Wednesday, November 15, 2017

What is an Essential Oil?

At our shows and through emails we've had many people ask just what are essential oils and how do you use them?  In this article we'll explore:

What is an Essential Oil?

According to Webster’s online dictionary “any of a class of volatile oils that give plants their characteristic odors and are used especially in perfumes and flavorings, and for aromatherapy”
To get these oils a large quantity of plant parts is used, these parts include stems, leaves, flowers and sap.

Who sells Essential Oils?

There are lots of places to get essential oils but how do you know they are real.  There are no guidelines by the FDA for “Organic,” Therapeutic Grade or any such marketing words used to tug at your heart strings.
The main reason I will not buy essential oils from any of the MLM (Multi-Level Marketing: ie, Amway, Avon, Herbalife, Pampered Chef, etc.) companies is because they lead their customers to believe that when they say their product is “Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade”, that means something of value in the essential oil and aromatherapy world. There were three shocking things that I learned to lead me to steer clear of these
The first shocking thing that I learned is that there is no governing body that certifies essential oils.
The second shocking thing that I learned is that there are no grades of essential oils based upon their quality. There is no grade A, B, C, nor is there an actual classification in the aromatherapy world for “therapeutic grade”
In addition, two of the largest MLM (Young Living and doTERRA) have their own “certification” process of what is organic not the FDA.

According to the American College of Healthcare Sciences:

Did you know doTERRA has created its own certification system for its essential oils? Why does it matter? Well, they have managed to trademark the term "CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade®." So, not only can no other company or aromatherapy professional use this term, it actually confuses the industry-accepted terminology for how essential oils are evaluated, labeled, and marketed. Are we to assume that "CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade®" essential oils are superior to organic, sustainable sourced essential oils produced and distributed by boutique distilleries or oils that come with an independent lab report showing the constituent profile and pesticide level if any, or even oils that have nationally and internationally accepted certification such as USDA Organic or NOP Organic?

According to the FDA:

According to the FDA, these violations stemmed from Young Living’s claims of curing and treating diseases with the usage of Young Living Essential Oil aromatherapy products, causing the products to be deemed unapproved drugs by the FDA. The Warning Letter may be found here.
In particular, Young Living failed to follow FDA guidance and regulations applicable to cosmetic products, and instead labeled their products for conditions that caused the products to be deemed drugs by the Agency. Thus, it is important for marketers and sellers of aromatherapy and essential oil products to understand and comply with FDA regulations.
As the aromatherapy and essential oil industry has recently seen a rapid increase in popularity, we expect to see more attention to and FDA enforcement in this area. Compliant labeling of products will help to ensure the successful marketing and sale of the aromatherapy and essential oil products.

What makes our Essential Oils different?  

We purchase directly from an essential oil wholesaler who in turn purchases directly from the Organic Farms.  Because there is no such thing as “organic” essential oils, MLM companies can claim their oils are “organic” or “therapeutic grade.”
Our wholesaler purchases from Certified Organic Farms.

What does this mean?

Organic Certification allows a farm or processing facility to sell, label, and represent their products as organic. The organic brand provides consumers with more choices in the marketplace. The USDA protects consumer options by protecting the organic seal.”
Our wholesaler purchases from smaller, family run farms to get the best price for their products.  We in-turn purchase directly from the wholesaler.  That means the best prices for YOU, with no other mark-ups, hidden fees or MLM practices.

How do we get the essential oils?

There are four major different ways to extract essential oils:
CO2, expression, solvent, steam-distilled
For our essential oils, we only use steam-distilled.  This is an excellent article on how essential oils are extracted: Exploring Aromatherapy.
“While CO2 is the new method: there are three main disadvantages for this process are cost, potential pesticide residue, and the lack of information regarding their safety and therapeutic benefits. With regard to pesticide residue, Guba comments that “carbon dioxide extraction has been demonstrated to concentrate from 7 to 53 times more pesticide residues in the final extract.” Therefore, it seems pertinent to only use organic plant material for CO2 extraction.”
We only purchase essential oils from USA, FDA and EU certified sources.  We never purchase from China as they are known to use Hexane (a petroleum based solvent) to extract essential oils.  In addition, the BBC article Report: One fifth of China's soil is contaminated shows just WHY the growing process must be organic.

