The day Young Living broke my heart…
As I explain my story below, I urge you to keep an open mind and look at all the facts and ask questions. If someone tells you to pay no attention to this and just move on…ask yourself why they are doing this and what they have to gain from keeping you in the dark.
Thursday February 25th 2016 was the day this all started. As an Aromatherapy student, I spend a lot of time in various aromatherapy/essential oil Facebook groups. It was late afternoon this particular Thursday that I came across a post in one of the groups that contained GC/MS test results of a Cinnamon Bark essential oil sample [what is a GC/MS test? Click here]. The sample was found be adulterated with synthetics. This bit of info did not surprise me, as Essential Oil adulteration runs rampant in the fragrance industry. What did surprise me, was the very strong insinuation that this particular sample was of Young Living’s cinnamon bark, followed later by pictures of the actual bottle clearly showing the Young Living label. Immediately I sent a copy of the test report, screenshot of the post and pictures of the unopened bottle to Young Living’s product support [copy of that e-mail can be found by clicking the thumbnail below, or by clicking HERE] as I simply refused to believe any possibility that this could be true.
The following day (Friday February 26th 2016) I received what appeared to be a fairly standard/generic form response from YL Product Support more or less telling me not to worry and called the whole ordeal a smear campaign by a competitor [copy of their reply can be found by clicking the thumbnail below, or by clicking HERE].
Speculation and accusations began running rampant in the Facebook groups and Young Living’s name continued to be dragged through the “mud” so to speak. Wanting to provide some kind of proof to my family, clients, and friends that Young Living products were pure, I decided to have an oil tested, at my expense. Why you ask? Well back in 2015 I had e-mailed YL Product Support asking why they do not release or provide GC/MS testing reports. In their reply [copy of that e-mail can be found by clicking the thumbnail below, or by clicking HERE] they advised me that if I wanted documentation on the purity of the oils, I was welcome to submit them for testing through an independent lab of my choice.
I contacted a testing laboratory located in Quebec, Canada that specialized in essential oils and natural health products called Phytochemia to obtain pricing and shipping information. To avoid any claims of tampering or sabotage, I logged into my Young Living Virtual Office and placed an order for a bottle of Cinnamon Bark. I had the shipping information changed to the laboratory in Quebec so that Young Living would ship the oil directly to them from the warehouse and there could be no claims of tampering with bottle caps, etc. [You can see a copy of the order verification by clicking the thumbnail image below or click HERE]
On March 3rd 2016 I received notice from the Lab that they received my sample of Cinnamon Bark that I had Young Living send to them [receipt acknowledgement is available below] and was advised that I would have the results within 2 weeks time.
SampleReceipt-YoungLiving-CinnamonBark-16121203.pdf
March 18th I received an email from the lab again containing the GC/MS report from my sample I had tested. Nervously, I opened the attachment and scrolled to the bottom “conclusion” section….”The sample has been adulterated with synthetic cinnamaldehyde, indicated by the presence of phenylpentadienal isomers. Synthetic linalool may also have been added.” [copy of entire GC/MS report available below. You will require a PDF reader or app in order to view the PDF files]
Cinnamon Bark, Lot # 16121203
Tears filled my eyes as the reality of the situation began to sink in. My close family used Cinnamon Bark internally, not to mention the sheer volume of Thieves products that contained Cinnamon. I attempted some conversations with my “uplines” about the issue but merely got “don’t worry” and “I’ve used the products for years and I’m fine!”. Quickly realizing that I would not get the answers I wanted from them and not knowing where else to turn, I sent an e-mail to Young Living’s Chief Operating Officer, Jared Turner and included a copy of the test report. Hope and faith briefly returned when I received a reply from Jared, thanking me for bringing the issue to his attention and promising me a reply. He even Cc’d the entire analytical team and asked them to answer my questions I had. [copy of that e-mail can be found by clicking the thumbnail below, or clicking HERE].
As of the date I write this (April 28th 2016), I still have received no reply or answers to my questions from Jared, the analytical team, or anyone at corporate.
In the midst of ordering my sample to be sent to the lab for testing, I was contacted by a group of three other Young Living distributors unrelated to my sponsorship line. They were greatly concerned with the possible adulteration and lack of answers/information they were receiving from their uplines as well. One of them had an unopened bottle of Cinnamon Bark with the same lot # originally tested and posted about back on February 25th. They knew I was having a sample tested and wanted to know how they could go about getting their bottle tested, as well as another bottle of a different lot #, and a bottle of Thieves blend. They sent their samples off to the lab and roughly 2 weeks later received their results. All three bottles were adulterated. [copies of their reports can be found below for download. You will require a PDF program or app to view them on a computer and mobile device].
Thieves, # 15A13006
Cinnamon Bark, # 14120235
Cinnamon Bark, # 15B10032
Because they did not have Young Living send the order direct to the lab, they were immediately chastised by fellow YL distributors making claims they had tampered with the bottles themselves, however the fact remained that my test had a clean chain of custody and YL still was not addressing the results.
Over the course of the next several weeks, YL issued several “statements” (all via Diamond level leaders or above) denying the adulteration and referring to it as a smear campaign. [copy of their statements can be found below].
My plea’s to Jared and YL corporate continued to be ignored. At this point in time I decided to collaborate with the group of three other distributors that had their samples sent in, and together we created a change.org petition [found HERE] demanding that YL address our questions, specifically the ones we had following their last statement. At almost 1300 signatures, the distributor that created the petition account (Betty), was contacted via phone from Jared Turner. I was not on the call so I won’t speak for what happened as it would merely be hearsay, but they did request that Betty take down the petition because they were going to be issuing another statement. After waiting for their statement (which didn’t come until the next day) [posted above and also available HERE], we were left with continued unanswered questions and determined the petition could not be taken down until they were addressed. Jared sent Betty a text message saying he noticed the petition was still up. When Betty replied that there were continued unanswered questions and that it might be best for the 4 of us to connect via a group e-mail, the friendly “we’re here to help” attitude immediately changed. [screenshot of that message can be found by clicking the thumbnail below, or clicking HERE]. We contacted Andrea Neipp as requested- twice. To this date (April 28th), we have not received any reply from Andrea.
It has become quite clear from the actions of Young Living corporate and Diamond and above level “leaders” that this issue will not be further addressed. As a low ranking distributor, I am not valuable in their eyes and if I stop ordering Young Living products, it’s no “skin off their backs” as the saying goes. As an advocate for health and high quality products, a consumer, and a Young Living member, I refused to sit down and sweep this all under the rug. I share my story in hopes that others will spread the word and that Young Living will be held accountable to their “seed to seal” promise and guarantee. Had they handled this in a more professional manner, followed-up, etc. I may have been able to overlook this as a quality control issue that “slipped through the cracks”, but the despicable behavior demonstrated by fellow distributors and corporate means I simply can not.
Please share this story so that others may learn the truth and so they can make informed decisions for them and their families going forward. I will continue to update this page if/when new developments arise. I welcome your questions and comments and will try and answer as many as I can.
It is with a very heavy heart and great sadness that I write this post. My decision to share my story with you has not come lightly. It comes after much research, soul searching, and great personal and financial sacrifice. You see, I had nothing to lose and everything to gain by keeping quiet about this and continuing to grow my team and build my business, but as the saying goes “A lie doesn’t become truth, wrong doesn’t become right and evil doesn’t become good, just because it is accepted by a majority.”
-Yours in health,
Miles
Debbie says
ON TESTING:
Advice from Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt, founder and scientific director of Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy and author of numerous books in the field of aromatherapy among them Medical Aromatherapy, Advanced Aromatherapy and The Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils.
“There is only one problem. We all have become so accustomed to the power of computation that we forget that there sometimes are sizable margins of error in the data that are generated. In our case the exclusive reliance on instrumental analysis and especially GC/MS has its own set of problems. The most overlooked issue is the way GC/MS are ran today.”
Also, from Kurt’s blog under the title of “The Human Element I” he states, “Clearly one cannot do this every time for every oil on the list. But we believe that the contact to the actual producer is an indispensable element of every attempt to procuring authentic oils. In our experience adulteration never happens at the level of the producer. The know how to reconstruct, standardize or adjust essential oils is found in the big brokerages who often can sell essential oils for less than they cost at the source.” http://www.kurtschnaubelt.com/category/dailyposts/
Adrianne says
I worked as an analytical chemist for years in the flavor industry. Yeah, it’s pretty easy to see when there are adulterations. The error is GC/MS is quantification and other issues with isomers, not incorrect identification of synthetics. If there is a synthetic present, and the chemist is using the standard library (which they would be), the chemical is present. For example, if Rasberry ketone is identified, it’s there.
Nojin says
So interesting that people don’t like Young Living Essential Oils. If it wasn’t a good product it probably fell and no one would want to buy it. But surprisingly it’s turning into a multi-billion-dollar company and 30% growing sales every month. seems to be growing so fast that they can’t keep up what the demand. I guess the success is in the pudding when you make something great everyone wants it.
Plz says
Dude is a total fake, like his supposed degree, like his supposed practice…those essential oils couldn’t even keep him alive longer than the average male life expectancy in the US… You’re all sheep
aunita says
Thank you for the information. Has anyone tested doTERRA?
Claire Roberts says
Thank you for taking pain to find out the truth and sharing it with others. I am also using some essential oils and will get them tested too.
Moni says
I have been using YL for 2 years. Out of the blue, I started breaking out in hives and rashes from some of the more mild oils. I even, with dilution, was breaking out from some of the other more commonly used oils. I KNEW something had to have changed with the process since this wasn’t an issue before. Not just me, but my kids as well.
I talked to a few in my up line and got the ,” You need to detox.” Conversation.
I was super hurt that it was being ignored. I believe in loyalty. But, not blind loyalty.
Thank you for this article!
Brelynn says
This is a sign of sensitization not because the quality of an oil has changed. Its caused by improper use of oils that the MLM companies recommend (using neat, ingestions and improper dilution). These oils can build up in your system over time and cause your body to have an allergic reaction. Please look up info on this, a good source is tisserandinstitute.org. Also, there are people out there trying to get the word out and tell there stories, check out a video called The Dark Side of Essential Oils on youtube. The lady has a similar story as you.
Rhonda says
Excellent info and thank you for taking the time to do this blog and doing your due diligence on this matter. I appreciate the time you are taking to educate, rather that making a buck. I have tried YL products and also really liked them, but was bothered by the fact that the push seemed to be more towards making a sale rather than educating people. Do you mind if I refer to your website, specifically this page, on my website? I am also interested in learning more about EO and educating as well.
Meredith Barrett says
Thank you so much for this Miles! I found it very eye-opening. Have you done any testing on doTERRA oils? I also want to find a lab that will test both Young Living and doTERRA oils for me. Was the testing process expensive?
Miles J says
Yes we’ve done testing on multiple oils and multiple companies. All results are posted on the “Test Reports” link on the homepage.
Julia Vidmar says
Thank you for this article and your information. I have a bottle of Thieves but was wondering if I should discard it for the above reasons you mentioned. I am discontinuing my account with YL (for many, many other reasons) but still have some of the expensive oils that I don’t want to lose money on. Even so, I’d rather discard them if they are unsafe.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Miles J says
You should be OK to use them up in cleaning or beauty recipes, diffusing, etc. The synthetic components found were flavorings equivalent to what you might find in food type products, toothpastes, gums, etc.
Cat says
Thanks so much for this information. I heard that the company was in trouble (not sure what year) and decided to reduce the quality of their oils to reduce expenses. I was just checking to see if they ever “fixed” that and improved their quality again. Guess not!
When this happened, that’s when some executives left Young Living and created doTERRA. They were saddened that Young Living took that route and wanted to create a better quality essential oil brand.
I appreciate the effort you put into this. I’m about to start with my essential oils and was feeling like I should make the switch from Young Living. This information confirms it.
I’m sorry you had to find out and break your heart this way. Many of us loved Young Living!
Stéphanie says
Thank you so much for doing this huge work of searching the truth, for your courage and for staying true to yourself!!! Finally!!
As an aromatherapist I have been reading and hearing for years a lot of strange things about YL, and since I am in Switzerland, I am lucky to find beautiful oils without having to follow companies that stupidly claim to have the only “therapeutic grade” essential oils in the world. People who have been seriously educated in the field and call themselves professional should know very well that there is no such thing as “therapeutic grade” as any good and organic oil is therapeutic.
Anyway, I salute your search for truth and your authenticity! Keep up the good work!
Amanda says
I hate to point out the obvious but the essential oil brands over seen by the Theraputic Goods Adminsitation (TGA), which is an Australian regulator similar to the FDA, warn you to NEVER ingest essential oils.
All quality essential oils are highly consentrated and can damage a persons throat and mix in unexpected ways with medications, digestive juices and even food. Obvously synthetic ingrediants in oils pose even greater risks, so basically it’s not safe to ingest any oils which are not food quality or which are specifically formulated for injestion such as Mintec.
I’ve been using essential oils for years but I use them only for massage or aromatherapy.
I suggest that before using essential oils people look at multipal books/websites/company info sources to get a clear idea of what is or is not safe for verious oils.
Tammy says
U should not be putting anything on your skin that you would not put in your mouth. The skin is the largest organ of the body and absorbs everything that goes on it.
