Rae of Light
Aromatherapy Massage
Aromatherapy Massage
Plants not only play a vital role in the ecological balance of our planet, but they have also been intimately
linked to the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of people since the beginning of time.
The plant kingdom continues to be the subject of an enormous amount of research and discovery.
Approximately 25% of prescription drugs in the United States are based on naturally-occurring compounds
from plants. Each year, millions of dollars are allocated to universities searching for new therapeutic agents
that lie undiscovered in the bark, roots, flowers seeds and foliage of jungle canopies, river bottoms, forests,
hillsides, and vast wilderness regions throughout the world.
As the most powerful part of the plant, essential oils and plant extracts have been woven into history since
time immemorial. Essential oils have been used medicinally to kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses. They provide
exquisite fragrances to balance mood, lift spirits, dispel negative emotions, and create a romantic atmosphere.
They can stimulate the regeneration of tissue or stimulate nerves. They can even act to oxygenate and carry
nutrients into the cells.
Today, it has become evident that we have not yet found permanent solutions for dreaded diseases, such as
the Ebola virus, hantavirus, AIDS, HIV, and new strains of tuberculosis and influenza. Essential oils may
assume an increasingly important role in combating new mutations of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. More and
more researchers are undertaking serious clinical studies on the use of essential oils to combat these types of
diseases.
The research that Gary Young has conducted at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah and now Brigham
Young University as well as other documented research, indicates that most viruses, fungi, and bacteria
cannot live in the presence of many essential oils, especially those high in phenols, carvacrol, thymol, and
terpenes. This, perhaps, offers a modern explanation why the Old Testament prophet Moses used aromatic
substances to protect the Israelites from the plagues that decimated the ancient Egyptians. It may also help
us understand why a notorious group of thieves, reputed to be spice traders and perfumers, was protected
from the Black Plague as they robbed the bodies of the dead during the 15th century.
A vast body of anecdotal evidence (testimonials) suggests that those who use essential oils are less likely to
contract infectious diseases. Moreover, oil users who do contract an infectious illness tend to recover faster
than those using antibiotics.
Essential oils are substances that definitely deserve the respect of proper education. Users need to be fully
versed in the chemistry and safety of the oils. However, this knowledge is not taught at universities in the
United States. There is a disturbing lack of institutional information, knowledge, and training on essential oils
and the science commonly known as aromatherapy. Only in Europe, which has a far longer history of using
natural products and botanical extracts, can one obtain adequate instruction on the chemistry and therapy of
essential oils.
The European communities have a tight framework of controls and standards concerning botanical extracts
and who may administer them. Only practitioners with proper training and certification can practice
aromatherapy. However, in the United States, the regulatory agencies have not recognized these disciplines
or mandated the type and degree of training required to distribute and apply essential oils. This means that
in the U.S. individuals can bill themselves as “aromatherapists” after a brief class in essential oils and apply
oils to people—even though they may not have the experience or training to properly understand and
administer them. This may not only undermine and damage the credibility of the entire discipline of
aromatherapy, but it can be dangerous.
Essential oils are not simple substances. They are mosaics of hundreds—or even thousands—of different
chemicals. Any given Essential oil may contain anywhere from 80 to 300 diferent chemical constituents. An
essential oil like lavender is very complex with many of its constituents occurring in minute quantities—but
all contributing to the oil’s therapeutic effects to some degree. To understand these constituents and their
activity and function requires years of study.
Even though an essential oil may be labeled as “basil” and have the botanical name Ocimum basilicum, it can
have widely different therapeutic actions, depending on its chemistry. For example, basil high in linalool or
fenchol is primarily used for its antiseptic properties. However, basil high in methyl chavicol is more anti-
inflammatory than antiseptic. A third type, basil high in eugenol, has both anti-inflammatory and antiseptic
effects.
Moreover, essential oils can be distilled or extracted in different ways that have dramatic effects on their
chemistry and medicinal action. Oils that are redistilled two or three times are obviously not as potent as oils
that are distilled only once. Also, oils that are subjected to high heat and pressure have a distinctly simpler
and inferior profile of chemical constituents, since excessive heat and temperature fractures and breaks down
many of the delicate aromatic compounds within the oil—some of which are responsible for its therapeutic
action. In addition, oils that are steam distilled are far different from those that are solvent extracted.
