Constituents and Young Living Essential Oils
Excerpted from Nancy Sanderson’s Newsletter
By Rev. Mary Hardy, Ph.D.

Ever since I started in Young Living, Aromatherapists and others that are educated in the science of essential oils ask why Gary does not speak about the constituents. It is because there are a lot of beginners that are not interested and would be totally overwhelmed with the chemistry of the oils. What they really want to know when they begin is how to use the oils and supplements for their own personal use. That is why Gary has made the beginner’s kits of Essential 7, Golden Touch I, Golden Touch II, and Raindrop Therapy.  He has put the blends together so that people can use the oils for their own emotional well being. Oil such as hope, joy, Panaway, and M-grain. The old Ditone is now called Di-Gize, and the formula has been changed.
 After the beginners have been involved with essential oils for a year or so, they become more curious and want to learn more. This is why Gary started the Level I and Level II courses. I hope in the near future that he will start them up again. Right now, the company has expanded into Ningxia Red, the ART skin care line and the new oils from Equador. Beginning in July, Young Living will begin promoting a new product line. This product line is essential oils based and is for internal use. These products work hand in hand with the Ningxia Red and will become core to one’s nutritional well being. At this point it will be necessary for people to understand the constituents. What follows is an article provided by Nancy Sanderson concerning therapeudic grade Essential Oils and their constituents:
What is Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oil?
One of the factors that determines the purity of an oil is its chemical constituents or properties. These constituents can be affected by a vast number of variables, including: the part(s) of the plant from which the oils were 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. Oil distilled in mid summer or fall will contain more thymol than oil that is distilled in early spring. The action Thymol has, is that it is highly antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, is a uterine tonic, and cardiotonic. (This was taken out of the EODR)
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 oil should be distilled in stainless steel cooking chambers at a low pressure and low temperature. Gary Young, President and Founder of Young Living Essential Oils, has only stainless steel cookers. I would like to add this info while we are talking about the distillation of Therapeutic Essential Oil and why it is so important to know why you should be using Pure Therapeutic Essential oils.
Take for instance in the distillation of therapeutic essential oils. It is very crucial that they are distilled at low temperature and low pressure or it will fracture the molecule. When that happens then you no longer have therapeutic essential oil. Also the length of time in distilling is very important. Let’s talk about cypress for instance. It has 280 properties. If it is distilled for 20 hours you only get 20 of the 280 properties. If distilled for 26 hours you get 0 properties. Distilled 24 hours, which is the correct length of time for distilling cypress, you will get the full 280 properties. Most distillers distill cypress for only 3-1/2 hours! So, are you going to get any value out of that cypress that has been distilled for 3-1/2 hours? No! That is why it is important to teach your downline and clients the difference between pure therapeutic essential oils versus other oils - sometimes called “perfume oils.”
The plants harvested should be free of herbicides and other chemicals. These can react with the essential oil during distillation to produce toxic compounds. Because many pesticides are oil-soluble, they can also mix into the essential oil. This is why when Gary is buying from other companies he goes and see how they distill to make sure that they are grown in virgin soil, so that we get the purest therapeutic grade essential oils possible. Also when the oils come in they go through the AFNOR/ISO Standards. (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, Doctor Casabinca. Dr. Casabianca introduced these standards into North American when he collaborated with Sue Chao at Young Living Essential Oils in 2000. When Young Living’s essential oils was calibrated according to the European standards. Dr. Casabianca combined his studies with other research scientists and other doctors to make sure that everyone who wants therapeutic grade oil will get therapeutic grade oil.
For instance, Essential oil may be labeled as “basil” and have a botanical name (Ocimun basilicum), but it can have a widely different therapeutic action, depending on its chemistry. For example, basil high in linalol or fenchol is primarily used for its antiseptic properties. However, basil high in methyl chavicol is more anti-inflammatory than antiseptic and is antispasmadic. A third type, basil high in eugenol, has both anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects.
Of even greater concern is the fact that some oils are adulterated, engineered or “extended” with the use of synthetic chemicals. They can be very detrimental, causing rashes, burning, skin irritations, allergic reactions, and etc., besides being devoid of any therapeutic effects. For example, pure frankincense is often extended with colorless, odorless solvents, such as diethyplhthalate or dipropylend 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. 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 (composites),
Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) has 187 constituents and synthetic lavender only has 4 constituents. How can you get any benefit from using over-the-counter lavender? Adulterated and mislabeled essential oils present dangers for consumers. One woman who had heard of the ability of lavender oil to soothe burns used lavender oil from a local health food store when she spilled boiling water on her arm. But the pain intensified and the burn worsened, so she later complained that lavender oil was worthless for soothing burns. When her “lavender” oil was analyzed, it was found to be lavandin, a hybrid lavender that is chemically very different from pure Lavendula Angustifolia. Lavandin contains high levels of camphor (12-18%) and can itself burn the skin which intensified her burn.. The Lavendula Angustifolia, contains virtually no camphor and has a burn soothing agent which is not found in lavandin. Here is another testimony.