Rebecca Smith says
That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard, Tammy. So you mean I should feel comfortable eating bar soap and hand lotion?
Brooke says
No, I think she’s saying you should upgrade your bar soap and hand lotion if you want them to be safe.
Alana says
exactly, Brooke! exactly how I took Tammy’s response.
Adrianne says
Do you have a chemistry background? Are you familiar with route of exposure? Your statement is at the least, ignorant.
Nina says
Thank you so much for sharing this story. I have purchased oils from other distributors (Florihana via Tropical Traditions, Mountain Rose Herbs and Plant Therapy), but was considering Young Living, since it seems so popular.
In my research, I tried to find out the following three things: the reason why Young Living decided not to certify at least some of their oils as organic (despite claims from their distributors that they are “ever more than organic”), why the company does not release GC/MS reports on batches, or why they don’t reveal provenance and method of cultivation. You know, basic stuff that the company can absolutely release to consumers, if they are collecting that data themselves already.
I read many blogs on these subjects, but after a while, they all sounded like they were paraphrasing from the same basic script—with no satisfactory answers to my questions.
This blog provided some different information–which was refreshing and informative. Thanks for getting that batch tested!
Jacqueline says
I find it very amusing that you went this far – considering in 2016 we did not carry cinnamon bark in the Canadian market and the price was never as quoted.Nor did the order oage you show ever look like that for YoingnLiving we never ysed green or laid oit an order form or shippong form like that. Funny your member number you list in the emails is also false. Anyone can find a picture of someone holding a bottle of YL cinnamon bark oil on FB – the reports you sent in were done on an oil but there is no proof you sent in a young living oil! Seems like a very low blow and makes me question – What are you so worried about you would go this low to shame another company? I would guess your product is nit pure you you have to use these snake like tactics to make you sound good – very very sad!
Miles J says
If you’ve been with Young Living for any period of time, you’ll know the Virtual Office previously looked exactly like that, it only got re-designed within the last few years. And what exactly do you mean the member number listed in the e-mails is false? LOL. It’s the exact same member number on the letter from compliance that was sent out. They deactivated my account after I published this blog, but in any event not sure how you figure it’s “false”….sorry you refuse to see the facts that are right in front of you, I’d like to say it’s amusing but it’s just sad.
Angel says
Wow. Thanks so much for sharing your story. This is a valuable service to the larger community.
Thank you for persisting and persevering in going after the truth.
Jeanie says
Thank you for sharing your story, I find it difficult to tell my own clients they shouldn’t use Young living or Doterra. They are MLM’s and have great marketing teams that convince people to spend more money on less quality. I try to take the high road and just educate them.
I did want to point out that Cinnamon bark is not recommended for use on your skin, if you want to use cinnamon then get cinnamon leaf. I discourage people from using “warm” oils on their skin as sensitivity is more likely. Warm oils are clove, ginger, sage, thyme. Just be sure to highly dilute. With that said, you can safely use their Cinnamon in your cleaning products and in diffusers.
Keep posting! I love to share your blog!
Trudy says
Please don’t lump the two together, because they are both MLM. DōTERRA DOES publish the GC/MS testing for all the world to see and their potency is unrivaled. 😊
Sarah says
It is great that Doterra is now sharing GCMS reports. Unfortunately you can’t see them until AFTER you purchase the essential oil, which is still a problem for many.
Rich says
Trudy,
What other essential companies have you used to make your unrivaled potency claim? With essential oils it is most important to find oils that have the proper constituents, and no adulterants. If DoTerra oils are so potent, then why do they advocate ingesting them internally, without the proper supervision of a Dr., or certified aroma therapist? Some oils are very toxic to the liver even in small doses. DoTerra is a company that sells essential oils for outrageous prices claiming they are pure and of therapeutic grade, which is an industry made up term, which the FDA does not acknowledge. They advocate ingesting them for the simple reason that the consumer will go through more oils quicker, if they arte told to diffuse, ingest, and apply their oils.
I bet dollars to doughnuts, that you are a DoTerra rep.
It is my understanding that DoTerra does GC/MS test, but the question is do they test every batch?
Mandie says
Yes they do test every batch 🙂
Lexi says
Bullshit. It’s a cult. Wake up.
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Shalicia Johnson says
Miles,
I’m just discovering this now as I searched to see how YL tests their EOs for purity, after learning that my own company does GCMS, Chirality, Heavy Metal/Pesticide/Herbicide, Organoleptic, Optical Rotation/Refractive Index, Specific Gravity, Microbial, Flash Point Testing and Isotopic Analysis. Found nothing specific for YL then ran across your article. Thank you for sharing this information! I also discovered that YL and doTERRA were equally found to have adulterated oils by Utah Stories in 2014. Shameful. Thank you again for sharing and providing all documentation!
Becky says
YL claimed doTerra had adulterated oils but that lawsuit just came to conclusion and doTerra was exonerated. https://www.doterra.com/US/en/media-press-releases-doterra-is-vindicated
Saralea Greener Greener says
I used young living essential oils around 6 years starting around 2003.
My corpal Tunnel and arthritis was healed while trying to heal stress, tiredness, and breathing problems also. The stress etc was also cured.
I am just happy America finally was allowed to have Essential Oils.
Pharmaceutical would not have let it happen previous. I give Gary Young a BIG THANk YOU!
Jessica says
Do you remember how much it was to have it tested?
Laura Wise says
Thank you for sharing your incredible story! I am not really surprised to find this out, honestly. I have never purchased Young Living and have never intended to. Why? I figured big hype and large mainstream could only mean one thing–it’s not really what they want you to believe! I have found that products that are talked about and used to death by main hubs of the population usually means there’s something wrong with the product. I realize that is not always the case, but I am always pretty wary of popular products, since I am a huge advocate against our FDA, GMOs, chemical companies like Monsanto and at times our USDA.
It was probably about 2 years ago where I started seeing YL all over the place, especially among young women around my age and older who held them up like they were the best thing on the planet. I have been an essential oil user for several years, so the fact that women by the masses were all of a sudden into essential oils solely because a company was selling them the idea had me wondering if this company was even a legitimately good essential oil company. After reading this post, I see YL as the Starbucks of essential oils. I am a huge supporter of local and unknown companies and products. I used to buy oils at Whole Foods and then this year I switched over to Mountain Rose Herbs in Oregon. They seem like a great company and I really like their oils and other products.
Lisa says
So well said and couldn’t agree more. I started my EO journey this year 2017 and came across article after article online of folks trying essential oils from many companies only to end up saying YL was the best. One such article lead me to Rocky Mountain oils and I’ve been happy with their oils and service. Of course they don’t have every oil so I branched out to try many from little places and learned a lot. Your comment echos my sentiments exactly especially how YL has become the Starbucks of EO industry. I’ve also been in a MLM business once and prefer to stay away from this. I feel better knowing I’m supporting locals in India or Bulgaria earning their living picking plants grown in their native environment naturally, for essential oil production and then supporting smaller businesses here importing it. Life is great, with essential oils , and we are blessed to have so many options.
Shar McLean says
I too, was hurt by a large, natural product selling company. Bottom line, my only choice was 1. A lawsuit 2. A class action suit for false advertsing, in which all Customers and Distrubutors would benefit. The issue $$$, and the company much like yours probably does has a huge legal committee and presence.
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Javier says
Is cinnamon bark the only oil you had tested? What about other oils? I’d like to know if it’s just that one oil or have all of their oils been tampered with?
Brandy says
Yeah me to
Saralea Greener Greener says
I think the pharmaceutical companies are panicing. They loose money and will continue.as the “mother earth” gets out no matter the company we choose. I’m surprised Gary Young was able to get Young Living off the ground with all the laws FOR chemicals and none for “mother Earth”. The law suits were petty, the arthor snooty and poorly studied and written. Agree, testing needs to be done , and done by our government. Not bias. Give Gary Young some credit instead our Arthur filling the pages with snooty bias.
LBH says
I guess that it should be no surprise to me that people are going to see what they want to see. There were several specific questions asked of YL in regards to their cinnamon oil. They talked around the answers and never really gave any of the proof that was requested. It amazes me that so many people are so committed to a specific company that they can’t see the truth and are willing to wear blinders so that they don’t have to take action or responsibility.
Miles, do you ever feel like they are patting you on the head and telling you to be the good little boy and sit down and shut up?
Keep up the good work…the more exposure companies like this get, the more they will be held to a higher standard, or that’s the hope anyway!
Tiff says
Thanks for the info. I heard they weren’t doing things the same and adulterating their oils, why Doterra was formed. So who do you use now? Did you switch your fam and team to your new oil company and have it tested?
Cami says
I am currently in an aromatherapy certification course and am learning how important it is for companies to have GC/MS tests available. Every batch of Oil is different, and if you are using the oils for aromatherapy, you really need to know what is inside them so you know which oils will work best. One company I have recently discovered that has its tests available online is Florihana. They are a distillery out of France, and they have all their test results, oil origins, and other important information online, I have been very happy with them. Another company in the US that I have yet to try is Aromatics international.
Leigh says
I have been ingesting these oils on a daily. Are they all harmful. I just in fact ordered cinnamon bark for ingesting. Was given this link bc of some research I felt led to. I have spent a lot in these oils, and given them to my family.
Are there any true EO companies out there? This is beyond upsetting. Trying to avoid chemicals with God given healing, but now this. Can you help with any true companies?
Please, any help appreciated. I’m on the verge of tears.
Brelynn says
Essential oils should never be ingested unless under the direct guidance of a certified clinical aromatherapy practitioner. They are highly concentrated, volatile substances. An aromatherapist will go over your medical history, pre-existing conditions and medications to check for all contraindications and then they will recommend a certain oil for a certain amount of time for a specific issue. Cinnamon bark is not even supposed to be used on the skin, let alone ingested. Please do not ingest. You could get 3rd degree chemical burns. Essential oils are either pure or adulterated, please dont fall for the “ONLY our oils are pure enough to ingest” crap, its just propaganda to sell more oils and at the expense of your health. I recommend checking out an article called “what young living and doterra wont tell you”, it goes over a lot of this info.
Debbie says
I wish we could, but the can’t. I’m a Clinical Aromatherapist and have to be extremely careful. We have to be FDA compliant, too. An aromatherapist is NEVER allowed to “go over your medical history, pre-existing conditions and medications to check for all contraindications and then they will recommend a certain oil for a certain amount of time for a specific issue”, UNLESS that aromatherapist wants to go to jail! This is diagnosing, treating, and prescribing. Aromatherapist are NOT doctors and cannot prescribe a drug (essential oil) for a medical condition.
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Smithe440 says
I’m not sure exactly why but this weblog is loading very slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a problem on my end? I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.
Miles J says
Just heavy traffic. I’m in the process of upgrading the server to handle the additional load.
Alyssa LM says
I’m SOOOOOO thankful that there is a group out there holding these companies accountable and I’m even more thankful that I did more research as I recently was considering joining an MLM such as YL. My first objective/passion has always been to make my own EO’s, but as life would have it, at this time it is just not so easily doable; though, I think I will revisit that goal. I’ll be following and contributing in the future as I firmly believe in what you are doing. Again, THANK YOU for this information, keep up the great work!!!
Bo says
Integrity, truth, honesty, honor and respect of others, and how we may impact their lives, are all key components of living a good life. Over my almost 70 years on this planet, I’ve come across a few people who say one thing, but do something different. Or their word is not their bond. Or, they live a life, founded on lies.
My wife and I joined YL almost at the very beginning of the company. I believe late 1994 or early 1995. We were both focused on natural health, and my wife had her own spa. We were both very sensitive to the quality of products and noticed something changed in a number of the YL essential oils around 1997. We learned “the rest of the story” in 2000, when we joined The Brain Garden and met Gary Young’s brother, Dana. According to Dana, he believed his brother was involved with “snake oil” as Dana was more scientific, and was studying chemistry, biology, on his path to becoming a doctor. His belief changed when he had a personal experience with pain going away in minutes with a drop of peppermint. His science based mindset wanted to know: Why it worked, and asking the right questions, putting 2 and 2 together, he became fascinated to the point he began working behind the scenes of YL, his brothers company.
In 1996, Dana created the first Clary Sage field, which is pictured on the YL brochures. In 1997, Dana went out on the road, doing lectures and trainings on EO’s. However, when he arrived back in Utah, he discovered his brother had used chemicals on his organic clary sage field, destroying the organic status of the field he worked so hard creating. (This, according to Dana)
The two brothers got into a fight over what happened, to the point Dana left the company rather pissed off.
Around the same time, there were important people working behind YL who also chose to leave the company. Wil Fifield, Ron Williams and Dr. Daniel Penoel – who was an EO consultant to YL at the time. Penoel began his journey in the land of EO’s in 1977 and became well known for his knowledge, trainings, and stand on integrity around the world.
It was this group, that left YL, that made the decision they couldn’t deal with what Gary was saying from the stage anymore. Note: An online search for Dr. Gary Young, will turn up history that is not very positive about his character, including his claim to be a “doctor” or the “near fatal accident that left him in a wheel chair at age 24” and how he walked again thanks to EO’s…. Again, according to many who were there at the beginning, none of that was true.
