So sometime ago, I was introduced to these tiny little aromatic bottles, of what is known as essential oils. Among those were lavender, peppermint, lemon, frankincense and many others. I'm sure most of us have heard of those at some point in our lives, but probably never realized the amazing benefits and different uses of these essential oils. And I'm not only talking about the sweet aroma of lavender or the refreshing and uplifting scent of peppermint,...but im talking about the medicinal and therapeutic benefits of these natural wonders. It's really no wonder at all...Essential oils enhance our health, wellness and happiness immeasurably, and can greatly improve the quality of our lives. Lavender can be used for first aid for cuts and burns, and on our feet at night to help us sleep better; peppermint can reduce headaches and fevers and relieve indigestion. Frankincense supports the immune system, and clove oil is the most powerful anti-oxidant of any substance ever measured. Blends called Peace & Calming can reduce stress, PanAway can reduce pain, and Joy can uplift our mood. Truth is that plants have been linked to the wellness of mankind since the beginning of time. Throughout history, people have used plants for medicine, beauty, emotional support, and embalming. Egyptian hieroglyphics have been found to depict the production and use of essential oils for medicinal application. Essential oils are mentioned throughout ancient scripture, playing a large role in everyday life for anointing, healing and also just for fragrance. It wasn't until just over 100 years ago that man-made antibiotic pharmaceuticals came into play, and we now know the dangerous effects of them. Needless to say, herbals and essential oils were there before, during, and will be long after these synthetic drugs entered the market. Plants are the ORIGINAL and best form of medicine. So what exactly are essential oils? Essential oils are plant concentrates. It takes 5,000 lbs. of rose petals to distill into one pound of rose essential oil! One drop of peppermint oil is equivalent to 24 cups of peppermint tea! Most essential oils are anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and support the immune system … and they are natural and non-toxic. Essential oils are extremely compatible with the body and can heal us in ways no other form of medicine can when used as medicine. However, when plants are dried for tea or to make supplements, 95-97% of their essential oil is lost. By using essential oils, we are getting the complete chemical profile in every drop! There is a chemical molecule called limonene which is found in all citrus oils, and research on this molecule shows that it not only inhibits cancer, but also regresses it. Orange oil is 95% limonene, and in order to replicate this research, one would have to take 10ml of orange internally every day. The national library of medicine now has over 4,000 research articles on essential oils! How do we get essential oils from plants? Essential oils are distilled by running steam through plant material in large stainless steel cylinders. The steam separates the oil from the plants and is taken out through the top of the distiller. The steam is cooled back into water and the oils float on the top and can be removed. These distilleries can be 20 feet tall and eight feet across. Imagine filling a cylinder of this size with German chamomile, which is a delicate, fragile plant. Did you know that you would only get somewhere between ¼ cup and ½ cup of essential oil? This is why some oils are very expensive. Other oils, like peppermint and lavender, provide a lot more oil in each distillation, so they are less expensive. And since the small 5 ml. bottles of essential oils contain 85-100 drops, and the 15 ml bottles contain 250-300 drops, and we use only a few drops at a time, essential oils are actually very economical! Let's talk Purity: Purity is the key to effectiveness, as well as safety. In order to ensure that the purest and most potent form of the oil is extracted and preserved throughout the distillation process, it is necessary to distill at very specific and proper temperatures and pressures. Very few companies have the knowledge necessary or take the time and effort to follow such protocols and instead distill their plant matter at high temperatures and/or high pressure, or even distill the plant matter over and over again to try and squeeze more oil out of it (a practice called 2nd, 3rd, 4th and complete distillation). Most essential oils, even those found in health food stores, may be synthetic, adulterated or diluted, and can actually be toxic to us. Young Living is dedicated to having the highest quality essential oils in the world. Those are the ONLY oils I use for myself, my family and recommed to everyone. For more details on purity and Young Living's practices, visit www.TheSolDropGarden.com and watch the Seed to Seal videos which show the entire process from preparing the soil to bottling the oil. So exactly HOW do we use oils every day? We can put them on topically, smell them, diffuse them in a diffuser, take them orally as a supplement, put them in our bath water and we can even cook with them. We use them as a perfume, for first aid and in massage. Young Living also has several roll-ons, making them very easy and convenient to use. My favorite is Stress Away and I keep it in my purse at all times. They also have Deep Relief for pain, Tranquil to soothe and relax, Breathe Again for respiratory support and Valor to balance and uplift. Essential oils may be the most profound health support we may see in our lifetime, capable of changing medicine, as we know it. They are especially supportive to ease pain and depression, reduce degeneration and illness, and relieve stress. They are powerful and yet gentle, non-toxic, and safe to use for children and pets. They are not just the medicine of the past, but clearly, the medicine of the future. To find out more about how to get the best & purest essential oils out there visit the website www.TheSolDropGarden.com where you can find additional information and resources. Denise DelRusso (YL Member #2289817) & Edite Monica Costa (YL Member #1578917)

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