In our next article, we will explore the different essential oils and how to use them in your daily life. Remember every order receives a FREE sample!

J&J Farm

Monday, April 17, 2017

Dandelion Infused Oil

Our latest product is for Earth Day is


We use Organic Dandelion Blossoms & Roots infused in Organic Grapeseed Oil.  

Why Organic Grapeseed Oil?  Because your body absorbs grapeseed oil faster without leaving a greasy feel like with Sweet Almond or Olive Oil. Also, there are few allergies to grapeseed oil.

We offer 8oz bottle for the amazing price of $9.99 plus shipping.

What are the health benefits of Dandelion Infused Oil? It has been used extensively for cancer treatment and breast cancer treatments, breast health, treat diabetes, stimulate lactation, promote urination and treat jaundice and other liver diseases.





Friday, February 3, 2017

Copaiba Balsam our newest essential oil

One of our AMAZING customers told me about this awesome essential oil


According to Webmd.com:

Chemicals in copaiba balsam and copaiba oil might help kill germs. Other chemicals in copaiba balsam might decrease swelling (inflammation), increase the production of urine (act as a diuretic), and help loosen chest congestion (act as an expectorant).

 Some of the health benefits of Copaiba:

Skin Health (tighten the skin, which can help skin look younger, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and even strengthen the skin to prevent lesions or wounds as the body ages); Skin Appearance (copaiba essential oil is often topically applied to scars in order to speed their healing and reduce their visibility); Respiratory Health (anti-inflammatory substance, can ease any discomfort and loosen the tensed muscles and glands that might be causing the irritation); Pain Relief (help to reduce pain and loosen muscles, eliminating pain in joints, and even easing the discomfort of headaches and migraines); Eliminate Infection; Anxiety and Mood; Diuretic in Nature (cleanse & detox body)

We offer it in 5ML size currently.
 

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Acne Detox Soap



We will be starting a new series of informing you about the amazing qualities of our products so if you have any questions hopefully they will be answered!

The backbone of our products





This soap contains bentonite, activated charcoal and tea tree oil. The clays are absolutely perfect for oily or acne prone skin since they are naturally anti-bacterial and toxin removing. This gentle facial soap works incredibly well.

Bentonite clay is sedimentary clay composed of weathered and aged volcanic ash. The largest and most active deposits come from Wyoming and Montana. Bentonite is very unusual in the fact that once it becomes hydrated, the electrical and molecular components of the clay rapidly change and produce an "electrical charge". Its highest power lies in the ability to absorb toxins, impurities, heavy metals and other internal contaminants. Bentonite clay's structure assists it in attracting and soaking up poisons on its exterior wall and then slowly draws them into the interior center of the clay where it is held in a sort of repository. It makes a miraculous complexion and/or shaving bar that gently cleanses skin while being highly absorbent and good for oil or acne prone skin. It gives soap a silky, creamy feel.

Bentonite is very unusual in the fact that once it becomes hydrated, the electrical and molecular components of the clay rapidly change and produce an “electrical charge”… When it becomes mixed with water it rapidly swells open like a highly porous sponge. From here the toxins are drawn into the sponge through electrical attraction and once there, they are bound. (According to Mountain Rose Herbs)
Activated charcoal means the carbon is infused with oxygen and is prepared for human ingestion (in the case of poisoning or detox) and skincare products. This oxygenation creates a super porous surface, increasing its ability to absorb matter and toxins. Possibly the most absorbent cosmetic ingredient out there, activated charcoal is said to have the ability to absorb thousands of times its own weight.
This super absorbency, plus antibacterial properties, makes activated charcoal an ideal ingredient for oily and acne prone skin types. It is used in acne products to draw out impurities, heal pimples, and prevent further breakouts.

Also an anti-aging ingredient, activated charcoal is said to tighten pores and smooth the skin. It also reduces inflammation, which is significant in preventing premature aging. Because activated charcoal removes toxins, it can help reduce the instances of acne and other skin impurities you might suffer from. It also works wonders for completely removing makeup.

