For millennia, nature has provided humanity with the essential elements necessary to live in harmony and maintain health, both individually and collectively. The natural gifts bestowed upon us have been treasured since ancient times and continue to form the cornerstone of modern medicine. Plants, revered for their miraculous properties as sources of health and healing, have been utilized to address various ailments and injuries since antiquity. Throughout history, records abound of individuals who chronicled the use of herbal remedies, demonstrating the enduring value of nature’s bounty. Even our ancestors, inhabitants of these lands, understood and appreciated the efficacy of various plants, using them judiciously and gratefully whenever the need arose.
The practice of traditional medicine has stood the test of time, remaining relevant in our modern era and proving successful for millions of people worldwide. Why? The answer is simple: our bodies, being an integral part of the surrounding natural world, possess the inherent ability to regenerate and heal using the gifts provided by Mother Nature.
Thus, ancient remedies have persisted through the ages, effectively addressing many health conditions. Among these remedies is the extraction of essential oils from various parts of plants—stems, petals, roots, fruit peels, resins, and tree bark. Medical studies increasingly validate the remarkable therapeutic power of essential oils. These oils can be utilized through diffusion, topical application, or ingestion, always following usage guidelines and preferably under the guidance of a certified consultant or aromatherapy specialist.
But let’s start at the beginning and understand what makes an oil essential.
It’s worth noting that while there are numerous types of essential oils on the market, not all are truly essential, organic, therapeutic, or certified as such.
An essential oil is one obtained through steam distillation or cold pressing, traditional methods, from plants grown in their natural habitat without human intervention. These plants aren’t aided in their growth through the use of chemical compounds, heavy metals, or synthetic ingredients that could diminish their effectiveness, purity, or therapeutic action.
The cultivation of these plants involves only the direct action of nature, without any other intervention, just as the extraction of the oils involves only the specified methods. This ensures that the resulting oil can be certified as pure.
Companies that market truly essential oils rigorously test them after distillation to verify their chemical composition. If, for various reasons, the oil does not meet quality standards, it is withdrawn from the market, regardless of the testing stage. Furthermore, there are tests to monitor the oil’s properties from distillation to delivery and ensure its purity and absence of contamination throughout the process.
Why are these certifications important?
Counterfeit oils or those lacking purity can do more harm than good. Essential oils, when used correctly, are safe and ensure therapeutic benefits, quality, and effectiveness without supplying heavy metals or chemicals that could harm the body.
This means that using a pure, organic, and certified therapeutic oil guarantees that what enters our bodies promotes health—a manifestation of nature’s magic.
Why are essential oils more expensive?
Firstly, we discussed the natural habitat of the plants from which essential oils are extracted. doTerra, for instance, sources its oils from different countries, often from difficult extraction areas, ensuring sustainability and co-impact sourcing to support local communities. Some oils, like frankincense, are exclusively manually processed, requiring labor-intensive efforts. Other oils require substantial quantities of raw materials, such as rose oil, which necessitates large amounts of harvested petals for minimal output.
Despite the significant costs involved in the certification process and other steps leading to bottling, companies like doTerra prioritize purity, therapeutic efficacy, and safety, ensuring consumers receive the best-quality oils.
Why are all these important?
Aromatherapy isn’t just about pleasant scents; it’s about using nature’s gifts as medicines. It’s an art that involves understanding the chemical composition of oils, their dilution, and how they complement each other. Whether used for treating conditions, in cosmetics, cooking, or cleaning, essential oils require adherence to specific protocols.
This art of aromatherapy, akin to any other talent, ultimately belongs to nature, which offers health when we select its best and most precious offerings. We are stewards of our health, responsible for choosing what’s best for us.
Warning! Essential oils are used ONLY according to the usage instructions and precautions provided by the manufacturer. Never use undiluted oils on the skin or internally, unless specified in the product leaflet, and even then, test on a small portion of skin beforehand, especially if you have sensitivities to different products!
Their use is always done responsibly, with all safety measures, and under the guidance of an aromatherapy specialist! Essential oils are extremely potent, entirely different from everything we can buy from specialized stores, and their use must be done according to the above instructions and those provided by the manufacturer!
This material, as well as any from www.eusiendometrioza.ro, can only be distributed with the source mentioned.
Sources: aromaweb.com, www.doterra.com/US/en/essential-oil-safety-and-application-plant-perspective, www.doterra.com/US/en/cptg-testing-process