Due to their complex chemical makeup they are known to exert influence on every aspect of Being, as well as every tissue in the body. Essential oils have been used troughout the ages to support human kind Spiritually, mentally, emotionally, socially, and physically. Many EOs are deemed sacred due to their ability to lift the Spirit, open the heart, expand the mind, and heal the body.
Today therapeutic grade essential oils (TGEOs) are recognized as some of the most
complex chemical compounds known. Their chemical constituents can number from 200
to 800, with less that half being identified and clearly understood as of yet. The
TGEO of one species of Lavender, for example – 35 different varieties have been identified
– has over 400 chemical constituents. Scientists have only identified what half
of all those constituents actually do. Almost all TGEOs have been shown to have
anti-
Because I do not consider myself all that “sensitive,” this experience was that much more dramatic. I had been working with TGEO’s for about 5 years when I had this experience. On the front counter of a health food store was a display of EO’s from an herb company I recognized. The manufacturer of the oils was also a respectable name I was familiar with. Picking up three (3) samplers of oil I commonly used I simply waved them under my nose. NOTE: I never made physical contact with the oils –I simply breathed them. To my surprise the products smelled foul. On inhaling the third sample, I instantly felt a wave of nausea. My wife said I lost all the
color in my face. Weak and unsteady, my vision suddenly collapse!! In minutes I
could no longer see anything clearly. Standing right in front of me, I could not
tell whether my wife was a person, a thing, or part of the background. Even more
frightening, I had no idea if what had just occurred was temporary or permanent!
It took 45 minutes to regain a sense of balance and stability. My sight did not
returned to normal for 2 hours! Buyer, be very aware! This is why I will only use
the finest TGEO’s available. Yes, they are potentially more expensive, but I know
they are safe and will harm no one.
Additionally they deliver exceptional results.
I am not trying to frighten anyone, but you do need to be informed.
As I experienced -
What’s so
Special About
Therapeutic Grade
Essential Oils?
The chemical constituents of TGEOs are vast. The following is a list of the major constituents that occur generally. They are divided into two groups:
Hydrocarbons = Monoterpenes Sesquiterpenes diterpenes
Oxygenated Compounds = Esters
Aldehydes
Ketones
Alcohols
Phenols
Oxides
Each of these includes a wide range of other constituents & involves a wide range of influences. It is this complexity & the essence of purity that sets the TGEO apart from the average commercial oil. And the presence of all these constituents in natural balance produces the therapeutic character(s).
What IS an Essential Oil?
“Essential Oils” are fragile, volatile, lipid (oil/fat) soluble fluids found throughout the plant kingdom. They are present in seeds, flowers, stems, leaves, roots, bark, fruit, and sap /resin of different plants. EO’s are as vital to the health of the plant as blood and lymph are to a human being. They are intimately tied to the botanic immune system and vital to healing. They protect the plant from invasion, bacterial infection, disease, heal injuries, and are the source of fragrance, pleasant or otherwise. In many cases they are NOT true “oils,” but may be more like alcohols, or heavy like resins. As they are oil soluble other natural oils are used to stabilize them for practical application.
How Are TGEOs Used?
It is important to take into consideration individual sensitivity to certain chemistries. Some EOs can be irritating to the skin, like cinnamon oil, oregano oil or oil of thyme, for example. Putting a little oil on the sensitive underside of the forearm is a way to test for sensitivity. If sensitivity is present dilute the oil with another pure oil (almond or olive) and test it again before using it topically.
Traditionally, oils are applied to various parts of the body, depending on the context for which they are being used. Because of their high oxygen content and the tiny molecular size, EO’s penetrate the body very quickly and easily. EO’s applied to the soles of the feet can move through the entire body in a matter of twenty minutes. Thus they make excellent natural remedies depending on the issue. General points for application include the soles of the feet, the thin skin on the arms, around the naval, over the liver, over the heart, on the chest, at the base of the neck, front or back, across the top of the shoulders, down the spine, on the temples, and on the forehead. Again, the place a person applies an EO will depend a lot on the reason for its use. EO’s can be used topically on the skin, in food, in water, and if fully understood, put in capsules an taken internally (use caution). They can be added to baths, lotions, and diluted or extended with natural oils.
Because TGEOs are more potent, it is wise to start with one or two oils and get use to them first. Later, multiple oils may be used, “layering” them one at a time on top of each other for greater benefit.
increasingly resistance to medicinal (synthetic) anti-
So what is the difference between a “therapeutic grade” essential oil and the average EO sold in reputable health food stores? It isn’t necessarily the scent.