Of even greater concern is the fact that some oils are adulterated, engineered, or “extended” with the use of
synthetic chemicals. For example, pure frankincense is often extended with colorless, odorless solvents, such
as diethylphthalate or dipropylene glycol. The only way to distinguish the “authentic” from the
“adulterated” is to subject the essential oil to rigorous analytical testing using state-of-the-art gas
chromatography, mass spectroscopy, and NMRI carbon testing.
Different Schools of Application
Therapeutic treatment using essential oils follows three different models or frameworks: French, German,
and English.
The English model advocates diluting a small amount of essential oil in a vegetable oil and massaging the
body for the purpose of relaxation and relieving stress.
The French model prescribes the ingestion and neat (undiluted topical application) of therapeutic-grade
essential oils. A common form of internal use is to add several drops of an essential oil to honey, a piece of
bread, or a small amount of vegetable oil. Many French practitioners have found that taking the oils
internally yields excellent benefits.
The German model focuses on inhalation of essential oils. Research has shown that the effect of fragrance
and aromatic compounds on the sense of smell can exert strong effects on the brain—especially on the
hypothalamus (the hormone command center of the body) and limbic system (the seat of emotions). Some
essential oils high in sesquiterpenes, such as myrrh, sandalwood, cedarwood, vetiver, and frankincense, can
dramatically increase oxygenation and activity in the brain. This may directly improve the function of many
systems of the body.
Together, these three models show how versatile and powerful essential oils can be. By integrating all three
models with Vita Flex, auricular technique, touch therapy, spinal touch, lymphatic massage, and Raindrop
Technique, the best possible results may be obtained.
In some cases, inhalation of essential oils might be preferred over topical application, if the goal is to increase
growth hormone secretion, induce weight loss, or balance mood and emotions. Sandalwood, peppermint,
vetiver, lavender, and white fir oils are effective for inhalation.
In other cases, however, topical application of essential oils would produce better results, particularly in the
case of spinal or muscle injuries or defects. Topically applied, rosemary is excellent for muscles, lemongrass
for ligaments, and wintergreen/birch for bones. For indigestion, peppermint oil taken orally may be very
effective. However, this does not mean that peppermint cannot produce the same results when massaged on
the stomach. In some cases, all three methods of application (topical, inhalation, and ingestion) are
interchangeable and may produce the similar benefits.
The ability of essential oils to act on both the mind and the body is what makes them truly unique among
natural therapeutic agents. The fragrance of an essential oil can be very stimulating—both psychologically
and physically. Similarly, the fragrance of the same essential oil may also be calming and sedating, helping to
overcome anxiety or hyperactivity. On a physiological level, essential oils may stimulate immune function
and regenerate damaged tissue. Essential oils may also combat infectious disease by killing viruses, bacteria,
and other pathogens.
The two most common methods of essential oil application are cold-air diffusing and neat (undiluted) topical
application. Other modes of application include incorporating essential oils into the disciplines of
reflexology, Vita Flex, and acupressure. Combining these disciplines with essential oils greatly enhances the
healing response. Essential oils produce phenomenal results that, in many cases, can not be achieved by
acupuncture or reflexology alone. Just one to three drops of an essential oil applied to an acupuncture
meridian or Vita Flex point on the hand or foot can produce results within minutes.
Several years ago at a university in Europe, a professor well known in the field of aromatherapy commented
that anyone who claims to cure diseases using essential oils is a quack. However, there are many people who
are living proof that essential oils can be used to engineer recoveries from serious illness. Essential oils have
been pivotal in helping many people live pain-free after years of intense pain. Patients have also witnessed
firsthand how essential oils have corrected scoliosis and even restored hearing in those who are born deaf.
A woman from Palisades Park, California, developed scoliosis as a result of surviving polio as a teenager,
which was complicated by a fall and dislocated shoulder. Suffering pain and immobility for 22 years, she had
traveled extensively in a fruitless search to locate a practitioner who could permanently reset her shoulder.
She topically applied the oils of valor, helichrysum, and birch to the shoulder. Within a short time she
became pain free as the shoulder relocated. She was able to raise her arm over her head for the first time in 22
years.
