I’ve already posted in depth about some of the major problems with modern use of essential oils (in one of my most controversial posts to date), but essential oils do have many benefits, so I wanted to cover the positive side as well.
Benefits of Essential Oils
Though essential oils do have a dark side if used incorrectly, they have been safely used by many people to:
- Improve immunity and speed illness recovery
- Deal with infection (under the care of a professional)
- Balance hormones
- Make homemade cleaning or beauty products
- For diffusing and natural air cleansing
- Topically (when diluted)
- In recipes like homemade bug spray to avoid outdoor pests naturally
What Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are highly concentrated non-water soluble phytochemicals that are distilled from different parts of plants. They can be distilled from leaves, roots, flowers and other parts of plants and are very potent because of their concentration of phytochemicals.
Herbs and plants have been used for thousands of years and modern society has lost some of the wisdom of past generations and the ability to address illness with these natural solutions.
Essential oils have gained incredible popularity in recent years, but they are really an age-old remedy that have become popular again (though it is important to note that many modern essential oils are more concentrated than the oils used historically because of better distillation techniques).
More is not always better…
Essential oils are extremely potent and it is important to use as little as needed, not as much as possible. When a few drops of an oil used topically or aromatically will work, using more or consuming it internally is not only unnecessary, but may actually be harmful.
Another concern with modern essential oil use (especially the overconsumption that often accompanies regular internal use) is the long term sustainability of essential oils. Since a tremendous amount of plant material is needed to extract the oils, their long-term and widespread use could potentially create a negative, world-wide environmental effect.
Differences in Quality
The quality of essential oils on the market varies greatly. Essential oils can be quite expensive, but a high quality essential oil takes a large amount of plant material to produce and is highly concentrated. Many inexpensive essential oils are available commercially, but are altered with other oils or do not pass third party testing because of their inferior quality.
High quality oils should be produced without chemicals and come from organic plants that grow in their natural environment and growing region.
Safe Use of Essential Oils
Essential oils are very powerful plant compounds and should be used carefully and in the correct way. I’ve seen a lot of information promoting the regular internal use of essential oils and while there can absolutely be a place for this, I think it is important to be careful and check with a qualified professional when consuming them internally since they are so strong.
My two favorite ways to use essential oils are diffusing and topical use. The body can still utilize the beneficial parts of the oil and this is a much gentler (yet still effective) approach.
Topical Use
Essential oils contain tiny molecules that are much more easily absorbed into the body than other types of oils, so when an oil is used on the skin, the body rapidly obtains the benefit of the oil. This is why it is also important to follow safe usage guidelines, even for topical use.
I highly recommend diluting any oils that are used on skin with a safe carrier oil and consulting with a qualified aromatherapist or functional medicine doctor before using topically, especially on children.
Aromatic Use
Essential oils can also be diffused into the air. This process is known as aromatherapy and provides the benefits of the oils as they are inhaled. There is evidence that the oils are absorbed into the blood stream when inhaled.
Some research has shown that aromatic use is actually more effective that internal use, and it is certainly much safer.
I reviewed some of my favorite EO diffusers in this post.
My Favorite Essential Oils
I’ve written before about my favorite oils, but in summary, these are excellent ones to use for daily activities:
- Peppermint– We use it on feet for nausea or fever, in homemade cleaners and soaps, and in the diffuser. For congestion, I add a few drops of Peppermint and other oils to a pot of steaming water and breathe in the steam to help open the sinuses.
- Lavender– I use it in skin care recipes and as a calming oil when needed. It is naturally antibacterial and I often add it to homemade cleaners. I also add Lavender to bath water to help me relax at night.
- Lemon, Lime and Orange– These citrus essential oils are astringent and antiseptic and are thought to stimulate the immune system. They are uplifting and considered cleansing. We avoid these in the sun since they do make the skin more sensitive to sunlight. In some studies they are shown to have antimicrobial properties.
- Frankincense– I use topically on my thyroid and it seems to have helped shrink the nodules that were forming (along with dietary changes).
- Rosemary– I add a drop to my shampoo to increase hair growth and improve scalp health.
- Tea Tree/Melaleuca – I add this to natural cleaning products as it is naturally antibacterial and smells great when mixed with a citrus oil or lavender.
