What are Essential Oils?

An essential oil is a concentrated liquid containing aroma compounds from plants. Essential oils are simply the "oil of" the plant from which they were extracted, such as oil of clove. An oil is "essential" in the sense that it contains the "essence of" the plant's fragrance—the characteristic fragrance of the plant from which it is derived.

Essential oils have been used for thousands of years for cosmetic purposes, as well as for their spiritually and emotionally uplifting properties. Young Living has always been at the forefront of bringing this ancient tradition to modern users, introducing millions to a total mind/body wellness they may never have dreamed possible.

Primarily extracted through careful steam distillation but also through cold pressing, the purest essential oils are far more powerful than the botanicals from which they were extracted. Any time you hold a bottle of Young Living essential oils, you are holding nature's pure essence.

What is a Carrier Oil?

You will hear us frequently use the phrase 'carrier oils'. Since this is not a well-known phrase to all, here is an explanation for you. 

Q:  What is a carrier oil?
Answer:  A carrier oil is a vegetable oil that can be used to dilute Essential Oils. Grapeseed oil, fractionated coconut oil, avacado oil, argan oil , jojoba oil, and Young Living's V-6 Vegetable Oil Complex are some of the many excellent carrier oils available. Since it is commonly found in household kitchens, olive oil can be used but many avoid it due to thickness and aroma.  
Note: Jojoba oil is not for internal consumption.

Q:  What does a carrier oil do?
Answer:  A carrier oil ensures that essential oils can be comfortably applied topically. The carrier oil does not dilute the essential oils' effectiveness.  

Q:  Why should I use a carrier oil?
Answer:  A carrier oil prevents waste due to excessive application and helps you spread the essential oil more evenly on the skin. It also stretches your dollar because you use less of the essential oil in your application. Some consumers use a carrier oil in their gel-caps to make a 'hot oil' like cinnamon more stomach friendly.

Q:  What oils are unsuitable as carrier oils?
Answer:  Vegetable shortening, butter, margarine or petroleum jelly should never be used as carrier oils. Over processing makes them unsuitable.

Three ways to use oils!

There are 3 ways to use essential oils. Each bottle is labeled to tell you how you can use each oil.

Aromatically

Use your diffuser or the diffuser from your starter kit. Add water to the fill line then add 2-6 drops of essential oil. Start small and add more if you need more. The less oil you use each time you diffuse the further your oils will go. The diffuser breaks the oils into teeny tiny drops that you inhale.
   
If you don't have a diffuser, you can also add a drop to the palm of your hand, cup your hands together then inhale or inhale straight from the bottle.  

Topically

This is where dilution comes in handy. Use a carrier oil to dilute your oil as necessary before applying it on skin. Check for skin sensitivity. Some oils are considered “hot” oils (meaning they will be very warm or hot on the skin and have a higher risk of sensitivity) such as cinnamon, clove, lemongrass, peppermint, oregano, thyme, Exodus II, and Thieves. Again if the skin is feeling hot, do not use water, but a carrier oil rubbed on your skin to help dilute it.

The best place to use essential oils is behind the ears, on the wrist, in the crook of the elbow, and on the bottoms of your feet. The bottoms of your feet have over 200,000 nerve endings and using oils there can help send oily goodness through your entire body!

Internally

A bottle will be labeled dietary supplement if it can be taken internally. If dietary supplement is not on the bottle, do NOT take them internally.

Put a few drops of oil into an empty gel capsule and swallow it. Empty capsules can be purchased through Young Living as well as online or in health food stores. 

Add oils directly to a glass of water or stainless cup (don't use plastic!!). Yes you can drink the oils this way. All of the citrus oils taste amazing in water and are wonderful in teas.

Finally, add a drop under the tongue. This is the fastest way for the body to absorb the oils but be careful with 'hot' oils!

*Please note that the information above about ingesting oils is to be taken at your own risk.  Studies have not shown nor disproved the use of ingesting oils to be helpful nor harmful.  Ann is erring on the side of not ingesting most....only the citrus ones in water or tea.

Oil Safety

Oh, my... This is a subject that I wish I had paid more attention to. When I first started using oils, I put lemongrass on my neck after a shower. I was a newbie and I'm not ashamed to say it. Lemongrass was an oil that I had used several times but this morning my skin started burning. 'Wow!', I thought, 'this is different, I should try to wipe some off'. The only problem was that it had mostly absorbed into my skin so rubbing it off didn't really make a difference. Next I tried washing it off with water. BIG mistake, it then started feeling like a fire on my neck. I'm not kidding, it was starting to get really uncomfortable. I even pulled out my phone to take a pic of my skin and see what was going on. Finally, I remembered reading something about oil dissolving oil in an oil face washing post (I'll share about oil cleansing with you another day). I grabbed some coconut oil and rubbed in on my neck and the burning finally dissipated. Woohoo!  Win for the newbie. I learned a quick but important lesson that day.

