Essential Oils have recently been featured on many newscasts and online reports as a “trend” in alternative healthcare. In reality, essential oils aren’t as much “alternative” as they are “natural”.
Essential oils are volatile aromatic compounds extracted from plants through distillation or expression. Essential oils are the life blood of the plant, much like blood is to our body system. They are responsible for the repair and regeneration of new cell growth. In ‘essence’, they are like nature’s healthcare.
The term “essential oil” comes from the contraction of the original name “quintessential oil” – stemming from the Aristotelian idea that matter is composed of elements – fire, air, earth and water and the fifth – spirit or life force. Distillation and evaporation were thought to extract this life force from the plant. (from the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy)
Essential oils have a biological role within aromatic and medicinal plants. These roles include: attracting pollinators through aroma, preventing competing vegetation through chemical release, serving as defense against insects and other animals, and protecting the plant against other organisms that may threaten the plant. Each chemical compound within the oil has a specific purpose. Essential oils are constantly changing their chemical composition, helping the plant to adapt to ever-changing internal and external environments. Just as the plant uses essential oils for a variety of purposes, we can also use essential oils for aromatic purposes as well as for therapy and defense against environmental and biological conditions.
In general, essential oils are very helpful in positively impacting your quality of life, state of happiness and overall wellness. They can beneficially influence stress levels, sleep, chronic or acute pain, enhance immunity, relax and soothe, support proper digestion, support hormonal balance, provide emotional support, assist healthy breathing and congestion, and much, much more…
Essential oils have been used for thousands of years for cosmetic purposes, as well as for their spiritually and emotionally uplifting properties. Therapeutic grade essential oils are used aromatically, topically or internally. Young Living Essential Oils have always been at the forefront of bringing this ancient tradition to modern users, introducing millions to a total mind/body wellness.