When one sees such dramatic recoveries, it is difficult to discredit the value and the power of essential oils
and the potential they hold.
Essential oils are aromic volatile liquids distilled from shrubs, flowers, trees, roots, bushes, and seeds.
Vegetable oils can become oxidized and rancid over time and are not antibacterial. Essential oils on the other
hand cannot go rancid and are powerful antimicrobials.
They are chemically very complex, consisting of hundreds of different chemical compounds. Moreover, they
are highly concentrated and far more potent than dried herbs. The distillation process is what makes
essential oils so concentrated. It often requires an entire plant or more to produce a single drop of distilled
essential oil.
Essential oils are also different from vegetable oils, such as corn oil, peanut oil, and olive oil. They are not
greasy and do not clog the pores like many vegetable oils can.
For many centuries essential oils and other aromatics were used for religious rituals, the treatment of illness,
and other physical and spiritual needs. Perhaps the people of ancient times had a greater understanding of
essential oils than we have today.
Records dating back to 4500 B.C. describe the use of balsamic substances with aromatic properties for
religious rituals and medical applications. Ancient writings tell of scented barks, resins, spices, and aromatic
vinegars, wines, and beers that were used in rituals, temples, astrology, embalming, and medicine.
The Egyptians were masters in using essential oils and other aromatics in the embalming process. Historical
records describe how one of the founders of “pharaonic” medicine was the architect Imhotep, who was the
Grand Vizier of King Djoser (2780 - 2720 B.C.). Imhotep is often given credit for ushering in the use of oils,
herbs, and aromatic plants for medicinal purposes.
Hieroglyphics on the walls of Egyptian temples depict the blending of oils and describe hundreds of oil
recipes. A sacred room in the Temple of Isis on the island of Philae depicts a ritual called “Cleansing the
Flesh and Blood of Evil Deities.” This emotional clearing required three days of cleansing using essential oils.
An ancient papyrus found in the Temple of Edfu contained medicinal formula and perfume recipes used by
alchemists and high priests in blending aromatic substances for rituals.
The Egyptians may have been the first to discover the potential of fragrance. They created various aromatic
blends for both personal use and for ceremonies performed in the temples and pyramids.
Well before the time of Christ, the ancient Egyptians collected essential oils and placed them in alabaster
vessels. These vessels were specially carved and shaped for housing scented oils. In 1922, when King Tut’s
tomb was opened, some 50 alabaster jars designed to hold 350 liters of oils were discovered. While tomb
robbers had stolen nearly all of the precious oils, some of the jars still contained oil traces. The robbers chose
oils over a literal king’s ransom in glittering gold showing how valuable fragrant essential oils were to this
ancient civilization.
In 1817, the Ebers Papyrus, a medical scroll over 870 feet long, was discovered. Dating back to 1500 B.C.,
the scroll included over 800 different herbal prescriptions and remedies. Other scrolls described a high
success rate in treating 81 different diseases. Many mixtures contained myrrh and honey. Myrrh is still
recognized for its ability to help with infections of the skin and throat and to regenerate skin tissue. Because
of its effectiveness in preventing bacterial growth, myrrh was used for embalming.
The physicians of Ionia, Attia, and Crete (ancient civilizations based in the Mediterranean Sea) came to the
cities of the Nile to increase their knowledge. At this time, the school of Cos was founded and was attended
by Hippocrates (460 to 377 B.C.), whom the Greeks, with perhaps some exaggeration, named the “Father of
Medicine.”
The Romans purified their temples and political buildings by diffusing essential oils. They also used
aromatics in their steam baths to both invigorate the flesh and ward off disease.
Ancient cultures found that aromatic essences or oils could be extracted from the plant by a variety of
methods. One of the oldest and crudest forms of extraction was known as enfleurage. Raw plant material
(usually stems, foliage, bark, or roots) was crushed and mixed with olive oil or animal fat. Other vegetable
oils were also used. In the case of cedar, for example, the bark was stripped from the trunk and branches,
ground into a powder, soaked with olive oil, and placed in a wool cloth. The cloth was then heated. The heat
pulled the essential oil out of the bark particles into the olive oil, and the wool was pressed to extract the
essential oil. Sandalwood oil was also extracted in this fashion.
