Why Quality Matters when Investing in Essential Oils

Over the past few months, I’ve had several conversations with people about how they love essential oils and love getting them at a bargain price. One woman said she could buy 10 mL of Frankincense for less than $10. She was so proud to show it to me and so I asked if I could use energy medicine to test how she responds to that particular oil. To her dismay, she learned that the cheap oil was draining her overall energy and weakening her crown chakra. The oil was counter productive as her goal was to use the oil to strengthen her crown chakra. She was better off energetically with no oil as opposed to using a cheap oil. We could have sent the oil to get tested at a laboratory to find out what exactly was in that bottle, but it was clearly not pure Frankincense.

It’s amazing that essential oils are getting much more traction these days. We are seeing a return to ancient medicine and health approaches that come directly from nature, and not a laboratory. With this boom in the essential oil market we are also seeing a lot of false advertising and sub-par products. There are no regulations on essential oil marketing, so it can say pure without any backing to that claim.

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Young Living has their own code of standards (www.seedtoseal.com). Their standards are stricter than USDA organic. I knew Young Living oils were worth the investment the moment I touched them. They have the strongest chi of any of the oils that I’ve tested. I would like to share with you what sets the quality apart of Young Living apart from other brands and what risks are involved with using sub-par oils.

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There are 5 grades of essential oils sold are the market today. Therapeutic grade essential oils are the only ones that contain medicinal qualities. The lowest quality is “Synthetic Biology” oils. These oils are created in a laboratory from synthetic DNA and are bio-engineered with fungus and enzymes. They can be labeled as natural as they are derived from yeasts and are made quickly and cheaply. These oils are fake copycats that give the illusion of fragrance without any therapeutic benefit. In addition, the incomplete formulas often cause harm opposite of the intended benefit. For example, fragrance grade Lavender contains high levels of lavandin, a hybrid of lavender. It is often heated to evaporate camphor, mixed with synthetic linalyl acetate to improve the fragrance, and then sold as lavender oil. Higher levels of the constituent camphor can lead to burning of the skin, so if one uses Lavender to support the skin in healing after a burn, then this oil will worsen the burning sensation.

When one uses adulterated oils topically, they may experience rashes, burns, and other skin irritations. Common synthetic additives used in creating those oils are propylene glycol, DEP, and DOP. These chemicals have no smell and are used as volume fillers. They put the user at risk for allergic reactions in addition to providing no therapeutic benefit.

Adulteration of oils is such a concern that Young Living tests all oil batches with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry and then retested with gas chromatography and flame ionization detector. These tests help identify chirality of the compounds, which will detect synthetic oils. Some essential oil companies will dilute the essential oil with a fatty lipid oil to increase supply and reduce cost.

Even natural or organic certified oils can be problematic depending on the growing conditions and time of harvest. The type of genus, species, and chemotype is important for growing plants that contain the highest constituents that provide the therapeutic benefits. In addition, the use of chemical pesticides contaminates the final product.

According to Jared Turner, the president of Young Living, it costs around $12,000 per acre to weed lavender fields by hand. Other companies that used cheap herbicides may spend $60 per acre to kill the weeds. This is why Young Living oils cost more, but the investment includes not only a higher quality product with therapeutic benefits, it also invests in the quality of the earth.

Pesticides are known for having delirious effects on health, in the short and long term. Tyrone Hayes has scientifically documented how a common herbicide, Atrazine, has been shown to change gender and sexuality in frogs. This herbicide was the most common water contaminant in 2001 and has had a large impact on reducing fertility and disrupting endocrine balance in males and females. Glyphosate, another herbicide, has been shown to increase permeability of the intestinal tract and has caused the most common vitamin and mineral deficiencies in our food supply. All pesticides and herbicides have been shown to have adverse health effects on the soil, plants, and animals who consume those plants.

Here are a few of the seed to seal requirements for producing quality oils. This is an excerpt from the Essential Oils desktop reference by Life Science Publishing.

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Producing pure essential oils is expensive. It can take thousands of pounds of raw plant material to create one pound of essential oil. For example, it takes 5,000 pounds of rose petals to produce just one pint of Rose oil, which is the essential oil with the highest vibrational frequency. If we want the world to be a better place, then we need to invest in better quality products that are sustainable, regenerative, and allow us to be stewards of the earth. I’m grateful that Young Living does not sacrifice quality for a number of reasons that other companies may do so.

