I was a bit late in the essential oils craze, so when a friend sent me a collection of essential oils to use on a diffuser, I was quick to try them.
While they were effective in helping me sleep, clearing my nasal passages, and warding off insects (provided I follow the correct ingredients and formulation for each purpose), the brand itself was upfront about the limitations of their essential oils: Mainly that while traditionally, some essential oils can be ingested, their oils should NOT be ingested under any circumstances. Their oils were primarily for aromatherapy use, and only secondarily for topical.
Another friend of mine who’s into essential oils told me that only a number of essential oils in the market are really pure and can truly offer health and therapeutic benefits. “Most of the ones we find in the malls have additives or fillers and could, in fact, be toxic to our bodies,” said Tetz Agustin, an independent distributor of Young Living essential oils, whose line include oils that you can actually use for cooking and ingesting. “Those sold in health stores or kiosks in malls are fragrance-grade oils only and they definitely smell really nice, but don’t have the same therapeutic and medicinal benefits. Sure, they may have some essential oils there, but it probably contains synthetics.”
Agustin said she decided to use and distribute Young Living in the Philippines because it’s the only company that owns their own farms, which means they control the standards for growing, harvesting, and distilling, and partners only with farms that live up to these standards. All their pest control is done only via essential oils and all weed control is done only by hand. Their oils meet all industry standards and are subjected to isotopic ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) analysis, which determines if an essential oil is naturally-sourced or synthetic (meaning, it’s man-made in a laboratory).
Another thing to check when purchasing essential oils? The expiration date. If your essential oils have an expiration date, then it might not be the purest thing. Young Living essential oils do not expire. 100% Pure Essential Oils (excluding citrus oils) will last indefinitely as long as it is properly stored away from heat and sunlight. However, some Young Living blends do contain carrier oils (vegetable oils which make for easier absorption and application of essential oils), which means it will not last as long as singles and blends that do not have them as content.
There are supposedly oils and blends of oils to support every system of our body as well as help improve our quality of life, like aiding us in sleep and handling our emotions. They are high in antioxidants and terpenes as well. Terpenes inhibit the accumulation of toxins and help discharge these toxins from the liver and kidneys (which someone who lives an unhealthy lifestyle like I do—eating junk food and drinking alcohol constantly—definitely needs).
According to Agustin, “There are many ways to use essential oils: aromatically by diffusing or using blank inhalers; topically by applying to the skin, most often with the use of carrier oils (vegetable oils like fractionated coconut oil, grapeseed oil, almond oil, etc.) to make it more comfortable for our skin because pure essential oils are super potent; and lastly by ingestion,” all of which you can safely do with Young Living essential oils.
Agustin mixed Young Living essential oils for me based on the different needs I had, and she placed them in travel-friendly containers I can take with me wherever I go (see photo above). She told me to observe the difference between the essential oils she sent me and the ones I’ve previously been using. What I noticed is how the scent of the Young Living essential oils is definitely milder than the commercial ones I’ve tried. It’s like smelling the actual healing plant, minus all the additives. The effect seemed gentler, too, and while not instantaneous, they eventually delivered the desired results.
Here are the ways I’ve used Young Living essential oils that you may want to try, too. I mentioned which ones were most effective for me:
Seasonal Discomfort Inhaler
Ingredients: 2 drops each of lemon, peppermint, and lavender essential oils
Use: For seasonal sniffles and hacking, or just seasonal discomfort, as well as relief of pounding headache. My husband and I use this frequently, it’s our favorite.
Happy Camper Spray
Ingredients: 5 drops each of Purification, R.C., Lavender, and Peppermint oils plus distilled water
Use: Shake before use and spray all over body as insect repellent before heading out. I love its fresh scent!
Rollers: Use these on the temples, wrists, back of neck, bottom of feet, and other vita-flex points.
Panaway
Ingredients: Young Living’s Panaway oil blend diluted with V-6 Enhanced Vegetable Oil Complex
Use: For body aches and muscle pains. I apply this after exercise or on the neck and back anytime for a soothing and stimulating aromatic experience.
Skin Support
Ingredients: A blend of Lavender and Frankincense diluted with V-6
Use: For skin needs. I use it as a basic moisturizer or to soothe insect bites—I just roll it on areas where it’s needed.
Chill Out
Ingredients: Young Living’s Stress Away blend and Lavender diluted with V-6
Use: This helps me sleep, relax, and become calmer.
Wake me Up
Ingredients: Young Living’s Citrus Fresh blend with Peppermint diluted with V-6
Use: This helps when I feel sleepy and need a pick me up—especially during long nights finishing deadlines.
To know more about and to purchase Young Living’s essential oils, visit oilmomlove.com.