The healing properties of plants have long been exploited by mankind. Today plant-based products are big business. As in any large marketplace, there are both reputable and disreputable manufacturers. Choosing organic and wildcrafted essential oils is one way to ensure that you are getting high-quality aromatherapy, body care products, or supplements.
Volatile compounds in plants that have shown definite beneficial properties are called 'essential oils'. Over 3000 have been identified by herbalists around the world. These compounds are 'volatile' in that the liquid or solid turns to gas in a short time when exposed to room-temperature air. Everyone is familiar with these in the pleasing scent of rose or lavender. The compounds protect the plant in its natural habitat, as well as attracting pollinators.
As with any supplement, essential oil should be pure, not damaged by harvesting or production, and free of any chemical taint. This is where 'organic' comes in. A plant grown without chemical fertilizers, without pesticides or herbicides, and on enriched soil will have all the inherent benefits of that plant - and without chemical contamination. Careful extraction of small batches of oil, without the use of heat or chemical solvents, can provide an undamaged product to consumers.
Getting the oils from the field (or woods) to the final commercially-available bottle is tricky, as well. The plant essences must be quickly processed in small batches (machinery heats up quickly as it operates) and packaged in dark glass bottles. Shipping and storage is important as well, to keep the product from heat and light.
'Wildcrafted' simply means harvested from the wild. This, of course, is not always a positive if the product comes from a rare plant. However, many companies own their own source lands, where the populations of native plants can be monitored. Other plants may be cultivated in conditions that carefully replicate the native habitat. Producers thereby have control over both harvesting and delivery to the processing plant.
Independent, third-party testing is important to evaluate the final product for purity, potency, freshness, and overall quality. A high level of expertise is required to render a quality essential oil. The plant must be harvested at the right time of day, season of the year, and under the right conditions. Not all 'healthy' products are created equal, so make sure the company that produces an item has a good track record in the industry.
The organic certification that a company gains - hopefully by adhering to all the rules - is an indication that it truly cares about the quality of its products. Independent lab results that indicate both purity and potency are valuable as well when consumers are trying to find a reputable provider. Wildcrafted herbs are likely to be completely natural and untainted, too, and test results will show this.
Mental, emotional, and physical health can be maintained or restored with the use of pure essential oils. By choosing pure, clean products, people can enjoy a better quality of life.
Volatile compounds in plants that have shown definite beneficial properties are called 'essential oils'. Over 3000 have been identified by herbalists around the world. These compounds are 'volatile' in that the liquid or solid turns to gas in a short time when exposed to room-temperature air. Everyone is familiar with these in the pleasing scent of rose or lavender. The compounds protect the plant in its natural habitat, as well as attracting pollinators.
As with any supplement, essential oil should be pure, not damaged by harvesting or production, and free of any chemical taint. This is where 'organic' comes in. A plant grown without chemical fertilizers, without pesticides or herbicides, and on enriched soil will have all the inherent benefits of that plant - and without chemical contamination. Careful extraction of small batches of oil, without the use of heat or chemical solvents, can provide an undamaged product to consumers.
Getting the oils from the field (or woods) to the final commercially-available bottle is tricky, as well. The plant essences must be quickly processed in small batches (machinery heats up quickly as it operates) and packaged in dark glass bottles. Shipping and storage is important as well, to keep the product from heat and light.
'Wildcrafted' simply means harvested from the wild. This, of course, is not always a positive if the product comes from a rare plant. However, many companies own their own source lands, where the populations of native plants can be monitored. Other plants may be cultivated in conditions that carefully replicate the native habitat. Producers thereby have control over both harvesting and delivery to the processing plant.
Independent, third-party testing is important to evaluate the final product for purity, potency, freshness, and overall quality. A high level of expertise is required to render a quality essential oil. The plant must be harvested at the right time of day, season of the year, and under the right conditions. Not all 'healthy' products are created equal, so make sure the company that produces an item has a good track record in the industry.
The organic certification that a company gains - hopefully by adhering to all the rules - is an indication that it truly cares about the quality of its products. Independent lab results that indicate both purity and potency are valuable as well when consumers are trying to find a reputable provider. Wildcrafted herbs are likely to be completely natural and untainted, too, and test results will show this.
Mental, emotional, and physical health can be maintained or restored with the use of pure essential oils. By choosing pure, clean products, people can enjoy a better quality of life.
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You can find a summary of the reasons why you should use organic and wildcrafted essential oils at http://www.naturalassortments.com right now.
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