Introduction to Essential Oils

What are Essential Oils?

[tag-self]Essential oils[/tag-self] are created through a distillation process using the various parts of plants and trees. Each plant contains different combinations of elements that can be used to heal and sooth the body. I believe that these plants and trees along with the elements and oils that they contain are on the Earth to be used for this purpose. The oils are oxygenating, regenerating and the immune defense system of plants. They are what protects the plant, thus they are called “essential” as the plant could not survive without them. Just as they protect the plant, they can also help protect our bodies in very powerful ways. They are God’s gift to us and have been here since the beginning of life.

Grades of Essential Oils

It’s important to point out here that not all essential oils are created equal. Most oils will list the grade of essential oil on the bottle (i.e., botanical, natural, therapeutic, etc). When using essential oils on the body, it’s imperative that you only use therapeutic grade oils. One of the factors that determines the grade and purity of the oil is its chemical constituents. This can be affected by many variables including the soil condition, fertilizer (organic or chemical), geographical region, climate, altitude, harvest methods, distillation process and much more. I won’t get into all the variables here as it can get very scientific and overwhelming, but it’s very important to your health that you pay close attention to the grade of the oils you use. Here’s why:

Essential oil molecules are so small that when they touch the skin, or enter the nasal cavity, they are quickly absorbed into our bodies. They are lipid soluble which means they are capable of penetrating cells walls, even if they have hardened because of an oxygen deficiency. Once they are absorbed, they then travel through the body, exciting the cells as they deliver oxygen and other healthy constituents into the cells. If they are mixed with another supplement or food, they can help better deliver the benefits of that food or supplement to the cells. Conversely, using an [tag-tec]essential oil[/tag-tec] that is not of high quality or mixing it with a low quality supplement or food will allow that oil to bring impurities to the cellular level with it. So, it’s essential (no pun intended!) that you only use therapeutic grade oils for any purpose. Even if you only use them as perfume, the minute they touch your skin, they start being delivered to your internal cells as well.

Last summer, while riding my lawn tractor, I ran it up a guy-wire. Next thing I knew I was headed for the stars. Unfortunately gravity took over and before I knew it, I was lying flat on my back with a sideways lawn tractor, in the air, heading for my leg. I reached out and pushed it out of the way with my other foot while it was still in mid-air. However, when I stood up, I knew I was going to be really sore and achy the next morning. I decided I was going to try the essential oils that my friend had been talking so much about and see if they could help. She told me what to use and how to use them. The next morning I woke up and had no indication I’d ever fallen at all! I was amazed. Over the next few weeks, I would start to get sore about every 3-4 days. I would apply the oils again and it would go away. After 3 weeks, it never came back again.

How to Apply Essential Oils

In European countries, especially France, [tag-ice]essential oils[/tag-ice] are very popular and their beneficial properties are well known. However, in the United States, people don’t generally associate essential oils with better health. Many of the essential oils sold in US health stores are not good quality oils and people are generally not familiar with their use beyond a few general aches and pains. Most people in this country think of aromatherapy when they think of essential oils.

Aromatherapy, however, is only one of several ways to introduce oils into your environment and body. I prefer rubbing oils on the Vitaflex points and into the related areas of my body. There is also the Raindrop Technique and you can simply ingest some oils with food or water. However, make sure the oils you are taking internally are meant for that purpose. Some prefer to apply warm compresses with the oils and, of course, they are often massaged into the body. Using a diffuser to put them into the air is a wonderful way of cleansing your environment and getting them into your body as well. There are lots of different ways to use essential oils in our everyday lives as well.

Some oils are very strong and should not be applied directly to the skin. Instead, they can be diluted with “carrier” oils, such as olive or almond oil first. The great thing about essential oils is that in many cases just a couple of drops will make a significant difference.

Benefits of Essential Oils

Essential oils are anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-cancerous, anti-infectious, anti-microbial, anti-tumoral, anti-parasitic, anti-viral and antiseptic. They have been shown to destroy all tested bacteria and viruses while simultaneously restoring balance to the body. They contain oxygen molecules which help transport nutrients to the cells. Disease begins when cells lack oxygen.

Essential oils are powerful antioxidants that create an unfriendly atmosphere for free radicals. They may also detoxify the cells and blood.

Some essential oils contain sesquiterpenes which have the ability to pass the blood brain barrier. This is significant and can have the effect of aiding patients with Alzheimer’s, Lou Gehrig’s, and Parkinson’s disease as well as multiple sclerosis.

They are aromatic and when diffused can provide air [tag-tec]purification[/tag-tec] by [tag-self]removing toxins[/tag-self] from the air and increasing oxygen, ozone and negative ions which inhibits bacterial growth. They can destroy odors from mold, cigarettes and animals while filling the air with a fresh, aromatic smell.

Essential oils promote emotional, physical and spiritual healing and contain a bio-electrical frequency that is much greater than herbs, food or the human body. Research has shown that they can quickly raise the frequency of the human body, helping to restore it to a healthy level.

When my son was a baby he had difficulty keeping his formula down. The solution was to put a few drops of peppermint oil in the bottle. I don’t remember who told me to do it, but it worked. At the time, I didn’t realize the power of that little bottle of peppermint oil. Today, I always carry a bottle with me.

Cost of Essential Oils

Some therapeutic grade essential oils are quite inexpensive such as the lemon, peppermint and lavender I’ve mentioned above. Some oils, however, can be more expensive. Why? Because producing the purest oils can be very costly. Some oils may require several hundred or even several thousand pounds of plant material to extract one pound of pure essential oils. Melissa oil sells for $9,000 to $15,000 per pound. However, it takes 3 tons of plant material to produce a single pound of the oil. Don’t worry, this is one of the most expensive of the [tag-tec]therapeutic grade oils[/tag-tec] and it is also in short supply. Before long, we will probably not be able to buy it at all. Besides you won’t be buying oils by the pound!

Here’s a better comparison. A 15 ml (slightly more than 1/2 ounce) bottle of therapeutic grade lemon oil is about $12.50. Lavender and peppermint are about $26 each. These are retail prices and there are easy ways to get lower pricing. And, remember what I said - a couple of drops can make a significant difference. So, a little goes a long way when it comes to these powerful oils.

Each oil can offer support in many different areas of your body. So, if what you’re looking for is out of stock or unavailable, there’s always another oil you can use in it’s place. If you have a small budget, you can get started with the less expensive oils while still knowing that you’re getting a huge benefit from your investment in them. Over time, as you learn more about them, you will likely accumulate many bottles and always have on hand something you can use when the need arises.

What I love most about essential oils is that every day you put these oils into your body, you are improving your immune system and helping your body fight every day toxins. Essential oils improve your health at every level, not just one or two.

I have just barely touched upon the many uses and benefits of essential oils on this page. There are thousands of plants on the earth and we have just started studying their oils, even though they’ve been here for just as many years. I certainly hope this information will help you to understand just how powerful essential oils are and set you on the path to learning more.

To learn much more about essential oils or to order products, please visit my Young Living web site.