Here’s just one link for those who believe Donald Gary Young walks on water: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Gary_Young His early days, were filled with many questions, some of which lead him to be arrested for practicing medicine without a license.
The quality and integrity of any company or organization begins at the top. The visionary, leader, founder…. There is the tendency for MLM leaders to operate with blinders on and ignore the truth.
We sensed something changed with the quality of some of the oils early on, but had no idea why. Years later, we discovered why great corporate leaders, Dana, his brother, and Dr. Penoel, one of the world renowned EO experts, all left the company, and headed off on a different path. One with integrity at the top.
None of us are perfect, however good companies strive for perfection of product integrity, at the best price, and compassion that comes from deep within the heart and soul for the customers they interface with. There are a few companies that express those ideals, such as Apple Computers, and some of those companies have become incredibly successful, as consumers resonate around truth and honesty.
One last thought for those concerned about taking EO’s internally. First, there’s no need to as there’s little to no nutritional value in an essential oil. However, if a product is not 100% pure, organic or wild crafted, using cold pressed or the lowest temperatures possible for processing, than there can be questionable, undesirable and / or possibly toxic ingredients that we would not want to ingest. And if you truly understand the workings of our 50 to 100 trillion cells, you wouldn’t want to put something toxic on your skin, not ingest it through our olfactory system – our nose.
Essential oils are one of the oldest medicines known to man, dating back thousands of years. The concept is simple: If we discover a plant has a positive value for our health, and we can capture the essence of that value through a liquid distillate (essential oil), each drop of that EO will contain the complex chemical constituency of the therapeutic value of the planet.
Complex molecules are made up of atoms (remember nucleus, protons, electrons) which have a resultant specific frequency. Our body resonates between 60 and 85 mega hertz. Lemon resonates at 90MHz. Roses – 300MHz. There’s good reason ladies love it when they receive a bouquet of roses. They smell them, and feel energized… What a concept, as the molecules from the aroma, entered their nose, their olfactory system, which carried that high 300MHz frequency, to our brain and throughout our body…
Each organ of our body has a frequency and when we spend the time to study, we discover plants, herbs, essential oils, acupuncture, etc…. are all about targeting specific meridians of energy, to raise up and / or balance the energies of our body, and assist a balanced healthy YOU.
MLM, or Network Marketing is falsely accused of being a “pyramid scheme” by many again who have not spent the time to study what they’re even saying. Yes, there are those who participate in “money games” “private activities” “Ponzi schemes” which have no product, service or beneficial value other than people trading money through an expanding network of people. Those at the top, don’t necessarily make all the money. As with any venture, it is those who work hard, develop their skills and tools, who have the greatest potential to be compensated.
MLM companies have products and or services and thanks to many legal decisions over the years, such as the Amway 3-prong decision, or the Herbalife case, have proven to be legal. They are regulated by the DSA and regulators from the FTC to make sure they operate within specific guidelines, such as not making “claims” of how much money you can make or how their products can “cure” anything. It would be great if people would educate themselves before continuing false statements such as: MLM companies are just pyramid schemes. Tell that to Mary Kay, Tupperware, and thousands of very successful companies that have actually proven the distribution model using “word of mouth” marketing, is more powerful, especially today, then advertising.
A great example is Facebook, which began with a few emails from Zuckerberg out to a few of his college friends about his new web site for people to connect and network with others. Today, FB is approaching 1.7 Billion members. Is it a pyramid scheme? Are the new entrepreneurs who’ve made millions from YouTube videos through the power of networking?
Off my soap box, and thank you Miles for waking up a sleeping giant! Maybe Dana Young can get into this conversation, and share what happened back in the early days of YL. He told me the story directly, but first hand knowledge is always the best source!
May the truth set us free…! 🙂
BettyJean Anderson says
My daughter sells doTerra’s essential oils so I was curious about the authenticity of essential oil products and the multi-level aspect of it.
Really appreciated your post. It was informative and passionate.
Thank you.
Deb says
It is because of the lack of good testing and proof of the results of the testing that has made me choose not to use Young Living anymore that was years ago. I tried one last time, The last products I purchased from them sage, taragon and nutmeg smelled so horrible and felt so different that I decided to not waste anymore money on them. I tried to find out about testing but I had opened the bottles already and the testing was rather expensive. it is easier for me to give up on the company. Bonus was my health greatly improved by changing so I am glad I did. aromatherapy wise I am sure they are ok but I would rather buy from a company that really cares about testing. Its so hard since there are so many eo companies now, so buyer beware. Do some homework and believe very little of what you read just off the internet. choose some reputable sources
NY says
Miles,
Thank you for this and your diligence in this whole painful process. I am a very new YL distributor (having been a long EO fan some decades ago) and am also a PR professional as well.
I share your heartbreak as I thought YL product integrity was above the board, and dismayed at their unprofessionalism and lack of transparency with you as an internal stakeholder. Please hold fast to what is true – may God bless you and give you the courage to continue in your pursuit of the truth.
NY
Joanne W. says
Thank you for being brave enough to come forward with this information to benefit others. It isn’t easy to be honest about something that will affect your earnings and I thank you for also being willing to test the oils from your own pocket. Young Living might not appreciate this but those of us concerned with quality oils definitely will.
KBWK says
Hello ALL… About this website…www.learningabouteos.com and ALL OF THESE COMPANIES HAVE NOT PASSED TESTING AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. I am sure we all eat or apply or breathe in toxic poisons daily…part of life. I will be much more cautious but for now…I am throwing away my cinnamon and peppermint from all companies and probably Thieves….I have 1000 dollars invested in that product line alone. Pissed! Back to wine I guess for now…. 🙂
Lisa says
DōTERRA has never failed tests, so your statement is wrong. The only time dōTERRA missed a mark is when their deep blue rub was missing an oil because they changed packages and an oil was left off the label. They apologized profusely and made it right immediately. The oils and products themselves have never failed a test and are always proven time and again to be pure and true.
Jean says
What is your motivation here? How do you know it was indeed YL oil that was tested? Who was the testing facility? Just b/c someone says it does not mean it’s true. A good rule of life is to believe none of what you hear and half of what you see. Although YL is not perfect it certainly is the best out there. I personally heard Vicki Opfer say, who has known Gary almost since the beginning of YL, “I don’t always agree with Gary, but I’ve never doubted his integrity.” I agree. His heart to manufacture pure EOs is true. YL’s testing is the best it can be. All you’ve done is stir up trouble unnecessarily. You do need to move on. YL does not want or need people like you.
Miles J says
It would behoove you to actually read the posts, documentation and backup I have made available before making comments like this. I’m sorry but you are very mistaken in this.
Lindsey Dominguez says
Well said, Miles. Keep up the good work. The proof is in the pudding or the oils, rather.
Grant says
Jean do you have actual evidence that YL’s testing is the best it can be? I haven’t seen one bit of evidence from you but Mile’s has absolutely done his homework and also provided mounds of evidence to support his claims. The same cannot be said of YOU or Young Living.
B says
Seriously? She explained exactly what she did and how. Sounds to me like you’re just mad and can’t be bothered to see truth when it’s presented to you.
WB says
@Jean – I think your advice ‘Just b/c someone says it does not mean it’s true. A good rule of life is to believe none of what you hear and half of what you see.’ may be spot-on. And if you truly believe that, then YOU should believe NONE of what you personally heard Vicki Opfer say.
Natalah says
Seriously! DID YOU EVEN READ THE POST & EVIDENCE HE PROVIDED??? Clearly that is a NO! You just believe because someone say too?! That’s a joke in itself! Do you know Gary’s background in life??? That alone should give you pause. There is no denying what Miles found. It’s LEGIT PROOF! I suggest you do your own research into the cult he created! He’s a fake, fraud & has lied to everyone! His degree is a mail-order degree! He’s NOT a doctor! How dumb are ppl these days?! So stinking frustrating!
Bill says
You believe a man who lied about having a medical license has integrity?
Debrah says
Thank you for working so diligently on this. I am amazed and very sad for you. If you would like a pure, 3rd party tested, USDA certified organic with the seal of approval, you may contact me. I would love to share with you my source!
Jayne says
Deborah I’m interested in the company you use for essential oils.
Rebecca says
Would like to know your source!
Deb says
I would appreciate knowing your source
Lorena Marie says
I am also interested in your source
Carrie says
I am so sorry for your heart break and I get it. When you have invested you heart into something and to have it comleatelt deflate your trust. There are good companies out there I don’t do EO but I felt your heart break.
Kinda says
why have you not sent all of this information to the BBB?
Diane says
If you know anything about BBB, then you know that contacting them on this issue is a waste of time & energy. They support their paid members no matter what. Another take on the “don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”
Miles J says
Exactly right. I used to work at a terrible company (which is why I quit) and they had an A+ rating with the BBB despite their shady sales practices simply because they were a paid member.
Bill says
The BBB is not a government agency. It’s a private non-profit. They have no control over anything at all. Their rating is no different then Yelp.
Amy says
YL and other MLM EO companies and their followers often behave like religious zealots. There are lots of great EO companies out there, many who sell at wholesale prices, who are rigorous about their testing and practices. Who don’t make outlandish claims about their products (like the whole seed to bottle nonsense). Who teach safety, not “use as much as you can so you’ll buy more”. I hope that someday you’ll find them.
Deb says
I think what the problem is with MLM companies is that they may be good but the members can run a muck just saying what they please. I do not believe that the YL will ever be best again. I don’t think the company tries hard enough. I don’t believe I ever read anything about the seriousness of testing. The whole seed to seal says it all. so many variables in that process. How you can keep it the best I have no idea but it was the bad mouthing of other companies from their reps that gave me a bad taste in my mouth. And although they have some good products they truly have some problems too. It’s hard when they get passed over in sales by other companies or even one company. And since most MLM companies are not public (and thats a good thing for sellers and people who want good products) we will never really get the full truth. I would rather take my chances and do my research. I fear more adultureation in EO’s as money gets tighter. My bet is on the companies that take testing and releasing of data to the consumers the highest priority. And as I mentioned before, research and not just believing what they say at confrence is your best tool. Many of the diehard YL people are people who may have only this company as their sole income. its tough starting out all over but worth it if you believe in your product.
Michelle says
This is fascinating to read. Miles you have been thorough and detailed in your approach. Thank you for the enormous effort you have put in to this work.
My Instinct feels that there is more to this story than currently meets our eyes.
YL oils have been established for a good many years …… I just wonder if they have dropped the ball … which can happen to any business ….. and forgotten to address this issue.
It may be the case the YL are now busy sorting out this particular issue at Corporate level because there is an increased noise about the anomaly you discovered ….. that will take some time. For me the proof of this will be their ability to be transparent and disclose their own reports.
We are in a changing world. Technology will sift the wheat from the chaff. Remain open minded and clear on what you want from anything in life and it will generally serve you well.
Terry says
Hi Miles!
In the end, this information needed to be shared. Maybe there was some part of the process that was overlooked, or maybe there was a batch that that was produced incorrectly. Who knows! If YL tests every batch and only 28% meets the standards for bottling, this situation doesn’t make sense. However, it did happen according to the outside labs that deemed the cinnamon bark adulterated. Whether that is true or not, I don’t know because I’m not an expert. All I know is that YL oils have done wonders for the continued and sustained health of my family. I praise Adonai for your diligence to get the oils tested for yourself. At the very least, this benefits all of us because the very best EO company in the world may have found a kink in the armor, or a weakness in the process. You can best believe that YL is now scrambling to make sure this potential weakness is addressed so that the Seed to Seal promise is never questioned again by anyone’s standard of testing. In the end, it’s common for businesses that grow this fast to have areas that may have a difficult time keeping up. Thank you, Miles, for exposing what will only help YL to REALLY evaluate their processes to make sure they all align with the Seed to Seal promise. In the end, this will impact the entire EO industry in a positive way. Everyone needs to step up their operations and quality control. I look forward to what else is brought to Light!
Questions: Did you get results from YL oils while you used them?
Blessings and Shalom!
Terry
Miles J - Holistic Essentials says
Hi Terry,
Yes I was using YL oils and products when I decided to have the cinnamon tested. I still have some products left that I will slowly use up in cleaning products, etc.
Sue Hanley says
Miles, I wish to send you support and thanks on this sad and shocking part of your EO journey. I also wish to share an experience — not an official lab testing experience, but still, I believe, an important one. My dear friend, who is a chemistry professor, loves YL Valor. Actually, I must use past tense here — loved. She recently opened a very old bottle of Valor for me to sniff, and then opened a very new one that I had given her. The difference in aromas was shocking, even nauseating. She is very sensitive to petrochemicals (job hazard, developed from improperly functioning hoods where she teaches), and the smell of the new Valor was definitely off. I, too, am heartbroken, having trusted YL since 2005. But something is “up” — please persist, you are helping us all!
Lori says
Sue, I’m surprised you don’t know that some of the oils used in the original Valor are no longer available, and the “new” valor is a different formula. I’m not saying that’s a good or bad thing, just that it’s different. Your new bottle should have said “Valor II” on it, right? Personally, I loved the old one.
BAM says
The original Valor is still available, when all of its ingredients are in season. Valor II is offered as an alternative, because it behaves similarly, but uses some different oils.
anonomyssy says
I would also suggest that oils change with age, like a good wine. And if a bottle has been opened and exposed to air, that can also change it, etc. Not suggesting what you say is false, but there are reasons they would be different even with the same recipe.
