There are three Internationally recognized Standards of Excellence for therapeutic-quality essential oils.
The two most frequently referred to are:
AFNOR - Association French Normalization Organization Regulation...
Their regulations state the percentages of specific chemical constituents that must be present in stringent laboratory analysis for an oil to be considered therapeutic grade. To gain the AFNOR seal, essential oils must be sent to France for testing.
ISO - International Standards Organization
EC - The European 'Gold Standard'...
Only Young Living oils meet this standard of excellence (per Linda Smith, creator of the Certification in Clinical Aromatherapy workshops.)
According to the translation of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and Chinese manuscripts, priests and physicians were using extracted oils from plants for healing thousands of years before Christ. This the oils the earliest known medicine.
Highly revered, the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt routinely exchanged Blue Lotus Oil with the kings of India for slaves, gold, and other precious goods. The Egyptians created fragrances for personal use as well as for ritualistic and ceremonial use in temples and pyramids.
According to the earliest historical records available, they used balsamic substances with aromatic properties for medicine.
In 1817 the 870-foot Ebers Papyrus was discovered. Dating back to 1500 B.C., it was called a medicinal scroll. It mentioned over 800 herbal prescriptions and remedies.
Other scrolls indicate that the Egyptians had a high success rate in treating as many as 81 different diseases. Many mixtures they used contained myrrh and honey.
Myrrh was used for embalming because of it's effectiveness in preventing bacterial growth.
The Romans also played an important role in the history of healing oils. They were very much into fumigating and diffusing oils in their temples and political buildings as well as bathing in hot tubs scented with oils followed by a fragrant massage with their favorite oils.
Anciently, the Arabian people began to study the chemistry of the aromatic properties that resulted in a refined development of distillation.
This was first implemented in the extraction of rose oil and rose water, which were very popular in the Middle East at that time.
Various expeditions brought aromatic plants from one country to another.
Almost 1,000 years before the time of Christ, ancient world dynasties were fighting over the lucrative incense market.
Among the most prized of the aromatics was frankincense, reputed to heal conditions ranging from gout to a broken head.
Caravans of 3000 camels "The Frankincense Cartel" transported this costly treasure along the Frankincense Trail. a 2,400 mile-long path that began in the southern tip of Arabia and wound its way to the coast of Israel.
During a devastating plaque in Athens in 200 B.C., Hippocrates fumigated the entire Greek city with aromatic essence to prevent further spreading of disease.
By the 12 century, almost every monastery and convent in Europe planted a garden of healing herbs, and some of those herbs found their way into purification ceremonies.
A 16th-century doctor from Verona, Italy, had such success warding off the plaque using aromatic oils that the town erected a statue in his honor.
Throughout the Old Testament and up to the time of Christ, there are numerous references to the value of oils.
Perhaps during the Dark Ages and the burning of the libraries in Alexandria and other places, much of this knowledge was lost; and only through the cosmetic and perfume industry did this valuable science start to resurface.
Modern times reveal a growing number of scientific studies that prove the benefits of oils that were already discovered and known throughout ancient records and civilizations.
We have now traveled full circle to rediscover the original remedies given to us at the very beginning of life.
"How to use Young Living Essential Oils for natural wellness"
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