With so much talk about essential oils, some people are asking "So, what exactly is an essential oil?" Basically, an essential oil is to a plant what blood is to us - it is the aromatic liquid in the plant that helps the nutrients travel throughout the plant. When these essential oils are distilled properly, they are highly concentrated and far more potent than dried herbs, according to the Essential Oils Desk Reference (EODR) book. It is the distillation process that makes the essential oils so concentrated. Many times it requires an entire plant or more to produce one single drop of distilled essential oil. That is the reason why PURE, unadulterated essential oils are so expensive.

Unfortunately, many companies have adulterated and mislabeled essential oils, especially here in the United States. That means that synthetic extenders have been added which can cause a lot of dangers to our health. Adulterated oils can cause rashes, burning and skin irritations. Those that have petrochemicals added to them, such as dipropylene glycol and diethylphthalate, can all cause allergic reaction and they don't have any therapeutic effects. Most consumers just think they want to save a buck so they are happy to buy the oils at $7- $10 at a health food store, grocery store, beauty salon, etc., only later to realize that the oil is not helping them in the least bit. So, then they decide essential oils really have no therapeutic effect and people selling them for a lot of money are just out there to make a fortune. That is so far from the truth….

So how do you know if and essential oil truly is PURE and unadulterated? First of all, you need to research the company that is selling it. You need to know the integrity of the company or vendor from which you purchase your essential oil. Make sure that the company does not accept ANY batches that have not been certified in AFNOR-certified laboratories. The EODR references Young Living as a company that meets that standard. This is what it says: "Adulteration is such a major concern that every batch of essential oil that comes into Young Living must be tested at either Central Service Laboratory or at the Albert Vieille laboratory, both AFNOR-certified laboratories, by chemists licensed to test the therapeutic-grade essential oils. Batches that do not meet the standards are rejected and returned" (p 10)

Pure essential oils bring balance to your body. They truly have therapeutic value to them. Essential oils have been used for centuries to kill bacteria, fungi and viruses. They also provide exquisite fragrances to balance mood and lift spirits. Make sure that you don't purchase adulterated oils - your health will pay for it and it is not worth it. It is best to purchase HIGH quality, pure, unadulterated essential oils than to purchase several cases of adulterated ones that have no therapeutic effect on your body whatsoever. Make sure you know the integrity of the company or vendor of the essential oil that you are purchasing and don't settle for less than that. Your health is counting on it. Make sure the vendor sells the essential oils in dark, glass bottles so that the oils are not chemically altered or degraded over time. Also, when using the oils, make sure you have a user guide that tells you how to use them properly - don't assume you know how to best apply or use a particular oil. I know for a fact that Young Living always sends a User Guide booklet every time they send out an essential oil, so I can count on them wanting me to use it properly. Some other companies may do the same, but I am not familiar with them. If you want PURE, unadulterated essential oils, I highly recommend Young Living Essential Oils.