From year to year grapes are different in wines, based on that year’s climate, rain fall, etc. the plants used to make essential oils are no different.
Gwen says
You do realize that essential oils once opened go bad over time….geesch
Mimi says
It’s very saddening that this company is so deceptive, thank you for posting this.
What I’m wondering is, what are the ramifications of usining this tainted oil? I’ve used the thieves from YL on the bottoms of my child’s feet when he’s fighting a cold…I’m wondering what it could have potentially done?
Cindy says
I always wondered if YL was suppose to be organic or at least Wild Crafted
Jumpindogs says
After reading all this…thank you, Miles…I have to wonder why YL refuses to release it’s GC/MS testing reports when the vast majority of other quality EO companies either publish them or make them available upon request. YL’s claim that the tests reveal information on their proprietary distillation process doesn’t make sense. I’ve read GC/MS EO testing reports…such reports do not detail the distillation process. That’s a red flag right there irrespective of this current Cinnamon Bark issue.
Kellie says
I am not sure that I would agree with your statement that many other companies post these online. Unfortunately many MLM companies WON’T publish their tests on line. I have asked for tests from doTERRA and have been denied, as I was told that the “general public” doesn’t know how to read the test. I guess I should have let them know I have a master’s degree with aromatherapy as my graduate certificate focus, in order to qualify for such a piece of paper. Regardless, I’ve never received one either and because of this, along with other issues I’ve had in the past, I no longer will purchase essential oils from an MLM company.
anonomyssy says
What company’s oils do you suggest?
TJ says
doTERRA has a website that you can enter the bottle’s batch number in and the test results for that batch are shown.
Alex Singleton says
Not true. The oils have a number on the bottom of each bottle that you can enter on doTERRA’s web page and it will show the testing for that bottle/batch. They are very transparent and are now vindicated through the courts after that fraudster Gary tried to sue them. ALL CHARGES THROWN OUT! If people still want to associate with a liar and fraud then you get what you deserve.
Cynthia Shankman says
Miles, You had repeated communication responses from YL and from Jared. I wonder why you keep saying they did not respond to you? After reading your communications, your procedures, and the test results you received; and then comparing that to several of YL’s responses to you, and all the members; I am now more committed to YL. Thank you for allowing YL’s deep experience and expertise to be highlighted to all. After seeing the detailed process by which quality essential oils are created, as explained by Dr. Mike Buch https://gallery.mailchimp.com/15eeb032645db017198d0931b/files/Letter_From_Dr._Mike_Buch.pdf, I feel confident YL understands the delicate creation of pure essential oils. I would not trust any other oils as I am not sure other companies have the years of knowledge that YL has accumulated. It is my hope that your quest for personal answers will assist others in seeking the highest quality essential oils for themselves and their families which are produced by YL.
Zydeco says
YL didn’t respond, Cynthia, because they didn’t address the issue. And they still haven’t. They need to RESPOND to this: What about those adulterated bottles of EO? No matter how commited you or anyone else is to YL, the facts have not changed nor been RESPONDED to.
Italy says
Cynthia- If you feel so strongly- why even comment? You would probably stick by YL if the results showed that the product was pure chemical. Your comment is pointless and simple waste of time and space. TRUTH- if you are familiar with the word is what was being uncovered.
K tohtz says
I so appreciate your work in testing and digginng for the truth! I wish more in corporate for an EO company had your values! Keep up the good work and i thank you!
gloria says
To be honest, I have been thoroughly disgusted with the EO industry. After buying at least $1,000 from one company it was determined that their german chamomile was adulterated. The company denied it and said that they had it tested and it passed without showing ANY proof of passing the GC/MS testing!
At that point I started ordering from another company (one of the so called top three or four companies). But this time I was learning about the GC/MS testing.
This company posted the so called testing results but there was no date, lab or lot number posted . So innocently, I asked the owner about that. Well, she chewed me out like you wouldn’t believe! She was very nasty to me. If this information is not posted they can use the test results for ANY oil and say that it belongs to the oil you are buying from them. Her very nasty attitude made it clear to me that she had something to hide.
So, I am done with oils. It appears to be a very corrupt industry, full of liars!
Amanda says
Which company are you referring too? If you don’t mind my asking.
Susan says
April 30, 2016 Response from Dr. Buch:
https://static.youngliving.com/en-US/PDFS/Letter_From_Dr_Mike_Buch_04.29.16.pdf
Joy says
I can only wonder why they did not respond directly to Miles.
Gwen says
Amen. Thank you for sharing this!
Darlynn Joy Hoare says
YL takes great care in cleaning distillation equipment between different batches of oils. Is the research laboratory as tedious cleaning their equipment between testing various samples? There is a lot of room for many variables here.
Heather says
Are you saying you work in the YL labs therefore you have first hand knowledge of this fact? Anything else is simple hersey. Please keep in mind, these test results have come from SEVERAL INDEPENDENT LABS.
Toni says
I just want to follow and see the results from other testings.
Thank you for the honesty!
Stacey says
I want to make my own version of Thieves. Would someone who has made their own version of Thieves please share a recipe?
Deniese Berry says
I studied aromatherapy in the early 1990s. Nowhere in the books do they suggest to ingest the essential oils. They say for external use only.
When did this change? I wouldn’t want to inhale a synthetic though either. I’ve used the same brand since that time. Not your brand. They saved me from getting sinusitis for which I was poisoned by Fluoroquinolones.
Kathy Guastella says
It really never changed! Just different schools of thought. The French teach and practice internal, I studied there in 2004 and use oils internally. The English and most aroma therapists in the U S say not to use internally…
Kim says
What company do you use?
Ida says
For those of you who took the step of faith through your convictions in exposing truth for the betterment of all, thank you! I’m sure this was not an easy task and unfortunately not many people will do this. I believe that when given information like this everyone should take it upon themselves to further investigate however they can, that is wisdom. Without a doubt, I agree that this is upsetting news that can take the wind out of ones sails, especially for those of us who have made changes to a healthier lifestyle. However I don’t believe that one should give up using oils completely. Like everything else, there’s going to be a wrench tossed in the road. I am not an YL user, I use doterra and RM. So when I read this immediately I thought, well what’s to say it’s not the same with these companies? While I do not have the money to send these oils to be tested, I will require peace about whether I should continue in the use of my oils and that’s why I pray for God’s guidance and peace. I can always count on Him to respond to my questions with complete truth. He has never let me down and this is why I pray over everything… the food I eat, decisions that need to be made etc. Luke 18:1 says, “Men (and women) always, ought to pray and not loose heart”. And Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. I hope this encourages people.
Wendy says
Indeed it does. Thank you for sharing this awesome, positive perspective for those of us struggling with decisions we may be facing about whether or not to continue with YL.
Kanti says
Greetings
I’ve used Gary’s oils since the labels were Xeroxed black and white and pasted on the bottle. I love Gary Young very much and am more than grateful for actually saving my son’s life with Frankincense after a botched second heart surgery. He was very personal back then and you could actually talk to him! This was all before his marriage which is where it all changed dynamically. His lovely wife was big with Herbalife and brought big marketing to YL. Big marketing means producing in huge quantities and in many many cases, product quality may decline in order to meet demand. This is business as usual per say even though it’s wrong.
Last month, I quit my essential rewards (I was one of the first to sign up) as the products have become far too expensive and I feel like I’m paying for all of the big ‘hype’ and marketing programs worldwide. Originally, I came to YL because it was so personal and sincere and had the best products. My family constantly used ALL of the products until I discovered less than desirable ingredients in some supplements and many of the oils we used were so often ‘out of stock’ (like Helichrysm). I contacted the company about poor ingredients but got a runaround so just stopped purchasing those particular products.
If a company chooses to broaden their market to worldwide, it shouldn’t put a price burden on all that has supported that company for many many years just for the sake of expansion. I only want the healing power of the oils, not all of the marketing stuff so it’s a bit of a dilemma as to what to do. I have lots of oils and don’t NEED to buy more every month so I guess I’ll just play it by ear and heart from now on. I just don’t know how the whole world can be supplied with these precious oils without depleting some species and higher and higher pricing for smaller bottles etc.
thank you Miles for being aware and diligent. I hope the very best for everyone, including the YL company I have loved so much!
Peace and Love to all!
Kanti
Julie Larson says
Thank you for the very honest, heart to heart, message. Sad, but it is so true! Peace to you!
EllenJ says
I think I’m going to back away a bit from YL’s Essential Rewards, too. I’m investing a fortune every month and I want time to see the outcome of this current situation. I love EO’s and thought I had found the very best. If only I had access to a laboratory…..
Tess says
I am new to YL, and have not completely believed in all that the MLM would say. I also use Herbal Life products, but my knowledge of chemistry and the toxicity levels of what I use had made me more conservative. These products have their own advantages and disadvantages. Lets just all be careful. Just like Miles, she went further to test. GCMS tests are not cheap, but synthetic or not, we all need to use materials especially those ingested with care. Celsus, the father of toxicology said ” “All things are poisonous and nothing is without poison; only the dose makes a thing not poisonous.”
Anita says
Sorry pls ignore earlier submission. I noticed some misspelling and this is corrected and with additional points:
Thank you Miles for this courageous post. I can feel your genuine care.
When I first saw the petition I was also shocked, as I love my YL oils (including the use of Ningxia Red and Thieves products) and have personally experienced (and witnessed) many amazing results.
Before all of us get carried away, I would just like to say, did anyone carefully consider the explanation about the ‘interpretation’ of the test results to the lab’s data base? I have asked a few people I respect and we all find the explanation very credible.
Interpretation of the test result against takes years of training, and the data base to compare result against is crucial.
This is how I have understood from the response we have also got from YL as well as from I have learnt from my own learning.
We have a wellness practice and we have used essential oils for many years and bought from various sources. My colleague has also learnt from various aromatherapy master teachers and ordered oils from them. But nothing has quality that seem to match that of Young Living’s, and that’s why we usually don’t bother to order elsewhere, of course this is not to say no one else has pure and genuine essential oil. But if even Young Living has ‘adulterated’ oil as you seem to have concluded, then honestly we don’t know who to trust and we don’t think this is going to help anyone have confidence in using ‘essential oils’. For example, just take most ‘peppermint’ essential oil from any oil company and compare that against YL’s, 99% of the time we find other oils having a candy like smell that simply should not be there (who has sniffed a real peppermint leaf?)
Smaller companies would have even less resources to do so many different tests. These equipment cost a lot of money and just learning to interpret the report also takes years of education. (So to say a company must cut corners as they grow does not seem to make sense – although we do agree many big companies do cut corners – but there is no cause and effect relationship there.)
Also I don’t see how such incident should be used to support against the use of essential oil by ingestion in general whether by the ‘aromatherapist’ or not. We have MD friends (who use EOs extensively in all manners) who also agree with our view – essential oils cross the blood brain barrier because of its small molecular size, so if it’s cut with petrochemicals, it would be just as bad to inhale it!
Lastly we have a few friends who are certified aromatherapists who have studied with accredited associations mentioned above by some people. They have confirmed to us in their training they have only been trained in the standard answer that ingestion is not recommended (just like doctors are trained to tell their patients what they eat has little to do with their health, or the lack of) but they have not really been trained in using essential oils internally. This is understandable for the sake of public interest and considering the leaning of the current accreditation bodies. So to say certified aromatherapists know better than anyone who cares to learn just don’t make sense. While I have learnt on the use of essential oils from aromatherapists (in fact trainers of them) but I’ve learnt just as much from those who are not ‘certified aromatherapists’, such as psychiatrists, chiropractors, nutritionists, MDs, as well as people who have no degrees or titles but avid learners.
(Consider our grandmas who knew about herbs and remedies and have no education titles for example – I certainly have learnt from her too)
I am writing this with the hope to bring common sense and empowerment to the matter.
Miles, thanks again for your courage. But don’t give up your trust on pure and authentic essential oils, or any health products for that matter!
Respectfully yours
Elizabeth says
Thanks Anita for bringing a balanced view…
Gwen says
Thank you!
smartypants says
It’s 2016 and we are still as susceptible to snake oil salesmen as we were a century ago. Put a man on the moon. Face transplants. Computers the size of quarters tracking our every bio-rhythmic output. The human mind is fascinating.
Urnotsoslick says
Smartypants, your so very correct 😉
eyesrgreen says
I met the owner of this company. He was obnoxious. He told me he had one migraine, once, and that there is no way I have 1 everyday. (The fact that I do was confirmed by 2 nuerologists). He dismisssed me and told me I was either lying or uninformed. I wouldn’t buy an empty bottle from these @$$holes.
Kirsten says
As a fellow migraineer…anyone who dismisses frequent migraibes is a quack.
Maria says
Gary Young might have been personable once, and he might be personable now, but his interpersonal skills (or lack thereof) are the main reason, in my opinion, that this situation has happened in the first place. People from a number of places around the world simply won’t sell to him. (Do a Google search on Somalia and frankincense and their interaction with Mr. Young. And there are others, too, unfortunately. Why couldn’t we get any Peace and Calming for so long? Why are several other oils out of stock?)
