Can You Trust Young Living?

With rumors about snake oils racing around the online world like mad jet skis on a busy summer lake, the question of, “Can I trust Young Living?” is an important one.

The good news? I have the answer.

Anyone can claim anything on a website, and have it regarded as truth — at least until someone takes them to court to prove otherwise. So why should you trust me? Because I’m going to deliver facts that support my opinion.

Now back to the question: Can you trust Young Living? The answer is yes. You can without a doubt trust Young Living products. Now, let’s prove it!

Fact 1: The Right Foundation

Young Living was founded in 1993 by D. Gary Young. Prior to starting the company, Gary studied nutrition, biochemistry and essential oils in various places around the world. Now he continues to lead the company, with his wife and a team of experts. Here are a few, as of May 2016:

  • R. Michael Buch – PhD
  • Dr. Lindsey Elmore – PharmD, BCPS
  • Christi Bonds-Garrett – MA, MD
  • Clell M. Fowles – RPh, BA, BS
  • Peter Minke – PhD
  • Carlos Orozco – BS (Experimental Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics), MS (Immunology), MD (Rep Med, Gynecological Oncology), PhD (Biochemistry), ND (Nutritional Medicine)
  • Tom Reed – DPM, DABPS, DABPM, FACFAS
  • Olivier C. Wenker – MD, MBA, ABAARM, DEAA

Read more including details on schools and credentials here: Young Living Scientific Advisory Council. But as you can see, Young Living is backed with serious credentials.

D. Gary Young at one of the Young Living Seed to Seal farms.

Young Living wasn’t founded by a businessman. It was founded by someone dedicated to discovering as much as possible about health and the natural world. D. Gary Young continues to spend his time locating land for new farms, planting, distilling and formulating the products so many of us love.

My View on the Critics: If you’ve done a bit of Googling when trying to figure out if you can trust Young Living, you’ve probably read information from sites like Quackwatch slamming Young Living and/or Gary Young. I don’t want to waste time on the topic, but since this page is about facts, it should be addressed.

My opinion? The best approach to finding the truth regarding online claims is to “reverse Google” the source. For example, Quackwatch is one of a rumored 60+ sites run by Stephen Barrett. It doesn’t take much time to reveal interesting facts about his history and mission. All he has to do is put the same accusations on 60 websites, and everyone thinks it’s factual. Wrong.

Every successful American at some point receives a barrage of criticism, and D. Gary Young is no exception. Simply Google Abraham Lincoln and you’ll find articles calling him a hero, and others calling him a tyrant.

At the end of the day, you can probably find some type of dirt on anyone, because they’re human. It’s what they’re doing now that matters — as long as the past didn’t have them as a serial killer! I’ve personally met Gary Young, and heard him speak in intimate settings, large group meetings and at a couple of his farms. My first hand experience has produced nothing but respect for his work and life.

Fact 2: Commitment to Quality

Young Living doesn’t waiver in quality. I witnessed this in 2014 when one of Young Living’s most popular products, the Valor essential oil blend, went out of stock due to a shortage of blue spruce. This cost the company millions of dollars. My wife and I were at the St. Maries farm in Idaho, and Gary flew in for a few hours. He addressed the shortage and said that even though people urged him to change the blend to meet demand, he wouldn’t do it. He’d rather the company lose money than compromise a blend that he had formulated for a specific purpose.

Wow — That’s a memory I’ll never forget. Show me someone who will sacrifice millions for quality, and I’ll show you someone who will experience ongoing success with an ocean of loyal customers.

Young Living does not sacrifice quality to meet demand. If you decide to purchase products from them, be prepared for out of stock times as new harvests are waited on. This isn’t the typical grocery store where chemical filled, synthetic products are always available. It goes against America’s “give it to me now” entitlement, but it’s completely worth the wait.

Fact 3: Seed to Seal / Farms

If I knew nothing else about Young Living, the fact that they own and operate their own farms would go a long way in convincing me to trust them. And it goes beyond privately held farms — the Seed to Seal™ guarantee is the only one in the essential oil industry.

In a nutshell, Seed to Seal means everything is done right from seed selection to sealing the jar of oil. If you’re new to the oil industry, there a many, many steps that if not performed correctly, can radically reduce the therapeutic quality of an oil. And how does one know if an oil has been damaged? With GCMS testing in a lab – but I’m getting ahead of myself.

