You know that essential oils are distilled from plants and that
they have powerful healing properties.
You know that they are
used by massage therapists, for aromatherapy, and even cooking!
But did you know that only 2 percent of essential oils sold in the United States are true Therapeutic Grade?
Standards have been developed by the Association French
Normalization Organization Regulation and adopted by the
International Standards Organization to distinguish true Therapeutic
Grade essential oils from inferior oils merely used for fragrance.
This is a growing concern as demand for essential oils increases due
to health-conscious consumers desiring to ward off today's stressful
lifestyles--thus diminishing the supply.
True Therapeutic
essential oils are immune-system stimulating, anti-viral,
anti-infectious, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, antiseptic,
anti-tumoral and even anti-fungal.
Gas
Chromatography Purity Testing
Gas chromatography is
the scientific method employed to differentiate imposters from the
real McCoys. It measures whether basic components of an essential
oil occur in a precise percentage. If only two primary constituents
do not meet precise percentages, the oil cannot be AFNOR or ISO
certified--although the oil may qualify as Grade A. Gas
chromatography can also identify oils that have been synthetically
manipulated. At Mountain Rose Herbs, we go the extra mile and
request the use of a 50-meter column during gas chromatography
testing. Most U.S. labs utilize a 30-meter column, which is adequate
for vitamins or minerals--but is certainly not adequate for the
chemical complexity of essential oils. An oil's purity can be
affected by myriad environmental factors: geographical region,
altitude, climate, soil, growing conditions and harvest method and
season. Even the time of day the plant is harvested can affect the
oil's purity! Producing genuine Therapeutic Grade essential oils is
indeed a fine art. We do painstaking research at Mountain Rose
Herbs, insisting on knowing harvest location, methods utilized to
extract the oils, and data reports assuring the oil's character.
Proper Steam
Distillation
The distillation method also affects an
essential oil's purity--and Therapeutic Grade oils mandate
preserving as many of the plant's compounds as possible. Therapeutic
Grade essential oils must only be distilled in stainless steel
cooking chambers at lowest possible pressure and lowest possible
temperature. Extremely high temperature and high pressure, or
contact with chemically reactive metals such as copper or aluminum
can quickly destroy delicate compounds. At Mountain Rose Herbs, we
even insist on knowing how the vats are cleaned!
Every essential
oil offered by Mountain Rose Herbs is 100% Pure Therapeutic
Grade. The essential oils we stock are obtained by steam
distillation of the plant's volatile oils. And our oils are derived
from the first distillation--never the second, third or fourth! The
only exception to this rule is our Lavender 40/42, which is a blend
of many different lavenders; and absolutes, which are extracted by
alcohol. These oils may not suitable for therapeutic aromatherapy,
however they are deliciously intoxicating as a fragrance or perfume.
No
Additives
The primary components of 98 percent of all
essential oils in the market are synthetic. They should not be used
for therapeutic applications, and they potentially carry risks. Only
pure essential oils should be used for therapeutic purposes. At
best, synthetic oils may not produce desired therapeutic results--at
worst, they could possibly be toxic.
Mountain Rose Herbs
essential oils are 100% pure, natural plant oils. They are free of
added water, alcohol, carriers or other diluents. No chemical
solvents are added during distillation, and nothing is added to the
oil after distillation. A very large selection of oils offered
through Mountain Rose Herbs are certified organic through Oregon
Tilth Certified Organic. Although organic certification is an
intensely painstaking process that a few of our suppliers are still
striving to attain, any oils we stock that are not yet certified
organic are guaranteed to be free of pesticide and chemical
residues. Mountain Rose Herbs essential oils are wholly suitable for
aromatherapy, cosmetics, cooking and body application.