We want you to be safe when you use your oils!!  Don't do what I did. To help you here is a quick list of dos and don'ts for you to keep in mind when dealing with essential oils.     ~Leah


Oil Safety

• Essential oils are NOT water-soluble, they are oil-soluble. If an oil gets in your eyes or begins to burn your skin a little, DO NOT try to remove the oil with water – it will only drive it in deeper. Use a carrier oil, such as coconut oil or Young Living’s V-6, to dilute an EO if you have used too much.
• Some oils are photosensitive, meaning they should not be used on your skin before exposure to direct sunlight or UV rays. Using a photosensitive oil prior to sunlight or UV exposure could lead to pigmentation changes, rashes or cause your skin to burn. Photosensitive oils include lemon, orange, grapefruit, mandarin, bergamot, angelica, etc. A reference book (The EO Pocket Reference book) can provide guidance on which oils are photosensitive.
• Caution should be used in pregnancy when using oils containing elements with hormone-like activity such as sage, clary sage, and fennel. Although no adverse reactions have been recorded in humans when using these oils during pregnancy, caution should be used. Always check with your doctor before using oils during pregnancy.
• Dilute oils for infants and small children 1-2 drops of pure essential oil to 1/2 – 1 teaspoon of carrier oil (coconut, V-6, etc.). The EO Pocket Reference book has a section on children.
  
• Do not drop oils directly in the ear canal, though they can be used diluted on the outer back area of the ear, under the ear lobe and down the throat (for an earache, for instance). Oils can also be placed on a cotton ball, which can then be placed in the ear.
• Do not drop oils directly in the eye. It will most likely sting and cause the eye to water (though it will not damage the eye). If oils get in the eye, a drop of V-6 carrier oil in the eye will provide immediate relief.
• Particular care should be taken when using cinnamon bark, lemongrass, oregano, and thyme – they are some of the strongest and most caustic oils.  It is best to dilute these with a carrier.
• Use extreme caution when diffusing cinnamon bark because it can burn your nostrils if you inhale it directly from the diffuser.
• Keep oils away from light and heat (over 90 degrees). They can maintain their maximum potency for many years if stored properly.
• Oils can dissolve plastics, petrochemicals, and paint due to the oil's potency. When adding oils to a drink, use a glass cup instead of plastic. After using your oil, make sure the outside of the bottle is free of oil. Use caution when setting a bottle of oil on a painted surface – if oil gets on the paint, the paint may dissolve right off!

What are Essential Oils Used For?

If you don't have an idea what essential oils are good for, here is a good list for you to start with. Hint, they aren't just to make your house smell nice!  

Weight Loss

1. Lemon
2. Peppermint
3. Grapefruit

Use the oils in water (citrus oils taste great in water, but start slow with 1 drop as they can cause detox symptoms.) Peppermint is a hot oil, so for things like this capsules are recommended if you ingest.

Sleep Issues 

1. Lavender
2. Cedarwood
3. Peace & Calming
4. Valerian.

Rub a drop behind the ears, between the eyes on the forehead, or on the wrists.

Allergies

1. Lavender
2. Peppermint
3. Lemon
Add 3 drops of each to a capsule or mix in a bottle and add carrier oil and add to back of neck, base of skull. If having a major allergy attack, add a drop of lavender and swipe inside the cheek.  It doesn't taste so great but works every time!

Colds 

1.RC - add a drop to the chest and rub in to help cough 
2.Purification - add a drop and rub down outside of throat to help with sore throat
3.Thieves - add to bottom of feet to relieve cold symptoms and help feel better sooner, gargle with a drop in water to help sore throat or add to a diffuser to kill germs in the air
4.Peppermint - add to spine and arm pits to help with fever
5.Breathe Again - add to sides of nose to help with stuffy nose
6.Raven - add to forehead, down sinuses to help with sinus pressure
7.Citrus oils - add 1-2 drops to a glass of water and drink

Energy

1.Lemon- add to diffuser or take internally (2 drops of each) 
2.EnRGee - diffuse or add to bottoms of feet or wrists

Stomach Issues 

1.Digize - rub counter clockwise to stomach in a clockwise motion or take internally 
2.Fennel - take 2-3 drops internally for gas 
3.Peppermint - take internally or with added carrier oil to stomach 

Focus 

This is my favorite focus blend for overly active children. Add a roller top to Vetiver and apply to bottoms of the big toes. Also, mix equal parts Frankincense, Orange,Valor and Carrier Oil then apply on the Back of neck, base of skull.

Questionable Decisions.

Do you remember the TV commercial for Prego spaghetti sauce where the lady remembers all her questionable decisions? I saw it again the other day and it made me think of a couple of MY questionable decisions.  Hindsight is 20/20 right?

