Sunday, January 26, 2014

Oxygen - A Double Edged Sword

We all know that life, as we know it on this planet, is centered around oxygen.   A study published in the October 2009 Journal of Pharmacology reviewed the effects of oxygen-containing terpenes to enhance absorption of corticosterones across the human epidermal membrane (HEM).

Oxygen is essential not only for breathing, but it is a necessary part of many chemical reactions needed for metabolizing fats, proteins, and carbohydrates so we can gain the energy we need to survive.  Normal blood oxygen levels for healthy people fall somewhere between 90 - 100% saturation which means all the organs are receiving the oxygen they need to function properly.  Oxygen is also critical in plants for the absorprtion of nutrients through the roots and across cell walls.  Oxygen plays a key role in photosynthesis as well, producing fructose and glucose, and releasing the excess oxygen through transpiration which is important to the air we breathe.

At the same time, most of us have also heard terms like 'Antioxidants" and "Oxidative Stress".  While oxygen is vital to our survival, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are small, highly reactive molecules produced as a normal byproduct  of regular oxygen metabolism.  These include oxygen ions, free radicals and peroxides, all of which play important roles in signaling the cells when maintained at the proper concentrations.  However, ROS levels can increase dramatically during times of stress, resulting in significant damage to cell structures. This is known as "oxidative stress".  Reactive Oxygen Species are often a root cause of inflammatory response diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.  They can increase when we consume too much alcohol, fatty foods, or foods high in sugar.  We can also be exposed to them through pollutants and toxins in the environment.  Antioxidants work to fight against ROS by giving up one of their electrons to the free radicals, thus breaking the chain reaction of oxidation.  After gaining an electron, the free radicals become stable and no longer need to attack.

The antioxidants are stable enough they can handle the change in electrons without becoming reactive and harmful.   Some of the more familiar vitamin antioxidants are Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Beta Carotene. We are encouraged to incorporate lots of colorful fruits and vegetables into are diet as these are supposed to be good sources of antioxidants.  The ORAC test developed by Tufts University in 1994 measures the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity of foods, or their degree of inhibition to hydrogen peroxide, one of the most common free radicals.



Dr. David Stewart, in his excellent book The Chemistry of Essential Oils Made Simple  notes that a single drop of essential oil contains 40 quintillion molecules, or 40,000,000,000,000,000,000. Certain essential oils may help maintain healthy lung function and support the lungs and sinuses.

To ensure the maximum therapeutic benefits, it is important to know your supplier of essential oils. Be certain that the company you choose provides information to substantiate high quality standards and conducts a variety of testing with state of the art equipment, both in house and through third-party laboratories.  As there is no standardization for essential oils at this time, labeling means very little  An oil may be labeled as "pure", "organic", "therapeutic-grade", "certified", etc but many do not clearly explain what they mean by these terms.  An oil may carry any or all of these designations on the label, but still have little therapeutic value for many reasons.  Here are some important questions to ask:

1)Does the company hire expert botanists to correctly identify plants and seeds and ensure the correct species is used?

2)Are the plants grown in a region that is native and/or which provides the optimal soil and climate conditions they require?

3)Is the growing process monitored to ensure planting, growing, and harvest occur at the best times to ensure maximum therapeutic properties?  Time of day, weather, and temperature conditions all play a role in both planting and harvest and make a big difference in the therapeutic compounds a particular crop can yield.

4)Are the oils distilled at the same site where the plants are harvested?  Plants that have to be transported a long distance to distill in another location may lose their freshness and many of their therapeutic properties.

5)Who oversees the distillation process and what is their level of experience?  The vast majority of essential oils sold commercially are not distilled for the correct amount of time or at the right pressure as they are much less expensive to produce when shortcuts are used.  Even though many oils can be distilled for a shorter time and still have a pleasing fragrance, this does not mean protocol has been followed to maximize the therapeutic benefits.   Tasteless and odorless compounds may be added to extend the oils which may not be detected by Gas Chromatography (GC)unless a chiral column is used.

6)Does the testing laboratory use equipment with the proper specifications for testing essential oils?  Almost all laboratories in the US use a 30 meter GC column  with a wall thickness of only .20 - .32 which is standard for analyzing synthetic chemicals, vitamins and minerals.  However,  to properly identify the complex variety of natural chemicals in a  pure essential oil, the column needs to be at least 50 or 60 meters and the thickness of the column wall at least .50. Young Living's  labs are the only ones in the world matched and calibrated to the instruments used at the National Center for Scientific Reserch in France by Dr HervĂ© Casabianca.



To  learn more about different therapeutic grade essential oils and their properties, please visit Oil Well Essentials.

For more information on the leading essential oil companies, their history, testing, and quality standards, check out the 45 page Young Living/DoTerra report.


These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and this information is for educational purposes only and not intended to prevent, diagnose, mitigate, treat, or cure any disease.