Why Use Young Living Oils?

We share with you this information from Vicki Opfer: Vicki Opfer is a leader and trainer in Young Living and she shares why Young Living's oils are the best. Thanks Vicki

A GC is a gas chromatograph. It measures what an oil has in it, and in what quantities. Since there are over 70,000 different kinds of molecules in plant oils, some are still unknown to us. However, with a GC, dilution and other forms of adulteration can usually be identified. It's not foolproof, but it is the best tool that we have available to us today, especially when used in conjunction with a mass spectrometer, which is another type of equipment used to test oils.

All Young Living oils are quarantined until they have been thoroughly tested. If there are any discrepancies, they are sent out to other labs to be tested again. Because of Gary's commitment to purity, our oils actually have a very complex testing process that they go through. To my knowledge, there is no other company testing their oils as stringently.

The problem is that even if an oil is pure, it may not contain the ingredients that make up an excellent oil. For example,

• The standard process, in the industry, for distilling an oil may include high temperature and high pressure during distillation, to maximize yield.
• The plant may have laid in the field for a long time before it is processed.
• It may be distilled in an aluminum distiller, or chlorinated water might be used.
• The plants might be laden with petro-chemicals like pesticides or fertilizer. If so, during distillation, the chemicals may adversely affect the oil.
• A hybrid of the plant may be grown, which may not contain the desired molecules.
• The plant can be harvested at the wrong time in its growth process.

Any of these factors can be present, and yet, a manufacturer can still call their oil, "pure". Do you see? This is why distillation is as much of an art as it is a science. Do you think the typical company cares about all of these details? I don't think so. They're looking for "pure" oils that they can buy cheap. Gary Young cares, he cares a great deal.

Young Living goes to great lengths to grow the plants that will provide us with what we want in an oil. Gary is very specific about the soil that the plants are grown in. I remember when he bought the Whispering Springs Farm in Mona, UT (now called the young Living Farm), and he was so excited to show it to us. The only things out there were an old, broken down house, several natural springs, and huge piles of organic manure... He was grinning from ear to ear. He and Mary spread that manure themselves, knowing that it would build the soil, organically.

When the plants are ready for harvest, I have heard Gary make the crew wait until just the right time for harvesting - when the plants were in the optimum part of their growth process. I remember, many years ago, when he wasn't sure - was it better to distill peppermint during the bloom, or just before? And how long should they wait, after harvesting, and before distilling? The industry said to wait, and yet, his heart told him that if he did, valuable molecules would be lost. So he tested his theory, and re-tested, until he got the results he wanted. So he takes the plants directly out of the field, to the distiller, as soon as possible.

In my opinion, he has re-written the rules on distillation in these past several years. I've been present as he has experimented with the process, and his dedication to improvement never ceases to amaze me.

And how about using city water to distill with? No, says Gary, it has to be pure water, without chlorine and other harmful chemicals. He even waters the fields at the farm with spring water.

And the distillers are stainless steel. And he's constantly re-designing them to make them more efficient at capturing the molecules that can make all the difference to us. He's revolutionized distillation by using low temperatures and low pressure. His goal is to have the best oils in the world. It's his challenge to himself. He lays awake at night thinking of new ways of improving the process.

I remember when we went to France, several years ago, he took with him lavender oil from the YL farm. He had so carefully grown the plants in organic soil, watered them with spring water, and when it was time to distill, he chose the time carefully, and then distilled with especially low temperature and low pressure. In France, they tested the oil, and found many molecules that had never been seen in lavender before. He was ecstatic.

Does this sound like someone who would cut corners? No. Anyone who would criticize him has absolutely no idea about the lengths he goes to when it comes to choosing plants, growing, harvesting, distilling, and bottling our oils. I've seen it. It's amazing to watch. If there are those who are not happy with what we have, that's OK. They haven't seen what I've seen. For me, it's an honor to work with Young Living, and with Gary and Mary Young. I'm going to keep on doing what I'm doing - working as hard as possible to get the word out to those who will use the oils to help their families, friends, clients, patients, and colleagues.

When we were running out of helichrysum italicum, I stocked up. Then, months went by, and YL was still not carrying helichrysum. My supply was running low. We were all bugging Gary, "Buy some!" we said, "Buy the best you can get!" "No!" he said, "What's out on the market right now is not the right oil - it won't work." So I called the other companies who have good oils and ordered some of theirs.

When my elderly neighbor, Ruth, called in pain from a broken rib, I packed up my oils, and went over. I tried all the helichrysums on her - no relief. Then I pulled out some of my precious YL helichrysum, and rubbed it on. "Ahhhhhh," was her response, "the pain is gone."

Vicki Opfer

Kathy Wilson
4514 155th St. NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98332
Phone: 253.853.4033
Fax: 253.853.4034
Email: Kathy@warrior-priestess.com