EssEntial Oil User’s Guide What Is An Essential Oil? Plants contain complex and powerful substances known as essential oils. These are aromatic liquids derived from shrubs, fowers, trees, roots, bushes, and seeds. These distinctive components defend plants from insects, harsh environmental conditions, and disease. They are also vital for a plant to grow, live, evolve, and adapt to its surroundings. Referred to as the essence of the plant, pure essential oils not only protect the plant, but also determine its aroma. Essential oils have been used throughout time dating back to 4500 BC. From perfumes and aromatherapy to cooking and medicinal purposes, essential oils have been used in everyday life for centuries. In modern days, research shows that pure essential oils can provide similar benefts to humans and animals that they give to plants. I m p o rta n c e o f Q ua l I t y Many oils, touted as essential oils, are derived with harsh chemicals, diluted, or copied and produced in a lab. Cheap copies bring cheap results and have the potential to be toxic. Terefore, it is imperative to take great care in choosing high-quality essential oils. Te Young Living Standard Young Living ofers pure, unadulterated essential oils, essential oil blends, and oil-enhanced products. At Young Living, in-house and independent laboratory testing shows that our essential oils meet high industry standards that qualify them as “therapeutic grade.” Tis means that health professionals choose them for promoting health and wellness. Young Living is dedicated to producing essential oils from the highest-quality plants. Healthy plants and proper distillation produce superior essential oils with powerful benefts. Every oil is put through a series of rigorous tests before it is deemed qualifed to bear the Young Living label. Our essential oils are then bottled in dark, thick, glass containers to protect the integrity of the oils. Under the lid is a fxed orifce that helps to measure dosages and to ensure safety, particularly for young children. l e a d I n g t h e way I n e s s e n t I a l o I l s After personally witnessing the amazing difference between common aromatic oils and therapeutic-grade essential oils, D. Gary Young, Founder and President of Young Living Essential Oils, began a personal campaign to protect the legitimacy of the ancient healing art of essential oil therapy. Gary’s vast experience, years of study, and guidance from world experts became a driving force to restore the proper use of essential oils. The results? Four herb farms, a unique distillation process in the nation’s largest therapeutic-grade essential oil distilleries, and a booming, worldwide company—Young Living Essential Oils. How To Use Essential Oils There are three basic ways to use essential oils: inhalation, topical application, and internal consumption. Read the Safety Guidelines and Tips prior to the use of any essential oil. I n h a l at I o n Te inhalation of essential oils heightens the senses and can trigger numerous desired responses in the body. Below are several techniques used to inhale essential oils: + Direct inhalation—simply smell them. + Difuse the oils using a Young Living difuser which disperses the oil in a micro-fne vapor into the air. Te Young Living difuser will not heat the oils, thus ensuring full benefts, as extreme heat can damage important constituents in the oil. + Fill a humidifer with water. Put a tissue or small cloth, sprinkled with a few drops of oil, in front of the escaping steam. (Do not put oil in your humidifer. It will foat on top of the water instead of rising with the water vapor and may cause damage to your humidifer.) + Carefully pour hot water into a bowl and add a few drops of oil. Cover your head and bowl in a tent-like fashion with a towel. Breathe deeply and slowly. t o pI c a l a ppl I c at I o n Apply essential oils directly onto the skin where indicated. Dilute with V-6™ Enhanced Vegetable Oil Complex or a pure vegetable oil ( e.g., olive or almond ) before applying if dilution is indicated in the Application Chart. Dilution may protect against possible skin sensitivities. Key points of application on the body are : Crown of head Forehead Temples Behind ears Neck Upper back Abdomen Over vital organs Soles and top of feet Ankles tO apply tOpically On any Of thEsE arEas, fOllOw thEsE simplE stEps: 1. Carefully tip the oil bottle and drop – drops in the palm of the hand or directly on the desired application area. . If dropping oil in your hand, rub palms together in a circular motion and then massage oil onto the desired point of application. If applying directly to the desired area, use your hand to massage the oil in a circular motion into the skin. Repeat if desired. Attention: Essential oils are very potent, and some may be irritating to the skin. If irritation occurs, immediately apply V-6 Enhanced Vegetable Oil Complex or pure vegetable oil to the area to dilute. Please read label directions for each individual oil before using. You can also create your own massage oil blends by mixing your favorite essential oils with V-6 Enhanced Vegetable Oil Complex or by using Young Living’s pre- mixed massage oil blends (e.g., Relaxation™, Ortho Ease™) to relax, uplift, soothe, and relieve. I n t e r n a l c o n sum p t I o n Research indicates that some oils are more efective when taken orally. Only pure essential oils, proven safe and labeled as dietary supplements, should be used internally. Dilution and dosage is dependent on the age, size, and the health constitution of the individual. Follow the