Recent Developments in Quality Standards/Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oils
By Bill Popin Director of Research

Young Living Essential Oils quality programs include quality assurance(QA) and quality control (QC) practices that are integrated from the field to the manufacture of finished products. QC practices include hand-on controls such as sampling, inspecting, testing, re-testing, field testing, laboratory testing, clinical testing and more testing. We believe in testing. OA practices include process controls, professional oversight, and audits, among others.

The Food and Drug Administration has announced a proposed new rule for Dietary Supplement Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs). The proposed new rule requires that dietary supplement companies have a QC unit that is responsible for product identity, purity, quality, strength, and composition. Young Living is committed to attaining compliance with FDA requirements. In addition, therapeutic-grade essential oils utilize research and clinical testing (as available) to address higher standards of quality, including safety and efficacy determinations.

The White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy (WHCCAMP) has issued its final report on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) on October 28, 2003. The Commission was appointed in 2000 by the-President Clinton and was charged with recommendingmpolicy changes for CAM including research, information, education, and training of practitioners. James S. Gordon, MD, chaired the commission and in summarizing the findings stated. "The Commission has listened to the concerns and needs of the American people. Our report is a road map, a guide to the creation of a new medicine, one which encourages the deepest study and makes the wisest use of all healing traditions. This new medicine, with its emphasis on integrations and natural products on wellness and self-care, will come into being only if all those who want it insist on it in their private lives, in their professional work, and in ongoing dialog with elected officials." The final report outlines action items and recommendations including quality programs to support their vision of a "new medicine."

Dr. Matta Awarded 2004 Faculty Scholar Award:
Dr. Jaime Matta, professor at the Ponce School of Medicine, Ponce. Puerto Rico, chairs the department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. Dr. Matta spoke at the 2003 Young Living Annual Grand Convention about his groundbreaking cancer research using therapeutic-grade frankincense essential oil.

Young Living is pleased to share the news that Dr. Matta has been awarded a 2004 Faculty Scholar Award in Cancer Research by the American Association for Cancer Research. Dr. Matta's nomination letter read in part: "...your application as judged by the Award Selection Committee to be highly deserving of this nutrious Faculty Award." Our heartfelt congratulations go to Dr. Matta for this important recognition.

Bill Popin showed us other research they were doing on 57 essential oils with anti-tumoral activities. A list of 17 essential are high with anti-tumoral properties: Canadian red cedar, myrtle, thyme, dill , tsuga, grapefruit, hyssop, thyme, frankincense, Idaho balsam fir, German chamomile, celery seed, clove, geranium, helichrysum, cypress, blue cypress, and others.