Enfleurage was also used to extract essential oils from flower petals. In fact, the French word “enfleurage”
means literally to saturate with the perfume of flowers. For example, petals from roses or jasmine were
placed in goose or goat fat. The essential oil molecules were pulled from the the petals into the fat, which
was then processed to separate the essential oils from the fat. This ancient technique was among the most
primitive forms of essential oil extraction.
Other extraction techniques were also used. Some of these included:
• Soaking plant parts in boiling water
• Cold-pressing
• Soaking in alcohol
• Steam distillation by passing steam through the plant material and condensing the steam to separate the oil
from the plant.
Many ancient cosmetic formulas were created from a base of goat fat. Ancient Egyptians formulated
eyeliners, eyeshadows, and other cosmetics this way. They also stained their hair and nails with a variety of
ointments and perfumes. They probably used the same aromatic oils that were used in the temples. Such
temple oils were commonly poured into evaporation dishes for fragrancing the chambers associated with
sacred rituals and religious rites.
Ancient Arabians were another early culture that developed and refined a process of distillation. They
perfected the extraction of rose oils and rose water, which were popular in the Middle East during the
Byzantine Empire (330 A.D. - 1400 A.D.).
There are over 200 references to aromatics, incense, and ointments throughout the Old and New Testaments
of the Bible. Aromatics, such as frankincense, myrrh, galbanum, cinnamon, cassia, rosemary, hyssop, and
spikenard, were used for anointing and healing the sick. In Exodus, the Lord gave the following recipe to
Moses for a holy anointing oil:
Myrrh “five hundred shekels” (about 1 gallon)
Cinnamon “two hundred and fifty shekels”
Calamus “two hundred and fifty shekels”
Cassia “five hundred shekels”
Olive Oil “an hin” (about 1 1/3 gallons)
Psalms 133:2 speaks of the sweetness of brethren dwelling together in unity: “It is like the precious
ointment upon the head, that ran down the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his
garments.” Another scripture that refers to anointing and the overflowing abundance of precious oils is
Ecclesiastes 9:8: “Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.”
The Bible also lists an incident where an incense offering by Aaron stopped a plague. Numbers 16:46-50
records that Moses instructed Aaron to take a censer, add burning coals and incense, and to “go quickly into
the congregation to make an atonement for them: for there is a wrath gone out from the Lord; the plague is
begun.” The Bible records that Aaron stood between the dead and the living and the plague was stayed. It is
significant that according to the biblical and Talmudic recipes for incense, three varieties of cinnamon were
involved. Cinnamon is known to be highly antimicrobial, anti-infectious and antibacterial. The incense
ingredient listed as “stacte” is believed to be a sweet, myrrh-related spice, which would make it anti-
infectious and antiviral as well.
The New Testament records that wise men presented the Christ child with frankincense and myrrh. There is
another precious aromatic, spikenard, described in the anointing of Jesus: “And being in Bethany in the
house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of
spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head” (Mark 14:3). The anointing of
Jesus is also referred to in John 12:3: “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and
anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the
ointment.”
Throughout world history, fragrant oils and spices have played a prominent role in everyday life. One of the
Dead Sea Scrolls on display in Israel at the Shrine of the Book Museum contains this intriguing phrase: “and
he will know his children by their scent.”
Napoleon is reported to have liked a cologne water made of neroli and other ingredients so much that he
ordered 162 bottles of it. After conquering Jerusalem, one of the things the Crusaders brought back to
Europe was solidified essence of roses.
And the 12th century mystic, Hildegard of Bingen, used herbs and oils extensively in healing. This
Benedictine nun founded her own convent and was the author of numerous works. Her book, Physica, has
more than 200 chapters on plants and their uses for healing.
The reintroduction of essential oils into modern medicine first began during the late 19th and early 20th
centuries.
During World War I, the use of aromatic essences in civilian and military hospitals became widespread. One
physician in France, Dr. Moncière, used essential oils extensively for their antibacterial and wound-healing
properties and developed several kinds of aromatic ointments.
René-Maurice Gattefossé, Ph.D., a French cosmetic chemist, is widely regarded as the father of
aromatherapy. He and a group of scientists began studying essential oils in 1907.
