Gary Young was a pioneer in the field of essential oils and alternative medicine. He founded Young Living, a multi-level marketing company that sells essential oils and dietary supplements. He was also a controversial figure, who faced legal troubles and accusations of fraud and malpractice. How did he die and what legacy did he leave behind? Here is what you need to know.
Early Life and Education
Gary Young was born on July 11, 1949, in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He grew up in a poor ranching family, with no running water or electricity in their cabin home. He was the second oldest of six living children, one of whom died as an infant. He attended high school in Challis, Idaho, and graduated in 1967. He briefly worked for the US Forest Service and then moved to Canada with the intention of homesteading in British Columbia.
According to Young, he suffered a near-fatal logging accident at the age of 24, which left him paralyzed and wheelchair-bound. He claimed that he began to experiment with essential oils while rehabilitating, and that they helped him regain his mobility. He also said that he tried to kill himself three times during his recovery. However, these claims have been disputed by some of his family members and former associates.
Young had a limited formal education and no medical credentials. He enrolled in several unaccredited schools and programs, such as the Burroughs Vita-Flex Institute, the Donsbach Nutrition University, and the American Institute of Physiogenerology. He claimed to have earned a doctorate degree in naturopathy from Bernadean University, a mail-order diploma mill. He also spent a quarter-semester at Spokane Community College.
Career and Controversies
Young opened his first clinic in Spokane, Washington, in 1982. He offered unlicensed medical services, including childbirth, blood tests, and cancer treatments. He also claimed to be able to detect diseases by analyzing blood samples under a dark-field microscope, a technique that has no scientific validity. He was investigated by the Spokane Police Department and the state of Washington for practicing medicine without a license. He pleaded guilty to one charge and was fined $250.
Young moved to Mexico in 1986, where he continued to operate his clinic. He claimed to have cured hundreds of patients of various diseases, including cancer, lupus, and multiple sclerosis, using essential oils and other alternative therapies. He also claimed to have performed a successful natural birth in a whirlpool, where the baby remained underwater for an hour. However, none of these claims were verified by independent sources.
Young returned to the US in 1989 and founded Young Living, a company that produces and sells essential oils and dietary supplements. He also established several farms and distilleries around the world, where he grew and processed the plants used for his products. He claimed to have discovered ancient secrets and techniques for producing the purest and most potent essential oils. He also developed his own system of aromatherapy, called the Raindrop Technique, which involves applying essential oils along the spine and feet.
Young Living became one of the largest and most successful multi-level marketing companies in the world, with millions of distributors and customers. However, the company also faced several lawsuits and investigations from the government and other parties. Some of the allegations against Young Living include:
- Making false and misleading claims about the health benefits and safety of its products, such as curing Ebola, preventing cancer, and treating autism.
- Violating the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by marketing its products as drugs without approval from the FDA.
- Failing to comply with the environmental and safety regulations at its farms and distilleries, resulting in injuries, fires, and pollution.
- Using synthetic chemicals and adulterants in its products, contrary to its claims of purity and quality.
- Infringing on the trademarks and patents of other companies, such as doTERRA, a rival essential oil company founded by former Young Living executives.
Death and Legacy
Young died on May 12, 2018, in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the age of 68. His wife Mary announced that he had died due to complications from a series of strokes. However, his son Shawn stated that his father had died due to cancer. Young was survived by his wife, eight children, and 14 grandchildren.
Young was a visionary and a leader in the essential oil movement. He was passionate about his work and dedicated to his mission of bringing wellness and abundance to the world. He inspired and influenced millions of people with his products and teachings. He was also a philanthropist, who supported various humanitarian and environmental causes through his foundation.
Young was also a controversial and divisive figure, who faced criticism and opposition from the medical establishment, the government, and the public. He was accused of being a fraud, a charlatan, and a cult leader. He was involved in several legal battles and scandals. He was challenged and questioned by his own family and former associates.
Gary Young cause of death was a tragic end to a remarkable life. He left behind a legacy that is both admired and disputed. He was a pioneer and a provocateur, a healer and a hustler, a saint and a sinner. He was, in his own words, “a man of many faces”.
