Young Living Therapeutic Grade: The Plants

I have been using Young Living's EOs in my home and massage studio for almost a decade. They truly are the "Cadillac" line of therapeutic-grade essential oils. The consistency in quality and benefits is second to none. I decided long ago to pass on the cheaper, inferior, or just "ok" aromatherapy and stay with the best!

The goal of Young Living Essential Oils has always been to share the health benefits of essential oils with the world. This goal involves knowing which essential oils are truly therapeutic-grade and which are inferior.

Every essential oil Young Living distills or sources has the optimal naturally-occurring blend of plant chemicals to maximize the desired therapeutic effect. When Young Living inspects potential oils from partner distilleries, more than 70% fail to meet their stringent standard for potency.

Let's take a look at the the Four P's that guarantee the optimal potency of every Young Living essential oil:

Plants

Preparation

Purity

Potency

PLANTS

The key to producing true Young Living Therapeutic Grade (YLTG) essential oils begins with each plant. An oil's potency can be affected not only by selecting the proper plant to cultivate, but also where the plant is grown, the quality of soil in which the seed is planted, and even the time of day it is harvested.

Young Living has extensive experience selecting the correct species of plant for desired oil potency, planting under the optimal conditions, using ideal soil and natural methods to encourage growth, and knowing the precise time to harvest each crop. They select only those plants that produce the most active and widest array of therapeutic chemical constituents. Only plants that meet that standard are used, otherwise no amount of preparation can extract YLTG oils.

Young Living will continue to perfect growing and harvesting techniques using their network of farms in Idaho, Utah, France, and Ecuador.

To learn more about Young Living and their fabulous products, be sure to check out the beautiful video presentation From Seed to Abundance! Your purchase of Young Living products through my website provides me with commissions to keep Oils For Wellness up and running.

EO Facts #4 : Essential Oil Labeling

I am an avid label reader, anyone who shops with me can testify to that fact! When it comes to aromatherapy it sure can be confusing to figure out WHAT is actually in the bottle you are purchasing. In the previous installment of EO Facts I have explained that all aromatherapy is NOT created equal. We must obtain the purest therapeutic grade essential oils if our intention is to use them for medicinal/therapeutic purposes and achieve the results we desire. I have seen many people "quit" aromatherapy because they were using inferior oils that yielded little to no results.

When it comes to labeling, essential oil producers can legally state that the bottle contains "100% pure essential oils" if the bottle does contain SOME essential oils that are 100% pure and the rest of the contents can be who knows what.

A common practice of adulteration or stretching of EOs is the use of essential oils from another similar smelling species of plant or synthetically produced substances created in a lab that mimic certain chemical characteristics of the essential oils.

Remember that it is the chemistry of EOs that gives them their therapeutic properties. True lavender produced according to the therapeutic grade standard contains around 400 different therapeutic molecules. Synthetic lavender contains about 7. We can't expect a product with 393 types of molecules missing to offer the same results as the pure plant oil!

Some examples of essential oil labeling that I have encountered over the years:

• 100% Pure Essential Oil ( how much of it is pure and is it produced for therapeutic use?)
• Certified Organic Essential Oil (grown without pesticides-not necessarily therapeutic quality)
• Analyzed Essential Oil (huh?)
• 100% Natural Essential Oil (natural doesn't mean therapeutic)
• Wildcrafted Essential Oil ( from wild plants, not necessarily therapeutic quality)
• 100% Guaranteed Essential Oil (guaranteed what?)

In the following posts we will explore what sets Young Living Therapeutic Grade essential oils apart from these and other EOs that may even be labeled as "therapeutic grade".

Quote of the Week

"A tree is known by its fruit;

a man by his deeds.

A good deed is never lost;

he who sows courtesy reaps friendship,

and he who plants kindness gathers love."- Basil

Urgent Prayer Requests

I know two sisters in Christ that need your prayers! I just found MckMama's family blog last week. See the details of little Stellan's health struggle by clicking the photo above.

Please also pray for my prayer partner Rebecca and her best friend's family who suddenly lost a husband and father. You can read the whole account at Rebecca's blog Oceans From The Rain.