Saving Money Using Essential Oils?
One benefit of essential oil usage is that you can save money in other areas of the budget, such as using them in DIY beauty products and homemade cleaning products that no longer have to be purchased at retail from the store.
For instance:
- We make our own natural cleaning products with essential oils and inexpensive ingredients like baking soda and white vinegar to save money on cleaning products
- We use essential oils in place of candles and air fresheners
- We use essential oils to make homemade laundry detergent instead of store bought laundry products
- We use essential oils and other natural ingredients to make our own toothpaste, lotion, shampoo, and deodorant which frees up the budget for those items
Where I Get Essential Oils
I purchase essential oils from multiple companies and sources, depending on the blend and usage. There can be a substantial difference in quality between brands, so I always make sure the source is certified organic and available in various sizes (including bulk sizes at a discount) whenever possible. However, the vast majority of oils I use are purchased here.
Here’s how to organize and store your essetial oils and other natural remedies.
A Note of Caution
Wherever you buy essential oils, you should always ensure they are:
- Organic- as pesticides can be more concentrated in essential oils.
- Sourced from the native region for each plant
- Not altered or adulterated in any way
- List any precautions and contraindications (pregnancy, medications, etc) for each of their oils
Please also take a moment to read this article with important risks and cautions before using essential oils.
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Michelle Sands, ND. She is double board certified in Integrative Medicine and Naturopathic Medicine and is also a Board-Certified Holistic Nutritionist, and competitive endurance athlete. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
Do you use essential oils? What is your favorite blend of oil and how do you use it?
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Katie, I know this post is several months old but I am just reading it and trying to decide where to buy essential oils and wanting to navigate where to turn for the best essential oils for the price! I don’t want to just look at organic because I am worried about the process used for extracting the oil etc. (hopefully I worded that correctly) and from what I understand organic doesn’t mean much for essential oils when they are farmed overseas etc. I would encourage you to publish that post that you have notes on regarding the Essential oil companies and thos that you feel are great quality for a good price and not to worry about the comments people might make as I believe there are probably more of us who really want to get good quality oils but can’t afford to be a part of an MLM and honestly it makes me queasy but I don’t have the brain capacity to figure it all out with hasmimotos flaring and 2 special needs kids I am caring for currently! Are you able to turn off comments on a post so that you could post but not allow people to comment on that particular post to stop the possible hate comments?
The two companies that I normally order from are Plant Therapy and Eden’s Garden. I’m not a fan of the MLM companies, although some of their blends can be decent. There are other good ones too, but those two are my personal favorites…
Hi Katie,
I have been dabbling with EOs for a few months now and I was wondering about the buying organic guideline. I was looking at Plant Therapy’s website and the testing they perform to ensure purity seems very rigorous, and it did not say that was limited to the certified organic oils. I would also assume that just because something is not certified organic (a process that I imagine is very expensive to prove) that it means they use pesticides. I really don’t want to spend a lot more on certified organic oils when the regular are practically the same. Do you have any thoughts on this?
From my understanding, many essential oils are safe even if they aren’t organic as many don’t have a lot of pests that bother them. For instance, I’ve grown oregano, peppermint, lavender, etc and never had trouble with insects and never sprayed. It would be worth emailing plant therapy to ask how the non-organic oils are created and what chemicals those plants are exposed to but I’ve always considered them to be pretty safe either way. Not to mention that the majority of essential oils (including the big companies) are not certified organic.
I agree with this one, there are many health issues that essential oils can cure or prevent…
Katie!
I’ve been itching to see a comparison between the various essential oil companies out there. I know of a few people who have tried to pull this off with lab testing so they can see the purity/compound composition. Young Living and doTerra get all the credit for being “quality” oils as they’re certified for ingestion and such, but they’re MLM companies so I’m left wondering if there are oils that can be used just the same way and for a lower cost.
I’m sure you already have this topic heating up on the backburner, but I had to tell you that I’m itching to see what you have to say about all this. 🙂
Thanks for all your great posts and all their thorough research and considerations!