recommended dosage on individual product labels to ensure safety or seek the advice of a health professional before administering oils internally. suggEstEd intErnal cOnsumptiOn mEthOds: + Put several drops of oil into an empty capsule and swallow with water. + Add 1– drops to a glass of water or rice milk. + Put 1– drops onto a piece of bread or add to your meals when cooking. + Add 1– drops onto a teaspoon of Blue Agave and swallow. + Drop directly onto the tongue and swallow. Exercise extreme caution when using this method. Many oils are very strong and should be tested by pouring a single drop onto a spoon and tasting a small portion to determine the amount of oil to be used. 6 Application Chart Each single essential oil and essential oil blend sold by Young Living is categorized below into three areas: topical application, dietary supplement (internal consumption), and aromatic (inhalation). Categorization of each oil is based upon well-documented, scientifc information, as well as literature from respected experts in essential oils. Tis information is intended to guide you in essential oil use; however, qualifed health professionals may ofer additional guidance and should be contacted for disease or serious health conditions. Also, see individual bottle lables for specifc directions. g Dilution is not required. Suitable for topical use on all but the most sensitive skin. Generally safe for younger children. Diffuse up to 1 hour three times daily. y Dilution recommended. Use as directed. Diffuse up to 30 minutes three times daily. o Avoid using on areas of the skin that are frequently exposed to prolonged sunlight or UV rays. Avoid direct sunlight or UV rays for up to 12 hours after applying to skin. r Always dilute before use. Use as directed. Take internally only as directed and only if the oil is listed as a dietary supplement. Diffuse no more than 10 minutes three times daily in a well-ventilated room. b Oil is not recommended to be used in the manner indicated. Refer to pages 7–8 for indications on specifc oils. 7 tOpical applicatiOn diEtary supplEmEnt arOmatic Single Oils g y o r b g y o r b g y o r b Balsam fir (idaho) • • • Basil • • • Bergamot • • • • cassia • • • cedarwood • • • cinnamon Bark • • • cistus • • • clary sage • • • clove • • • coriander • • • cypress • • • dill • • • • douglas fir • • • Elemi • • • Eucalyptus dives • • • Eucalyptus globulus • • • Eucalyptus polybractea • • • Eucalyptus radiata • • • fennel • • • frankincense • • • galbanum • • • geranium • • • ginger • • • goldenrod • • • grapefruit • • • • helichrysum • • • hyssop • • • idaho tansy • • • Jasmine • • • Juniper • • • laurus nobilis • • • lavender • • • ledum • • • lemon • • • • lemongrass • • • 8 tOpical applicatiOn diEtary supplEmEnt arOmatic Single Oils g y o r b g y o r b g y o r b marjoram • • • melaleuca alternifolia • • • melaleuca ericifolia • • • melissa • • • mountain savory • • • myrrh • • • myrtle • • • nutmeg • • • Onycha • • • Orange • • • • Oregano • • • patchouli • • • pepper • • • peppermint • • • petitgrain • • • pine • • • ravensara • • • roman chamomile • • • rose • • • rosemary • • • rosewood • • • sage • • • sandalwood • • • spearmint • • • spikenard • • • spruce • • • tangerine • • • • tarragon • • • thyme • • • tsuga • • • Valerian • • • Vetiver • • • western red cedar • • • white fir • • • wintergreen • • • ylang ylang • • • Y O U n G L I V I n G S A F E T Y Y O U n G L I V I n G S A F E T Y Safety Guidelines + Tips Young Living essential oils are pure, which makes them powerful and effective. For the responsible use of essential oils, read the complete label on each bottle and the following guidelines : Te drop reducer orifce located in the Certain oils may sting the eyes and other oil bottle opening helps you adhere to sensitive areas of the body. Essential correct dosages as prescribed by health oil residue on the fngers may damage professionals, reputable literature, or as contact lenses in addition to causing eye listed on the label. discomfort. If accidental stinging does occur, put 1– drops of pure vegetable oil Te orifce also helps prevent small into the eye. children from accidentally swallowing large amounts of essential oil. However, if Avoid putting essential oils directly into you suspect that a child has consumed a the ears. large quantity of oil, administer milk and seek the advice of a health professional. Pure citrus oils may compound the efects of sun exposure. Limit prolonged For younger children, seek the advice of exposure to direct sunlight for up to 1 a health professional before the topical hours (up to hours for angelica and application of any red drop oils (see lime; up to 8 hours for bergamot) after application chart). applying these undiluted essential oils to the skin (see application chart). When applying a new oil, test one drop on a small patch of skin frst (e.g., on the Cosmetics, personal care products, or underside of the forearm). Skin sensitivity cleansers with synthetic ingredients is highly individual. If the skin feels hot or penetrate the dermal layers of the skin. turns red, apply a vegetable oil (e.g., olive Avoid applying essential oils to these or almond) to the area, which will dilute areas, as it may take these chemicals the essential oil. Washing with water is deeper into skin, fatty tissue, or the less efective. bloodstream. Use only one new oil or oil blend at a time Avoid using essential oils on skin that to determine how your body responds. has been damaged or afected by chemi- Wait 0 minutes before applying another cal burns. new oil. 10