What Exactly is an Essential Oil?

Therapeutic-grade essential oils bring balance to yourperformance, without comprise. Make sure they
body. Pure oils truly have therapeutic value to them.adhere to the "four Ps": Plants, Preparation, Purity,
They have been used for centuries to kill bacteria,and Potency. The PLANTS need to be cultivated in
fungi and viruses. They also provide exquisiteexceptional soil and each crop needs to be harveted
fragrances to balance mood and lift spirits. However,at it's peak time. They need to be carefully distilled at
in order for the essential oils to make a difference inlow temperature and pressure to make sure that the
your life, it's important that you make sure that youoils maintain their quality and health benefits.
don't purchase adulterated oils - your health will payConcentrating on PURITY means that they are not
for it and it is not worth it.cut with alcohol or other cheap materials; also that
So, first of all, what exactly is an essential oil?they are free of chemicals, pesticides and heavy
Basically, it is to a plant what blood is to us - it is themetals. And of course POTENCY means that once
aromatic liquid in the plant that helps the nutrientsthe oils are bottled, they components are strong so
travel throughout the plant. When these essential oilsthat they can deliver the health results we want.
are distilled properly, they are highly concentrated andMake sure that the company does not accept ANY
far more potent than dried herbs, according to thebatches that have not been certified in
Essential Oils Desk Reference (EODR) book. It is theAFNOR-certified laboratories.
distillation process that makes these oils soPure essential oils bring balance to your body. They
concentrated. Many times it requires an entire planttruly have therapeutic value to them. It is best to
or more to produce one single drop of distilled oil.invest a little more purchasing HIGH quality, pure,
That is the reason why PURE, unadulterated essentialunadulterated essential oils than to purchase several
oils are so expensive.cases of adulterated ones that have no therapeutic
Unfortunately, many companies have adulterated andeffect on your body whatsoever. Make sure you
mislabeled essential oils, especially here in the Unitedknow the integrity of the company or vendor of
States. That means that synthetic extenders havethese oils that you are purchasing and don't settle for
been added which can cause a lot of dangers to ourless than that. Your health is counting on it. Make sure
health. Adulterated oils can cause rashes, burning andthe vendor sells the oils in dark, glass bottles so that
skin irritations. Those that have petrochemicals addedthe oils are not chemically altered or degraded over
to them, such as dipropylene glycol andtime. Also, when using the oils, make sure you have a
diethylphthalate, can all cause allergic reaction anduser guide that tells you how to use them properly -
they don't have any therapeutic effects. Mostdon't assume you know how to best apply or use a
consumers just think they want to save a buck soparticular oil. I know for a fact that Young Living
they are happy to buy the oils at $7- $10 at a healthalways sends a User Guide booklet every time they
food store, grocery store, beauty salon, etc., onlysend out an essential oil, so I can count on them
later to realize that the oil is not helping them in thewanting me to use it properly. Some other companies
least bit. So, then they decide essential oils reallymay do the same, but I am not familiar with them. If
have no therapeutic effect and people selling themyou want PURE, unadulterated essential oils, I highly
for a lot of money are just out there to make arecommend Young Living Essential Oils. If you choose
fortune. That is so far from the truth....to purchase from another company, make sure you
So how do you know if an essential oil truly is PUREresearch the company first to be confident that they
and unadulterated? First of all, you need to researchadhere to the "four Ps" standard that I mentioned
the company that is selling it. You need to know theearlier. This is the only way you will ensure to get
integrity of the company or vendor from which youtherapeutic-grade oils that deliver the results you
purchase your essential oil. First and foremost, makewant. Investing in lower-quality oils will simply be a
sure the company focuses on product quality andwaste of money.