It bothers me tremendously that all of this has happened because it not only makes Young Living look bad, but all EO companies look bad. But if we continue to be willing to search out the truth, the whole truth, with no preconceived ideas about what those results will hold, we’ll be on the right track.
Thank you, Miles, for your bravery and commitment to finding the whole truth in this.
medialies says
You should probably read up on some issues of why you have migraines. Just because 2 neurologists tell you that you have them doesnt solve your issue. Maybe get to the root of it. What is your body lacking that you need more of? What is triggering your migraines? I use to get them daily. Stress was my trigger. I also have started using magnesium on my body. Ingesting magnesium doesnt allot it in the proper manner. Putting it on as a lotion or spray will help immensely. And yes, I know everyone is different. But when you lack certain minerals in your body things get out of wack. Do some holistic research about yourself. You wont find the answers in a bottle or on a panel of idiots.
Read a book called “Feelings buried alive… never die” this may give you some insight into your body and help you find ways to cure yourself instead of turning to a MD who has no clue about your life or history.
Debbie says
One lady that was debilitated by migraines finally, after years of suffering discovered the source. Glutton and dairy intolerance. In a months time the migraines stopped. Maybe this helps!
Nat says
A sincere thank you for all your efforts and research.
They can benefit thousands.
Am wi setting on your thoughts and possibly testing of doTERRA EOs.
I too am uneasy with ingesting however I have heard hundreds that swear by doTERRA.
Love to hear more..
Fay Simpson says
To be fair, you need to send every supplier to the testing laboritory for their oils to be tested , including do terra, I have been using YL for 8 years, and have not been poisoned by them. Why not get all their oils tested. Do not throw the baby out with the bath water, as the old saying goes, if you don’t like a firm, then move on. YL has been going for long enough to prove their worth. Gary Young is not dishonest, not like some who have worked for him and moved on to other companies, !!
oilnewbie says
….Pretending to be a physician is pretty dishonest.
Debbie says
Many Natropaths and even some Health Food store owners have been told to CEASE AND DESIST. They are practicing medicine without a license. Google that and you will see 1000’s of people have been told to cease and desist. Gary wasn’t pretending or impersonating a physician. He was telling people how to use natural alternatives for medical conditions; which we all have been guilty of. That is considered practicing medicine without a license. That will get you put in jail! That is why anyone – including Health Food or Nutrition Store owners/sales people, aromatherapist, etc. – anyone that can benefit from the sale of their product – is required to be FDA compliant. We cannot make a claim that a product can treat or cure a medical condition – even if it is food!! If caught doing that, a person can lose their business.
TJ says
According to the lawsuit that was settled this week, he is dishonest. YL doesn’t have enough farm ground to produce the amount of oil they sell. Actually, it’s close to 1%. Seed to Seal is a lie.
Debbie says
I was never told that YL owned ALL of their farms. I was told this information which doesn’t lead me to believe they were being dishonest. “Our oils are sourced from our corporate-owned farms, partner farms, and Seed to Seal-certified suppliers. This empowers us to source conscientiously and with sensitivity to local communities and ecosystems. We vet and select our like-minded suppliers according to five principles: Established Relationships, Seed to Seal Specifications, Binding Agreements, Stringent Testing, and Ongoing Audits.” More info https://www.youngliving.com/en_US/discover/seed-to-seal
Miles J says
Hi Debbie,
The part “and Seal to Seal certified suppliers” was only recently added to the website and their communications. During the time these events occurred, they were adamant it was Partner Farms and their own farms only. Glad they have now added it for extra clarification.
Alex Singleton says
Thankfully those people who moved on from that company saw him for what he was and decided they could no longer work for a company that was discriminatory towards women and dishonest in their marketing.
The Utah courts have ruled that in fact Gary IS dishonest. In this case you CAN tell it to the judge but he’ll say the same thing!
RP says
Wait, wait, wait. So you’re not concerned with how many page views you get? ‘Cause you posted this yesterday, “Over 200,000 page views according to my analytics account!” You sound really broken hearted. I mean….
Also, from what it looks like in your article, you were responded to many times so I don’t get what you mean when you said you didn’t get a response. I was looking for loopholes, for anything to bring down a company that’s been in the biz for over 20 years and has a Better Business Bureau rating of A+ because let’s be honest, it happens. And if this did happen, I wanted to know. But, all I see is someone deeply concerned with the findings you sent him (Jared) and getting to the truth of it and trying to figure out if the lab results were accurate and how that got by their massive operations department when their whole model is based on Seed to Seal and purity and all of that. And from a business perspective, what exactly would they be gaining from this? Why would they risk a 20+ year reputation on purity to add some synthetics to cinnamon bark of all oils when they are a billion dollar company and give huge amounts to their school for kids in Ecuador, projects in Africa and all over the world AND they reject 30% of their oils when they don’t meet their standards. And why are they paying people to hand pick weeds and no pesticides or herbicides are used on any of their farms? And then just go and add some synthetics to some cinnamon bark? I just don’t get it. It doesn’t add up. Also, the testing for essential oils has to also have the capable library to test properly. I almost believed this article and upon further digging, it doesn’t add up. This was his direct response to you after you sent him your findings:
Fri. March 18th 2016
Dear Miles,
Thank you for your kind note and attached report.
We would never intentionally introduce this to the supply chain. Our company DNA is 100% quality, from Gary on. Our internal testing and third party have revealed no synthetic additives, which is why this is so strange. If we saw this ourselves, we would have immediately rejected this oil. Our quality testing is second to none. We invest millions of dollars a year in testing equipment, chemists, and other quality-focused personnel to ensure this never happens. On top of that, our farm and essential oil supply teams work closely with our farming partners to ensure Seed to Seal standards are firmly adhered to.
To answer your questions on testing, I’ve copied our analytical chemistry team leads here, Drs. Buch and Carlson. Dr. Buch is our BP of R&D and Product Development.
Thank you for your patience in walking through this with us to get your peace of mind back in place.
Regards,
Jared
This was another response upon multiple responses from the company:
Dear Young Living Members:
I want to take a moment to update you on our latest findings regarding Young Living’s Cinnamon Bark Oil.
On April 7, 2016, we issued a synopsis of our Cinnamon Bark Oil analytical testing. In that synopsis, I pointed out the fact that our highly trained team of analytical chemists found no evidence of synthetic adulteration in our product. These findings were corroborated by two highly respected independent laboratories. We stand by those findings.
Since I issued that report, our team has continued to look into this matter. In addition to continuing to analyze our oils, we have held meetings with some of the world’s leading experts on Carbon-14 analysis. These are the same experts who used this technology to identify the “shoe bomber” and identify the suspect behind the 2001 Anthrax scare. We’ve also secured samples of the raw cinnamon bark, distilled it in our own lab, and analyzed the oil so that we could compare the results to those of the cinnamon bark oil that is available to our members. We now have even more data to support our conclusions.
We promised to review an item from the ChemTech-Ford report, which identified a chromatographic peak as 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene (commonly called Durene). We have now been able to confirm that this peak is actually a cymene isomer, which is a common component of cinnamon bark, as well as other essential oils. Compounds such as this can be misidentified depending upon the library used.
Laboratories have “libraries” of data stored within their chromatographic computer systems. These libraries are often purchased from the instrument manufacturers and are then supplemented with data generated over years of testing in the particular lab. When a lab is relatively new, the library tends to contain only those compounds loaded by the manufacturer. Also, different libraries can be purchased or built up based upon the type of analyses the lab typically performs; so if a lab performs petrochemical analyses, the library will be loaded with lots of petrochemicals, and if a lab does environmental analyses, the library will be loaded with lots of chemicals that are significant for environmental testing.
When a GCMS test is run, the computer will analyze the output and attempt to match it with whatever is contained in the library. Thus, it is very important to use the appropriate libraries when interpreting data. It is even more important to have scientists with the training and experience to correctly interpret the data.
Because Young Living is one of the oldest and most experienced essential oil companies, we have the most extensive essential oil library, and this is of tremendous advantage in accurately identifying components of essential oils.
I would also like to address a report that was posted on Facebook regarding a Carbon-14 analysis of Young Living’s Cinnamon Bark Oil.
Carbon-14 testing, or radiocarbon testing, relies upon the fact that plants take in Carbon-14 from the atmosphere. As soon as a plant dies, it no longer takes in Carbon-14, so its Carbon-14 levels are “locked” at the time the tissue dies. The age of the tissue, or more appropriately it’s time of death, can be measured from Carbon-14 testing.
Modern atmospheric levels of Carbon-14 increased from 1955 to 1963 due to nuclear bomb testing. Since that time, the levels have been steadily decreasing. Modern methods of Carbon-14 testing utilize something called the Fraction Modern Carbon reporting method. This method reports the Carbon-14 level in a sample relative to the background level pre-1960, which is set at 1.
According to recognized experts in the field, the Carbon-14 report copied on Facebook is an unconventional reporting method and is more typically used for ancient samples, such as the Shroud of Turin, not something that was harvested recently. We are working to better understand this unconventional methodology. Carbon-14 readings from old bark (or dead bark) will differ from young bark readings.
We obtained samples of the actual cinnamon bark from which oil is distilled by our partner farms. We also obtained samples from around the world for comparative purposes. We distilled these oils in our lab and performed complete analyses on each. These analyses confirmed that our Young Living specifications for Cinnamomum verum are correct.
Thus, we are confident in our ability to test these oils and in our ability to uphold the Seed to Seal promise.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mike Buch
VP of R&D & Product Management
I almost believed it, dug deeper (because when it comes to something like this, you always have to look and dig deeper) and found that these allegations have not been substantiated. And then, seeing the boasts by the author of how many page views he’s receiving according to his analytics report puts this to rest for me. If it was truly about being broken hearted and trying to find the answers, you wouldn’t give a flip about the traffic to your blog and stalking your analytics report.
Miles J - Holistic Essentials says
I’m sorry you feel this way. Yes I was concerned with traffic to my blog because the more people that saw the message, the better!! The less people that knew, the easier it would have been for all of this to be swept under the rug and we may never have got the reply we did. If you read my story completely, while there were a couple communications from corporate, they did not address the glaring questions and concerns that were being made by many fellow distributors. A text message from Jared telling us to contact someone else (who never did reply, even to this day) hardly suffices as “getting a response” and keeping everyone in the dark for weeks at a time while they apparently did all this “investigating” is hardly sufficient either. Jared e-mailing me back initially and promising a response he never followed up on is hardly showing “deep concern.” I was heartbroken on March 18th when this first occurred. Now I’m just sick and tired of being disregarded and treated like a “menace” for seeking the truth and asking tough questions.
You are welcome to your opinions. The info is here for you to make your own decisions. I gave up a distributorship and potential for great income so you and others could have the truth to make your own decisions. How you feel about that is your own prerogative.
Thanks for taking the time to write!
Regards,
Miles
Gwen says
Yes! The TRUTH always comes out eventually!!!
Pam says
Have you contacted any agency about this false advertising? They should be reported! Also, if you are in Canada, try contacting CBC Marketplace. They can expose this company even further.
Tiffany says
I’m so sorry you had to go through all this drama to find out your suspicions were correct. It makes me very grateful that the company I order through has a blog specifically for this purpose in making their products completely transparent and forth coming. I look forward to your results of other companies and hope you find one you can trust again.
Tugs says
Who do you use
Anna says
I have a friend that I’ve know forever that has been creating therapeutic grade EOs for 30 plus years, and is a retired high school counselor. I trust her judgement. Unfortunately she’s retiring from this field soon (ok, she’s 87 and it makes sense), but I will always ask her opinion before buying from someone who seems to be selling it to make a quick buck. I’m really glad I knew my friend first who has been able to steer me in the right direction.
I have had people who have tried to get me to try LY for a while now.. they are trying to make a sale, I get it, but I’m kind turned off by the whole MLM thing. As far as the science goes, I would forward their responses to the lab who provided you with the original results and ask them what they think.
Dr. Elena Michaels says
I have heard a few comments over the years from distributors using oils from YL competitors but have disregarded them for various reasons as those “claims” seemed more about promoting the oils from those other companies. This newest information from you, Miles, along with your diligent investigative attitude with supporting information, is very disconcerting. As a naturopathic doctor and advanced stage cancer survivor, I am meticulous and vigilant about products I recommend and those I use myself. I have been using aromatherapy for decades and switched to Young Living exclusively, more than 19 years ago. I truly believe the YL oils helped my body heal and recover from an aggressive and devastating advanced stage cancer. I have been to the farm, seen the oils being distilled, met Gary and Mary Young and totally believed in their knowledge, integrity, ethics and alignment with helping others and doing only what “is right” and beneficial for their distributors. I don’t “blindly” use all of their nutritional products just because I am a distributor, nor do I recommend all of their nutritional products. Personally, I am dairy and grain free and most of those who come to see me, include an anti inflammatory diet in their protocol and getting well. But I do use and trust the Young Living oils, and I use them daily and extensively, and even use some of them internally, including brushing my teeth with Thieves and doing “oil pulling” (which has resulted in me avoiding periodontal surgery due to the gum damage caused by chemo). I really don’t know what to say about this information you shared. I will keep an open mind and see how things developer with this. Please keep up your due diligence with this, continue to share what you find out and I will sign the petition.
