| Diet is a huge concern for many people today who | | | | oils are very clean, almost crisp, to the touch and are |
| are either trying to control a preventable disease or | | | | immediately absorbed by the skin. If they are in their |
| those people who are trying to lose the excess | | | | pure form, they will never leave an oily residue or |
| weight that they are carrying around with them. Not | | | | feeling on the skin. Pure, unadulterated essential oils |
| only has our diet as Americans been steadily getting | | | | are translucent and range in color from crystal clear |
| worse but as our population has risen there have | | | | to deep blue. |
| been very few attempts to counter the negative | | | | In addition to their intrinsic benefits to plants and |
| effects that over processing our food has done. | | | | being beautifully fragrant to people,essential oils have |
| Every Single American, who has eaten the hot | | | | been used throughout history in many cultures for |
| lunches at school remembers and has a first hand | | | | their medicinal and therapeutic benefits. Modern |
| knowledge of the taste of preservatives and | | | | scientific study and trends towards more holistic |
| manufactured flavor of the food they ate during | | | | approaches to wellness are driving a revival and new |
| their formative years attending Elementary through | | | | discovery of essential oil health applications. The |
| High School. | | | | Egyptians were some of the first people to use |
| To get an understanding of our diet we need to see | | | | aromatic essential oils extensively in medical practice, |
| the what has been in front of our faces for | | | | beauty treatment, food preparation, and in religious |
| generations. In fact at least 2 generations. The only | | | | ceremony. Frankincense, Sandalwood, Myrrh and |
| generation in its entirety to to not see food that | | | | Cinnamon were considered very valuable cargo along |
| was processed and packaged for "shelf-life" was that | | | | caravan trade routes and were sometimes |
| of our greatest generation... those people who fought | | | | exchanged for gold and other precious commodities. |
| and won World War II. Many of them were exposed | | | | Aside from the origins, these same oils mentioned |
| to it during their time in the Military but up until then | | | | above are still used in Middle Eastern Cultures as a |
| had probably grown most of their food themselves | | | | way to prevent common infant and child maladies |
| or, at the very least, had access to fresh, food sans | | | | that, we in the western world, get inocculated from |
| preservatives. What was it about that time frame | | | | or some form of prescription medicine when we or |
| that has now caused the greatest lack of basic | | | | our children get sick. Is it any wonder that two of |
| constituents that food has ever known? I will cover | | | | these items whose essential oils are now being |
| that in another article. | | | | explored scientifically, were placed at the feet of |
| You, like me have gone to the store and bought a | | | | Jesus Christ as he lay in a manger? |
| box of cereal, or a bag of flour,rice, or other grain or | | | | In modern times, the powerful healing properties of |
| canned vegetable to see the words "enriched" or | | | | essential oils were rediscovered in 1937 by a French |
| "fortified" on the side or label. What do those words | | | | chemist, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, who healed a |
| mean? Why does food need enrichment or | | | | badly burnt hand with pure lavender oil. A French |
| fortification? The answer is very simple, so simple in | | | | contemporary, Dr. Jean Valnet, used |
| fact that that the next time you go grocery | | | | therapeutic-grade essential oils to successfully treat |
| shopping, you will begin to see it everywhere! It will | | | | injured soldiers during World War II. Dr. Valnet went |
| be on at least one thing you bring home from the | | | | on to become a world leader in the development of |
| store and depending on how you shop, you might be | | | | aromatherapy practices. Since World War II, the |
| lucky to get home with one thing that isn't fortified | | | | modern use of essential oils has continued to grow |
| or enriched. They need to be enriched and fortified | | | | rapidly as health scientists, medical practitioners of |
| because they have been stripped and altered prior to | | | | both alternative and conventional disciplines continue |
| getting shelved at your local grocery store. | | | | to research and validate the numerous health and |
| Because of this process of stripping our food of vital | | | | wellness benefits of therapeutic-grade essential oils. |
| nutrients, minerals, and essential compounds, all | | | | Dr. David Hill is a medical expert who has been |
| Americans are told that we need to be taking a | | | | studying the effects and uses of essential oils and |
| "good vitamin supplement." There are so many out | | | | states "Essential oils are used for a very wide range |
| there that it is confusing to determine which ones | | | | of emotional and physical wellness applications. They |
| are going to be useful in our attempt to bolster our | | | | can be used as a single oil at a time or in complex |
| own diets. It is a meager attempt as most of the | | | | blends depending on user experience and desired |
| multi-vitamins that we consume are passed through | | | | benefit. Essential oils are usually administered by one |
| our digestive tract with minimal absorption by our | | | | of three methods: diffused aromatically, applied |
| intestines. I guess you could hypothesize that the | | | | topically, or taken internally as dietary supplements." |
| solid tablet form are going out the same way they | | | | When any of these methods are chosen, it is still |
