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The Essential Oils Desk Reference, 4th Edition contains the most complete and up-to-date information on therapeutic-grade essential oils, aromatherapy and a whole-life approach to health and wellness — naturally.  The problem is: much of that information is presented in terms of products exclusive to Young Living.  For those who have chosen not to use Young Living products, sifting out that material can be challenging.

For you, the Essential Oils Integrative Medical Guide provides you with a great alternative to the Desk Reference.  Although it is lacking in some of the general holistic health information found in the Desk Reference, it gives you ready access to the best of the Desk Reference's information on essential oils and aromatherapy applications.

 

Note: Both the Desk Reference and the Essential Oils Integrative Medical Guide refer frequently to oils that are not available through dōTERRA^®, at this time.  They are available from Young Living or Creer Lab; but I really don't recommend these products.  If you are new to aromatherapy, this could be quite confusing, so I recommend that you opt for Modern Essentials, instead.  It is not as comprehensive as either the Desk Reference and the Essential Oils Integrative Medical Guide, but it is very good and easy to use, and deals only with the dōTERRA^® line of products.

What you will find in the Essential Oils Integrative Medical Guide

Section 1:

→ Chapter 1: Essential Oils: The Missing Link in Modern Medicine

This is identical to the information in the Desk Reference, except for the graphics and about 1½ pages on Gary Young's search for ancient essential oil traditions.

The Desk Referece has a much nicer visual presentation, and includes photos of some of the pioneers of modern aromatherapy; but the IMG has (rather poor) black & white photos of Gary in Egypt, Oman, Jordan and Pakistan.  Interesting, but not that helpful.

• Yesterday's Wisdom, Tomorrow's Destiny
• What is an Essential Oil?
• Different Schools of Application
• Mankind's First Medicine
• Early Histroy of Essential Oil Extraction
• Other Historical References
• Biblical and Ancient References to Essential Oils
• My Search for Ancient Essential Oil Traditions
• The Rediscovery

→ Chapter 2: How Do Essential Oils Work?

This chapter is identical to that in the Desk Reference, except the Desk Reference, 4th Edition has added one paragraph about Young Living's concern for adulterated oils.  They should be concerned.

A lot of emphasis is place on the AFNOR/ISO standards.  This is a Young Living myth.

The information on chemical sensitivites is fine; but a lot of the problems that people have with oils from Young Living, they don't have with dōTERRA^® oils.

• Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oils
• Science and Application
• Using European AFNOR/ISO Standards to Identify Therapeutic-Grade Oils
• Adulterated Oils and Their Dangers
• Fact or Fictions: Myths and Misinformation
• The Powerful Influence of Aromas on Both Mind and Body
• Chemical Sensitivities and Allergies

→ Chapter 3: The Chemistry of Essential Oils

This material is identical to that in the Desk Reference.  The only difference is that the Desk Reference has a much nicer visual presentation, and the IMG includes some (poor quality) black & white photos of Gary with different people in the aromatherapy world.

• Essential Oil Constituents
• Understanding Essential Oil Chemistry
• Basic Chemical Structure
• Chemotypes
• Gas Chromatograph (GC) Analysis

→ Chapter 4: How to Safely Use Essential Oils

This material is almost identical to that found in the Desk Reference.  The main difference is in visual presentation, but the Desk Reference, 4th Edition also includes a few more points on safe use guidelines.

• Guidelines for Safe Use
• Before You Start
• Topical Application
• Diffusing
• Other Uses

→ Chapter 5: Cleansing

A good part of this material is the same as that found in Section 7, Chapter 25 of the Desk Reference; however, the Desk Reference has a lot more updated material, with a lot more detail about doing different types of cleanses.  My feeling is that the Desk Reference is worth it, just for this chapter.

• The Risks of Internal Pollution
• Who Needs Cleansing?
• Understanding a Complete Cleansing
• When Should You Cleanse?
• The Stanley Burroughs Master Cleanse
• Cleansing and Emotions
• The Complete Cleanse

→ Chapter 6: Producing Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oils

This material is identical that that found in Chapter 5 of the Desk Reference.  The only difference is in the graphics and other elemets of visual presentation.

• Organic Herb Farming
• Distillation
• Steam Distillation
• Combining Traditional Steam Distillation with Modern Technology
• Essential Oil Production
• Different Forms of Oil Production
• A Summary of the Benefits of Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oils

Section II:

→ Chapter 7: Single Oils

The first two items in this chapter are the same as in the Desk Reference, with the exception that the Desk Reference has a note about the need to dilute essential oils not found in the IMG.  The Desk Reference then lists "over 80" single oils sold through Young Living or Creer Lab Aromatology; the IMG lists "over 90" oils.

In looking over the listings for the single oils, both references offer their unique advantages.  The Desk Reference has more information on some oils, less on others; however, the Desk Reference's single oil listings would be more up-to-date, since it was last updated about six years after publication of the IMG.