Blessings, Dr. Elena Michaels
Jar says
How can i share this on pinterest?
Brandy says
I had almost the same product experience. When I received the generic email, I asked my friend/up line about it and got the same results from her uplines. I stopped purchasing YL after that email. I use the EO company my aromatherapy school recommended because they post the GC/MS reports online so you can view and print the reports for each oil as you are purchasing them! I realized how much money I lost/wasted in less than 1 year of purchasing YL oils, feel like such an idiot, but we live and learn and don’t purchase from them anymore.
anonomyssy says
OK, but what company are you now using?
Susie Weiss says
I was going to ask if you have considered whether the lab you used could have been mistaken, and then I saw this response from Young Living today. http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=15eeb032645db017198d0931b&id=2a5ce45e89&e=b5df67522a. Wow! I think they really went above and beyond in answering your concern, effort that took a great deal of time and expense. I believe Young Living is so rooted in integrity that it did not make sense to me that after being without best selling oil blends for over 9 months due to lack of a high enough quality oil, that they should start compromising on Cinnamon Bark oil. Glad to hear this has not been the case.
Tina says
I too was concerned at first but now understand that the labs that tested your cinnamon bark bottle is obviously not specialized or as up to date with the same library that YL use to test their products and that this result can be disconcerting but after reading some of the other comments above I see how this can all be taken out of proportion. It saddens me to think that so many people would use this ONE incident of testing that is not even that trustworthy and totally lose faith in a company that has no reason to adulterate, cheat, put at risk their 1000s of happy customers who have 1000s of testimonials of benefits to their health .
Please reconsider your decisions to support this highly respected company and really analyze all the facts and comments by other people who have shown further evidence that the company is doing their very best to answer and have shown their test results to be pure and unudeltarated.
So the question is which results are U going to trust and how does that compare to years of testimonials and your own experience with using the YL products???
Let’s not jump to any conclusions and put all this into perspective.
I’m only fairly new in this company but have done my research before making my decision to join and found that the support and knowledge is next to none and keep an open mind about everything I see and read so all I’m saying is reconsider your decisions based on ALL the facts re a few members getting their oils tested independently by a substandard lab compared to 1000s of tests done by a superior advanced specialized lab that YL use for all their other oils too over 30 years of experience.
Sounds to me like Miles is trying to find alibies for a test result that is very questionable and in the process damaging an amazing reputation of a long standing, high quality company that deserves to be respected and trusted for all their great work over soo many years. To me this has been blown way out of proportion and we all need to think hard about the consequences our actions will have on soo many that YL has “saved” over soo many years.
God bless U all in your search for TRUTH & INTEGRITY
b says
No one thought to mention the independent lab that Young Living PAID to do independent testing on THEIR OWN OILS that ALSO found adulteration and artificial oils used? You trust your company so much because they say that they are the only lab qualified to test their own oils??? What is wrong ith your thought process???
Megan says
The testing Miles posted is only one of three independent and completely separate lab tests all showing adulteration of cinnamon bark and thieves. Also the fact that young living continues to say their in house testing has shown no adulteration is an immediate conflict of interest. When they did have third party tests done, it was by a lab that specializes in water and soil testing. To be accurate results, essential oils should only be tested by labratories that specialize in essential oils to be able to appropriately evaluate the nuances of oil chemistry. This is not an attempt by one or several people to tarnish a companies reputation, but to seek truth.
Gwen says
Amen!
Trin says
How do you find a lab to test essential oils? Now I’m concerned about other oils I own and want to test my own. Thank you for the information and sharing it! I can’t believe this… I’ve been using oils while pregnant and on my toddler for the last three years. Not only that, but I’ve been telling others how amazing they are and how to use them with their families too.
Karen says
Well I am just sick about what I am reading. I am fairly new to YL. Without going into much detail, I have invested a lot of time and money in these oils. I have purchased many of the books that are written by D.Gary Young,ND. And I have used the formulas internally for uterine cancer. I was not seeing the results that I was hoping for, so I switched to using herbs instead of the oils. Thank you for the info.
Janet says
What a surprise / shock to read this about YL. I’m saddened too. I loved Thieves. Please keep us posted on any other info you come across. So sad!
bjd000 says
I still beliive.in YL
Becky says
Please email me…within this last week I had raindrop therapy that left me dibilitated. Then I began looking into the company..Mr.Youngs degrees are fake and their recipes based off ancient Egyptian embalming techniques!
I am very interested in your test results!
iMolly Trask says
I am extremely disappointed (but thankful) to read all this today. I have been a user of YL oils, especially of Thieves which, Ironically, I’m sitting here drinking a couple drops of in my apple cider vinegar, honey and hot water I have every morning. I have used YL oils for at least 15 years, believing in their purity. I dropped out of being a distributor – too expensive. I’m just getting back to studying the essential therapy once again and am very disturbed by this latest info, to say the least. Please do keep us all informed as you move forward in your quest, and thank you for undertaking and sharing all of this!!!
Hannah says
Here’s an Essential Oil tip: A certified #organic essential oil is your safe bet, not a therapeutic-grade claim. #Therapeutic-grade is the equivalent of a trademarked “tagline” and is not a third-party certification given by an accredited agency.
Registered Aromatherapist says
Thanks goodness someone else knows that “therapeutic grade” is a marketing term, and there isn’t an oil grading organization in the US.
Judi says
Thank you for your very informative post. I have been looking into purchasing essential oils and I will be taking YL off my list. Have you done any research into rhe Doterra essential oils?
Megan says
You can join the facebook page: essential oil consumer reports. There you can see testing of many companies in their files section.
sue says
I have seen this happen many times. I now only trust 3rd party certifications like USDA Organic or Toxic Free. I don’t care what the company “says”. Show me the proof!
Melek says
I was introduced to YL oils by friends who were very enthusiastic about them and the benefits and effects they said they offered. Most were Christians and everyone was accepting them without questioning because we all knew each other, and the oils smelled wonderful.
I had a few concerns:
1. Who is the person who started the company.
2. What is the basis and root of the claims of the benefits and especially the spiritual effects.
3. How ethical is it to use the ‘pyramid’ selling method.
I researched Gary Young and uncovered some unsavory history both business and personal which was eye opening to say the least. I won’t go into details here but the information is freely available.
The company’s vision is based on three dreams that he had which have a New Age theme. This makes interesting reading!
The ‘spiritual’ effects seem exactly the same as witchcraft….relying on an external source instead of the indwelling Christ being our source of strength.
The ‘pyramid’ method of selling is frequently used by scamming companies as it is a cheap method to sell inferior products and has the advantage of being self generating, Sales and recruiting new members are easily accomplished using the social and familial contacts of people known and trusted to the members – if your friends say it’s a wonderful product you are less likely to question it – come and join this wonderful club! And if money can be made from your friends why not start your own business?
The only people who make any substantial money are the ones at the top.
Needless to say I decided to have nothing to do with this company or it’s products.
I am sorry that you’re having such a difficult time at the moment Miles, you will come through this stronger and wiser, the truth can be a shock sometimes, it’s only a bump in the road. Many have been taken in by this company and it’s founder, you are better off finding out now than never. Your honesty and courage shine out of your words, and will lead you into your future with your integrity intact.
Loretta Meaders says
About 2 years ago I started taking a YL supplement called Super Cal. It is calcium infused with a couple different essential oil, one of them , lemon grass.
Within a couple hours of taking it the first time, I developed a terrible upper gastric pain that doubled me over, gave me the feeling that something horrible was going on. Scared me so much. I was unsure what brought it all on and took the recommended dose agin the next day ending up in bed again with the worst stomach pains, shaking, heart pounding, felt like I was going to croak. I refused my husbands pleas to go to the ER and just toughed it out. My entire abdominal region was sore and tender to the touch for several days. I still was unsure what caused all of that and unfortunately gave the Super Cal another try a week later and this time was even worse. I inquired of the distributor, a family member, who assured me that there was no other reports of this and that it could not have been the supplement. I have never ingested poison, but I imagine that it must feel something like what I experienced and I would not ingest anything ever again from YL.
Laurel CC says
I’ve always felt it was a snake ‘oil’ trend and have avoided except tea tree once for my toe. I tend to avoid fads in general, keeps me from having to write a post like this.
Elizabeth says
I think it would be appropriate to post the Young Living response in the main article. I see that the comments on this page are all either condemning YL or from people that used YL and are now confused. Personally, I feel your group of concerned distributors didn’t give this huge company much time to reply before questioning their reputation publicly on the internet (you state several weeks in your blog but the dates indicate differently). Their response, in this thread that is from Kristina on April, 30th at 5.19am (headed new purity update from Young Living) definitely answers your concerns but I wouldn’t have found it if I hadn’t clicked on the link to the comments.
I live in Australia and yes I’m a Young Living distributor. I am not bias towards YL and are open to any allegations if they are true but I do feel you have caused a huge uproar before really giving this company the time to fully respond. I can imagine that a company of this magnitude would be inundated with various conflicts and challenging situations (as you would know if you have been around for at least the last year). I am also disappointed with your Diamond leaders for their lack of support in this situation.
Your blog has reached far and wide and will affect many that you will never meet and it’s great to raise awareness but I feel you have not given YL’s response the visibility that it also deserves.
Miles J - Holistic Essentials says
Hi Elizabeth,
The latest reply came late evening April 29th and it was not even emailed to me. It was sent to me by someone off the website that emailed it. It is certainly going to be addressed shortly and I will post it on the blog. I am not hiding it or ignoring it. I gave YL plenty of time to deal with this, more than others have in the past. They merely could have made a phone call to me (my number is in my member profile for them) and we could have had a discussion and worked through this. That did not happen. I cannot stand behind a company that has acted the horrendous way that Young Living has since this all occurred last month. I may have caused an uproar, but speaking out with the truth often does that.
Thanks for writing.
Regards,
Miles
Stanlee says
I appreciate truth and honesty, especially in health and healing. I’m curious to know how and why someone who loved YL Oils so much, ,was well versed in the Seed to Seal process, and benefitted from them for years, would not want to dig further. to be very sure that YL or Gary Young did NOT intentionally adulterate or overlook a possible error that humankind is err to. A TRUE believer would!
After reading Dr. Buch’s findings, I learned more info that I never heard before, about lab testing ‘libraries’. If a particular lab has a ‘library’ of particular constituent in the testing file , the accuracy will only go so far.. The same with another testing lab with their own ‘library’ . Thanks to DR. Buch’s response we all can see that testing is much more complicated than we, as lay people, know!
I know you were highly disappointed in whatever you discovered from certain labs that reported adulteration, and that you said you have a broken heart, i don’t see how someone who says they were so much a believer in Young Living for so many years, wouldn’t WANT to go further just to prove your beloved company did just what it always has, operating with the highest integrity, as you said you believed in for so long. I would not want a friend who said they have always truly believed in me, to go to 3 other people to find out something about me, find out they said something very negative, not bring the info to me or check it inside out, upside down, and through the middle and then send negative notices to the world about me.
Forgive me, but your BELIEF in YL was not strong enough for you to go that extra mile to find out where and why the inconsistency was showing up, and your ‘broken heart’ seems a bit faint. As we see by Dr Buch’s report, EO testing is a very complicated process leading to inconclusive results from the three labs reports, to which we see just might be incorrect. If it became evident that your labs might have been operating at a disadvantage, through no fault of yours, or theirs, I’ll be very curious what you will spread out to the media! I fwould never want a ‘friend’ who didn’t BELIEVE enough in me to stand by me, to run that extra mile to help me prove my integrity.
In essential oils production as in life, we find new ways to improve in our mission by monitoring, and adjusting. Gary & MaryYoung have tbeen roll models by being of service through health and wellness, building foundations for the disadvantaged and helping people Build a Dream. They have monitored and adjusted more times than you’ll ever know to protect their reputation, the reputation of pure unadulterated oils, and the reputation of Young Living and the whole Young Living family. YL received the AAA+ Better Business Bureau rating which Is an amazingly coveted award by all companies!
I hope your heart fiinds something to truly believe in that it will not break so easily! If your readers ever knew one- tenth of what physical, mental and social trials Gary and his family have been through to keep high standards, they would think it was a novel. He never once said IT BROKE MY HEART..when disappointment showed up, because HE BELIEVES!! He goes the extra mile or 1000 miles to prove what he believes in to be true. I also hope you find another essential oil company that fits you’re beliefs. Evidently Young Living is not for you. GOD BLESS!
MB says
I have a friend who sells YL and loves it. It’s done some amazing things for her and several friends. However, several people have said taking the oils internally is a bad idea. Not true. There’s actually been studies done on peppermint oil and the ways it helps with abdominal pain. My daughter has been dealing with tummy pain off and on for like 4 years. We saw a pediatric GI and after numerous test, an anti acid, and pain medication, she finally told us to do peppermint oil in pill form. My daughters been taking it for 2 months and it has taken her pain away almost completely. It’s no longer making her focus on her tummy issues and no longer keeping her up at night. So yes, be cautious but know that not all oils taken orally are bad. And peppermint has been proven by many studies to be amazing for tummy issues!
