What are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are concentrated, aromatic, volatile liquids distilled from flowers, shrubs, trees, bushes and seeds. The chemistry of essential oils is very complex. Each one may consist of hundreds of different and chemically unique compounds and yet are very safe to use. Essential oils are highly concentrated and far more potent than dried herbs. It often requires an entire plant or more to produce a single drop of essential oil. These oils are also different from vegetable oils such as corn, peanut and olive oils. They are not greasy, they absorb through the skin, and are powerful antimicrobial agents.

Visit our special educational site with much more information about essential oils: Vibrant Scents.

Essential oils have been used for thousands of years for therapeutic purposes. The Ebers Papyrus is the oldest known medical document dating back 3500 years and it describes over 800 different herbal prescriptions and remedies. There are also over 200 references to aromatics, incense and ointments throughout the Old and New Testaments. Even a lot of the prototype pharmaceutical drugs used today come from plant oils. Aspirin developed by the Bayer Company was the first patented drug. It came from the bark of the Birch tree, was modified and aspirin was born, albeit with a multibillion dollar windfall. Also, over 70% of cancer drugs come from the Rain Forest. The problem is that the plants are chemically analyzed and then modified so that the drug companies can patent their "new" drug. You see, plant oils cannot be patented in their natural state. Unfortunately, along with these modifications come the adverse reactions to the created drugs that are not present in the natural plant oil. The end result is that adverse reactions to prescription drugs are now the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.

The reintroduction of essential oils into modern medicine first began during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Doctors and researchers such as Moniere, Gattefosse, Valnet, and Penoel have contributed significantly as pioneers in our modern understanding of the therapeutic benefits of essential oils. More recently Dr. Gary Young, a naturopath and founder of Young Living Essential Oils, has dedicated his life to a further understanding of the therapeutic properties of essential oils.

Young Living Essential Oils

Young Living is the largest grower, distiller, and distributor of essential oils in the world. There are no chemicals in or adulteration of the essential oils like most other oils found around the world. They accept only the highest grade of oils, paying particular attention to the medicinal components. Over 80% of the oils analyzed by Young Living Labs are rejected as not meeting their strict standards. Young Living oils can be applied to the skin, diffused in the air, and most can be consumed for therapeutic purposes. A very comprehensive discussion about essential oils can be found in the Essential Oil Desk Reference at Amazon.com or at Essential Science Publishing.

You can see the full complement of Young Living oils by going to www.youngliving.com/evangelinereed and clicking on products then essential oils. Also, while you are on the site look at personal care products and nutritional products that also contain essential oils. If you choose to purchase oils or any other Young Living products, you must have a sponsor/enroller number to register. Just enter 870765 in the sponsor and enroller boxes when ordering. For a detailed guide of the ordering process, click here.

My family, friends, and many patients have benefited greatly from the therapeutic properties of Young Living essential oils. From headaches to allergies to cancer, from infections to insomnia to depression, these oils have proven to be effective interventional agents. Speaking as a physician and surgeon for over twenty-five years, Young Living oils receive my highest recommendation.

Below, is a description of the basic oil starter kit and other highlights about conditions that can be treated with Young Living oils. If you have any questions, please e-mail Tom or Evangeline Reed at drtomreed@earthlink.net.