Visit our Young Living farms page to learn more about each location. In addition to owning their own farms, Young Living has a few significant claims that will impress anyone in the industry:

  1. Young Living is the first and only company to distill and export sacred frankincense from Oman and bring it to the western world.
  2. They are the only American company to own a lavender farm in France.
  3. Young Living is the only company cultivating helichrysum in Croatia.

Co-op & Partner Farms?

Young Living does use partner farms, co-op farms and suppliers for certain oils, but the Seed to Seal guarantee is never compromised. Young Living is notorious for refusing entire shipments when the oils do not pass their own stringent lab tests.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/165490992

Fact 4: Superior Laboratory Testing

Seed to Seal™ isn’t possible without laboratory testing. Whether the oils are from a Young Living farm, co-op or partner farm, proper testing is a must to ensure the oils are therapeutic grade.

Laboratories have libraries of compounds stored within their chromatographic computer systems. These libraries are often purchased from the instrument manufacturers, and are then supplemented over time by the lab itself – but it can take years to build up a quality library. A relatively new lab will often only contain the compounds loaded by the manufacturer. Or they will purchase a library tailored to their industry, such as pharmaceuticals or petrochemicals.

A gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) is an analysis technique used to identify and quantify all of the compounds within a sample. When a GCMS test is run at a lab, the computer will analyze the output and attempt to match it with what is contained in their library. If the lab doesn’t have the correct compounds in their library they will often not identify the compounds correctly.

Example: Look at this like fonts loaded on your computer. Have you ever received a Word document or presentation created by someone else, with a font that your computer doesn’t have? What happens? Your computer takes its best guess at a font substitution. We all know this usually doesn’t work – you end up with wrong sizing, skewed presentation slides, etc. The same goes for a laboratory. If a petrochemical lab tried to analyze a sample of peppermint oil, their systems will not have the needed information.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/65571771

Young Living is the oldest essential oils company of current day, and their labs have the most extensive essential oil libraries. This is a massive advantage in accurately identifying the components of essential oils. If you took anything to a lab for analysis, if the lab didn’t have the extensive libraries loaded for that specific substance, the results could be inaccurate.

Young Living has the laboratories and skilled technicians required to accurately analyze each essential oil to ensure that not just their own oils, but partner farm oils meet all required criteria. As mentioned above, Young Living often sends entire shipments back to a farm because something wasn’t done right during planting, harvest or distillation, and the oils don’t meet YL’s standards.

A Single Test Will Not Do

Any experienced chemist will tell you that more than one method of testing is required to verify quality. This is why Young Living introduces 8 or more methods of testing into their production process. This adds 10 days to their supply chain, which introduces substantial expense.

3rd Party Labs

Young Living doesn’t stop with their own expertise. They employ 3rd party labs, and the labs are the best in the business. We’re talking government / EPA certified laboratories that have been in business for decades — one in particular for over 50 years. They are not fly-by-night labs that charge a hundred bucks to crank out an analysis in a day. But seasoned shops even used for high level forensics cases.

Millions in Research and Testing

Millions of dollars are spent by Young Living each year in laboratory testing and research. The extra time and precise work of the Young Living laboratories is yet another thing that separates this company from the rest. It means the oils and blends you receive with the Young Living label are the best in the business.

Michael Buch, PhD, Vice President of Research and Development and Product Management, talks about how they scientifically measure the purity and quality of our essential oils. He also demonstrates the most common tests used to determine if a product meets Young Living’s Seed to Seal standard.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/165490990

Fact 5: A Global Mission

The Young Living Foundation builds homes, orphanages and schools around the world for people in need. Young Living Corporate pays the salaries of everyone working at the foundation, so 100% of donations go to meeting real needs, not paying for salaries, office space and the plethora of other expenses consuming the donations at other charities.

Young Living built a school for orphans in Ecuador.

A more recent project was assisting in Nepal in 2016 after the 2015 earthquake. Young Living arrived in the country to find that very little was being done to help thousands of people in need. Money donated was tied up in red tape, so the YL Foundation made things happen. In fact, the American Red Cross thanked Young Living for the assistance.

I believe God blesses people and companies who have a heart for the poor. James, the brother of Jesus, said helping widows and orphans is a big deal. The fact that Young Living takes helping others seriously, opens a window into the heart of the company as a whole.

In Summary

This post only scratches the surface of the things that make Young Living a company you can trust. My wife and I are Diamond level distributors, and with that we have a lot of access to see how the company works first hand. Besides personal visits to farms and hearing from their chemists, we’ve met with corporate leadership to strategize and plan for a better future. And the great news is that you don’t have to be a Diamond level distributor to schedule your own personal visits to farms! They’ll even let you participate in planting and/or harvest if you really want to see things in detail.

