Essential oils have been used for generations. Since we are removing this element from nature, it is understandable that many aspects must be taken into consideration regarding this procedure.
To get started, watch the following video and then keep reading:
What is an essential oil?
We are talking about the aromatic molecule produced and stored in its reproductive organs obtained from a process called distillation. The aromatic plant is distilled using a still to obtain liquid-vapor. Essential oil is made up of 100% aromatic molecules. It can also be obtained from a hydraulic press, such as in the case of the peel of citric fruit.
What to check for when buying essential oil?
Now that we understand the process a little better, it is easier to check for aspects related to this process of obtaining essential oil that will indicate higher or lower quality.
1. The Botanical Species
The botanical species must be defined because in each gender there may be different species. The international criteria to describe essential oils should always appear in Latin. An example is artemisinin, which in Latin is called: Artemisia annua.
Or when we talk about frankincense essential oil and we need to refer to its Latin name because there are 2 types of frankincense oils, namely: Boswellia Serrata or Boswellia Frereana.
2. The Correct Reproductive Organ
The next step is verifying that the correct reproductive organ was chosen. We would obtain different compositions when distilling different parts of a plant. In each case, the organ would be one of the following: leaf, flower, bark, seed, root, berry, etc.
For example, orange essential oil is obtained from the peel while Jasmine essential oil is obtained from the flower.
3. Geographic Location
Depending on its geographic location, aromatic plants produce a different essence, even within the same species. The location, therefore, will affect its biochemistry. Another aspect to take into consideration when we talk about the location:
- whether it was grown in the wild (the most natural and strongest plant)
- whether it is organic or not
Essential oils obtained from plants that are not wild or organic will certainly be of lower quality.
Organic is pesticide-free but the soil used to grow these crops can be depleted of nutrients as this soil has been used for growing crops for hundreds of years. We cannot be sure of the quality of the water used to water these crops (possibly containing chlorine and/or fluoride) because these plants are cared for and watered, their roots need to grow so deep.
Wild plants, on the other hand, have not been watered and have lived despite weeds so these have the deepest and strongest roots to be able to tap into the most amount of nutrients to survive. These certainly are the most desirable to use.
If the oil is not extracted from a pure source (organic or wild plant) it cannot be considered to have a health benefit other than a pleasant odor.
4. The Time of Collection
The aromatic plant must be picked during a certain season and even at a designated time of the day to obtain a maximum amount of its essence. The biochemistry will vary between 5 and 10% depending on the plant’s biological cycle. In many cases, the most essential oil can be obtained from the plant when flowering or when producing fruit.
5. Distillation And Rest Time
There can be no shortcuts with distillation time to obtain all the aromatic molecules and for the oil to be considered a 100% complete essential oil. To be of true therapeutic grade, it is essential that the correct processes for each aromatic plant have been taken into consideration such as the temperature, pressure, distillation time, and resting time to guarantee that the essential oil can be considered of a true therapeutic grade.
Budwig Center offers essential oils from a manufacturer that adheres to these high standards. Therefore you can be confident that our essential oil matches the quality indicated on the label. When treating serious illnesses like cancer, Budwig Center is determined to offer the best quality available in essential oils for our patients.
Even though few clinical studies have been done on the health benefits of essential oils, more and more people are discovering these from using essential oils orally and topically. One example is frankincense and myrrh essential oils in conjunction with Lemongrass oil for deeper penetration has been helpful for treating cancer and especially glioblastomas (brain cancer) when applied to the roof the mouth and areas of the head and both hands and feet on a regular basis.
Head to our programs page to learn more about how we address cancer and its symptoms naturally. Also, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us. For more information on how our environment has contributed to cancer, download our FREE Guide.
Have you already discovered the benefits of essential oils? How have they helped you so far? We invite you to head to our Instagram page and share your experiences. We have a great online community of followers. They regularly share how the Budwig Diet and Protocol has helped them on their road to recovery.
Note: This post was originally published in November 2016 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and clarity.