Thanks Ashley. I’ve written about the risks here: https://wellnessmama.com/26519/essential-oils-risks/ and I don’t think EOs should ever be used the way some companies suggest (ingesting regularly, etc) without the oversight of a doctor and only in specific cases. I’ve got some notes comparing companies and in my opinion there are definitely some better options than the main MLMs (and cheaper too) but I haven’t published the post yet because of the reaction I would expect it to get.
Oh, I can only IMAGINE the backlash that would erupt over such a topic. The community of people in MLM oil companies are like a religion, so any information that goes against the belief that said company is the best in the world is SURE to get a lot of heat. But it’s about making the best choice. For some people, it makes sense to join an MLM because their friends are involved or they have a large network that could join them in making a business. For other people, it makes more sense to buy quality oils as needed from an independent supplier.
I happen to be a writer. If you want to send any good resources or notes my way, I’d be more than happy to write about it and get it on a health site. I’ve been wanting to explore this topic for a LONG time. 🙂
Do you have any recommended books on Essential Oils? I have two small children and want to be careful.
How do we know the difference between Doterra and Mountain Rose Herbs? Doterra is much more expensive. Why?
Do Do-terra, Young Living , Plant Terapy and Mountain Rose Herbs’s sell similar qualities essential oils, or are there big difference between them?
Hi there,
I just made an order at Mountain Rose Herbs and realized the cost did add up to a lot. I had heard somewhere that many of these “organic” essential oils come from the same few distilleries, so when I saw the Now Foods Organic Lavender Oil 1 FL OZ being sold at Pure Formulas for 14.78 as opposed to the 18 dollars at MRH I just couldn’t help feeling anxious that I made the wrong decision. You mentioned that you do buy your essnetial oils from different sources. Would you please give us a few different options so we can always get to buy our essential oils at the best price and without the burden of a 19 dollar shipping tag? I greatly respect your opinion and would appreciate it so much,
Ps. Do you think the Now Foods Organic Lavender Oil is a good deal or is it really subpar in comparison to MRH?
PPs. I am so sorry! I recently posted a comment asking you what happened to your Peruvian Roasted Chicken recipe and I realized I had seen it at a completely different site. I will see if I can delete that comment.
PPs. I also ordered Evening Primrose Oil (from MRH) for acne and I was wondering if you could help me with correct dosage amount? I read 1,300 mg twice a day on wholehealthchicago.com but I don’t know how that translates to MRH 100% EPO which is not in capsules…
Your insight would seriously help me out. Thnx so much.
I order essential oils from MRH and sometimes plant therapy from Amazon if they are cheaper. On the EPO, I’d personally use half the amount of oil, but I’d also ask a doc first.
Do you mean 1,300 mg once a day? Would that be around a teaspoon or less?
(How do you translate from mg to drops or tsps of oil?)
Thnx for your help….
Much appreciated.
(Will look into Plant Therapy in future…thnx for that.)
I will never tire of Lavender oil! It’s simply wonderful 🙂
Hi Katie,
I have a question on Oregano essential oil. I have a 10 year old with a sensory disorder and he gets overwhelmed quite easily so lets just say that trying new things is “challenging”. He was diagnosed with leaky gut syndrome- which IMO has caused many of his “symptoms”. As a mom to young children, have you come across or do you know of anything else as beneficial as oil of oregano to try to help heal his gut? Right now he takes a daily probiotic and I use magnesium oil on him at bedtime. Also, he will drink kombucha but unfortunately due to his food texture issues, fermented foods are out of the question.
PS: he hates bananas too!
Thanks!
Deena
Bone broth! Bone broth bone broth bone broth bone… I think there’s an extra word in there somewhere. But seriously: bone broth. And if he is ok with savory things, kids tend to find it appealing. If you haven’t already done so, you could also try following the suggestions in this post: https://wellnessmama.com/17804/food-sensitivities-affect-behavior/. Eliminating these foods will help the gut and may also help you identify food sensitivities.
Bone broth is definitely doable! Glad to hear it can be that simple. Only other thing of note I would like to mention on EO is to use caution with any citrus based oil. When exposed to sun/ UV rays these citrus based oils are photosensitive, even when properly diluted you can receive some serious burns! I learned that the hard way unfortunately. Thanks for your timely reply Katie!