Essential Tip of the Week: Wart Removal

Thieves® was created by Young Living Essential Oils based on research about four thieves in France who covered themselves with cloves, rosemary, and other aromatics while robbing plague victims. This proprietary essential oil blend was university tested for its cleansing abilities. It is highly effective in supporting the immune system and good health. Read the booklet about this amazing oil blend and the product line formulated with its powerful, pure, natural , chemical-free bacteria fighting properties. A great way to "green" your home and health care!

Here is a great tip for using Thieves for removing warts that was submitted by one of my customers:

"I wanted to thank you for your advice in using Thieves oil on my 9-year old daughter's wart on her foot. She had tried a number of over-the-counter medicines with the only result being it grew! By the time we began the twice-daily regimine with Thieves on a cotton swab, the wart was just under the size of a dime. My daughter actually liked the smell of this medicine and began applying it herself. I am happy to report the wart completely disappeared in less than a month and my daughter is thrilled. Thank you Jen; your products work!!!"

Cherie

To order Thieves Essential Oil Blend or any other Young Living products please contact me or visit my website to order.

Jen's UBP Wish List

Welcome to Oils For Wellness! My name is Jen and I live in western Wisconsin with my husband of almost 5 years.Our little guy is 28 months old and his mama's favorite person in the whole world!
Oils For Wellness combines my three other passions: faith, writing, and natural medicine. I will be celebrating my first "blogiversary" in July. I am amazed at the fascinating variety of blogging moms out there. So much fun getting to know you!

My top 3 prizes on my wish list are:

1. #19 $50 Target Gift Card from Beginner Baby Blog
2. #113 $25 Office Max Gift Card from Multitasking Mama
3. #75 Original Baby Name Gift from Cutebabynamegifts.com

Others on my list are #2, #12, #26, #21, # 27, #44, #50, #19, and any others!

Ultimate Blog Party Prize Package

Oils For Wellness is giving away a copy of Aromatherapy For The Healthy Child by Valerie Worwood and a sampler of Young Living Essential Oils during the 5 Minutes For Mom Ultimate Blog Party 2009!

Aromatherapy For The Healthy Child is an indispensable guide for every parent who thinks proactively about their children's long-term physical and mental health. Powerful yet safe, aromatherapy is a sound way to treat everything from diaper rash to asthma to self-esteem troubles in children. Many complaints such as aches and coughs that might otherwise have to wait for a visit to the doctor can be addressed immediately at home, using the healing power of nature.

Valerie Ann Worwood offers an array of scientifically proven remedies, along with complete charts of essential oils and instructions for aromatherapy massage. She explanisn how aromatherapy massage can help a child feel emotionally secure and physically healthy. Worwood also describes how aromatherapy can benefit seriously ill children when used in conjunction with Western medicine.

Valerie Ann Worwood, one of the world's leading aromatherapists, has been practicing for more than 20 years. here many books include "The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy", "The Fragrant Mind", "The Fragrant Heavens", and "Scents & Scentuality." She lives in Essex, England.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part 1 - The Essentials of Nature's Healing ToolsChapter 1: The Essentials
Chapter 2: Using Essential Oils
Chapter 3: The Basic Care Kit for Children

Part 2 - Treating Children with Essential Oils & Aromatherapy
Chapter 4: The A-Z of Conditions
Chapter 5: The Seriously Ill Child
Chapter 6: Mind, Mood, and Emotion

The Young Living Essential Oil Sampler

Lavender:(Lavandula angustifolia) fights infection,soothes burns, promotes wound healing,calms anxiety and nervous conditions and much more.

Peace and Calming Blend:(tangerine,ylang ylang,blue tansy,orange, and patchouli) Great for diffusing for relaxation and a sense of peace, helping to calm tensions and uplift spirits. Excellent for ADD/ADHD,autism,and depression in kids and adults. Yummy citrus-y scent that makes kids ask for it every day!

Tea Tree:(Melaleuca alternifolia)fights infection,fungus,and inflammation. Essential for first aid and also head lice,sore throats,thrush,bronchial congestion and much more.

Roman Chamomile:(Matricaria recutita)is excellent for pain relief from muscle spasms, teething, eczema, fevers, and constipation.