References:

Essential Oils desk reference: Seventh Edition (ISBN 978-0-9966364-9-0)

Tyrone Hayes

Moving Beyond Disease Management and into Vitality

For the last few years, I have focused on finding and implementing strategies to fully heal chronic illness for myself and others. All of my tools can be done at home by anyone. I started with what I call “foundation tools”. They include clean water, fresh air, sunshine, exercise, rest, and diet. I’ve seen a great reduction in disease symptoms and a return of quality of life.

When I first started my journey, I had debilitating food and environmental allergies and sensitivities. I had to wear a mask to walk to class during Spring. If clothes were washed in a washer with mildew or mold, I couldn’t wear them without having convulsions. If I ate the wrong item, I could throw up or have diarrhea for a week. I quickly learned for survival sake that I needed to eliminate as many harmful substances as I could to switch off from flight or fight and enter rest and digest mode. Just walking through the cleaning aisle of a store would trigger asthma attacks and migraines.

I went through a period of time when my liver was so congested, that I would react to anything slightly toxic. This was a blessing and a curse. It was a blessing, because I was made acutely aware of anything harmful. My body could sense mold long before a mold test. I picked up on water leak and mold issue in an apartment months before they found the source. It was a curse because I could no longer live the standard American lifestyle. If I ate the same as my peers, then I would be violently ill. If I had one drink of alcohol, then I would be immune suppressed for a full week. If I breathed in cigarette smoke or scented candles, then my lungs would close until I got to fresh air. This was highly restrictive and limited many joys that others my age were experiencing.

One of the areas that I was highly restricted to was aromatic compounds. Everything I bought had to be unscented. If it listed fragrance, then it was out of the question. If the cleaning product contained ammonia, then I couldn’t go near it. My life became very simple. The less ingredients, the better. I began looking for personal care and cleaning products with natural ingredients. Many of the products I was drawn to contained essential oils.

A few months ago, my friend invited me to learn about her wellness business. I sat in a room full of women and we passed around little bottles of essential oils. She discussed the care in which the company took to ensure the highest quality pure, therapeutic grade essential oils from seed to seal. The amount of life energy contained in each bottle was incredible. I knew from just holding the little bottles that they were gems and worth an investment.

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I bought the premium starter kit and began energy experiments. I started diffusing them, applying them topically, and ingesting a few of them. I realized that this was exactly what my wellness journey was missing. The aromatic compounds in these essential oils are life giving. They help to focus energy according to your wellness goals. They open up sinuses instead of closing them. They help to ground energy in to the earth. They help to focus spiritual energy during meditation. They help to let go of stored emotions that are creating chaos. They help to keep a greater purpose in mind and not sweat the small details. They help skin to glow. The list goes on and on. They smell true to nature and carry a sense of home.

My energy experiments have confirmed the quality of design in their blends. Anywhere that an individual registers with excess oxidative stress is the first place that the blend, Stress Away, targets. Valor supports the kidneys and bladder to let go of fear and strengthens the heart chakra thereby increasing courage. The immune support blend, Thieves, strengthens the thymus. The blends are designed well enough that if you have a specific symptom or goal, then you can trust the oils blends as labeled.

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The high-quality oils are just the beginning. This company has products to support all wellness needs, including cleaning, skincare, makeup, supplements, kids, and pets. They are bringing wellness into the lives of millions by reducing stress caused by ingesting everyday toxins and giving life to dreams, goals, and inspiration. The educational literature included in the lifestyle resonates with the approaches I have found to be most effective including but not limited to fasting, colon hydrotherapy, liver cleanses, dietary approaches, and processing stored emotions. I have been searching for my tribe of like-minded individuals and finally feel at home with this wellness community.

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I’m excited to take my wellness journey to the next step by partnering with Young Living. Gary Young had an incredible vision of a better tomorrow. I’m grateful for the opportunity to help make the vision a reality.

Does my story resonate with you? Are you also looking for quality products to help reach your wellness goals? Are you new to essential oils and looking for more educational information? Are you an oil expert looking for a better quality product? Reach out to me and let’s further the discussion. I’d be honored to guide you on your wellness journey. Follow me on IG at plantedvitality.

