part of cholesterol, cholic acid, hormones, vitamin D, and other biologically active substances. To the fields, where oil is extracted from shallow wells dug by hand for centuries flowed patients who seek healing from the pain and ulcers. In the 13th century, the great Venetian traveler Marco Polo mentioned the healing oil Naftalan in his records. In 1890, the field laid the first bore hole and built a factory for the production of ointments. Preparations based on Naftalan oil treated, mainly rheumatic and arthritic pain, and skin diseases. Today, interest in reviving an amazing product. Its efficacy in various diseases confirmed by the results of more than 1,600 scientific papers and books, including 270 dissertations. The city is located naphthalene only in the world that capture the imagination "Museum of crutches." Here you can see hundreds of crutches various designs and sizes. They are kept as unnecessary and signed by those who before arriving at the resort could not walk without assistance.





Of course, Naftalan oil - a unique phenomenon. But oil in general today has assumed great importance for the modern pharmaceutical industry, since it has produced a variety of organic substances. Suffice it to say that the vast majority of drugs produced by processing raw materials obtained from either oil or from coal (similar in chemical composition). Number of drugs, which is used in the production of oil is so high that their list would take more than one page, so we give only a few striking examples.

In 1874, the principle was established production of salicylic acid from phenol and since acetylsalicylic acid, or simply "aspirin", became one of the world's most popular drugs. Everyone knows that aspirin has antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. In addition, from salicylic acid phenyl salicylate produce antiseptic used to treat colitis and other gastrointestinal diseases, and para-aminosalicylic acid used in the anti-TB drugs.

In the 30 years from aniline, which, in turn, produced from nitrobenzene, received the first antimicrobial drugs - sulfonamides: Sulfidine, streptotsid, sulfadimezin. They have revolutionized the treatment of diseases caused by microorganisms.

Various petroleum derivatives used in preparations to help people get rid of allergies, headaches, nervous stress and infectious diseases. Esters and alcohols are often used for the production of antibiotics.

In addition, petrochemicals are widely consumed in the manufacture of medical equipment and supplies, including syringes, catheters, oxygen masks, elastic bandages, some surgical instruments and much, much more.



Another group of products in which it is impossible under current conditions without crude oil - cosmetics and perfumes. To see this, just look at the composition of any cream or shampoo, produced industrially. Some of the ingredients often include a wetting agent - propylene glycol, methyl, butyl, and ethyl paraben, prolonging shelf life, mineral oil. Vaseline, which in the recent past has been an extremely popular cosmetic product is a mixture of mineral oil and paraffin wax.

Derived from petroleum mineral oil is used today as the basis for a variety of creams, lotions and tonal resources. Such creams are much longer usable than products based on natural oils. There is evidence that the mineral oil can damage the skin, but the alternative to mass production has yet been found.

It sounds paradoxical at first glance, but the oil is necessary for us, and to smell good: 99% of modern flavors are synthesized from petrochemicals. "Black Gold" helps us look good, feel good and even smell delicious aromas.

Interesting Facts

An interesting legend, were discovered the healing properties of Naftalan oil. Many centuries ago caravan was passing by the place where today is the town of naphthalene. There, the travelers saw the lakes of muddy water. They were evicted from suspect water his camels, but one, the weakest and the patient allowed to get drunk and stay dead, so that he no longer suffer. On the return journey the caravan met abandoned satellite - the camel was completely healthy. He helped oily liquid, which was under water turbidity. People smeared her and healed their wounds.

Curative effect of salicylic acid has been known since the 19th century - it was used as a cure for rheumatism. However, it was extremely expensive because it had to be very difficult to extract from plant material. Way to get salicylic acid from phenol was found in 1874, and since then has begun commercial production of many drugs produced by the complexity of its molecules. The most famous of them - aspirin.

Oil can not only save mankind from diseases and hunger. Recycling just 2% of the annual oil production can produce up to 25 million tons of protein. This is enough to supply 2 billion a year. This protein is used in the production of different products, and replace animal protein, which is sorely lacking to meet the ever-growing world population.

Currently being tested plastic prosthesis lungs. It was developed surgeon Robert Bartlett of the University of Michigan. So far, all the experiments to create artificial light were unsuccessful because it was not possible to reproduce their folded structure and get a small artificial body, the area of ​​the inner surface of which would reach the size of a tennis court.

More recently, surgeons have used for suturing wounds plastic thread, has a memory. This thread can take the form of the site. Here's how. When cold, the thread tightening the knot. Special pieces added to the molecular chains chemically, "remember" the shape of the site. Then straighten the thread and heated to 40 degrees Celsius, almost to the temperature of the human body. Chemical tags immediately respond to temperature rise: for twenty seconds yarn curls into a knot, taking the previous form. Thus, even before the surgery, the surgeon selects the shape node, which is best for the patient and does not harm the surrounding tissue.