RC Blend:(contains 3 species of Eucalyptus and also Myrtle,Pine,Spruce,Marjoram,Lavender,Peppermint)One of my favorite blends for relief from colds, bronchitis, sore throats, sinusitis,coughs, and respiratory congestion. Decongests sinus passages, combats lung infections, and helps relieve allergy symptoms.

Lemon:(Citrus limon)helps remove gum,oil,grease spots,glue or adhesive, and crayon from most surfaces. Can be combined in a spray bottle with water to help cleanse and sanitize toys, high chairs,or as a fruit and vegetable wash. A few drops of this powerful antioxidant Young Living essential oil supplement makes a delicious sugar- free lemonade when mixed with cold water,ice, and Stevia sweet herb powder.

Best wishes for winning this prize package (# 11 at UBP).Discover a fun and fragrant way to keep your little ones healthy! Visit 5 Minutes For Mom to enter the giveaway!

5M4M Ultimate Blog Party Starts Tomorrow!

Oils For Wellness will be joining in the fun during The 5 Minutes For Mom Ultimate Blog Party 2009! Check out the prize page, you will find my giveaway at #11, so be sure to enter to win. I will be highlighting my prize package this week so stop back here for more details soon. The giveaways are open to bloggers and non-bloggers as well. Tell your friends!!

My Interview with Christian Business Woman

Tirzah at Christian Business Woman is dedicated to the support, encouragement, and promotion of Christian women and their businesses.

Please visit CBW to read the interview with Oils For Wellness!

If you are a Christian entrepreneur, be sure to contact Tirzah about having your own interview.

Another Good Reason To Choose Essential Oils For Body Care!

Probable Carcinogens Found in Baby Toiletries
By Lyndsey Layton

Washington Post Staff Writer

Friday, March 13, 2009; Page A04

More than half the baby shampoo, lotion and other infant care products analyzed by a health advocacy group were found to contain trace amounts of two chemicals that are believed to cause cancer, the organization said yesterday.

Some of the biggest names on the market, including Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo and Baby Magic lotion, tested positive for 1,4-dioxane or formaldehyde, or both, the nonprofit Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reported.

The chemicals, which the Environmental Protection Agency has characterized as probable carcinogens, are not intentionally added to the products and are not listed among ingredients on labels. Instead, they appear to be byproducts of the manufacturing process. Formaldehyde is created when other chemicals in the product break down over time, while 1,4-dioxane is formed when foaming agents are combined with ethylene oxide or similar petrochemicals.

The organization tested 48 baby bath products such as bubble bath and shampoo. Of those, 32 contained trace amounts of 1,4-dioxane and 23 contained small amounts of formaldehyde. Seventeen tested positive for both chemicals.

"Our intention is not to alarm parents, but to inform parents that products that claim to be gentle and pure are contaminated with carcinogens, which is completely unnecessary," said Stacy Malkan, a spokeswoman for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which is calling for the government to more strictly regulate personal care products such as shampoo, lotion and makeup.

Companies that manufacture and sell the products tested by the group stressed that they comply with government standards.

"The FDA and other government agencies around the world consider these trace levels safe, and all our products meet or exceed the regulatory requirements in every country where they are sold," Johnson & Johnson said in a statement. "We are disappointed that the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has inaccurately characterized the safety of our products, misrepresented the overwhelming consensus of scientists and government agencies that review the safety of ingredients, and unnecessarily alarmed parents."

The European Union has banned 1,4-dioxane as an ingredient in personal care products, but the Food and Drug Administration has not established a safe limit for the chemical in shampoo, lotion and other toiletries. It maintains that the trace amounts found in those products are not harmful.

A 1982 study by the FDA showed that 1,4-dioxane can penetrate human skin when used in lotion.

Health advocates argue, however, that federal regulators have not considered the cumulative effect of chemicals in personal care products.

"The levels we've found are relatively low, and the industry often says there's just a little bit of carcinogen in my product," Malkan said. "The problem is, we're finding a little bit of carcinogen in many products. Many of these products are used every day, so we've got repeated and frequent exposure to these low levels of chemicals. They're not the safest and purest products, and parents ought to know that."

In addition, government studies have not examined the effect of chemical exposure on the particular vulnerabilities of infants and children, whose bodies are still developing, the advocates said.