I thought you might be interested in an experience I had yesterday. A co-worker got mixed up with a large grinder here at work. It peeled the hide off three of his fingers, one fingernail was ground clear through. I called Delene and had her bring the lavender over. He wasn’t sure he wanted to put it on because it might burn. I told him that if anything it would take the burn out of the burn. We applied it and it really helped. The pain was mostly gone and the stiffness went out of it. I applied the lavender about once an hour and as he was going home offered the bottle. His response was, that’s ok, we have some at home. I explained that the training I had, had warned us about some of the “cheap” lavenders and what they did to burns. He assured me that he had “good” stuff and left. This morning as soon as he got to work, he looked me up. Seems like his “lavender” isn’t the good stuff. He said that when he put it on it about set his hand on fire. He has to fly out to Washington state tomorrow and says he is going to stop at the farm on the way and get some “good” lavender.
I Thank Gary for teaching us the difference in knowing what is pure therapeutic grade oil verses other grades of oil. Therapeutic oils are NOT dangerous. Cut and poorly distilled oils can be dangerous. If Gary didn’t care about the people and the benefits, and only cared about the dollar we would not have pure therapeutic grade essention oils.
Here is just a little info on some of the constituents we talked about:
Young Living’s Oregano (Origanum Compactum) is the only Oregano that will get the desired effect we get when we apply the Raindrop application. Our Oregano contains 72% phenols - theirs brands don’t. Phenols increase the velocity in the blood by increasing the oxygen and moving it along. Phenols are antiseptic, and kill bacteria, and are antioxidant, which increases the oxygen into the tissue to relieve muscles spasms. Esters and aldehydes have a stimulating and sedating effect on the nerve endings. Remember, basil has 72% metha charvicol which works great on spasmodic muscles. If the muscle doesn’t relax then the nerve may be affected. So you would want to look for an oil that has Esters and is calming and relaxing to the nerve. For instance use 1 drop Basil, and 3 drops Eucalyptus and apply it to the chest. It may help relax the lungs and increase the oxygen. Or you may use 3 Basil and 1 Black Pepper as a raindrop up the spine for the anti-viral effect. You use less drops of the one with the highest Phenols, because the less you use, it pushes the effect you want. For skin problems such as shingles and herpes simplex, you can relieve the pain and itching by using 7 drops Bergamot (for the calming and soothing feeling), 3 Melissa (for a soothing effect), 5 Lavender ( for balancing). When the problem is better reduce the Lavender and add Myrrh for the healing effect. People with high acid need to use oils that are high in Sesquiterpenes. Sesquiterpenes are antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory. They work on the liver and are a gland stimulant. They increase oxygen around the pineal and pituitary glands and have the ability to cross the blood brain barrier. If you are attracted to phenols then you may have a bacteria in the body. If the body is building mucous then use Lavender to balance the parasympathetic system that produce mucous and get your body in an alkaline state.
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.
A vast body of testimonials suggest that those who use essential oils are less likely to contract infectious disease. Moreover, essential oil users who do contract an infectious illness tend to recover faster than those using antibiotics.
Essential oils are aromatic, 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 antimicrobial. They are chemically very complex, consisting of hundreds of different chemical compounds. Moreover, they are highly concentrated and far more potent then dried herbs. They are oxygenating and help transport nutrients to the cells of the body. Without oxygen, nutrients cannot be assimilated; therefore, the oxygenating essential oils can help us maintain our health.
Unlike synthetic chemicals, essential oil chemicals are diverse in their effects and actions. Various constituents in essential oils have been proven to increase oxygen intake of the cells as well as their ability to use oxygen from other sources. No two oils are alike. Some constituents, such as aldehydes found in Lavender and Chamomile, are antimicrobial and calming. Eugenol, found in cinnamon and clove is antiseptic and stimulating. Ketones, found in Lavender, Hyssop, and Patchouli, stimulate cell regeneration and liquefy mucous. Phenols, found in oregano and thyme oil, are highly antimicrobial. Sesquiterpenes, predominant in vetiver, cedarwood, and sandalwood, are highly soothing to inflamed tissue and they produce profound effects on emotions and hormonal balance.
The complex chemistry of essential oils make them ideal for killing and preventing the spread of bacteria, since microorganisms have a difficult time mutating in the presence of so many different antispetic compounds. At the March 2000 International Symposium in Grasse, France, Dr. Berangere Arnal-Schnebelen presented a paper showing the antibacterial properties of essential oils against several infectious agents. Spanish oregano and cinnamon essential oils tested at above 95% efficiency against Candida Albicans, E. Coli, and a Streptococcus strain. This is significant as we face life-threatening, drug-resistant viruses and bacteria. The essential oils of ravensara, melissa, oregano, mountain savory, clove, cumin, cistus, hyssop, and frankincense are highly antibacterial and contain immune supportive properties that have been documented by many researchers, such as Daniel Penonel, MD, and Pierre Franchomme.
Essential Oil Constituents:
Aldehydes: Anti-infectious, sedative and when inhaled are calming. Here are some of the essential oils tha contain aldehydes: Lavender, eucalyptus citradora, grapefruit, fennel, cistus, black pepper, bergamot, citronella, lemongrass, and cinnamon.
