nature's medicine cabinet - ESSENTIAL OILS

Essential oils have been used for thousands of years dating back 4000 to 5000 years as evidenced in archeological sites in Mesopotamia and Egyptian paintings and papyruses. 

Hippocrates, known as the "father of medicine," believed that the way to health was through aromatic baths and massages, using essential oils for their aromatic, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties.

The ancient Chinese used aromatic plants for healing and at least 20 essential oils as medicine to support other healing modailities that create harmony and balance such as acupuncture and acupressure. 

Herbal preparations and essential oils were used successfully to combat the Black Plague and other illnesses as well as insect infestations.

Essential oils are plant-based remedies that continue to be used today for their therapeutic benefits, including anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and calming properties.

Essential oils are natural healing modalities supported with scientific clinical studies showing positive effect on dis-ease in the body, mind, and spirit.  

Some oils are contraindicated for certain conditions such as pregnancy, cancer, high blood pressure, kidney disease, or seizures.  

Always check the cautions and sensitivity warnings or contraindications for a specific oil before using it. 

I am available to guide you.

Essential oils are pure natural chemistry comprised of chemical compounds made up of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen.  

The body is pure natural chemistry also comprised of chemical compounds made up of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. 

The organic chemical structure of essential oils are very similar to our own cells, which is why they can be readily identified and accepted by the body.

Most essential oils are one of two categories of compounds - oxygen-based compounds and hydrocarbons.

Some essential oils have few compounds and others have up to several hundred chemical compounds. No two oils are alike.

By stimulating hormonal chemical actions within the body, compounds in essential oils are able to balance energetic and physiologic function in the body as well as influence emotions, which have a strong effect on the immune system. 

These chemical compounds can help to create an environment in which bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other disease-causing organisms cannot live.

The chemical constituents in essential oils complement the chemical constituents in the body. 

All Chemistry in the essential oils becomes Alchemy in the body.

I remain in gratitude and awe. 

Essential oils as we know them are obtained through an extraction process called distillation with methods used since ancient times.   

It takes 5000 rose petals to produce one pound of rose oil and up to 60 pounds of lavender are necessary to yield one pound of lavender oil.  

Steam distillation is most often used to extract essential oils from the plants.  This has been done for thousands of years and is noted in the hyroglyphics in stone walls of ancient temples.

Plant material is placed above the water in a container that steam is passed through it, causing the volatile oils in the material to evaporate into the air above the water. Vapors pass through a tube to another container where they condense. The volatile oils separate and float on the water and are siphoned away. 

Cold pressing causes the oils to appear on the surfaces.  Citrus essences are extracted this way as they have abundant oil glands in the peel.

CO2 extraction uses carbon dioxide or butane in a chamber with plant material  Gas pressurizes and turns into a liquid that acts as a solvent to extract the essential oil.  This method yields more intense aroma with broader notes.

Enfleurage presses plants into fat spread onto glass, such as jasmine flowers. After several weeks, the fat is saturated with oil. Alcohol is then used to separate the oil from the fat.  This creates an "absolute" oil.

Chemical solvents are not used for therapeutic-grade essential oils.

At Healing Touch Natural Essentials, all of our essential oil blends begin with 100% pure unadulterated DoTerra Brand essential oils.  

Carrier oils in the essential oil blends may include cold-pressed coconut oil, organic almond oil, or organic Arnica Montana oil.

There are no solvents, perfumes, or other chemicals in our Healing Touch Essential Oils line.  

A therapeutic-grade essential oil is one that is organically grown, natural, and carefully distilled leaving no residue, and retaining each oils unique signature of chemical constituents. 

Quality oils must be stored and handled carefully to maintain their healing effects. 

Essential oils may be distilled or pressed from flowers, leaves, roots, fruit, or all parts of a plant - and this is contained drop by drop in each essential oil bottle. 

It may be the flower of a plant, as in Rose and Jasmine essential oils. 

It may be the leaves of a plant, as in Mint. Oregano, Rosemary and Thyme oils.

It may be the root, as in turmeric and ginger oils. 

It may be the fruit, as in juniper berry oil.

It may be the seed, as in black pepper and cardamom oils.

It may be the bark, as in birch and cinnamon oils.

It may be in the wood, as in sandalwood  and cedar oils.

It may be a resin, as in Francincense oil.

It may be skin of fruit, as in the citrus oils.

It may be the yield of an entire plant, as in geranium, and many other herbs. 

Pure essential oils are naturallyhealing.

Aromatherapy has been practiced as essential oil therapy back to ancient times with therapeutic benefit by diffusing the plant's aromatics into the air. 

When inhaled, the scent molecules in essential oils travel from the olfactory nerves directly to the brain and especially impact the emotional center of the brain and autonomic (involuntary) nervous system.

Diffusers are inexpensive and a great way to diffuse essential oils for better sleep, purifying the air, or brightening up your day.   

Essential oils can also be safely absorbed by the skin as oil or added to organic lotions.

The wrist crease is one of the best locations on the body for quick absorption, though other areas include the neck, chest, bottom of feet, or overall body when blended into a carrier oil.

There are some essential oils that have more volatile properties and are considered to be hot oils. Volatile means they are easily evaporated at normal temperatures and have condensed aromatics. For that reason, they may irritate the skin or mucous membranes. Specifically, these oils are to be diluted in a carrier oil before applying to the skin. Tea Tree and Oregano oils are two "hot" oils.

When applying esential oils on children, most are safe and all are to be diluted into a carrier oil such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, and the like. 

Use caution when applying to elderly or frail bodies and dilute well with carrier oil such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, or almond oil to minimize skin sensitivity. 

Use caution when applying around wounds or areas of broken skin. 

Apply essential oils on surrounding tissue and not on the damaged skin directly.  

Do not apply essential oils in the eyes.