Several Democratic lawmakers said the report is evidence that the nation's chemical regulation system needs to be changed.

"The fact that we are bathing our kids in products contaminated with carcinogens shows how woefully out of date our cosmetics laws are and how urgently they need to be updated," said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (Ill.). "The science has moved forward; now the FDA needs to catch up and be given the authority to protect the health of Americans."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) called the findings "horrifying" and said she intends to introduce legislation that would require stronger oversight of the cosmetics industry.

The report can be found at http://www.safecosmetics.org/toxictub.

Check out the safe, chemical free KidScents Lotion , Shampoo, and Bath Gel from Young Living for your little ones!

Quote of the Week

Never Be Discouraged

There is really nothing we need know

or even try to understand

If we refuse to be discouraged

and trust God's guiding hand.

So take heart and meet each minute

with faith in God's great love,

Aware that every day of life

is controlled by God above...

And never dread tomorrow

or what the future brings,

Just pray for strength and courage

and trust God in all things.

And never grow discouraged

be patient and just wait

For "God never comes to early

and He never comes too late!"

Helen Steiner Rice

From Seed To Abundance...in 10 Minutes!

I am so excited to announce my newly launched Vibrant Scents Young Living website featuring the Everyday Oils Collection.

Enjoy a wealth of information on essential oils.

Be sure to register

and watch the short presentation:

"From Seed to Abundance"

Be inspired

to join me on a

fun, fragrant, and fascinating journey

with Young Living Essential Oils!

Book Spotlight: He's Not Autistic But...

I could not put this book down! Not on the subject of aromatherapy, but a must-have for any mom to read. The author exudes amazing faith that ultimately leads her and her son to find the origin and cure for their illnesses using natural medicine and prayer. I was greatly inspired by her story and after the book description below, I have included the prayer that Tenna penned in her book. May your belief in prayer and healing be challenged and bolstered by this mother's journey.

He's Not Autistic But...: How We Pulled Our Son from the Mouth of the Abyss
By Tenna Merchent

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 166 children is born with autism. Tenna Merchent is only too familiar with this frightening statistic as she feared her own son might suffer from this devastating disorder. When her son was born, he seemed healthy. But by the time he was six weeks old, the infant cried for hours each evening if he wasn't constantly nursed. As the months went on, Clay frequently was seriously ill.

By the time he was two years old, he could say only a few words, would bang his head for no apparent reason, often walked on his toes, was severely allergic to numerous things, constantly sick, and suffered from nose and chest congestion. He had systemic yeast, was terrified by sudden noises, wouldn't sleep for more than two hours straight, and was unhappy most of the time. All of his symptoms pointed to the possibility of autism. And to make matters worse, Merchent herself became seriously ill.

This book describes her journey through traditional medicine, then the move to alternative care. The miracles begin when she discovers a master herbalist who reveals to her the primary cause of their ill health: aluminum. The simplicity of fully curing both herself and her son is astounding, and she illustrates the art of releasing in detail here. Also included is an invaluable list of remedies for common ailments, as well as a section on resources for herbs and homeopathies.

My Prayer For This Book

"God almighty, I ask that this book reach people. I pray it communicates the message how damaging aluminum, yeast, and parasites are to our health, both physical and emotional.

"I pray it warns parents of the immense danger that lurks in each and every vaccine. Lord, please open the minds of all involved to the risk of vaccine damage.

"I pray people are empowered by this book. Please help them come away from this book seeing. feeling, and knowing how easy it is to be healthy with the tools you have given all of us.

"Lord, I pray the appendix grows to meet the specific needs of all those who read this book and want your help. Please guide me to answers for them.

"Lord, I ask that this book lift the spirits of those who read it. While our journey was a painful one, and it seemed like an eternity at the time, it was only two years. Many families face a lifetime of autism or serious illness. You saved us, and showed us how to become and stay healthy. I thank you for this most generous gift. I request I successfully share it with all those who are interested.

"God, I ask that we find a natural cure to all cases of autism, no matter how severe.

"Thank You so much God, for the opportunity, blessing, and gift of writing this book. I pray I am forever Your joyous messenger and humble servant."

Tenna Merchent

http://www.joyousmessenger.com/