Does the thought of using essential overwhelm you?

That’s exactly how I felt when a friend suggested I use them.  Then I kicked into research mode and decided to learn for myself what the excitement was about.

Have you ever stepped on pine needles while walking in the woods? Or sliced a lemon for your tea and smelled that fresh scent on your hands?  Those strong or distinctive smells come from aromatic compounds which occur naturally with in plants. That’s a simplistic explanation of essential oils.

If you are thinking about incorporating essential oils into your daily routine to boost immunity and support a healthy lifestyle, the videos and information within this site will help to educate you on the basics of using essential oils, reasons why oil purity is important, and how to decide which oil and how much to use.

What are essential oils?

They are natural compounds derived from plants, and have been used throughout history as a way to naturally care for and support overall health.

The Egyptians were some of the first people to use aromatic essential oils extensively in medical practice, beauty treatment, food preparation, and in religious ceremony.  You may have heard of Frankincense and Myrrh through the references to these oils in the bible.  Did you know that these oils are still used today and are two very awesome and powerful essential oils?

Essential Oils:

• are made from natural volatile aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants.
• provide plants with protection against environmental threats and play a role in plant pollination.  When essential oils are made from parts of the plant, they take on the regenerating, protective and immune-strengthening properties of plants.
• are powerful antioxidants and many varieties have antibacterial, antifungal, anti-infectious, antimicrobial, antitumor, antiparasitic, antiviral and antiseptic properties.
• are both small in molecular size and are also lipid soluble, allowing many of them to easily and quickly penetrate the skin.
• have been proven to also possess medicinal and therapeutic values and are growing in popularity among those of us who are looking for a more natural and organic way to manage our health, clean our homes, and care for our families.
• have been used by many cultures throughout history for food preparation, beauty treatment, and health-care practices and continue to be a staple in many households today.

Are all essential oils created equal? 

No, they are not!  That’s why there is such a wide range of pricing for essential oils.  You can find all types (or grades) of essential oils sold online and in retail establishments, but you’ll want to educate yourself on quality standards before using just any oil.

These volatile liquids are either distilled or cold pressed (citrus mainly) from various parts of the plant. Some manufacturers use fillers, synthetics or include weeds and other plant material in their oil production to get more volume to provide oil at a lower cost.  The oil industry isn’t yet regulated and just because the label says “Pure” or “Organic” doesn’t mean that it really is.

Producing pure oils can be very costly, because it requires several hundred (or thousand) pounds of plant material to extract one pound of pure essential oil.

Four grades of essential oils:

• Synthetic make up the majority of the essential oils sold.  Synthetic oils are used by the perfume industry and are purchased for their aromatic qualities only.  These oils are processed rapidly using high pressure and high heat.  They may smell great, but are lacking the all important chemical constituents necessary to utilize the therapeutic benefits of the oil.
• Food Grade oils are used for candies, mints, toothpaste, coffee and drink mixes.
• Therapeutic oils are a higher grade of oil used for their beneficial therapeutic values and could be found when getting a massage or spa treatment.
• Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG) is was a standard created by Doterra the brand of oil that I use to help consumers understand what their oil is made from. Oil with this grade has been tested by a third party to ensure that its quality and standards are met. These oils are certified pure and safe, free of fillers, pesticides and foreign contaminants, and contain the plant material variety shown on the label.

Pure, unadulterated essential oils are translucent and range in color from crystal clear to deep blue. Some lower priced essential oils may not be pure and could contain synthetic properties. Anything less than pure, therapeutic grade essential oil may not produce the desired results and in fact could be toxic. Remember you are breathing in these oils or putting them on your body. Quality is important. If you are ready to shop, hop on over to my online store www.mydoterra.com/danamitchell