Young Living is a company of integrity, humility and passion that I am incredibly proud to be a part of.

Einkorn Pancakes

What if you could make the-best-tasting-pancakes you’ve ever experienced with Einkorn Wheat, and also no lactose or refined sugar?

Too good to be true?

Your breakfasts are about to never be the same. Scratch everything you know about pancakes. These aren’t sweet treats, but instead a breakfast item that will nutritionally rival anything else you eat for breakfast. Period.

So first, why Einkorn over any other wheat? Because it’s packed with nutrients, and it’s the only wheat that hasn’t been compromised.

“Hold up!” you might be thinking. “I purchase 100% organic non-GMO wheat flour.” Sorry to break it to you, but all modern hybridized wheat has crazy high chromosome counts and extreme levels of gluten. It’s like an over-done dog breed. It might still bark and wag its tale, but everything else isn’t working quite right.

But enough with the grain lecture. This is about scrumptious einkorn pancakes that are lactose and sugar free, right?

Let’s get to it:

Everything you need to make the best pancakes you’ve ever tasted!

Einkorn Pancake Ingredients

3 cups of Young Living Einkorn flour

2 teaspoons of sea salt

2 tbsp. baking powder

6 tbsp. of Coconut Nectar or Honey (7 if not using oat milk)

4 large eggs (or 5 small eggs)

2 1/2 cups of Pacific brand Oak Milk (Veggemo or Macadamia work too)

8 tbsp. of Fourth & Heart unsalted Ghee butter

1 tbsp. of vanilla

*Note: If you’re a cook, you probably experiment. My wife does like crazy, and she’s good at it. But let me insert this: I have experimented. Coconut palm sugar, normal sugar, maple sugar, Almond milk, less salt, less sweetener, more flour… this recipe is the ticket. Try it to spec at least once, because you are GOING TO LOVE IT.
*Coconut nectar from Big Tree Farms is not mixed with cane sugar or corn syrup. It is pure coconut flower blossom nectar with a very low-glycemic index. It can be used at a 1:1 ratio to replace other syrups or sugars, and it’s yet another great healthy step for your einkorn pancakes!

1. Combine Dry Ingredients

Simply dump all of your dry ingredients into a LARGE mixing bowl (everything will end up here so make sure the bowl can handle it). Whisk them together.

Einkorn Pancakes
Combine the dry ingredients first/

2. Beat Eggs, Oat Milk, Vanilla & Coconut Nectar

Combine your cage-free eggs, Pacific brand Oak Milk and vanilla into a mixing bowl. Mix with hand whisk until you get the frothy look seen below. You can also use an electric blender, but this is not required IMO.

No blender required!
We also use Macadamia Nut milk with stellar results. Almond milk — not so much.
If you’re using the regular Oat Milk or Macadamia Nut Milk drop your coconut nectar to 6 tablespoons.

3. Add Mixed Dry Ingredients

Dump the frothy mix into the bowl of dry ingredients. And then…

4. Add the Ghee

I melt the ghee on the stove before adding which makes it mix much easier. If you’re using an electric blender start at low speed. Don’t over-do-it. Kill the blender as soon as everything is adequately mixed.

GHEE is butter v2.0! You will love working this into your diet.
Ghee is a type of clarified butter that’s a healthy fat. Ghee is lactose and dairy free. It’s also known as a medium chain fatty acid (MCT). MCTs can increase metabolism. Plus, studies show that when replacing butter with ghee, not only does metabolism increase, but cholesterol remains unaffected. And a final benefit? Improved cognitive function. So maybe these should be Einstein pancakes instead of Einkorn pancakes!/blog-tip]

Your batter at this point should be silky-smooth. If you don’t mind raw eggs, sneak a taste! But do it with accountability!

Why accountability?

Because you might not be able to stop. It’s called EBS.

[blog-tip]

The clinical name is Einkorn Batter Syndrome (EBS). I’ve seen it before, and it’s not pretty. Someone will be in the kitchen, literally for days, and never leave. Empty egg cartons and flour boxes litter the floor. You’ll ask them if they’re okay, and they’ll innocently say something like, “Just making sure the batter is perfect.” Yep, that’s not a good sign.

What’s the solution? Rush to the store and purchase any package of pancake mix. Whip it up and sneak it in front of them. When they taste the unnatural batter, it will snap them out of EBS long enough to pull them from the kitchen.

