A SEED – The Starting Point - WHAT are Essential Oils?
Essential Oils start with a seed. When a friend offered an outdoor spray made from Young Living Essential Oils my eyes were opened to a chemical free lifestyle that I did not know existed. I thought we were taking care of our wellness and honoring God by caring for our bodies, but now I know about chemicals and I know better. I've spent hours reading and researching and experimenting - here's what I've learned, essentially growing from Seed - to Sprout - to Bloom - to Sharing oils.
WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL OILS?
Essential Oils are the natural organic oils of the plant (pulled from roots, petals, rind, leaf, or bark). – some call oils the ‘lifeblood’ of the plant or the 'essence' of the plant- thus the name essential oils.
Since Biblical times, oils have been used to support every system in the body including muscular system, skeletal system, circulatory system, endocrine and hormones, respiratory system and immune system. An oil in a diffuser can promote restful sleep and support respiratory function. An oil massaged on the abdomen can support digestion. Oils on the chest and feet can improve respiratory function. Oils can be added to beauty products, household cleaners, and air fresheners to replace synthetic chemicals and fragrances. Oils can add natural flavoring in food and drinks.
I primarily use essential oils instead of store bought chemical toxins in our home. I use Thieves cleaner (a plant based cleaner) throughout our home. I diffuse an oil blend named "Raven" when our noses get stuffy from Kentucky weather changes. I rub lavender oil and cedar wood oial on our feet at night to support sleep. I roll peppermint and lemon oil on my wrists and behind my ears when I need a boost of energy to make it through the day.
Essential oils work by penetrating cell membranes to travel quickly in the body (something man-made medicine can't achieve). Oils are introduced into our bodies the same way as other products:
*Topically- the English primarily add to a bath, rub or massage on the skin which is our largest organ and readily absorbs what we put on it (which is why the Nicoderm and other medication patches work). Oils applied topically reach the bloodstream in 26 seconds.
*Ingest – the French cook with oils and apply to foods/drinks (some oils are ingestible- check the label first! Young Living marks ingestible oils with a white label - like a chef's apron!)
*Inhale – the Germans diffuse oils into the air. This is a very easy way to enjoy the smell and benefits of oils (diffused in the air, sprayed like perfume or sniffed straight from the bottle). If you order a starter kit, they give you a free diffuser!!! I have a diffuser in every room of our house and one in my office. I also have a necklace with a locket that contains a felt pad that diffuses oils throughout the day. And I have a bracelet of lava beads that also diffuse oils. Inhaled oils reach the heart, liver, and thyroid in three seconds.
There are over 300 oils, and Young Living is one of the oldest oil producers and offers the widest variety of oils, but an average family only needs 10-20 oils to build a great kit.
So WHERE do you purchase oils?
As oils are becoming increasingly popular, they are becoming available at local drug stores, big box stores, and online retailers. As you compare products, you’ll begin to find the ones at the stores aren’t just a ‘generic’ version – but in some cases a watered down version. There’s no rating system for Essential Oils in the United States . The closest we get is an FDA requirement that in order to label a bottle of essential “pure” or “therapeutic grade”, the contents of the bottle must contain at least five percent essential oils.
ONLY 5%! Which means 95% can be filler.
You can think of oils ranked as follows:
-Grade A = Therapeutic Grade oil, made from organically grown plants and distilled at low temperatures. Young Living ensures no pesticides or herbicides are used during the growing process. They have also refined the distilling process to ensure the oils don't come into contact with plastics (that would leach chemicals into the oils) or solvents. Distilling at the right temperature for the right amount of time give a quality product with the highest level of therapeutic value. Young Living leads the way in this line of research and has set the bar for other oil companies.
-Grade B = Natural Grade Oils are food grade but may contain synthetics, pesticides, fertilizers, chemical extenders or carrier oils (like almond, olive or other vegetable oil).
-Grade C = Perfume Grade Oils are perfume grade, often containing other chemicals or solvents left over from the harvesting/distilling process and may be diluted 80-95% with alcohol.
-Grade D = Synthetic Grade is also called ‘floral water’ and is aromatic like an oil but usually a byproduct of a higher grade distillation (the water that is leftover after the oil is pulled out) and is sold to companies that fill bottles with 5% of this water and fill the rest with carrier products and synthetic products, but often labeled as ‘pure’.
A fraction of the oil = fraction of the price!
A fraction of the oil = fraction of the price!
Another way some companies cut corners is using pesticides (to have more crop to distill), using a chemical solvent to extract oil (so there’s more oil pulled out of the plant) and then diluting with a carrier oil (to stretch the oil they distilled). If you are using oils to support healthy functions, then using a low-grade oil would be as helpful as eating a salad that is 5% greens and 95% croutons. The value is in the oil, not the filler.
WHY Young Living?
Young Living has a “Seed to Seal” guarantee which means they control the process from farmland to the sealed bottle. Founder, Gary Young, said he never makes an oil for profit- but for a purpose. Young Living’s oils are Grade A. They control the seeds used, soil/farms chosen, plants are hand-weeded, oils are used to repel bugs (not chemical/pesticides), harvested at their peak and put through vigorous testing. Learn more about the process at seedtoseal.com.
HOW to purchase Young Living Essential Oils and Oil products:
Purchase your starter kit and get oiling!
Visit GraceFull Day on Twitter our Facebook Page to see how I use the oils.
#Swapped4YL
Wishing you a Grace Full Day Oiling!!
Visit GraceFull Day on Twitter our Facebook Page to see how I use the oils.
#Swapped4YL
Wishing you a Grace Full Day Oiling!!