Lyme Elixir Life Update

1481978482297I’ve spent the last few years creating new life. I’ve gone through pregnancy, breastfeeding, and child rearing the most amazing little girl with the biggest heart. I’ve also created new life within myself. I’ve put in the time, effort, suffering, patience, and due diligence required for deep healing. The kind of healing where you release death, decay, parasites, find a void, and fill the void with new vibrant tissue. I’ve gained great appreciation for the human journey and the inherent healing capability stored inside each and every one of us.

My life was turned upside down when I received a Lyme diagnosis a few years back. I had been sick for years and finally had a label for the symptoms and suffering. That night I cried for hours. There were some tears of relief, but most of the tears were to mourn the children I never had. I was raised to be a career woman, a doctor. And it wasn’t until that moment that I knew I wanted to be a mother. With symptoms of endometriosis and confirmed chronic Lyme disease, I was told I was infertile and children may never be in my future.

IMG_1067My prognosis was dim. My LLMD told me I was one of his most sensitive patients. After months of intensive Lyme treatments with him, he admitted he could no longer help me. My neurological symptoms became extreme as I was suffering from hundred of partial complex seizures a day. I could no longer work. I could no longer live. I was in pure survival mode not knowing how to face another day of pain and agony. I realized then that no other human being could be as invested as I was in my healing journey. I didn’t have the answers, but I knew I had an entire life to live and I was determined to live it with quality. I was only 23 years old. I wasn’t about to let anyone convince me that I couldn’t have a family or a life with chronic illness. Shortly afterwards, I discovered coffee enemas, liver flushes, and my journey to vibrant health was finally on track.

IMG_3482As of today, I have completed a full series of liver flushes. It took about 30 flushes to stop passing stones. I have completed 36 in total with 5 flushes that produced no stones or parasites. I spent two years doing daily coffee enemas, up to 4 in one day. Then I gradually reduced to once a week or as needed. I gradually transitioned from a SAD to a whole food plant based diet. I have been gluten-free for over 5 years with no desire to ingest wheat or glyphosate ridden foods. I eat organic whenever possible and fresh produce daily. I have been vegan for 2.5 years and have no desire to eat animal products.

I learned to meditate and listen to my intuition and gut instinct. I switched from intense exercise 6 days a week to moderate exercise 3-4 times a week. I love a weekly Epsom salt bath and loading up on greens and seaweed to keep my magnesium levels high. I no longer benefit from enemas. I no longer need liver flushes. I no longer take any pharmaceuticals or supplements. I no longer experience seizures. I no longer associate with any disease. I was included in the 1% of women who successfully give birth at home as a first-time mother. I was able to breastfeed for 20 months.

IMG_7282What does life after Lyme look like? It takes form in the understanding and appreciation of natural cycles. I am a mature woman who honors her menstrual cycle. I understand my cyclical and seasonal nature. I embrace seasonal shifts and their associated viral infections. I understand that there is a natural time to cleanse and a natural time to build. There is a time to express oneself externally in the world and a time to go inwards and reflect. I understand pain is a message from my body. Listening to that pain has given me the ability to change for the better. I understand the physical and energetic impact of the substances that I ingest daily. I have a great appreciation for my elimination organs and pathways. I have a great appreciation for the ability to move my body and to let it rest. I have a great appreciation for all emotions and their lessons.

What’s next on my healing journey? My physical body has healed significantly with the lifestyle factors I have diligently implemented. I have shifted my focus from physical healing to emotional and energetic healing. Energy medicine has been with me since I first worked with a functional LLMD. He introduced me to muscle testing, a method I have implemented and a skill I have honed for year. Now, I am diving into ancient knowledge and wisdom of the energetic body. I’m facing imbalances in my chakra system, connecting my electrics, and repairing damage to my basic grid. I’m facing fears, long held physical and emotional trauma, and working through limiting beliefs. I’m decalcifying my pineal gland and finding a better balance between intellect and intuition. I’m discovering balance with my divine feminine and divine masculine energies.

IMG_7194My life is transitioning from one of repair to one of creation. My second child is nestled away in the comfort of my womb growing bigger and stronger daily. I’ve learned to enjoy and embrace pregnancy as a phase of building. My boobs and belly are growing, my mind is expanding, and my dreams for myself and the world around me are building. I’m ready to share the knowledge and experience I’ve gained. I’ve healed myself and now I’m ready to help others do the same. It’s time to create, to connect, and manifest a new world.

Are you ready to join me? Are you sick of suffering from a chronic illness and want to fully heal yourself? Sign up for a health consultation to get started on the right path.

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