| Essential oils are found in some
flowers, grasses, roots, seeds, bark, fruits and herbs, and are
extracted primarily by steam distillation. Each essential oil has
their own unique character, aroma and therapeutic properties. Only
certain plants contain essential oils, they are known as aromatic
plants. Many fruits also contain essential oils, though most are
not extracted through distillation. The essential oil is formed
in very small structures in the leaves, flowers, or other parts
of the plant, known as secretory cells.
The essential oils found in plants is complex, why is not clear,
but many of the natural chemicals they contain are used as odorous
communication signals, either between insects (which can also
produce the same chemicals) or between plants and insects.In the
context of evolution, essential oils are a means of communication
and carrying meaning.
When applied to the body, whether by inhalation, or massaged
to the skin, an essential oil enters the bloodstream. The essential
oil is metabolised and chemically changed, during this period
many therapeutic effects are possible.
Many essential oil constituents often work synergistically and
act in a variety of ways - such as interacting with receptor sites
on the surface of cells. The natural menthol, in peppermint oil,
for instance, lowers blood pressure slightly by altering the way
calcium is exchanged at the surface of blood vessel cells. With
the help of human enzymes, the essential oils constituents are
chemically changed to make sure they do not cause any toxicity,
and also to make them more water-soluble.
Since a properly processed essential is highly concentrated,
a little goes a long way.
Therapeutic-grade essential oils consist of tiny aromatic chemicals
that aid in a variety of health, beauty and hygiene conditions.
We can benefit from these via massage, bathing, supplementation,
diffusing and inhalation.
The process Young Living uses when planting, cultivating, harvesting,
and distilling a batch of essential oil is crucial to retaining
its vital compounds. Without the exact blend of naturally-occurring
plant chemicals, an essential oil can lose its beneficial properties
and fail to produce the desired therapeutic effect.
A therapeutic-grade essential oil's potency can be affected not
only by selecting the proper plant to cultivate, but also by where
the plant is grown, the quality of soil in which the seed is planted,
and even the time of day it's harvested all contribute to the
efficacy.
Used aromatically, applied topically, or taken internally, Young
Living's essential oils, such as lavender, can calm, energize,
balance, purify, and rejuvenate the mind and body.
Young Living's standards prohibit the acceptance of any diluted,
cut or adulterated oils. That means every batch of essential oil
is subjected to rigorous, state-of-the-art analysis at the Young
Living chemistry lab. Using some of the most advanced equipment
in the world, our scientists subject every batch of essential
oils to Gas Chromatograph and Mass Spectrometer testing, and heavy
metals analysis. Any essential oil that exhibits even the slightest
hint of possible adulteration or tampering is rejected.
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