The reputation of Tea Tree Oil as a cure-all given to this oil is not an exaggeration. Tea tree oil can be used as a cure for almost all tropical infections and diseases. You name it and it has some sort of positive effect or treatment for that disease. It is invariably found in almost the households of Australia, particularly those that have small children. The magical healing and disinfectant properties make it a wonder drug that also boosts your immunity. However, it is not meant to be ingested, and is poisonous. It is meant for topical application only!

The stimulant property of tea tree essential oil can be very beneficial for taking care of certain hair conditions. If you suffer from dandruff or hair loss, simply apply a diluted amount of tea tree essential oil to your scalp. The increased blood flow that you experience will help your follicle stay healthy and strengthen the hold on your hair, so you won’t suffer from premature hair loss. Also, since the skin will become healthier, it will be easier to keep moisturized, reducing the amount of dandruff and dry skin!


It also helps remove excess water and salts from the body, while cleaning the pores. This further prevents the occurrence of acne, for which tea tree essential oil is often recommended.



Some reviews:



“I swear by this now. Not only has my acne cleaned up, but any other blemishes, scars, hair bumps. The seller is phenomenal!”



“Works great, smells lovely. Thanks for caring about my skin and what's going in it!”



“If I could show you before and after pictures....I love this soap.”



“I wish everyone could experience this product! it is wonderful!”



“Always the very best. I do not use anything else on my face.”



“I swear by this now. Not only has my acne cleaned up, but any other blemishes, scars, hair bumps. The seller is phenomenal!”



Sunday, January 22, 2017

GMO Apples Will Be Available in Some Stores Starting in February

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/news/a42475/gmo-apples/
http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/20/health/apples-genetically-modified-on-sale-soon/index.html

How many ways have you tried to prevent apple slices from browning in your kids' lunch boxes?
Maybe you've dipped freshly cut slices in orange juice — perhaps you've tried lemon juice. Both distort that crisp and delicious apple taste and, most of the time, slices ended up brown by lunchtime anyway. It's quite the conundrum.

Scientists, however, have gotten to the core (pun intended) of the browning issue. Two years ago, the US Department of Agriculture approved the country's first genetically modified apples, which are now anticipated to hit Midwestern shelves in February and March. The first apples to undergo genetic modification are the Golden Delicious variety — with emphasis on the gold.
What's so bad about browning, anyway? Browning doesn't make apples inedible or indicate rotting — it's simply the result of an oxygenation process — but does, admittedly, make for a less appealing snack.

Neal Carter, the founder and president of Okanagan Specialty Fruits, the company responsible for manufacturing the GMO apples, says these new fruits will change that. "It's a great product and the eating quality is excellent," he told the Capital Press, purporting increased crispiness as another benefit.

While browning is more of a cosmetic issue, Okanagan Specialty Fruits claims that natural oxygenation leads stores and producers to spray preventative chemicals to stop the process, something that not all families support.

Then again, not all families support GMOs in general — they've caused quite the controversy in past years, with many claiming negative side effects. Okanagan is, however, willing submit their apples to the FDA for review, where they were approved. The FDA concluded that GMO apples are no different from traditionally grown varieties, and are, therefore, perfectly safe to munch on.

We asked Good Housekeeping's Nutrition Director Jaclyn London, MS, RD, CDN for her input. "To-date, the overwhelming body of scientific evidence does not support deleterious effects of consuming GMO crops," London explained, but claims that more research is needed to determine longterm health effects. "That said, there are plenty of other questions and concerns that arise when considering non-browning, GMO apples in the marketplace."

Will they taste good? Are their physical properties the same as regular apples? Are their nutritional properties the same? Will they see success on supermarket shelves? We should have these questions in mind, said London, when approaching genetically modified food.

Since the apples will only be available in the Midwest, where they will be sold sliced, in packages, some of us won't encounter them any time soon. We should still be on alert, however, said London, since we do experience GMOs, especially in processed foods. "Your best bet is to limit these foods (e.g. Sugary beverages) and load up on canned, fresh, or frozen produce — organic or conventionally grown — as much as possible!" explained London.