| Traced
from Plant to Bottle |
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There
are only a handful of companies in the world that can trace their essential
oils from plant to bottle. This means knowing the location where the plant
or seedling was grown, when and how the plant material was harvested, and
how the distillation of plant material was performed. Most large companies,
and even some small ones, cannot trace the path their essential oils have
taken. This is because traders and brokers exchange essential oils a number
of times. They loose track of where the essential oils have been, and under
what conditions they have been stored.
This
is not the case with our oils. We are able to trace all of our essential
oils from plant to bottle because of quality control . Mr. Jain spends
the greater portion of each year supporting and working with the people
who supply our Company's rawmaterials all over the India. His twenty-Three
plus year reputation in the therapeutic essential oil industry make him,
the leader. Mr. Jain is respected in the essential oil industry not only
for his integrity, but also because he is well acquainted with the standards
and concepts in both the flavor and fragrance sector and the increasingly
exclusive therapeutic oil industry.
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| What's
the Issue With Chemotyped Essential Oils? |
|
When
an essential oil is tested and found naturally to have one or more main
'key constituents' that are higher, or lower than normal, it is identified
as a chemotyped essential oil. Aromatherapists and phyto-therapists refer
to the properties found in essential oils as constituents. Chemists speak
of them as 'chemicals'. Hence, the word developed by chemists, 'chemotyped'.
Naturally
grown chemotyped essential oils are rare and in short supply. When true
chemotypes are available, they can command higher prices. In and of itself,
there is nothing wrong with a naturally occurring chemotyped essential
oil, and they can be therapeutic in nature. However, the real question
is, are chemotyped oil superior in any way? And here, lies the debate.
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|
| The
Law of All or Nothing |
|
For
the last 25 years, the dark cloud that has loomed over the practice of
aromatherapy is the lack of reliable scientific evidence regarding the
viability of plants and plant essences to fight disease
Since
the advent of synthetic medications, the emphasis of medical therapy has
been on chemically active medicinal ingredients that combat infectious
disease. The central idea is that every disease-causing organism has a
chemical enemy, which will destroy that disease. Chemists classify anti-microbial
agents according to their active ingredients. In other words, laboratory
analysis seeks to test medication for the one principle active ingredient
or chemical.
Some
scientists believe the same has to be true for essential oils. The one
active 'chemical' in an oil makes it more beneficial. The scientists are
entitled to their belief, but I have yet to see any scientific data that
a chemotyped oil has greater efficacy than a whole, unaltered, genuine,
therapeutic, single species essential oil.
In
fact, since 1972, a team of French medical doctors has been working with
whole, genuine essential oils, the same type that our company uses, in
both laboratory and clinical studies. They have found that the complete
composition of an essential oil rather than one single constituent makes
the oil effective. In fact, their work overwhelming concludes that the
chemotyped oils are not better than a single species, whole, complete essential
oil. If you would like to learn more about this subject, read The ABC's
of Phyto-therapy or The Aromatherapy Education Institute's Course Manual.
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| Be
Aware - There Is More |
|
There
is a valid and very real concern with promoting chemotyped essential oils.
There is almost no way, except with an expert , you can tell if the essential
oil is a true chemotyped oil or if it has been tampered with, even a little.
Essential oils can easily be created to appear as chemotyped. You can do
it naturally, or you can do it synthetically, but the point is, you can
do it. For example, you can add a geranial to a single specie rose geranium,
or thymol to thyme.
If
an essential oil has an odd profile, it can be labeled a chemotyped oil.
People will try to sell it as something unique, unusual, and more beneficial,
….. for more money. I believe you can understand why a quality control
expert is absolutely necessary.
After
having said all of this, you may be surprised to learn that our company
does insist on one chemotyped essential oil in its line. Our Basil Oil
is grown specifically to have a naturally occurring low menthyl charvicrol
level. This makes it not only prized oil, but also a very safe basil essential
oil to use. Safety is always first and foremost in our mind where we are
concerned, so we have always insisted on this oil.
We
have not marketed our Basil linalool as a chemotyped oil, nor have increased
the price. We have quietly offered this oil only to provide you the safest
basil possible, and we guarantee that this oil grew naturally and was not
altered in any way.
I
have always been opposed to marketing chemotyped essential oils as superior,
except when one is needed for safety. I continue to support the law of
all or nothing. |
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| Moving
Forward in 2002 |
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As
true, single species, therapeutic essential oils become more difficult
to find, you will see many new marketing ideas emerge, just as we have
with chemotyped essential oils. Do not be misled or misinformed
Our
commitment to you is that we will always stay on the scientific cutting
edge, yet maintain truth and integrity. We will make strong statements
regarding the quality of our essential oils, but we will be able to back
up our statements. Our quality is a benchmark in the India where essential
oils are concerned
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