In his 1937 book, Aromatherapy, Dr. Gattefossé told the real story of his now-famous use of lavender
essential oil to heal a serious burn. The tale has assumed mythic proportions in essential oil literature. While
the event did not start him on the road to essential oil research (he was already studying the oils), his own
words about this accident are even more powerful than what has been told over the years.
Dr. Gattefossé was literally aflame—covered in burning substances—following a laboratory explosion in
July, 1910. After he extinguished the flames by rolling on a grassy lawn, he wrote that “both my hands were
covered with rapidly developing gas gangrene.” Dr. Gattefossé said that, “just one rinse with lavender
essence stopped the gasification of the tissue. This treatment was followed by profuse sweating and healing
which began the next day.”
Robert B. Tisserand, editor of The International Journal of Aromatherapy, searched for Dr. Gattefossé’s
book for 20 years. A copy was located and Tisserand edited the 1995 reprint. Tisserand noted that Dr.
Gattefossé’s burns “must have been severe to lead to gas gangrene, a very serious infection.”
Dr. Gattefossé shared his studies with his colleague and friend, Jean Valnet, a medical doctor practicing in
Paris. Exhausting his supply of antibiotics as a physician in Tonkin, China, during World War II, Dr. Valnet
began using therapeutic-grade essential oils on patients suffering battlefield injuries. To his surprise, they
exerted a powerful effect in combating and counteracting infection. He was able to save the lives of many
soldiers who might otherwise have died.
Two of Dr. Valnet’s students, Dr. Paul Belaiche and Dr. Jean Claude Lapraz, expanded his work. They
clinically investigated the antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic properties in essential oils.
Because of the work of these doctors and scientists,the healing power of essential oils is again gaining
prominence.
One of the factors that determines the purity of an oil is its chemical constituents. These constituents can be
affected by a vast number of variables, including: the part(s) of the plant from which the oil was produced,
soil condition, fertilizer (organic or chemical), geographical region, climate, altitude, harvesting methods, and
distillation processes. For example, common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) produces several different
chemotypes (biochemically unique variants within one species), depending on the conditions of its growth,
climate, and altitude. One chemotype of thyme will yield an essential oil with high levels of thymol,
depending on the time of year it is distilled. The later it is distilled in the growing season (ie., mid-summer or
fall), the more thymol the oil will contain.
The key to producing a therapeutic-grade essential oil is to preserve as many of the delicate aromatic
compounds within the essential oil as possible. Fragile aromatic chemicals are easily destroyed by high
temperature and pressure as well as contact with chemically reactive metals, such as copper or aluminum.
This is why all therapeutic-grade essential oils should be distilled in stainless steel cooking chambers at low
pressure and low temperature.
The plant material should also be free of pesticides, herbicides, and other agrichemicals. These can react with
the essential oil during distillation to produce toxic compounds. Because many pesticides are oil-soluble,
that can also mix into the essential oil.
As we begin to understand the power of essential oils in the realm of personal, holistic healthcare, we will
appreciate the necessity for obtaining the purest essential oils possible. No matter how costly pure essential
oils may be, there can be no substitutes.
Although chemists have successfully recreated the main constituents and fragrances of some essential oils in
the laboratory, these synthetic oils lack therapeutic benefits and may even carry risks. Why? Because
essential oils contain hundreds of different chemical compounds, which, in combination, lend important
therapeutic properties to the oil. Also, many essential oils contain molecules and isomers that are impossible
to manufacture in the laboratory.
Anyone venturing into the world of aromatherapy and essential oils must use the purest quality oils
available. Inferior quality or adulterated oils most likely will not produce therapeutic results and could
possibly be toxic. In Europe, a set of standards has been established that outlines the chemical profile and
principal constituents that a quality essential oil should have. Known as AFNOR (Association French
Normalization Organization Regulation) and ISO standards, these guidelines help buyers differentiate
between a therapeutic-grade essential oil and a lower grade oil with a similar chemical makeup and fragrance.
All of the therapeutic effects of the essential oils in this book are based on oils that have been graded
according to AFNOR (Association French Normalization Organization Regulation) standards.
Essential oils and human blood share several common properties: They fight infection, contain hormone-like
compounds, and initiate regeneration. Working as the chemical defense mechanism of the plant, essential oils
possess potent antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. They also ward off attacks by insects and
animals. Both essential oils and human blood contain hormone-like chemicals. The ability of some essential
oils to work as hormones helps them bring balance to many physiological systems of the human body. Oils
like clary sage and fennel, for example, have an estrogenic action. Essential oils also play a role in initiating
the regeneration process for the plant, the same way the blood does in the human body.
