What are Essential Oils?
Supporting Wellness
Sometimes called the "life force" of a plant, therapeutic grade essential oils are very complex. It is important to note that essential oils are NOT medication, and therefore we do not use terms such as treatment, protocols, dosage etc. These terms are reserved and allowed only for FDA controlled chemical pharmaceuticals. All Natural Essential oils are the immune system of the plant and are stored in special cells, ducts or glandular hairs that are distributed among the flowers, leaves, bark, stems and roots of a plant.
These oils protect the plant from insects and other herbivores, from bacteria, viruses, molds, fungi and other micro-organisms. They also help to heal inflicted wounds within the botanical. These unique characteristics make essential oils highly beneficial to humans. A single oil may contain hundreds of constituents that are molecularly-aligned in exactly the right manner to trigger a number of responses in the human body. Because the body heals itself it is crucial that it be given the right tools to support that process. Essential oils are that right tool.
Essential Oils Are Not Like Pharmaceuticals
(Thank God)
When discussing this issue, it comes down to the understanding of support verses treatment. The body heals itself, and essential oils are a natural tool to help support the normal function of body systems. Pharmaceuticals are synthetic and foreign to the body and suppresses body systems, and cause them to shut down. Essential oils don’t treat disease; they support the body to overcome the disease. That’s a big difference and shift in thinking. Essential oils are nontoxic substances, and pharmaceuticals are toxic synthetic compounds. A single drop of an essential oil contains the potential to reach every cell in your body, putting things back in order.
The Science Of Nature Is Amazing - How Essential Oils Can Help.
Among a host of benefits from all-natural essential oils, there are four key aspects that make essential oils so uniquely perfect for PANDAS and PANS.
- They Cross The Blood Brain Barrier
Unlike most medication, essential oils of every species readily cross the blood-brain barrier. This is key to their effectiveness, and what makes them uniquely beneficial for disruptions in the brain, not only from a physical level, but from a more basic and fundamental level of the emotional reactions. Because of the tiny molecular structure of the components of an essential oil, they are extremely concentrated. One drop contains approximately 40 million-trillion molecules - even inhaling a small amount of oil vapor can have profound effects on the body, brain, and emotions. Studies show that when applied, essential oils are quickly absorbed and are within every cell of the body in 20 minutes, bringing with them their key life giving properties - Many Essential Oils Are Anti-Bacterial, Anti-Viral And Anti-Microbial
Numerous published studies show that many essential oils are effective at killing bacteria, viruses and other pathogens both on surfaces and in the body. Recent published studies show that some essential oils have a 99.996% kill rate against streptococcus bacteria and other viral, bacterial and fungal organisms. - Essential Oils Are Highly Anti-Inflammatory
Essential oils have been documented to reduce inflammation in the body. PANDAS/PANS causes an inflammatory response in the brain. Infection causes antibodies to be created, but instead of only attacking the strep, viruses or other pathogens, the antibodies also cross the blood-brain barrier and attack the Basal Ganglia. This causes swelling in the Caudate, Putamen, and Globus Pallidus parts of the brain and causes the PANDAS symptoms. How do Essential Oils reduce and prevent Inflammation? Essential oils contain many different medicinal properties that are documented to help the physical and emotional body. They easily penetrate the skin and can be carried throughout the blood and tissues within minutes. Oils that are high in carvacrol, a phenol, can be very effective as a natural anti-inflammatory. Studies published in the January 2010 Journal of Lipid Research found that essential oils reduce inflammation very effectively. In this study, it was found that the oils suppressed the COX-2 enzyme by as much as 75 percent! What are COX enzymes? COX enzymes are responsible for the inflammatory process in the body. COX inhibitors suppress this process and relieve pain and inflammation. Sound familiar? It should. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen work in this exact same manner! Additionally, prescription drugs such as Celebrex (and the former Vioxx) are COX-2 inhibitors! As with many medications, these medications can have dangerous side effects that must be considered. Essential oils are all natural, effective and are safe… with NO side effects, nor further injury to an already compromised immune system. - Essential Oils Promote Immune-Modulation
Immunomodulation is by far the most important key. Essential oils can modulate immune responses. Modulation refers to the ability to support change or normalization. Another term is immune-normalization. A number of essential oils and their components have demonstrated through in vitro and in vivo studies that they can modulate the immune response. (The term in vitro refers to a research study or experiment that is performed in a laboratory on a test tube or lab dish; the term in vivo refers to a medical test or procedure done on a living organism, whether that is a human or an animal.) Because PANDAS/ PANS is caused by a hyperactive immune system, essential oils are the perfect fit to help the body’s normal function and put things back in order.
Not All Essential Oils Are Created Equal
Essential oils are gaining in popularity, and many companies have joined the marketplace to capitalize on the demand for them. However, it is imperative to your wellness success that you understand not all essential oils are created equal, nor are they all beneficial. Many are produced by “oil brokers” and are sold and privately labeled under various brand names. Just because a bottle of essential oil says, “all-natural” or even “organic” doesn’t mean it is safe or therapeutic to your body. Many have little wellness benefits at all. Be sure to use a therapeutic-grade essential oil.
Many inexpensive commercial essential oils sold in stores are merely fragrance grade oils with not many wellness benefits. Beware of essential oil brands that have social media ads claiming, “I stopped using Brand X because . . . ” or “Our oils are just as good as leading brands.” They may claim their oils will “revive” your body; however, these are often privately labeled, commercially produced low-grade oils, and the sellers have no idea where they originally came from, nor scientific focus on therapeutic supportive wellness.
Essential oils that have therapeutic wellness benefits are not inexpensive to produce, so if the essential oil is being sold cheap, that’s a good indication it’s a cheap, ineffective fragrance oil. Under no circumstance should you ever buy an essential oil from Amazon. Most people wouldn’t think of buying their prescription drugs that way. Yet they routinely troll around on the Internet looking for the cheapest bottle of essential oil they can find and expect a miraculous response. I have heard way too many stories of people buying oils from Amazon and getting bottles that have been previously opened or have broken seals, indicating they have been refilled with who knows what. Here’s the bottom line: If a company producing an essential oil does not farm and manage the land, plant their own seeds, grow their own plants, harvest their own crops, and distill their own essential oils—all under strict scientific scrutiny with therapeutic wellness in mind—you are not getting the best essential oils available. This isn’t a hobby; it’s about wellness.
Essential oils offer a safe, all natural and effective approach to helping the body heal itself. They have been used for nearly 6000 years, they are the subject of numerous peer reviewed and published journals and studies, and they are used by many health care professionals, chiropractors, aroma-therapists, reflexologists, massage therapists and others interested in alternatives to prescription drugs. They can be an extremely beneficial alternative to traditional therapies and are backed by science.
* For a greater explanation and more extensive information on essential oil wellness with regards to PANDAS/PANS and autoimmunity, please read our new book PANDAS Hope for Healing – Our True Story of Recovery, Renewal & Restoration available at the link on the home page
"Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine."
Ezekiel 47:12