| went in... as crap. | | | | important to remember that unless it is a pure |
| The worst is yet to come as far as our health and | | | | essential oil, you are only taking a compound of |
| wellness if we can't or don't change the way our | | | | chemicals into your body. It is vital that you consult |
| food is distributed and prepared. What other vital | | | | an expert in the discipline of essential oils before |
| constituents are being removed aside from the | | | | beginning an active regimen. |
| vitamins and minerals that we are not replacing on a | | | | Our sense of smell influences many physiological |
| day to day routine? Is there anyway to counter the | | | | pathways including the stimulation of hormones and |
| negative effects of our over-processed, fast on the | | | | other metabolic processes. Aromatherapy is founded |
| go, canned, fortified and enriched food source? The | | | | on the body's predictable response to specific |
| answer is a resounding YES! | | | | olfactory stimuli. Essential oils are widely used in |
| Unfortunately, the stripping of our foods is usually | | | | aromatherapy applications. Certain essential oils, when |
| irreversible once it is done. we can't take the same | | | | diffused in the air, can be very stimulating while |
| constituents that made up our fruits and vegetables | | | | others can be calming and soothing. Beyond emotional |
| or herbs and reconstitute them so that the same | | | | benefits, diffusing essential oils can purify air of |
| foods have the same chemical make-up and benefits | | | | unwanted odors created by pets or derived from |
| to us as we consume them. There are substances | | | | tobacco use as well as some airborne pathogens. |
| that are now being reintroduced as one of several of | | | | Low or no-heat essential oil diffusers are |
| the most beneficial substances that is stripped during | | | | recommended, as they do not change the chemical |
| the processing of our dietary foods is that being | | | | structure of the oil being diffused. Essential oils can |
| essential oils. | | | | also be used as cleansing and purifying additives to |
| Essential Oils are the essence of the plant and are | | | | laundry and surface cleaners throughout the home. |
| never derived from an animal source. This doesn't | | | | Because our senses can directly effect our hormone |
| mean that I advocate vegetarianism or veganism as | | | | balance and other bodily functions, it is important and |
| that is a specific choice with it's own dietary needs | | | | necessary to find the stimuli that can help to maintain |
| and choices. However essential oils are a good way | | | | the balance within our bodies. It is no wonder that |
| for vegetarians and vegans to supplement what they | | | | many of us today feel the after effects of so many |
| are lacking in their diets unless they grow all their | | | | man-made chemicals that have been stored and built |
| food themselves, but I digress. Essential oils are part | | | | up in our bodies be it through inhalation, or ingestion, |
| of the Alternative Medicine category but are | | | | we still have them with us. |
| becoming more and more relevant in Conventional | | | | We have all eaten processed foods that are only |
| Medicine as scientists are realizing the importance of | | | | good as empty calories, if we are lucky. Then, when |
| these very basic substances because of their wide | | | | we are lacking energy, we supplement the lack of |
| variety of constituents. | | | | energy from these fat-laden puffs of nothing-ness |
| Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in | | | | with energy drinks that are so crammed full of |
| the various parts of the plant, from the bark to the | | | | artificial stimulants that you are hoping to have a |
| roots to the leaves to the flowers. They can be both | | | | proverbial "Popeye moment" with a can of spinach |
| beautifully and powerfully fragrant. To test this, take | | | | and spring into action with nothing but the villainy you |
| the leaf of any fresh herb, like thyme or cilantro, and | | | | are personally facing destroyed with a quick one-two |
| rub the leaves in your hands. Take a deep breath | | | | combo. The reality is this, the outcome is usually the |
| and you can smell the essential oils. If you have ever | | | | shakes or jitters that precedes a crash leaving you |
| enjoyed the gift of a rose, walked by a field of | | | | lacking the rest of the day. Like all stimulants, |
| lavender or the fresh smell of cut mint then you | | | | eventually you will need to increase the dosing in |
| have experienced the aromatic qualities of essential | | | | order to acquire the same results. All of these habits |
| oils. Essential oils are ten times more powerful and | | | | and behaviors are caused because we as Americans |
| healthy than their dried herbal counterparts that are | | | | have decided that we want "bigger, better, faster, |
| often bottled and sprinkled to give food specific | | | | more!" and we want it yesterday! We need to start |
| flavors and aromas. These basic oils give the plants | | | | "deciding" and choosing to regain control over every |
| they are found in a distinctive smell but also provide | | | | aspect of our health. |
| protection against predators and assist in pollination. | | | | To rebalance your body and regain the natural |
| Essential oils are non water-based phytochemicals | | | | energy that you should be getting from a food |
| made up of volatile organic compounds. Although | | | | source, you need only explore the world of certified |
| they are fat soluble, they do not include fatty lipids | | | | pure therapeutic grade essential oils. |
| or acids found in vegetable and animal oils. Essential | | | | |