This similarity goes even deeper. Essential oils have a chemical structure that is similar to that found in
human cells and tissues. This makes essential oils compatible with human protein and enables them to be
readily identified and accepted by the body.
Essential oils have a unique ability to penetrate cell membranes and diffuse throughout the blood and tissues.
The unique, lipid-soluble structure of essential oils is very similar to the makeup of our cell membranes. The
molecules of essential oils are also relatively small, enhancing their ability to easily penetrate into the cells.
When topically applied to the feet or elsewhere, essential oils can travel throughout the body in a matter of
minutes.
The ability of some essential oils, like clove, to decrease the viscosity or thickness of the blood can also
enhance circulation and immune function. Adequate circulation is vital to good health, since it affects the
function of every cell and organ, including the brain.
Research indicates that when essential oils are diffused, they can increase atmospheric oxygen and provide
negative ions, which in turn inhibits bacterial growth. This suggests that essential oils could play an
important role in air purification and neutralizing odors. Because of their ionizing action, essential oils have
the ability to break down and render potentially harmful chemicals nontoxic.
In the human body, essential oils stimulate the secretion of antibodies, neurotransmitters, endorphins,
hormones, and enzymes. Oils containing limonene have been shown to prevent and slow the progression of
cancer. Other oils, like lavender, have been shown to promote the growth of hair and increase the rate of
wound healing. They increase the uptake of oxygen and ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the fuel for
individual cells.
European scientists have studied the ability of essential oils to work as natural chelators, binding with heavy
metals and petrochemicals and ferrying them out of the body.
Today approximately 300 essential oils are distilled or extracted, with several thousand chemical
constituents and aromatic molecules identified and registered. The quantity, quality, and type of these
aromatic compounds will vary depending on climate, temperature, and distillation factors. Ninety-eight
percent of essential oils produced today are used in the perfume and cosmetic industry. Only about 2
percent are produced for therapeutic and medicinal applications.
Because essential oils are composites of hundreds of different chemicals, they can exert many different
effects on the body. For example, clove oil can be simultaneously antiseptic and anaesthetic when applied
topically. It can also be antitumoral. Lavender oil has been used for burns, insect bites, headaches, PMS,
insomnia, stress, and hair growth.
Moreover, because of their complexity, essential oils do not disturb the body’s natural balance or
homeostasis: if one constituent exerts too strong an effect, another constituent may block or counteract it.
Synthetic chemicals, in contrast, usually have only one action and often disrupt the body’s homeostasis.
One of the most reliable indicators of essential oil quality is the AFNOR (Association French Normalization
Organization Regulation) or ISO certification. This standard is more stringent and differentiates true
therapeutic-grade essential oils from similar Grade A essential oils with inferior chemistry.
The AFNOR standard was written by a team headed up by the government-certified botanical chemist,
Herve Casabianca, Ph.D., while working with several analytical laboratories throughout France.
Dr. Casabianca introduced these standards into North America when he collaborated with Sue Chao at
Young Living Essential Oils in 2000. During that collaboration the Young Living gas chromatograph was
calibrated according to the European standards.
Dr. Casabianca recognized that the primary constituents within an essential oil had to occur in certain
percentages in order for the oil to be considered therapeutic. He combined his studies with research
conducted by other scientists and doctors, including the Central Service Analysis Laboratory certified by the
French government for essential oil analysis.
As a result, many oils that are listed as therapeutic-grade, such as, frankincense or lavender, can be checked
to see if they do indeed meet AFNOR standards. If some constituents are too high or too low, the oils
cannot be AFNOR or ISO certified.
For example, the AFNOR standard for Lavandula angustifolia (true lavender) dictates that the level of
linalool should range from 25 to 38 percent and the level of linalyl acetate should range between 25 and 34
percent. As long as the oil’s marker compounds are within a specific parameter, it can be recognized as a
therapeutic-grade essential oil.
As a general rule, if two or more marker compounds in an essential oil fall outside the prescribed
percentages, the oil may not be able to meet the AFNOR standard. It cannot be recognized as therapeutic-
grade essential oil, even though it is still Grade A and of relatively high quality.
