Nowadays, everyone seems to know that lavender essential oil is relaxing and tea tree essential oil is a great antiseptic. The essential oil industry is booming, with hundreds of companies all over the world offering everything from single-note oils to aromatic room sprays, scented candles, and body care products. But not all essential oils are created equal. To source the best products possible, Dr. Christoph Streicher, founder of Amrita Aromatherapy in Fairfield—one of the largest suppliers of organic essential oils in the world—works directly with growers all over the planet to find the best botanicals available.
“Here’s what most people don’t know about our industry,” Dr. Streicher says. “A lot of ‘100 percent pure’ essential oils on the market? They’re not actually pure.” He learned this the hard way after starting Amrita in 1989. “I was getting oils that smelled right but didn’t deliver the healing results my clients needed.”
So he decided to work directly with his sources, searching the globe to find the best organic and wildcrafted growers. He also decided to use the latest testing procedures to ensure a pure product. “I started traveling to remote farms. Building relationships with small family growers. Testing every single batch with gas chromatography.”
Dr. Streicher’s passion for essential oils extends over three decades. A renowned expert on essential oils for both healing and skin care, Dr. Streicher has a Master’s Degree in Biochemistry from the University of Würzburg, Germany, and a Ph.D. in Physiology from MIU, where he studied the relationship of plant life to human consciousness. Dr. Streicher was also mentored by renowned French aromatherapist and naturopath Jacques Paltz, who helped lay the foundations for ecological cosmetics, and has studied with a number of experts in Ayurveda. Dr. Streicher makes use of his expertise in biochemistry, human physiology, Ayurveda, and aromatherapy to create Amrita’s products, which are known throughout the industry for their purity.
Because aromatherapy has become big business, some unscrupulous producers use inferior plant matter or adulterated oils. In order to make more money, synthetic or natural compounds are added to essential oils to mimic various scents and increase product volume, meaning the final product may be labeled “rose oil” but may contain very little rose essence. Testing essential oil authenticity requires laboratory access. Detailed analysis methods are often time consuming and costly. “Most companies skip this expensive testing,” Dr. Streicher says. “We don’t.”
Amrita’s ecologically ethical oils are produced from plants grown without pesticides or artificial fertilizers. Essential oils are usually extracted through steam distillation of leaves, flowers, or bark, with the exception of citrus essences, which are usually obtained through mechanical cold pressing. All of Amrita’s 140 essential oils are tested for purity, using gas chromatography and other analytic techniques.
“Today, we are proud to be one of the most trusted sources of truly organic essential oils in America,” he says. “We work with ecologically minded farmers who use zero pesticides. Every oil we select maintains nature’s perfect balance of chemical constituents.” He explains that Amrita’s essential oils are “75 to 100 times more powerful than dried herbs,” adding, “Our customers tell us they can feel the difference immediately.”
According to Dr. Streicher, many people successfully use aromatherapy to treat insomnia, depression, and anxiety as well as headaches, decongestion, indigestion, and pain. Naturally antiseptic essential oils can also be used in cleaning products.
For serious conditions, including injuries and degenerative diseases, Dr. Streicher emphasizes the importance of working with certified aromatherapists. Since essential oils are extremely potent and concentrated compounds, they need to be used with care. Some essential oils are safe to use directly on the skin, while others are so concentrated that they need to be diluted with a carrier oil. Certified aromatherapists are trained in the uses, contraindications, and possible interactions of essential oils. In Europe, Dr. Streicher explains, clinical aromatherapy is more common, and it has been successfully used to help treat allergies as well as endocrinological, neurological, pulmonary, heart, and GI problems.
Amrita has a reputation as a reliable source for all forms of aromatherapy, from essential-oil-fortified face cream to natural bug repellent and therapeutic-grade essential oils. “Whether you’re dealing with stress, sleep issues, or just want nature’s purest healing support,” Dr. Streicher says, “you deserve oils that actually work. Because when you’re investing in your well-being, you should know exactly who you’re trusting.”
For more information, visit Amrita.net.