Quality

Because an enormous amount of raw material is used to make pure, natural essential oils, a surprisingly large amount of products on the market have been spiked with chemical substances or diluted with lower-quality, commercial-grade oils. After discovering that most manufacturers taint their essential oils with foreign substances in order to save on production costs, Nature\'s Sunshine elected to find premier sources of pure essential oils.
We don\'t just take our suppliers\' word for it when it comes to quality. You can be sure that Nature\'s Sunshine analyzes its complete line of essential oils to ensure that each oil measures up to our strict quality standards.
Using Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry, the NSP Quality Assurance Department tests every lot of oil we receive to make sure it meets our high-quality standards and is 100 percent pure.
We also test for the proper components. Just because an oil is pure doesn\'t mean it\'s good enough for NSP. Plant quality and growing conditions also affect quality.

In addition, Nature\'s Sunshine: Conducts strict olfactory (smell) evaluations. Checks oil color and clarity. Verifies species and place of origin.

Precautions

· Read and follow label instructions and warnings.

· Avoid contact with eyes and mucus membranes. (Flush with olive oil in case of contact.)

· Use essential oils externally; do not ingest.

· Keep essential oils away from children.

· Dilute essential oils before using topically. Essential oils are highly concentrated volatile oils and may cause adverse reaction if not diluted.

· Store essential oils away from heat, light, dampness and electromagnetic frequencies.

· Test oils on small skin area to determine skin sensitivity.

· Avoid strong sunlight or sun beds after topically applying essential oils.

· Avoid applying essential oils immediately after perspiring or using a sauna.

· If pregnant, terminally ill or undergoing drug therapy, consult with your physician before using essential oils. (Essential oils are not meant to take the place of a qualified practitioner.)

· If using homeopathic remedies, wait one hour before and after using an essential oil.

What is Aromatherapy?

History of Aromatherapy
Aromatic medicine, the ancient beginnings of the art of aromatherapy, was recorded in both Egypt and India more than six thousand years ago. Massage oils, healing preparations, embalming, skin care, fragrant perfumes, and cosmetology are some of the uses originated by the Egyptians. The practice of Ayurvedic medicine in India is one of the oldest medical practices still in existence today.
The use of plant and herbal extracts for medicinal healing has been documented by most native cultures throughout history. For centuries, essential oils were offered as the only relief for epidemic diseases.
Essential oils share common medicinal qualities. As an antibacterial and an antiseptic, essential oils inhibit the growth of bacteria. As an anti-inflammatory, essential oils help reduce swelling. As an analgesic, essential oils help reduce pain.
The advent of modern medicine pushed aside herbal remedies for synthetically produced alternatives. When given a choice of deriving synthetic medicinal preparations through the controlled environment of the laboratory or deriving botanical medicinal preparations from the fields of nature, modern scientists opted for the synthetic laboratory approach, primarily for the purpose of enhancing pharmaceutical profits.
At the beginning of this century, particularly in France and England, a movement by noted doctors and scholars in the naturapathic and medical communities, prompted a re-awakening to the benefits of natural medicine and aromatherapy. Today, in France, it is common to find that doctors practice aromatherapy, pharmacies sell essential oils, and health insurance reimburse for treatments and prescriptions using these approaches.

Essential Oils are natural substances which are extracted via distillation from tiny molecular sacs of each botanical. They are part of the plant\'s immune system and yet a separate substance created from the plant. The distillation process gently extracts the volatile oil from the plant parts. The essences are natural, and so they work in harmony with the body.
Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts that contain hormones, vitamins, and antiseptics that work on many levels. They are 75-100 times more concentrated than dried herbs.
All essential oils, to a greater or less extent, exhibit the following characteristics; antiseptic (prevents or combats infection locally), bactericide (kills bacteria), bacteriostatic (inhibits growth of bacteria), and cytophylactic (promotes cell rejuvenation when applied to the skin).
Essential oils are truly special because the pure essential oils, like precious jewelry or fine wine, are the gems of nature --- the "quintessential" life force of natural, organic substances, carefully and gently extracted from the essences of naturally aromatic plant parts.