• How to be Sure Your Essential Oils are Therapeutic-Grade
• How to Maximize the Shelf Life of Your Essential Oils
• Single Oil Listings

→ Chapter 8: Hydrosols (Floral Waters)

This is unique to the IMG.

• How to Use
• Some Common Hydrosols and Their Effects

Section III:

→ Chapter 9: Oil Blends

The IMG includes recipes for 27 essential oil blends, including a general description of what each blend is for, a discussion of the therapeutic properties of each of the oils in the blend, safety date, applications and a list of companion oils.  In many ways, this is much like the oil blends section of the Desk Reference, except the IMG includes recipes, where the Desk Reference refers to proprietary blends from Young Living.  The Desk Reference also lists aromatic massage oils and base oils sold by Young Living.

Section IV:

→ Chapter 10: Vita Flex Technique

The presentation of Vita Flex and the nervous system connection points is the same in the IMG and Desk Reference, except that the Desk Reference has a much nicer visual presentation.

The presentation of RainDrop is not quite the same as in the Desk Reference.  RainDrop has been updated since the publication of the IMG, and the presentation has been significantly improved in the Desk Reference, 4th Edition.  However, you can get the fully-updated version of RainDrop in the RainDrop Technique booklet.

They Lymphatic Pump sections are the same in each reference, except that the Desk Reference has a nicer visual presentation.

The Auricular Aroma Technique sections are essentially identical in both references.

The section on Emotional Response is completely updated in the Desk Reference.  The discussion of the issues involved with emotions and how the oils impact them is completely different, and the applications of the oils in the Desk Reference are much more detailed.  The applications in the Desk Reference, however, depend on the use of Young Living's proprietary blends.

• Vita Flex Points
• Nervous System Connection Points

→ Chapter 11: RainDrop Technique

• Consistent with French Model
• Do Infections Cause Scoliosis and Sciatica?
• Powerful Infection-Fighters
• Introduction to the Technique
• The RainDrop Technique

→ Chapter 12: Lymphatic Pump

→ Chapter 13: Auricular Aroma Technique

• Emotional Ear Chart
• Physical Ear Chart

→ Chapter 14: Emotional Response with Essential Oils

• Oils for Emotional Application

It should also be noted that the Desk Reference has a lot of material not found in the IMG.  Between the section on oil blends and those on the Vita Flex and RainDrop Techniques, the Desk Reference has:

• a very interesting chapter on the NingXia wolfberry (could be a small book all by itself),
• a chapter on the Young Living line of dietary supplements which, although I don't recommend them, still contains some interesting information tucked among the product-specific details,
• a chapter on hormones that is a very good primer on the subject, as well as some Young Living products formulated to help balance hormones (better products are available elsewhere for far less),
• a chapter on water treatment, dealing with problems with most municiple water.
• chapters on Young Living's skin care, hair care, body care, shower gels, bar soaps and deodorants.  Although most of the material is product-specific, it does contain some interesting information on the benefits of individual ingredients.
• a chapter on oral health, with some very good information, followed by specific oral hygiene products.
• a chapter on Animal Care and Horses, with a good section on Veterinary Medicine, including a section on performing RainDrop on horses.

→ Chapter 15: Longevity and Essential Oils

This material is the same as that found in Chapter 28 of the Desk Reference, although the Desk Reference has a much nicer visual presentation.

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Following this section in the Desk Reference is a chapter on Enzyme Therapy.  It is very helpful information.

• What Causes Aging
• Essential Oils vs. Fatty Oils
• Preserving the Integrity of Fats In Vitro
• Pretecting Fats and Phospholipids in Animals
• Preserving Brain Function
• Clove Oil Affords Protection Against Cancer
• Potent Weapons Against Microbes
• Essential Oils: Treatments for Arthritis, Heart Disease, and More
• Longevity Nutrition
• The Hunza People — Limited Caloric Intake

Section V:

→ Chapter 16: Application Methods / Reference Guide

Until you get to the actual Reference Guide, this chapter is essentially the same in both reference. 

When you get the the Reference Guide, you will find many differences between these two references.  The Desk Reference is generally more up-to-date, but it also relies heavily on proprietary Young Living products.  The IMG also refers to oils not available through dōTERRA^®, at this time; so it looses some of its clear advantage over the Desk Reference.

For my own use, I still haven't worked out which of these references I find most helpful.  I guess that I go to the Desk Reference more often, but for more serious issues, I consult both.  However, since the release of Modern Essentials, I'm finding that I turn to it first, and consult the Desk Reference and IMG if I have any unanswered questions.

• How Essential Oils Work
• How to Mix Oils and Blends
• How to Choose an Essential Oil
• How to Use Essential Oils
• How to Use This Reference Guide
• Basic Application Methods
• Reference Guide

Comparison pages from the Desk Reference, Integrative Medical Guide and Modern Essentials

Compare the Integrative Medical Guide with the Desk Reference and Modern Essentials.  See a comparison here.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.