Megan says
Yes, peppermint definitely helps with tummy troubles, but eo’s are too concentrated to take internally more than the occasional recommended dose from a medical professional. Peppermint can be used as an herb/leaf in tea and have just as good results for your daughters tummy without the ramifications of using the essential oil.
Lori says
In general it’s not a good idea to ingest essential oils internally, pure or not, as they can irritate the intestinal mucous membranes. Of course, there are sources that say they are safe for internal use. Long term frequent use of an essential oil can also cause “sensitization”. Sensitization is different from irritation and toxicity. The problem with dermal sensitization is that once it occurs with a specific essential oil, the individual is most likely going to be sensitive to it for many years to come and perhaps for his/her lifetime. The individual may possibly never be able to have topical exposure to that essential oil or ones in the same family ever again.
It’s best to dilute EO’s 2%-5% in a carrier oil, & 1% for kids & elderly. Cinnamon (cinnamaldehyde) is one of the most allergen prevalent.
Dawn says
Totally agree with not ingesting oils. If your family needs cinnamon for a health reason just place a cinnamon stick in a saucepan with water and gently simmer for 5mins to make a tea. You can add more water if the taste is too strong or you can add a little black tea. You can also simmer in milk or soya milk.
D.horne says
I was instructed by a YL consultant to apply thieves ‘neet’ to a wound I had, after a few applications I observed pus filled bubbles around the area of the wound, my consultant said it was toxins being released, and I believed her and continued. Later realizing that she didn’t know what she was talking about. Two years later I still have issues with eo’s and I have narrowed it down to an ongoing sensitivity to cinnamon EO as a result.
Gil says
Thanks for sharing and pursuing the truth. Please let us know once more tests are done so that at least we know which brands are dependable because I still believe in the goodness of essential oils…
Kristina says
NEW Purity Update From YL:
Dear Young Living Members:
I want to take a moment to update you on our latest findings regarding Young Living’s Cinnamon Bark Oil.
On April 7, 2016, we issued a synopsis of our Cinnamon Bark Oil analytical testing. In that synopsis, I pointed out the fact that our highly trained team of analytical chemists found no evidence of synthetic adulteration in our product. These findings were corroborated by two highly respected independent laboratories. We stand by those findings.
Since I issued that report, our team has continued to look into this matter. In addition to continuing to analyze our oils, we have held meetings with some of the world’s leading experts on Carbon-14 analysis. These are the same experts who used this technology to identify the “shoe bomber” and identify the suspect behind the 2001 Anthrax scare. We’ve also secured samples of the raw cinnamon bark, distilled it in our own lab, and analyzed the oil so that we could compare the results to those of the cinnamon bark oil that is available to our members. We now have even more data to support our conclusions.
We promised to review an item from the ChemTech-Ford report, which identified a chromatographic peak as 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene (commonly called Durene). We have now been able to confirm that this peak is actually a cymene isomer, which is a common component of cinnamon bark, as well as other essential oils. Compounds such as this can be misidentified depending upon the library used.
Laboratories have “libraries” of data stored within their chromatographic computer systems. These libraries are often purchased from the instrument manufacturers and are then supplemented with data generated over years of testing in the particular lab. When a lab is relatively new, the library tends to contain only those compounds loaded by the manufacturer. Also, different libraries can be purchased or built up based upon the type of analyses the lab typically performs; so if a lab performs petrochemical analyses, the library will be loaded with lots of petrochemicals, and if a lab does environmental analyses, the library will be loaded with lots of chemicals that are significant for environmental testing.
When a GCMS test is run, the computer will analyze the output and attempt to match it with whatever is contained in the library. Thus, it is very important to use the appropriate libraries when interpreting data. It is even more important to have scientists with the training and experience to correctly interpret the data.
Because Young Living is one of the oldest and most experienced essential oil companies, we have the most extensive essential oil library, and this is of tremendous advantage in accurately identifying components of essential oils.
I would also like to address a report that was posted on Facebook regarding a Carbon-14 analysis of Young Living’s Cinnamon Bark Oil.
Carbon-14 testing, or radiocarbon testing, relies upon the fact that plants take in Carbon-14 from the atmosphere. As soon as a plant dies, it no longer takes in Carbon-14, so its Carbon-14 levels are “locked” at the time the tissue dies. The age of the tissue, or more appropriately it’s time of death, can be measured from Carbon-14 testing.
Modern atmospheric levels of Carbon-14 increased from 1955 to 1963 due to nuclear bomb testing. Since that time, the levels have been steadily decreasing. Modern methods of Carbon-14 testing utilize something called the Fraction Modern Carbon reporting method. This method reports the Carbon-14 level in a sample relative to the background level pre-1960, which is set at 1.
According to recognized experts in the field, the Carbon-14 report copied on Facebook is an unconventional reporting method and is more typically used for ancient samples, such as the Shroud of Turin, not something that was harvested recently. We are working to better understand this unconventional methodology. Carbon-14 readings from old bark (or dead bark) will differ from young bark readings.
We obtained samples of the actual cinnamon bark from which oil is distilled by our partner farms. We also obtained samples from around the world for comparative purposes. We distilled these oils in our lab and performed complete analyses on each. These analyses confirmed that our Young Living specifications for Cinnamomum verum are correct.
Thus, we are confident in our ability to test these oils and in our ability to uphold the Seed to Seal promise.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mike Buch
VP of R&D & Product Management
Lisa Graber says
Is this a joke? No one believes your attempt to save face here.
Alan K. Manning says
Where can you go to review copies of the test results Young Living performed on their cinnamon oil? Which independent laboratories tested their cinnamon oil and are their test results available for review?
Kim says
Read it
Stephanie says
Was this emailed to members? Certain ranks? Available on the member website?
Patricia says
Thank you for that information as I sit here holding my breath not wanting to believe the post I just read! I am a Young Living distributor but not full into sales at this time but would like to. I feel confident as I did before to stand by their products! Thanks again!
Lauren says
He specifically says in the article that he sent it to a lab that specializes in essential oils and natural remedies, therefore, their library would be extensive in the data it would contain. He’s just trying to make up some story that would be believable, so the media will back off and that people will overlook the fact that YL’s oils are not what they say they are.
Eve Serene says
This statement sounds like a “Those labs don’t really know what they are doing, they have the wrong information and are not as skilled as we are” is ad hominem fallacy.
They attack the findings of the labs, state how they are so much better qualified and say “trust us, we know what we are doing and they don’t.” They only attacked the credibility of any outside testing labs then stood themselves up as better, so we should all just listen to their own results done in their own labs.
If YL is interested in transparency then they will send their product to an independent lab that meets their own library criteria for independent study.
Reb65 says
Agreed Their “fi dings” were from their labs and their chemists and people YL pays. Of course they’re going to say any other lab’s results are inferior to their own. How does YL know what kind of library another lab has? Just trying to cover their money and their butts.
Angie. Moses says
We are confident we trust your ability in nothing anymore
Kala says
Where’s the proof, let’s see your test results! Why didn’t anyone bother replying to the individual above who wrote this article with all evidence until now??
Gwen says
And the truth shall set you free!
Phyllis Funk says
I should have checked my post as auto spell overrode what I typed. The product I use for vertigo is Valor and thieves helped my raspy voice
kelly says
If you test any doterra oils I would love to know the results
Heather says
I’ve seen result of doterra. Their peppermint had synthetics. I found the results online. Easy to find.
TJ says
Where did you find that? The facebook consumer group said it tested pure. (Not being snarky, would genuinely like a link, please.)
Beth says
I, for one, appreciate this insight. Thank you.
Deanna says
I am very sorry your trust in the EO industry has been shaken. There are still a few good companies out there–not mlm for sure. Many are run by people who have studied essential oils & aromatherapy in depth—those are the companies you go to.
Also, I don’t know if you’ve heard about googling Gary Young, the founder of YL. You will find some interesting criminal history on the internet about him. And secondly, if you see on YL website where he got his alleged Naturopathic Doctor degree, please do an independent google search of that school without using his name in the search. Multiple answers will pop up indicating all sorts of violations and that the school is nothing but a place where they issue fake certificates. It is hard to believe nobody in the YL world has acknowledged this. People go into YL (many are Christians, it seems–very good people) I have actually told a distributor to google the school where he got his alleged degree but they wouldn’t even bother, in fact I think I even provided the link for them. I’m sure they never clicked on it. Essential oils are powerful, must be respected and treated pretty much like medications. Only certified aromatherapists should really be recommending essential oils to people; unfortunately, 2 or 3 mlm companies have made essential oils so common that anyone thinks they can use them now. Don’t give up your love for EO’s!! They are beautiful and so useful and powerful. Educate yourself by taking aromatherapy training that would be recognized by NAHA or IFA. Take care, Deanna
Samuel Claiborne says
I applaud your work, but not your comment about Christians. It is remarkably bigoted to imply that being Christian makes one a good person, or more likely to be a good person. As a non-Christian, I find this quite insulting.
Kellie says
I couldn’t agree more with you! What a beautiful reply to this post. Some MLM companies treat essential oils like they’re candy, I’ve heard people say, “I douse them all over my body!” and “bathe in them”. It concerns me because I entered into a MLM company for the love of studying essential oils and quickly learned that ALL MLMs are designed for one goal….to make money. Period. In fact, I studied aromatherapy at the masters (graduate) level and I tried to host a class on the safety of of essential oil use. I was quickly dismissed by my upline, who said, “let’s leave that to the professionals.” speaking of the drs. who are on the medical board of this certain MLM. I was disgusted with the response and then reality hit me….it’s just about selling more oils and getting more and more people to enroll under you so you can make $$$. Essential oil MLMs are NOT about the safe use of essential oils – they’re a business all about making money.
anonomyssy says
In all fairness, everyone does their job to make money. Every company’s goal is to put food on their tables, pay their mortgages, clothe thier kids…MLM or not. Few work for free. I’ll bet you don’t. I can’t afford to either.
Gwen says
Dig deeper about Gary Young…lots of untrue storied out there
Christa says
Thank you for sharing your story. Please keep us all posted on follow up and further testing.
Jessa says
I see Kristina posted the updated info in a comment from the 30th. Good news!
Kate says
Thanks for Sharing this.. I stopped using YL last year when I had read other reviews like yours. I switched to Edens Garden and have been really pleased with them, but now I am wondering if they are the same
Sara Doppe says
Hello, thank you so much for sharing and your investment in truth. I use essential oils daily for my entire family and have a rewarding business around natural wellness. I am interested in testing the oils I use. How would I go about doing that? Thanks!
kelly ratliff says
Good for you!!!! The EO world needs more ethical people like you. Thanks for sharing your painful, but honest story.
Lori H says
I am a consultant for a healthy skin care company & we have some basic EO’s & herbal support blends. We do not support EO ingestion because it’s unnecessary. When applied topically with a healthy lotion or carrier oil, it only takes 26 seconds for the oils to absorb into your bloodstream. We view ingestion as extremely risky business. Think about it….undiluted EO’s are packaged in glass bottles because they are so strong they can melt plastic. If they can do that, imagine what they can do to our insides! Adding EO’s to water….. REALLY? I think we all learned at a pretty early age that oil & water don’t mix. Want lemon water? Buy a lemon & add a slice or two.
The thing we all need to remember about EO’s is that they aren’t regulated by FDA & that means they can say they’re pure even if they aren’t. Sad, right? Large companies=large overhead=false advertising to convince consumers their product is better. Do your research & protect yourselves! EO’s are amazing, but they need to be used with care!
Meridian Aromatics says
actually essential oils are used everyday in many products for internal use, peppermint oil for indigestion. The oils are in enteric coated capsules so dissolve in the powerful acids in our digestive system and the oil calms intestinal muscle spasms. A qualified aromatherapist(I am a Tisserand trained therapist), may not tell their clients to use oils internally. Only a qualified Medically trained Doctor who is also a trained Aromatherapist may do so. This is fairly commonplace in France and other European countries but we actually have none of these in the U.K. as far as I am aware. I am increasingly concerned by Essential oil companies using salespeople who have no qualifications in essential oils or anything medical . I have heard them at trade events tell people to take 2 or 3 drops of oil, several times a day, under their tongues with no dilution, just neat. I am horrified by this. Young living and Do Terra are 2 companies I have seen with my own eyes doing this, it needs to stop before they make someone really ill.
Amanda says
Right?! I am very worried myself. I mean, I see people recommending putting peppermint or oregano on their small children or even babies!!
Anne says
Well-stated Lori! Why risk it? In fact some studies show oils more effective, when used with a carrier oil.
ac says
Even if they ARE regulated by the FDA – what does that mean anymore?? I trust a reputable company any day of the week even if they were not “FDA APPROVED.” THe FDA is a laughing stock. I have purchased farm fresh meat/chicken and raw milk for years from local farmers who the FDA has never touched. I don’t need FDA approval to prove things are safe. I need reputable companies – preferably small, that have a good history of safety. Word of mouth is still meaningful in our large world.
Brelynn says
Young living vitality oils are NOT FDA approved for internal use. Their LABELS where approved to be marketed as supplements instead of cosmetics. Its a compliance issue, it has nothing to do with the “purity” of the damn oil.