First understand that most American commercial fragrances are synthetic, made from manipulated petrochemicals. These ARTIFICIAL scents bear no relationship to nature, though commercial marketing “laws” allow them to be used in products advertised “100 % natural.” These synthetic fragrances go into the plethora of scented candles, so called “air fresheners”, cleaning products, laundry detergents, soaps, and expensive colognes and perfumes, to mention just a few. As a result of this assault on the senses, the American nose is the LEAST discerning in the world.
Marketing policies allow these synthetic chemical fragrances to go largely untested for allergic reactions in people. As a result the sense of smell gets numbed. Consumers plagued with allergies and/or respiratory illness may never think to question the “breath of freshness” they are unsuspectingly spraying into their environments or washing into their clothing. Anyone who has ever gotten an instant headache walking down the detergent isle at a supermarket, or being close to someone wearing an excess of perfume, has experienced such a TOXIC reaction!
With regards to commercial essential oils, the FDA has specified a “Grade A” commercial essential oil need only contain 5 to 7% actual essential oil by volume. That means a company can produce a “Grade A” essential oil product containing cheap oil, industrial solvents (used to strip the maximum amount of oil from plant bases), chemical stabilizers, synthetic oils, and a myriad of other potentially harmful ingredients for the sake of capitalizing on consumer interest. They may even advertise such a product in a health food store as “100% Natural Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil,” because they added a few drops of a cheap TGEO into their mix. Such commercial EO companies have NO genuine understanding of what constitutes a pure TGEO, nor care as long as their product “smells good” and sells. This also means they will have little or no idea concerning the toxicity or harmful side effects of the industrial chemicals that may be present in their products.
As consumers you need to be acutely aware of this
and only use the highest quality oils you can find.
Maintaining the fragile & complex therapeutic compounds found in EO’s is a science and art. It involves authentification and careful selection of the plant species. Different species of the same plant have different levels of therapeutic constituents. Then there is the quality of seed stock, purity of the soil, time of harvest, low temperature distillation, thorough chemical analysis, informed formulation, and a high quality bottling process. The biochemical nature of a plant can be affected by a wide range of variables, including: geographic region, climate, weather, altitude, soil conditions and chemistry, type of fertilizer, if any (organic or petrochemical), and so on. The plants must be grown under ideal conditions for the best yield according to species. Likewise the season, time, and method of harvesting plays a major role in the yield of oil. EO’s must be distilled with low heat to protect the most delicate therapeutic characteristics of an oil. Consistently obtaining the highest levels of the full range of therapeutic constituents, for both single oils and oil “blends” (combinations) requires sophisticated full spectrum chemical analysis of each batch of oil. Plant chemistry can change from one season to another requiring adjustments in growing, harvesting, and/or distillation. And there are no isolated “active ingredients” in Nature, contrary to commercial marketing hype. Most companies are NOT willing to invest in this kind of attention to research, detail, or effort.
Two points consumers should consider to appreciate the higher quality of TGEOs:
1) The amount of botanical product needed to produce one (1) pound of a high quality oil can be staggering. It takes 5000 POUNDS of rose petals to steam distill 1 lb of pure rose oil. To produce a single pound of pure melissa oil requires three (3) TONS of plant material. One (1) pound of lavender oil requires 250 pounds of lavender blossoms.
Most of the oil produced in the world is used by the perfume industry, rated “C” grade oil. What does that tell you? It may smell nice, but it is made using chemical solvents, high heat, and high pressure distillation for maximum yields where the aromatic character is the only concern. Such oils contain virtually no therapeutic quality, but may be used as a filler in commercial “therapeutic” essential oils sold in health food stores.
2) The second point people should know is the incredibly sensitive nature of EO chemistry. When oils A,B,C, & D, are mixed in sequence they yield a particular chemistry. Simply changing the order, D,A,B,C, will create another chemistry; C,A,B,D another; A,C,B,D, yet another, and so on. Creating TGEO “blends” is a genuine art requiring extensive understanding of the chemistry of each oil involved and how it melds with another. It is a far cry from simply pouring one into another for a pleasant aroma. It is this sensitive chemistry that also makes TGEOs so profoundly beneficial.
This incredible chemistry is the reason so many TGEOs are “heterogenic,” or applicable to a wide range of conditions. Peppermint oil, for example, can be used for calming or stimulating. 2 drops in a quart of water is great for cooling the body and helping a person handle hot weather. It is good for headaches, upset stomach, pain, sprains, mental clarity, depression, respiratory conditions, sore throats, and much more. TGEO lavender oil is exceptional for any kind of burn. Put several drops in a spray bottle for cool relief of sunburn pain. Lavender is beneficial for such a wide range of different concerns it is regarded as universally applicable.
Hopefully, this explanation provides the clarity to understand the value of higher quality oils and why they are worth every cent. Again, I encourage you to buy the best you can find.
A True Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil
© Newton E. Bunce
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