1. The plant kingdom continues to be the subject of an enormous amount of research and discovery. At least 30 percent of prescription drugs in the United States are based on naturally occurring compounds from plants. Each year, millions of dollars are allocated to universities searching for new therapeutic agents that lie undiscovered in the bark, roots, flowers, seeds, and foliage of jungle canopies, river bottoms, forests, hillsides, and vast wilderness regions throughout the world.

2. In France, medical students are required to study aromatherapy; it is frequently prescribed by physicians and typically covered by insurance. In Germany you need a prescription to buy essential oils. In Japan, manufacturers filter essential oils such as rosemary and lavender through factory ventilation systems to improve productivity and prevent the spread of communicable illness such as influenza.

3. Essential oils are aromatic, volatile liquids distilled from shrubs, flowers, trees, roots, bushes, and seeds. Essential oils have been called “the life blood of a plant.” They circulate through plant tissues and pass through cell walls, carrying nutrition into cells and carrying waste products out. They contain only the lightest and smallest of plant molecules, which are unique in that they can pass through the skin, through the blood-brain barrier, and through cell membranes to bring healing at cellular levels. The chemistry of essential oils is very complex: each one may consist of hundreds of different and unique chemical compounds. They are highly concentrated and far more potent than dried herbs. The distillation process is what makes essential oils so concentrated. It often requires an entire plant or more to produce a single drop of distilled essential oil. For example, it takes 50 pounds of eucalyptus, 150 pounds of lavender, 500 pounds of rosemary, and 2,000 to 3,000 pounds of rose to produce one ounce of essential oils.

4. Essential oils are one of nature’s best body cleansers. They can cleanse our cellular receptor sites of pharmaceutical drugs, petrochemicals, and other disruptors of intercellular communication. They can also chelate heavy metals and other toxins, helping to remove and flush them through the liver, colon, sweat, lungs, and kidneys. They can also increase our ability to absorb vitamins and other nutrients. The vast majority of essential oils (over 95%) are produced for flavor and fragrance and do not fulfill therapeutic standards. Such oils are not considered suitable for use in medicinal applications.

5. A therapeutic grade essential oil is defined as one that is specially distilled from plants that are cultivated organically or grown wild, in their indigenous region. Plants should be from the proper botanical genus, species, and cultivar. No chemical fertilizers are added to the soil and crop cultivation is free of herbicides and pesticides. Essential oils should be extracted by steam distillation at minimum temperatures and pressures. No chemical solvents are to be used in the extraction process. Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG) essential oils are 100% pure natural aromatic compounds without fillers or artificial ingredients that would dilute their active qualities and are free of contaminants such as pesticides or other chemical residues. Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils are cross tested using mass spectrometry and gas chromatography to ensure both extract purity and composition potency of each batch.

6. Essential oils can lift the mood, calm the senses, and elicit powerful emotional responses. Anxiety, stress and sleep deprivation are very common culprits in the hospital environment. Lavender essential oils, especially its aromatic properties, has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety. There has been considerable research on lavender, with most confirming that lavender essential oil is effective for use as a sedative, mood modulator, analgesic, and decreases anxiety.

7. At Worchester Hospital in Hereford, England a six- month study was conducted to uncover the anti- anxiety effects of lavender essential oil. They discovered that vaporizing lavender enabled patients to have more natural sleep patterns; many patients were able to be weaned off of sedatives all together. St. Croix Valley Hospital in Wisconsin diffuses calming essential oils throughout the lobby, nurses stations, and waiting rooms. At Memorial-Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York they use essential oils to lower the anxiety levels of patients undergoing MRI scans. During the testing phase of this experiment they noticed that 63% of patients exposed to the oils’ aroma experienced reduced anxiety.

8. On your bodyOn your thoughts and feelingsOn your behavior HeadacheAnxietyOvereating Chest PainRestlessnessUnder-eating Pounding HeartWorryingAngry outburst High blood pressureIrritabilityDrug abuse Shortness of breathDepressionExcessive drinking Muscle achesSadnessIncreased smoking Back painAngerSocial withdrawal Clenched jawsMood swingsCrying spells Tooth grindingJob dissatisfactionRelationship conflicts Stomach upsetFeeling insecureDecreased productivity ConstipationConfusionBlaming others DiarrheaBurnout Increased sweatingForgetfulness TirednessResentment Sleep problemsGuilt Weight gain or lossInability to concentrate Sex problemsSeeing only the negatives Skin breakouts

9. There are three ways to use Essential Oils; internal, topical and by diffusion. The FDA has approved some essential oils for internal use and given them the designation of GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe for human consumption). Essential Oils safe for oral use will have a designation listed as Oral Use As Dietary Supplement on the label. If this is not seen, do not use the oil internally. Internal use of Essential Oils can be done by placing them in water or juice, directly undiluted by mouth, or by putting them in a capsule.

10. Direct Application: Apply the oils directly on the area of concern using one to six drops of oil. More oil is not necessarily better, since a large amount of oil can trigger a detoxification of the surrounding tissue and blood. Such a quick detoxification can be somewhat uncomfortable. To achieve the desired results, one to three drops of oil is usually adequate. A few guidelines for direct application of the oils are as follows: The feet are the second fastest area of the body to absorb oils because of the large pores. Other quick absorbing areas include behind the ears and on the wrists. When massaging a large area of the body, always dilute the oil by 15% to 30% with carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil. When applying oils to infants and small children, dilute with fractionated coconut oil. Do not mix oil blends. Commercially available blends have been specially formulated by someone who understands the chemical constituents of each oil and which oils blend well. Layering individual oils is preferred over mixing your own blends. Layering refers to the process of applying one oil, rubbing it in, and then applying oil. There is no need to wait more than a couple of seconds between each oil as absorption occurs quite rapidly.

11. Diffused oils alter the structure of molecules that create odors, rather than just masking them. They also increase oxygen availability, produce negative ions, and release natural ozone. Many essential oils are extremely effective for eliminating and destroying airborne germs and bacteria. A cold air diffuser is designed to atomize a micro-fine mist of essential oils into the air, where they can remain suspended for several hours. Unlike aroma lamps or candles, a diffuser disperses essential oils without heating or burning which can render the oil therapeutically less beneficial and even create toxic compounds.

12. Reduce bacteria, fungus, mold, and unpleasant odors. Relax the body, relieve tension, and clear the mind. Improve concentration, alertness, and mental clarity. Stimulate neurotransmitters. Stimulate secretion of endorphins. Stimulate growth hormone production and receptivity. Improve the secretions of IgA antibodies that fight candida. Improve digestive functions. Improve hormonal balance. Relieve headaches

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