Questionable Decision #1
I am an avid rubber stamper and have been since 1987. I own dozens of punches used to create my cards and projects. My thumb soon discovered that having something to help me push down would be very helpful! I went on the search for punching aide. There were several but they were WAY different in price. The first one was only about $25 and it fit into my budget much better than the $70 Mega Strong aide. The budget won and the $25 model came home with me. After using it for a while, I liked the ability to get the job done while saving my thumbs! THEN, it happened. The paper I used one day was slightly thicker than normal and the handle of my punch aide snapped in two! AUGH!!!!!!  Right in the middle of my big project too. The product failure came at the worst time. I had a decision to make........do I purchase another $25 model or spring for the big boy. Guess which one came home with me that day!  I got the Mega Strong one! The assurance of getting the job done without the potential of breaking again made the extra cost more bearable. I have no regretted my decision. The new aide was wonderful making me wish I had purchased it first.

Questionable Decision #2
Now, enter in my essential oils questionable decision. When my mother and I discovered the benefits of essential oils, we were really excited to get some of that oily goodness for ourselves! A website offered a BOGO deal at a VERY good price. Awesome, we thought, we could each have our own set. We made multiple orders over time.

THEN, my friend introduced me to Young Living oils. Hmmmm.......the cost certainly was more than the oils we have already purchased. Would they truly be worth the extra?  She told me she found YL oils to be WAY different. I was skeptical......BUT, I decided that I could spring for the Premium Starter Kit. It was a pretty good deal and I could get the oils at almost half price!

My friend suggested I conduct a smell test once I received my YL oils. The smell test was revealing. The peppermint oils were tested first. I enjoyed using my original peppermint oils (in cooking and topically) and wanted to see if there was truly THAT much difference. The YL peppermint oil was opened smelled. Ummmmm..........it smelled like I went into my garden, picked a few peppermint leaves and crushed them in my fingers. Then I opened the first of the two other brands. Wow........it was totally NOT what I expected. The oil smelled like peppermint but it had an 'edge' that really wasn't all that pleasant. The second brand was the one I had been using in my cooking. It smelled even worse. There was a chemical undertone that I had missed before. Additionally, both had a sweeter candy cane smell that was far from the fresh herb.  This revelation really took me by surprise. I truly didn't think there would be that much difference, but I was totally wrong.

So, I dug out more of my original oils and tested them the same way. The originals each seemed to have this 'edge' to them that I truly didn't find appealing after smelling a pure oil. I tested Lemon, Lavender, and Frankincense. Frankincense was one of the most different. I kept hearing ladies say that they LOVED the smell of Frankincense. I didn't agree, but I was smelling my original brand. When I got my YL Frankincense, I found out why they were saying they loved it. It was just so amazingly different.

WHY????????? Why, were they so different? As I looked into this I learned that purity was everything!!! YL has a Seed to Seal quality commitment. Ahhhhhh! It made total sense to me then. I watched the videos on each process from acquisition of the seed all the way through to the process of applying the label to the bottle. This control assures that Young Living products are top notch!

My other oils are being replaced!!

Click here to view the Seed to Seal process for yourself.

Adulterated Oils - Guest Author - Stacy Manfredi

We are very excited today to have an experienced oiler share some of her knowledge with us! This article has some valuable information about the quality of your oils.  Hope you enjoy.









Adulterated Oils...why you need to be super careful!!

By Stacy Manfredi 

I want to talk about adulterated oils today. There has been much talk about why buy Young Living oils when you can buy a cheaper oil at the grocery or health food store. I have done a lot of reading and researching about essential oils. If I was going to use these on my family, I wanted them to be safe!! Here is a good read:

Quoted from Essential Oils Desk Reference by Life Science Publishing

"Today much of the lavender oil sold in America is the hybrid called lavandin, grown and distilled in China, Russia, France and Tasmania. It is brought into France and cut with synthetic lunalyl acetate to improve the fragrance. Then propylene glycol, DEP or DOP (solvents that have no smell and increase the volume) are added and it is sold in the United States as lavender oil.

Often lavendin is heated to evaporate the camphor and then is adulterated with synthetic linalyl acetate. Most consumers don't know the difference and are happy to buy it for $7 to $10 per half ounce in health food stores, beauty salons, grocery and department stores and through mail order. This is one of the reason why it is important to know about the integrity of the company or vendor from which you purchase your essential oils.

Frankincense is another example of a commonly adulterated oil. The frankincense resin that is sold in Somalia costs between $30,000 and $35,000 per ton. A great deal of time- 12 hours or more- is required to properly steam-distill this essential oil from the resin, making the oil very expensive. Frankincense oil that sells for $25 per ounce or less is cheaply distilled from gum resins, alcohol or other solvents, leaving the essential oil laden with harmful chemicals. Sadly when these cut, synthetic and adulterated oils cause rashes, burns, or other irritations, people wonder whey they do not get the benefit they expected and conclude that essential oils do not have much value."  (excerpt from Essential Oils Desk Reference by Life Science Publishing)

The book goes into further detail about adulteration and how dangerous it is for people to opt for the cheaper lesser quality oils since they could be potentially dangerous. This is one of the biggest reasons why I chose Young Living. If you are thinking about using essential oils, I highly recommend Young Living. I wouldn't trust any other company's claims about quality and purity.