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Indeed, Madagascar offers a wide diversity of all life forms: micro-organisms, plants and animals. 12,000 plant species, 3% of those on the entire planet, thrive on the island of Madagascar, also known as the Fifth Continentforgotten continent! Many are endemic. They exist only in Madagascar. Over centuries, Malagasy people have studied this plant richness and gained knowledge of the active agents of countless medicinal plants and how to extract their hidden wealth, sometimes with miraculous powers: the essential oils.

* Homeopharma, a pharmaceutical establishment approved by the [http://www.sante.gov.mg Ministry of Health], is specialised in herbal medicine, aromatherapy, renewal of traditional medicine and homeopathy. Located in [[Antananarivo]], its CEO and founder [[Jean Claude Ratsimivony]] is a symbolic figure of the big island known for its long commitment to innovation in the field of wellness and health. Homeopharma employs 490 workers and uses over 1,500 plants in the production of its natural products.

* A massage not longer than 20 minutes is the time needed for a quality essential oil to be traced back to the taste buds on of the tongue when applied to the soles of the feet. Thanks to its extraordinary power of penetration, it quickly breaks through the skin to reach the bloodstream and with it back to the tongue, as it could reach any other organ that we would aim for, before being totally dissolved in the body. A true miracle!

But what exactly is an essential oil? It can be defined as a powerful aromatic substance of complex composition, which includes volatile and odorous elements contained in plants. These are the elements that can help to cure many diseases.

In most cases by water steam distillation at low temperature and low pressure. This technique allows to extract most of the active substances from the plant. Before distillation they are called essence. After it is called essential oil. Only 10% of plants produce an essence. And if the latter and although the essence can be found throughout the plant, it is mainly concentrated in a single organ, such as root, rhizome, wood, bark, leaf, stem, flower, seed or fruit. These are the organs from which essential oil is obtained.

The essential oil of mint is easier to obtain extract because of the leaves. A slightly irregular low heat is enough. But a bit of stronger heat is needed to break down the structure of a bark and to release its larger aromatic molecules. <!-- Still, the plant will release only a part of its ... properties. -->

'''Properties of Madagascar's essential oils of Madagascar'''

Without the wild environment, the synergy between species would be lost. Plants need to breathe and sense. We must listen to Jean Claude, the modest grandson of a medical doctor, depositary and depository of remedies collected by his grandfather from traditional healers, who will tell you about the plants, their sensitivity, their stress before a hurricanecyclone. Resting time, which allows the plants to regenerate between pickings, is also respected and can reach up to four years depending on the species! Harvesting of plant organs is done in jute or cotton bags to prevent maceration. Partial drying is necessary in case of rain in order to reduce the amount of water contained in the plant. And if so, we will only dry one type of plant at the time to avoid contamination and to ensure the right balance of chemical properties.

In short, the plants are treated for the treasure treasures they are. And it doesn't stop there! Distillation over a wood fire, most of the time, is another added value to the Malagasy essential oils. In other countries it is done with regular gas heat. But firewood allows a variation of temperature which leads to a more complete extraction. The large molecules of the plants do not extract at a constant temperature if using gas. To be convinced of the importance of this, one needs only to observe the technicians at the Homeopharma distillery in [[Ambila]] on the [[Canal des Pangalanes]] on Madagascar's east coast. Their work procedure involves adding a piece of wood to light the fire and thereafter removing it to reach the desired temperature, causing a gradual temperature change.

''The regions of the big island Big Island and their essential oils are:''

* ''The drier west to the south'' - provides combavascombava, lemon, cinnamon, mandravasarotra and sandalwood.

== 3. Improved traditional remedies (Remèdes traditionnelles améliorées - RTA) and massages ==

* Madagascar is a treasure trove for essential oils and this is also true outside the actual production. Everything done here contributes towards the development of improved traditional remedies, also referred to as "RTA".