What distinguishes a therapeutic-grade essential oil from a Grade A essential oil that is not therapeutic-grade
or AFNOR-certified? A lavender oil produced in one region of France might have a slightly different
chemistry than that grown in another region and as a result may not meet the standard. It may have excessive
camphor levels (1.0 instead of 0.5), a condition that might be caused by distilling lavender that was too
green. Or the levels of lavandulol may be too low due to certain weather conditions at the time of harvest.
By comparing the gas chromatograph chemistry profile of a lavender essential oil with the AFNOR
standard, you may also distinguish true lavender from various species of lavandin (hybrid lavender). Usually
lavandin has high camphor levels, almost no lavandulol, and is easily identified. However, Tasmania
produces a lavandin that yields an essential oil with naturally low camphor levels that mimics the chemistry
of true lavender. Only by analyzing the chemical fingerprint of this Tasmanian lavandin using high resolution
gas chromatography and comparing it with the AFNOR standard for genuine lavender can this hybrid
lavender be identified.
Currently, there is no agency responsible for certifying that an essential oil is therapeutic grade. The only
indication for a therapeutic-grade oil is if it meets ISO or AFNOR standards. (ISO is the International
Standards Organization which has set standards for therapeutic-grade essential oils adopted from AFNOR.)
The oils used in the products discussed in this book have been and are constantly being analyzed and graded
according to the AFNOR standards.
To our knowledge, Young Living is the only essential oil producer in North America that has been
collaborating with government-certified analytical chemists in Europe to ensure that its essential oils meet
AFNOR standards.
In the United States, few companies use the proper analytical equipment and methods to properly analyze
essential oils. Most labs use equipment best-suited for synthetic chemicals—not for essential oil analysis.
One firm in the U.S. that uses the proper machinery and test standards is Young Living Essential Oils. This
company has made serious efforts to adopt the European testing standards, widely regarded as the “
gold standard” for testing essential oils. In addition to operating its analytical equipment on the same
standard as the European-certified laboratories, Young Living is continually expanding its analytical chemical
library in order to perform more thorough chemical analysis.
Properly analyzing an essential oil by gas chromatography is a complex undertaking. The injection mixture,
film thickness, column diameter and length, and oven temperature must fall within certain parameters.
The column length should be at least 50 or 60 meters. However, almost all labs in the United States use a 30-
meter column that is not long enough to achieve proper separation of all the essential oil constituents. While
30-meter columns are adequate for analyzing synthetic chemicals and marker compounds in vitamins,
minerals, and herbal extracts, they are far too short to properly analyze the complex mosaic of natural
chemicals found in an essential oil.
A longer column also enables double-phased ramping to be conducted, which enables constituents that occur
in small percentages to be identified by increasing the separation of compounds. Without a longer column, it
would be extremely difficult to identify these molecules, especially if they are chemically similar to each
other or the marker compound.
While gas chromatography (GC) is an excellent tool for dissecting the anatomy of an essential oil, it does
have limitations. Dr. Brian Lawrence, one of the foremost experts on essential oil chemistry, has commented
that sometimes it can be very difficult to distinguish between natural and synthetic compounds using GC
analysis. If synthetic linalyl acetate is added to pure lavender, a GC analysis cannot really tell whether that
compound is synthetic or natural, only that it is linalyl acetate. Adding a chiral column can help, however in
distinguishing between synthetic and natural oils. This addition allows the chemist to identify structural
varieties of the same compound.
This is why oils must be analyzed by a technician specially trained on the interpretation of a gas
chromatograph chart. The analyst examines the entire chemical fingerprint of the oil to determine its purity
and potency, measuring how various compounds in the oil occur in relation to each other. If some chemicals
occur in higher quantities than others, these provide important clues to determine if the oil is adulterated or
pure.
Young Living is now analyzing each batch of its essential oils at an AFNOR-certified laboratory by a
chemist licensed to test therapeutic-grade essential oils.
Adulteration of essential oils will become more and more common as the supply of top-quality essential oils
dwindles and demand explodes. These adulterated essential oils will jeopardize the integrity of aromatherapy
in the United States and may put many people at risk. About Essential Oils Continued
