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The use of essential oils can be traced back over 6000 years! As far back as 3,500 BC, the Ancient Egyptians were using essential oils and plant extracts for medicinal purposes, as well as for cosmetics and religious ritual. A few are even written in the Bible, and in fact, those few I personally use daily.
Oaky, so most of you know how beneficial and sometimes delicious herbs are. They’re packed with vitamins and antioxidants. What most people don’t know, however, is that PURE therapeutic-grade essential oils can carry up to 80 times the concentration of these life-sustaining, health-advancing nutrients!
Plus, essential oils are a far more effective delivery agent. Including but not limited to CBD Oil. All contain hundreds of organic constituents and each one has a unique range of health and healing uses…
Essential oils are life-enhancing gifts from the plant kingdom, respected and used for centuries for their restorative properties to body, mind, and spirit. They are primarily enter the human body through skin absorption and inhalation. They can ofer sidedeep cleansing, nourishing, rejuvenating and balancing.
Here are a few ways I incorporate essential oils into my healing sessions:
Diffusion – oils selected specifically for you and or your pet can be aerosolized into the air during the appointment to promote calming and balance. Daily diffusion of oils may be recommended depending on your pet’s response.
Ingestion – some oils can even be added to you and your pet’s food as part of the therapy.
Tapping using oils – in some cases, the meridian pressure points are used and this can enhance the effect of the treatment.
Reiki – Reiki healing and oils are a powerful combination for unblocking energy channels that flow between your chakras. There are many oils that can be used in Reiki treatments for different benefits, so here are a few of the most popular and effective essential oils used in Reiki treatments.
And YES, many a particular oil is essential both in smell and sourcing! There are significant differences between synthetic fragrance oils and pure essential oils:
Therapeutic-grade oils are pure, medicinal, and contain all the desired therapeutic compounds. Therapeutic quality oils are usually made from organically grown plants, and are carefully distilled at the proper temperatures. One big corporate company I use has one of the highest dedications to the medicinal use and application of essential oils that is able to guarantee essential oil quality from seed to seal. I also use smaller scaled company oils and have well researched and learned their sourcing and processes prior to using said companies- they are just as dedicated! I am 'all about' sourcing, ingredients, processing, and that goes from seed to the use.
Synthetic or nature-identical oils may have been created in a laboratory. They could contain synthetics, pesticides, fertilizers, extenders, or carrier oils.
Extended or altered oils are perfume-grade and may contain the same type of adulterating chemicals as synthetic oils. They usually contain chemical solvents.
Floral Water is a byproduct of the distillation process, of very high quality, IF it comes from a therapeutic-grade distillation process. Accordingly, it is a low quality if it comes from poor quality raw materials and/or poor distillations processes.
Natural oils (organic) and certified oils may not contain any, or just a few therapeutic compounds. Which are not bad but not the best in use and efficacy.
that being said...
~Quality vs. Quantity
Most of my write ups normally revolve around everyday happenings and discussions- this one is no different... I was just having this conversation yesterday with someone who said they use WallyWorld oils... and wanted to share my insight
So understanding the grades of oils can help you avoid making things worse, whether you are diffusing. ingesting or using them topically.
The best way to tell the difference between them, is to determine the “grade” of the oil itself. You can go to Whole Foods, shop Amazon or your local health food store and find essential oils at a low price, but this doesn’t mean your going to get the results you are looking for.
In my experience, when it comes to essential oils, quality is way more important than quantity and cost. Even though I use particular brands for myself and in my healing sessions with clients, we all have our preferences, so I do honor others' choices when it comes to the brand of essential oils others use. I will though share the importance of all
I've shared above, so you can make an informed decision when buying oils.
More on a few oil descriptions I'd like to share:
THERAPEUTIC-GRADE
These oils are pure, medicinal, and contain all the desired therapeutic compounds. Therapeutic quality oils are usually made from organically grown plants, and are carefully distilled at the proper temperatures. As we begin to understand the power of essential oils in the realm of personal, holistic health care, we will appreciate the necessity for obtaining the purest essential oils possible.
NATURAL (ORGANIC) AND CERTIFIED
These oils may not contain any therapeutic compounds found in a pure oil. If so, it’s only just a few and in low quantity. Compounds are the building blocks of each oil. They oil may have the correct compounds, but possibly but not always not enough to make the oil therapeutic.
EXTENDED and/or ALTERED
These oils are perfume grade and may contain the same type of adulterating chemicals as synthetic oils. They usually contain chemical solvents. Remember, even though it may smell nice doesn’t mean it is of good quality.
SYNTHETIC OR NATURE-IDENTICAL
These oils may have been created in a laboratory. They could contain synthetics, pesticides, fertilizers, extenders, or carrier oils. These are the ones you’ll commonly find at retail stores.
Because the process in which this grade of oil is produced, the compounds found in a therapeutic-grade oil may be extremely reduced or not even found. THESE are the ones that could cause more harm than good when using.
FLORAL WATER
This water is a byproduct of the distillation process, a very high quality, IF it comes from a therapeutic-grade distillation process. Accordingly, it is a low quality if it comes from poor quality raw materials and/or poor distillation processes. There are many high quality brands available and those you can make yourself-learn the process-homemade is always BEST.
That being said, have I or do I use some inferior oils, Yes. Depending on the ingredients and use but overall a therapeutic-grade essential oil is my 'go to' grade and what is used most in my business and with clients. I also make many of the oil blends I use because of this and it can be more cost effective in the long run. Synthetics, pesticides, solvents, chemical additives may smell the same but they will NOT have the medicinal properties AND they are certainly not anything I would ever want to use on my body.
If you use essential oils, look into their “grade”.
If you use essential oils in your practice and are not using therapeutic-grade essential oils, I invite you to consider looking into it.
As always I am always available to chat about the topics I write about. Never hesitate to reach out.