Essential Oil Use
- Nov 6, 2017
- 4 min read
I felt there was a huge need to write this blog post for those who have fallen into the latest essential oil hype. While some information found on the Internet and obtained through peers may be considered factual information, there appears to be a misconception that because essential oils are natural, they are completely safe. This is not necessarily true. While natural ingredients are typically ideal over synthetic ingredients, how essential oils and which essential oils are used are important.
What are essential oils?
Essential oils are plant-based oils that have been acquired through distillation. There are many different essential oils you can purchase online that are just as good of quality as some of these other companies that charge two to three times more for less of an amount.
Please make sure the bottle and description say "essential oil." For example, there is Lavender essential oil and there is also Lavender oil. The difference is that Lavender is the concentrated oil that has been obtained through distillation while Lavender oil is commonly sold as an infusion. Many people do confuse the two as the same thing. There are different varieties of Lavender essential oil such as Lavender 40/42 and Hungarian Lavender. They will smell differently as well.
Many common essential oils are listed below:
Tea Tree
Lavender 40/42
Eucalyptus
Lemon Eucalyptus (This is from an actual plant named Lemon Eucalyptus. It is not Lemon essential oil combined with Eucalyptus essential oil. It smells similar to Citronella.)
Citronella
Orange
Lemon
Grapefruit
Peppermint (There is 1st distilled and 2nd distilled.)
Spearmint
Lemongrass
Tangerine
Patchouli
White Thyme
Cinnamon Leaf
There are many other essential oils not listed, but I just listed a few to give you an idea of some of the most popular essential oils that are out on the market.
Certain companies hire representatives to sell essential oils that customers buy in small amounts for astonishingly high prices. These companies also market and sell their own essential oil blends that they make claims that will help people with certain ailments.
Please take extra precaution when working with undiluted essential oils. I use essential oils in my soaps and skincare that have been diluted at 6 drops of essential oil to 1 oz. carrier oil. Some of these essential oils (peppermint, tea tree, spearmint, and eucalyptus to name a few) will melt or eat through some plastics at full strength which is why I usually work with stainless steel or glass when using essential oils.
Very little essential oil is actually needed. Many soap companies now have an essential oil calculator on their website to help you adequately and safely use the proper amount of essential oil in soaps and skincare.
Please also take extra precaution and DO NOT ingest essential oils unless you are under direct care of a licensed physician who has prescribed a correct dosage rate for ingesting essential oils. I can not believe the amount of representatives that are not licensed physicians that are telling people to ingest certain essential oils for supposed health benefits and there are a lot of people that blindly go along with it unquestioningly. For example, I have had many customers tell me that they were told to put grapefruit essential oil in their water to help with weight loss. If they're getting this advice from their doctor, then great. However, it is concerning that most of the time they are getting information from sales representatives of essential oil companies.
Some essential oils are ingestable, BUT at which amount is safe and how much can do harm? Some essential oils are used as flavorings and some are used as scents. It all depends on the essential oil and the product. For example, the NCPC mentions that although Sage essential oil is used commonly as a seasoning and scent, children who have ingested even a small amount have had seizures (retrieved from NCPC website).
Just knowing firsthand the effects of accidentally getting a couple of drops of undiluted essential oil on skin has caused redness and itching, I definitely would not recommend ingesting essential oils based solely on information from sales people who are not doctors.
Many of us have friends or family that are apart of these companies, and I am in no way knocking these people that are trying to make a living, but I am advising the ill advised to be extremely cautious of what you're being told and not seeking the council of licensed physicians.
You should also be very careful if you are pregnant or breastfeeding while using essential oils. Some seemingly safe essential oils such as Rosemary essential oil may have adverse side effects such as raising blood pressure or other side effects that you would not normally encounter if you were not pregnant. Basil essential oil is another essential oil for pregnant women to be cautious of as it has been noted to possibly contribute to abnormal cell formation.
Some of the noted safer essential oils for pregnancy include:
Peppermint
Lavender
Eucalyptus
Spearmint
(retrieved from Baby Centre).
Again, I strongly urge you to seek advice from your doctor or midwife concerning essential oil use during pregnancy and breastfeeding especially since what you use can affect your baby during these times.
If you are wondering about the concerns I have for the misinformation that has been put out there, please read for yourself from the links below. There is way too much information to delve into this one blog post about ALL of the problems with high end essential oil companies. For those looking to make money from home and to start your own business, please research the company before going into any agreements with selling products for these companies.
Certain companies have been warned by the FDA about the healing claims of their oils. While I am not saying that you can not heal naturally, I am saying that the FDA does not allow companies to market ingredients as treatments unless they have been properly reviewed and approved as a drug by the FDA. That is a federal regulation, and these companies have violated and are continuing to violate federal laws.
I will tell you that I am not a doctor, and that anyone wishing to use natural ingredients for treatment to seek advice of a licensed physician.
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