Chemistry 101: How Do Essential

Oils Work?

• PubMed.gov

• Peer-reviewed studies

• Ensure studies are comparing apples-to-apples

• A new field for modern science

How are essential oils scientifically validated?

Chemistry

Chemistry is a science that deals with the structure and properties of substances and with the changes that they go through: the way a substance changes and reacts with other substances.

Study of exchanges of compounds on a molecular level.

Chemistry

Molecules - an electrically neutral group of two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds

Water molecules – hydrogen and oxygen atoms

Salt molecules – sodium and chlorine atoms

What are Essential Oils?

• Volatile substance of plant

• Contains the natural characteristics and smell of the plant

• Rise quickly into the air and generate an aroma

• One drop contains hundreds of beneficial compounds

• Molecular structure

Four grades of essential oils• Therapeutic grade

Optimal growing and distillation

Young Living Standard

• Organic

May or may not contain optimal compounds

Plants still can have pesticides/herbicides

• Fragrance-grade

Altered, extended

Aroma only, no medicinal value

• Synthetic (nature-identical)

Created in a laboratory

Essential Oils Consist of Molecules

• All contain hydrogen and carbon aka hydrocarbons

• Some also contain oxygen

• A few contain nitrogen or sulfur

Essential Oils Do Not Contain

• Proteins

• Vitamins

• Hormones

• Enzymes?

Molecules Removed from the Plant

• Steam distilled• Primary of process by YL

• Cold Pressing (citrus and fatty oils)• Weight presses oil from the plant material

• Resin Tapping• Resin seeps from plant and is then steam

distilled• Absolute oil extraction (Jasmine & Neroli)

• Only for delicate material• Solvent pulls oil out without compromising oil• Steam extraction to remove solvent

Steam Distillation

• Low pressure is the best process for full

therapeutic effects.

• If membrane is fractured while the oil is

being released, the molecular structure of

is altered and it loses much of its

therapeutic effect.

• The highest therapeutic effect is from

the first distillation.

• 250 lb of lavender to yield 1lb of oil.

• 2,000 pounds of cypress for 1 lb essential oil.

• 6,000 lbs of Melissa for 1 lb of essential oil

• 5,000 rose petals for a 5ml bottle of Rose oil.

• 250 lb of lavender to yield 1lb of oil.

• 2,000 pounds of cypress for 1 lb essential oil.

• 6,000 lbs of Melissa for 1 lb of essential oil

• 5,000 rose petals for a 5ml bottle of Rose oil.

• 250 lb of lavender to yield 1lb of oil.

• 2,000 pounds of cypress for 1 lb essential oil.

• 6,000 lbs of Melissa for 1 lb of essential oil

• 5,000 rose petals for a 5ml bottle of Rose oil.

• 250 lb of lavender to yield 1lb of oil.

• 2,000 pounds of cypress for 1 lb essential oil.

• 6,000 lbs of Melissa for 1 lb of essential oil

• 5,000 rose petals for a 5ml bottle of Rose oil.

Molecules Removed from the Plant

• Steam distilled

• Must have a low molecular weight or atomic mass unit (AMU)

• 500 AMU or lighter

• Lightweight particles float on steam

• Protein molecules (allergens) are too heavy to be extracted.

Cypress @ 24 hours, 245°, & 5lbs of pressure = all 280 active constituents & properties, full therapeutic effects.

Cypress @ < 22 hours = 18-20 of the primary therapeutic constituents will be missing.

Cypress @ 26 hours = 0 constituents

Most distills of cypress are only 1 hour 15 mins. Although the oil is easily sold and marketed, it is very poor quality.

Source is imperative when dealing with essential oils.

Biochemistry

• 100 trillion cells of your body

• Each cell has about 6 gigabytes of memory

• Your body is a supercomputer

• Each cell contains a blueprint of the entire body

• Communication in our bodies

– Electrical, chemical, and intercellular

THE PMS of Oils

• Actually PSM

• A specific oil may have one or two of these three classes of compounds as its predominant chemistry

• Some contain all three types

PHENYLPROPANOIDSPhenylpropanoids are compounds of carbon-ring molecules

incorporating one isoprene unit. They are also called hemiterpenes.

Phenylpropanoids clean the receptor

sites allowing the proper transfer of

hormones, peptides,

neurotransmitters, steroids, and other

intracellular messengers.

Sesquiterpene molecules deliver oxygen molecules to cells, like hemoglobin does in the blood. They can also erase or deprogram miswritten codes in cellular memory.

SESQUITERPENESSesquiterpenes are a class of terpenes that consist of three isoprene units and have the molecular formula C₁₅H₂₄. Sesquiterpenes may be

acyclic or contain rings.

Monoterpenes can reprogram miswritten information in the cellular memory.

MONOTERPENESMonoterpenes are compounds of two isoprene units and have the

molecular formula C10H16.

Entrance into the Body

• 500 AMU or lighter threshold for blood-brain barrier

• Lipid-soluble

• Penetrate epidermis quickly

• Inhalation, but not just aromatic

Limbic System

Entrance into the Body

• 500 AMU or lighter threshold for blood-brain barrier

• Lipid-soluble

• Penetrate epidermis quickly

• Inhalation, but not just aromatic

• Internal absorption

• Application based on desired effect

Chemotypes

• The same seeds planted in different geographic locations will result in different chemical make-ups.

• Described by genus and species plus the region where they are grown

• Some may produce more oil at certain times of the day or year

Key Considerations

• Chemical composition is predetermined by genetic codes

• Genus and species are required to identify the plant

• Chemotypes are environmentally dependent

• Harvesting time of day, year, etc. impacts oil composition

SEED

CULTIVATE

DISTILLTEST

SEAL

SeedtoSeal.com

• Oils tested on location at distillery

• Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectrometry

• Discovering new compounds

• What doesn’t meet standards is not sold

St. Maries, Idaho

Mona, Utah, USA

Highland Flats, Idaho

Fort Nelson, British ColumbiaCanada

Chongon, Ecuador

What oils should I use daily?

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