5. Hit the Griddle

We use a 1/4 cup measurer to pour the pancakes into a non-stick pan*. Look for bubbles in the batter to signify the pancakes are ready to flip. However, you’ll not receive quite as many bubbles as with other batter — so don’t wait too long.

If you want to jazz things up, try adding blueberries to the mix. We add frozen organic blueberries and it is oh so good.

Einkorn pancakes on a healthy non-stick pan.

Healthy pans are a big deal around here. I still remember the first day we learned about the poisons locked away in Teflon. We literally took our pans outside and dumped them into the dumpster. ALL OF THEM. But if there’s ever a time you need a non-stick pan it’s with pancakes! So what’s the solution? Titanium pans. Hands down the best option out there for a functional, healthier non-stick pan.

6. Enjoy Your Pancakes

You’ve done it! Add fruit to taste and enjoy. Who knew sugar and dairy-free pancakes could be this good and this easy to make?

And don’t forget to read up on the nutritional benefits of einkorn wheat. You’ll never regret making the switch — I personally guarantee it!

What is CBD Oil?

What’s CBD? It stands for cannabidiol. CBD is one of the 85 naturally occurring cannabinoids found in cannabis plants. It’s the second highest compound in hemp, a cousin of marijuana. Both of these are cannabis plants.

Is CBD The Same As Marijuana (THC)?

So will CBD oil get you high? No. THC will get you high. Both CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are found in cannabis plants. However hemp and marijuana vary greatly in the percentages found in each.

According to the Harvard Medical School, “While CBD is an essential component of medical marijuana, it is derived directly from the hemp plant…” In a report from the World Health Organization we learn that “CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential.”

Is CBD Oil Legal?

For a long time the hemp cannabis plant has been caught in the crosshairs of marijuana prohibition. However this year (2018) President Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill which makes industrial hemp farming legal across the United States. The bill includes a section that removes non-intoxicating forms of cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act.

How Does CBD Work?

According to Medical News Today, all cannabinoids produce effects in the body by attaching to certain receptors. The human body has two receptors for cannabinoids called CB1 and CB2 receptors (the human body also creates its own cannabinoids). Cannabinoids help promote proper physiological functioning of the immune, nervous and muscular systems – Thus hinting at the positive effects of a CBD essential oil.

CB1 & CB2 Receptors

CB1 receptors are found mostly in the central nervous system. They respond to internal and external cannabinoids including THC and CBD. CB2 receptors are found in tissues and typically not the central nervous system. They also respond to THC and CBD.

Does CBD Oil Have Health Benefits?

Oily Gurus is made up of essential oil enthusiasts. Though some of us are medical professionals, as a whole, we are not doctors and cannot give any type of medical claim or advice. However, we’re happy to quote a few institutions that have opinions on CBD oil:

The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that CBD tends to suppress the growth of cancer cells and promote their destruction. The BJCP states “Cannabinoids are currently used in cancer patients to palliate wasting, emesis and pain that often accompany cancer. A significant advancement in cannabinoid use in cancer treatment came from the discovery of a potential utility of these compounds for targeting and killing cancer cells. ” Read the full article.

The European Journal of Pain showed that using CBD on the skin can lower the pain and/inflammation due to arthritis. Another study displayed a method in which CBD inhibits neuropathic pain, one of the most difficult types of chronic pain to treat.

The Harvard Medical School states “CBD has been touted for a wide variety of health issues, but the strongest scientific evidence is for its effectiveness in treating some of the cruelest childhood epilepsy syndromes… In numerous studies, CBD was able to reduce the number of seizures, and in some cases it was able to stop them altogether.”

Neurotherapeutics found that CBD may be a promising treatment for people with opioid addiction, and a study published in Addictive Behaviors found that CBD might help people quit smoking.

Where Can I Get CBD Essential Oil?

Like all natural products, sourcing is a crucial part of experiencing the full power of a plant. Cannabidiol is no different. There is the made-in-the-lab synthetic version and the real thing. As good as replicas may be, they can never live up to the potential of the natural plant, resin and oil.

But it doesn’t stop at synthetic vs natural! Seeds, farming conditions and distillation drastically affect the therapeutic quality of an essential oil. Nothing trumps the industry leading Seed to Seal Guarantee from Young Living! And new for 2018 — Young Living now offers CBD oil backed by their Seed to Seal quality guarantee.

Find an Oily Guru today and get started on your journey with essential oils today!