Many of you may be new to the world of both Aromatherapy and Essential Oils, so I thought for our first Health Tip Of The Week it would be best to begin at the beginning.
When I was just starting out and new to aromatherapy I can remember purchasing my first essential oil of Lavender, assuming that all Lavenders were the same.
I had no idea that there were so many different types, let alone if they were organic, wildcrafted or created by a chemist in a lab to resemble the scent of Lavender. 
I quickly found out that if an essential oil had an artificial scent or “fragrance” I would end up with a migraine.
It was only after I tried an authentic Lavender essential oil that I noticed that my headache had disappeared and I felt very relaxed.
That was my first introduction to All Essential Oils Are Not Created Equal.
In doing my research this week for Aromatherapy Everyday I came across a great article by Lauren Bedosky, from Everyday Health, which I hope will help give you some clarity and insight on the importance of doing your own research before purchasing any essential oil.
Below is part of her article Essential Oil Dos and Dont’s: Aromatherapy Tips for Beginners
“Don’t Assume That All Essential Oils Are Crafted Equally
Essential oils aren’t regulated in the United States, per NAHA. That means the quality of the essential oils you can find on the market varies widely.
According to Lin, some essential oils are made with synthetic ingredients instead of actual plant material. So they may smell like the plant, but they don’t have the plant compounds responsible for whichever health effect you’re after. “It might smell good, but it won’t work,” Lin says.
That said, even if an essential oil is made from plants, several factors can impact quality, including the use of pesticides, packaging and handling errors, and improper storage.
Do your research to ensure that the oils you choose are high quality. When shopping for an essential oil, check that the product label contains the following information:
- The Latin name of the plant
- The name of the country where the plants were grown
- A statement about the purity of the oil
- No synthetic ingredients
Also, watch out for the word “fragrance” when shopping for essential oils. “The word ‘fragrance’ can mean many different things, including synthetic ingredients, so ‘fragrance’ isn’t a word you ever want to see on an essential oil bottle,” says certified clinical aromatherapy practitioner Shanti Dechen, the director of Aroma Apothecary Healing Arts Academy in Crestone, Colorado.” Lauren Bedosky
This is also a great lead in to next week’s article Aromatherapy: What You Need To Know Before Buying Your Next Essential Oil.
We will start to put the pieces of our essential oil puzzle together as you learn how make sure the oils you are purchasing are exactly what you need for your intended use.
I’ll let you in on a little secret.
It’s all in the name…A Latin name.
Until Next Time…