Liz says
Thank you for sharing this important info with everyone. I must say that I’m not surprised, sadly, and I would venture to guess many essential oils on the market also test adulterated. I will be having some tested soon myself. As a side, I have never agreed with essential oil ingestion. Never! Essential oils from MLMs seem to promote that so much and I am just waiting to see which one loses it all one day for seriously harming someone.
Michelle says
Thank you for posting about your experience. YL was my first experience with essential oils as well, and I loved their products for a number of years. But some years back I requested a GC/MS report on a specific oil, and was told they “don’t supply that information”. As far as I’m concerned, that simply means they won’t stand behind the products they sell. It was a tough pill for me to swallow as well – I’d relied on their oils for years at that point. But believe me, there are excellent distributors out there, companies very willing to provide GC/MS reports. Just ask before you buy. Thanks again… and I will sign the petition!
Susie says
Who do you recommend as a reliable one? I’m so confused.
b says
If you are willing to spend the outrageous prices for YL, go to your local health food store and ask about local suppliers. I am lucky enough to have a lavender farm as a neighbor and other local oil makers that provide organic essential oils. There are reputable companies that you can get pure essential oils from at your local stores for much less than YL or doterra and no pyramid scheme!
Alex Singleton says
Hopefully those “local suppliers” aren’t spraying their crops with pesticides so that they can produce a higher yield! Regardless of the company, please know your facts before saying that MLM’s are pyramid schemes! Pyramid schemes are illegal and therefore would not be operating! Additionally doTERRA was named one of “America’s Best Employers” by Forbes magazine for a second consecutive year, “adding to its prestigious and extensive profile of accolades. According to Forbes, doTERRA is one of only two Utah-based companies to break the top 100, and one of only six Utah-based companies on the midsize employers list.” Hardly a pyramid scheme!
Akiko Fisher says
Sad and disturbing… Thank you so much for all the work you’ve done and for sharing in a “caring” manner. Your professionalism and presentation is so appreciated.
Jan says
I am a YL distributor and have used their oils for a year. I have begun to use other brands of oils because YL is simply too expensive to purchase long term and I found it hard to believe they are the only good company out there. Thanks so much for your post. I will be watching updates. Very sad.
Fayzer says
I am also looking forward to reading further testing results. I am battling advanced cancer and a friend has been trying to have me use YL eo’s. Thank you for your excellent research.
Christy says
My esophagus was damaged and required surgery to repair. This was a year after having a negative upper endoscopy. Only difference in my diet, exercise, and medications is I started putting YL Lemon oil in my water. When I brought this up, I was chastised. When I brought up valid questions of potential unethical behavior of Mr. Young in my YL support group I was chastised and advised that the group wasn’t going to deal with slander. I gave up on YL and stopped taking the oils internally.
Kelli says
The same thing happened to me! I was putting Jade Lemon and Peppermint in my water. And the more I drank the more my stomach hurt. I thought it was from stress. My ENT scoped my throat and said my esophagus and voice box were burned! And then I stopped using the oils internally and my voice came back and my stomach started feeling better. I’m waiting to have my egd next week to see if I have any permanent damage.
Joan says
Wow. This sucks. I was just getting into using EO’s and doing more natural product. This is not a good thing. I will no longer be buying YL products but will be on the look out for EO’s that share their authenticity info and will research more. Your case. Is very well stated with documentation to back it up. Keep sharing and hopefully this company will own up and legitimize their seed to seal claim.
Tammy says
Thank you for sharing. I’m continuing to follow anything that Dr Pappa’s or Dr Tisserand has a hand in. I so appreciate you putting this information out here for us, Miles. Truly brave. And just plainly the right thing to do.
Debra Hill says
Well I have been very disappointed. My husband and I have been on Ningxia Red for a year. We just found out he has diabetes. His blood sugar is high, even though he drinks 2 oz everyday. He has only had it for a few months, but he got it while on the Ningxia Red. It’s supposed to balance glucose and lower it.
We are considering discontinuing Essential Rewards and getting on Plexus Slim for diabetes.
I’m wondering if the starter kits have pure oils, because the oils were working on my symptoms of arthritis and fibromyalgia. Then after about 3-4 months, they stopped working for me. Maybe the replacements that you order are the adulterated ones. Oh boy, I took them at their word.
Chery says
Debra, have you looked into a health building program as opposed to one that just treats symptoms? There is much that can be done nutritionally to build health by using basic nutrients, minerals and macronutrients. Always research the brands before trusting your health to it!
Grace says
I am a nutritionist & when I looked at the ingredients in he Ningxia product I threw it straight into the bin. I’m sorry this has happened to you. They should be held accountable to their false claims.
Chris says
Please explain, curious about this.
Catherine Edmends says
diabetes can be controlled or eliminated by diet = green juices, plant based diet – it works
Kim says
Wow! I have used their oils for over 20 years.
I appreciate the work you have done for truth.
I am so lost for words….
Thank you for sharing.
Gretchen says
I just don’t know what to think about this. I spent a good year studying and thinking and reading about oils and whether to take the plunge. Comparing companies and finally settling on Young Living. It has been about 2 yrs since I first started using them. This blog post has definitely confused me and caused me some pause. I look forward to reading any updates on this matter you receive. I enjoy my oils. I have removed pretty much every cleaning chemical, medication (except occasional Advil when headache just wont stop with the oils), toothpaste, deodorant, etc. My kids use these oils daily also. They breathe them, diffuse them, ingest on occasion (like a drop of peppermint in water for nausea or a drop of citrus in their water), and roll them on themselves. I need to make sure they are 100% truly safe for them also. Thanks for writing this and doing the research. I hope to be able to follow you as you continue in this matter.
Linda says
Interesting, but did I overlook where you state that you contacted the FDA (regulates labeling ) or the Federal Trade Commission (regulates advertising claim)s, or the AHPA ( promote the responsible commerce of herbal products). The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA) states that companies are required by the FDA to include a list of ingredients. I know that the industry isn’t fully regulated, but there are strict labeling regulations. If your claim is in fact true that Young Living is using something other than the stated Cinnamon Bark, and the documents aren’t altered, I would think that you would contact the aforementioned agencies, and that they would be very interested in your claim.
Cr says
I think she is in Canada.
Cathy says
Yes, there is no great evil in being regulated and accountable for ingredients and claims. It just costs these companies some money, and as long as everyone blindly believes what they say, why spend the money? The big problem is, the consultant is the one their customer can sue, not the company. They don’t ever tell people that.
Christine Pack says
The FDA has issued a public warning about Young Living.
anonomyssy says
Not just YL, but doTerra and other companies too. But the FDA is about as crooked as the conflict of interest big wigs running the place, I trust them less. 🙁
Debbie says
The FDA sends out numerous letters to all kinds of companies if they “make a medical claim”, as with Diamond Walnut. This is not a big deal!!. Sales people cannot make a claim, even if it is true – or you are considered practicing medicine without a license – even if it is food.
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/03/07/fda-says-walnuts-are-drugs.aspx
Michelle says
I’m so sorry to hear about your discovery, but thank you for letting people know. I’m personally not comfortable taking EO’s internally because I’m pretty new to it all, and now I’m even more cautious. I’m interested to see how testing goes on other brands in the future.
I got started with EO’s when my mother-in-law recommended them when my kids were sick.
Lisa Owen says
I appreciate your professional, non-bashing yet informative post. I feel bad for you as I’m sure you feel very betrayed. I’m also sorry that anyone, from any company, has tried to recruit you in this instance.
Stacy Russell says
Thanks for writing this post with all your details and photos of your correspondence with YL. I am not a distributor although I do use the YL oils. I have used them internally because I was told they were pure. I’m thankful to have this information so I am more careful how I use the oils in the future. Stay strong! Fight for truth.
sandy says
I’ve been using EO’s since 1987. Back then, hard to.get and usually had to order outside of US. Couldn’t get some oils. What I hate is the surge of money making groups that have come out of the woodwork during the past 3 to 5 years. Stick to your guns. And realize that no one company is going to have all the best oils. I order from about 7 places regularly, and make my own blends. Last, when using MLM in any business, the companies always start cutting corners…even if they claim not to…and the larger the company becomes, the more they seem to cut corners? (MLM for 37 years, since I turned 17.) Good luck…
Deborah Danilow says
I have read all of this information and find it disturbing. I have used faithfully all Young Living oils sincer 2003. I, too, have visited the farms, seen the distilling process, the testing machines and come to know Gary and Mary Young. I have seen the ‘split’ and the rise of Doterra as an offshoot of Gary’s connections and knowledge. I have watched as mainstream commerce now includes EO’s in stores including HEB grocery and I understand how and why adulteration happens. I have always trusted YL because I know them and our history is deep.
Where I in your position, I would now take this to ‘the next level’. Forget about waiting on a response from anyone. Now take action to find at least three more unassociated dependable well known laboratories. Send a minimum of six different YL oils and blends direct from Young Living to all three labs. Once you have collected samples from three unaffiliated labs on all six products, and can compare those eighteen results and find consistency to the results you have collected from one lab, you might have a lot more valid presentation for Young Living.
I do not believe they adulterate their products purposefully. Do I think ‘an adulterated product’ could sneak into their distribution? Absolutely; anything can happen. But this is why people investigate and I really believe if they were to discover such, they would be appalled.
Now, prove me wrong. DO YOUR REAL WORK. Back up your results with more testing from different non-affiliated dependable labs in varied places in the world. Compare all of that. Post those results please. It is time to go deeper. If you find your accusations have real grounding or proof, it will be life changing for thousands of people all over the world. If that is your mission, so be it.
I look forward to seeing what you discover.
Many people have tried to ‘take down’ YL for many years but no one has ever found any substantiated proof of any adulteration or deceit.
I hope you are proven wrong but I sincerely encourage you to move forward to the next step. You really have no other choice if you are sincere about this.
You are never a victim unless you allow such.
Bless you and good luck.
Beck wares says
There have been four different labs that have tested yl oils. It costs $200 to 400 a test, so what miles and the essential oil consumer group has done is above and beyond the burden of proof of adulterated oils. How many more tests and labs will be needed to open people’s eyes that YL is not wanting to face the truth. YL has yet to provide a report that does not show adulterated oils.
anonomyssy says
Well, actually I work in criminal defense, and you’d think labs are pretty accurate, right? OH not so. Ever have a bad day at work? Misinterpret things? When a lab has a bad day, it can have very bad consequences.
You’d be shocked by the levels of contamination in lab results, most folks thing simple things like DNA analysis is cut and dry, and it isn’t the iron clad science the public has been made to believe…so knowing this…
If you haven’t asked the lab who did your test about the Carbon stuff that YL alleges and asked the lab about thier library, and done more than 1 test, you really are jumping the gun.
Sorry, I just have to attend seminars on lab results annually at criminal defense education, trainings, and a lot of that boils down to the person doing the tests, human error, etc. etc…and contamination.
After reading all these replys, what you are saying is intersting, and worth pursuing, but not iron clad enough for me to start pitching little brown bottles.
Brelynn says
and yet we’re suppose to believe everything that young living “says” about their tests…they dont even show them to the public or back up their claims at all. They just promised you that they passed and people are out here criticizing the independent labs for possibly screwing up the tests that they are presenting just because you dont want to believe its true…give me a break
Alex Singleton says
No actually, it’s YL responsibility to do these tests INDEPENTLY and put the results up for all to see not just say that they did it, not with their own lab or people! The burden of proof is on them NOT Miles!
Jackie says
http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=15eeb032645db017198d0931b&id=97addd555b&e=1c4ef13115
It’s hard to believe which side is right, but I wanted to share this in case you have not seen. Stay true to what you believe!
Miles J - Holistic Essentials says
Hi Jackie,
Thank you. Yes I have seen it and it is included in the blog article above as a PDF document. It is because of this response that these additional questions were raised and remain unanswered.
Thanks for visiting,
Miles
Sylvia says
Can you share what your additional questions are? Thanks!
Christine Pack says
Science is the most helpful for assessing truth claims in this area. I would look for scientific data procured from long range, placebo controlled human trials, not petri dish trials. Petri dish trials are limited and not considered valid science. After all, lots of things might kill cancer in a petri dish (turpentine, battery acid), but that doesn’t mean we should ingest those things based on petri dish trials alone.
Tara says
Thank you for sharing! Is there a particular brand of essential oils that you recommend using that is pure? I am quite sad. Theives is my favourite and go to oil ?
Miles J - Holistic Essentials says
Hi Tara,
I don’t have any recommendations for you, unfortunately. My trust in the EO industry is quite shaken at the moment, I’m not sure who to trust either. We are doing more testing of more brands and more oils soon, so hopefully those results will shed some light on where to go next.
Thanks for visiting,
Miles
le sze says
do keep the readers posted on results of other eo brands. it will be very useful.
Summer says
Excellent info. I’ve been using YL oils for a year, primarily via diffuser. My first course of action was looking into safety after I saw a Facebook post on an extreme reaction to EO usage. I found an awesome group on Facebook focused on SAFETY. They don’t promote one brand over another. It is run by a certified aromatherapist. I’ve started looking into some of the brands (there are a handful) that she purchases from. There isn’t a perfect EO company out there that I have found, but there are a lot of options to look at. Here is the FB group’s associated website, lots of free safety info (following Tisserand’s standards), recipes and reference info: http://www.usingeossafely.com/