Azulene: Anit-inflammatory, stimulates liver regeneration, asthmatic conditions, skin disease, infectious disease. Azulene prevents discharge of histamine (amino acid) from the tissues by activating the pituitary-adrenal system, causing the release of cortisone. It may be useful for asthmatic conditions. Azulene causes histamine release-activating cellular resistance and speeds up the process of healing. It contains trace elements of blue mineral and copper, which gives it a blue color. Oils in that category are yarrow, german chamomile, blue tansy and tarragon.
Bisabolo: The strongest of the sesquiterpene alcohol’s, which are anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. They have four different kemotypes, oxicide A & B. These oils are german chamomile and roman chamomile.
Carvacrol: Antiseptic, possible anti-tumoral, energizing, oils such as oregano, thyme and mountain savory contain carvacrol.
Cineole: Anesthelic, and antiseptic, expectorant. Oils in this category are cinnamon, hyssop, helichrysum, eucalyptus, oregano, rosemary, laurel, basil, melaleluca.
Citral: Part of the aldehyde family. They are sedative, anti-infectious, and anti-viral. Application of melissa oil topically has been shown to relieve herpes simplex. Some other oils containing citral are lemongrass, bergamot, citronella.
Esters: Sedating and calming. Some oils are, lavender, mountain savory, clary sage, roman chamomile, petigrain, bergamot, juniper, cinnamon.
Eugenol: Very antiseptic, stimulating and numbing. Found in clove, cinnamon, basil.
Flavonoids: Beneficial effects on the capillaries, the pituitary and adrenals, and are stimulating, anti-inflammatory and work on arthritic conditions. These oils are high in pycongenol. Citrus oils such as lemon, grapefruit, mandarin, and orange are very high in flavonoids.
Farnesol: Anit-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, prevent bacterial growth from perspiration, good for skin conditions, mucous. Frankincense and black cumin, with ylang ylang and german chamomile which contains aldehydes make the anti-inflammatory action not as strong.
Farnesene: Is part of the terpene family and is antiviral. These oils are ylang ylang, and german chamomile.
Keytones: Are more of a mucolytic, breaks down mucus and helps discharge and expel excess mucus from the tissue. They stimulate cell regeneration, promote the formation of tissue and liquefy mucous. They are helpful with such conditions as dry asthma, cold, flu, dry cough. These oils are yarrow, cistus, myrrh, fir, lavender, roman chamomile, eucalyptus polybractea, frankincense. Sage is one of the oils that is high in ketones and it is also a very powerful oil for increasing estrogen production, so it would be classified as a stimulant to the parasympathetic system. Ketones are responsible for the fragrance of the oil.
Limonene: Strong antiviral properties. They stimulate the production of luckisites. Some oils are lemon and lime.
Linalol: Anti-bacterial, immune stimulating, sedative, and diuretic, tones without irritating. Some oils that contain Linalol are lavender, clary sage, basil, chamomile, sage and oregano.
Monoterpenes: Are in the majority of all the oils. It is predominate in rosewood, coriander, petitgrain, fir, yarrow, angelica, thyme, neroli, clary sage, lavender, german chamomile, rose, spruce, cypress, nutmeg, palmarosa, marjoram, orange, juniper, pine, lemon, mountain savory, and a few others. The monoterpene family includes pinene, camphene, sabinene and limonene.
Phenols: High in levels of oxygenating molecules and have high anti-oxidant properties. Effective with any type of bacteria, fungus, or virus. Also antiseptic. Some oils containing phenols are: oregano, thyme, mountain savory, clove, basil, tarragon, anise seed, fennel, nutmeg, cinnamon.
Sesquiterpenes: Are antiseptic, anti-inflammatory. They work on the liver and are a gland stimulant. In 1994 they were found to have the ability to cross the Blood Brain Barrier, increasing oxygen around the pineal and pituitary glands. Some of these oils are sandalwood, frankincense, yarrow, ylang ylang, cedarwood, myrrh, cypress, hyssop, eucalyptus dives, eucalyptus globulus, helichrysum.
Terpenes: Inhibit accumulation of toxins, discharge toxins from certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys. Liver problems show up as a bad skin condition. The oils that work to pull the toxins out of the liver are, ledum, helichrysum, celery seed, black pepper, pine, angelica, ravensara, melaleuca alternifolia, geranium, oregano, thyme, spruce and fir.
Terpene Alcohols: Antibacterial, antiviral. Stimulate the immune system and work as a diuretic and a general tonic. Dr. Gatteffosse considered terpineols to be decongestant. Found in oregano, pine, coriander, helichrysum, clary sage, anise seed.
Terpene Hydrocarbons: Antiviral and contain constituents such as limonene, pinene, and sebanine. Same list of oils as above for Terpene Alcohols.
Thujone: Immune stimulant. Used for respiratory problems. B thujone will build I.G.A. s secretion for the immune system. Thujone fights and kills candidia overgrowth. Idaho Tansy.
Thymol: Is strongly antiseptic but not as caustic as phenols.
For more information contact Nancy Sanderson