Risks and Dangers of Essential Oils

Essential oils are all the rage lately, and with good reason. They are, in a sense, a pharmaceutical grade natural remedy with incredible power. But with great power comes great responsibility, and there are many essential oil resources online giving worrisome blanket advice about their use.

Don’t get me wrong. I love oils and I use them daily. Most often, I use them diluted in natural beauty or natural cleaning recipes, but I also use them aromatically and therapeutically at times.

Because of the strength of essential oils, I am cautious of over-using them and want to make sure that my family always uses them safely. Here are some important things to know about essential oils (and of course, check with a certified herbalist, aromatherapist or doctor) before using them.

Essential Oils are Highly Concentrated

Did you know that it takes:

256 pounds of peppermint leaf to make one pound of peppermint essential oil
150 pounds or more of lavender flowers to make one pound of lavender essential oil
Thousands of pounds of roses to make 1 pound of rose essential oil

Essential Oils contain very concentrated properties of the herb or plant they are derived from. A very small amount of EOs often has the qualities of many cups of herbal tea from the same plant. For instance, one drop of peppermint essential oil is equivalent to 26-28 cups of peppermint tea. This isn’t to say essential oils should not be used, but they should be used carefully, with proper education and in safe amounts. If you wouldn’t ingest dozens of cups of an herbal tea, you should probably think twice before consuming the equivalent amount of essential oils.

Essential Oils on the Skin

I use essential oils in many of my beauty recipes like lotion bars and herbal face oil but in diluted amounts. The key word is “diluted.”

In most cases, essential oils should not be used undiluted on the skin. There are exceptions, of course, but most of the time, essential oils should only be used undiluted under the care and guidance of a trained medical or aromatherapy practitioner. Due to the small molecular size of essential oils, they can penetrate the skin easily and enter the bloodstream.

As a general rule, essential oils should be diluted in a carrier oil like coconut oil or almond oil in a 3-5% solution. On practical level this is 3-5 drops of essential oils per teaspoon of carrier oil (and much less if using on a baby or child).

Undiluted use on the skin can cause irritation or an allergic reaction in some people, and I’ve even read cases of someone getting a permanent sensitivity to a certain oil after using it undiluted on broken skin. Some oils, like lavender, rose and chamomile are typically considered safe for undiluted skin use, but I’d still personally dilute them (most of these are expensive oils and would be costly to use undiluted anyway).

I personally test any essential oil, diluted, on my arm before using on a larger part of my body. Some essential oils are considered ok to use undiluted on the skin if an individual isn’t sensitive to them, but again, always check with a qualified practitioner first.

From a personal perspective, I have first hand experience with the potential problems with undiluted skin exposure. I tried a new massage therapist in our small town since she had a special deal for “aromatherapy” massage. I assumed this meant that there would be essential oils in a diffuser during the massage. To my surprise, as the massage began I felt drops on my back. I realized a few seconds later that she was pouring essential oils on my back… a lot of them. I asked her what oils she was using and she assured me that they were safe, but I got a headache soon after.

In all, she probably poured 80+ drops of undiluted essential oils on my back. I had shivers and a headache for the rest of the day and a large red spot on my back (12 inches in diameter) that lasted several days. Certainly, I should have asked her to stop instead of just asking what the oils were, but what shocked me was that she did not ask if she could use essential oils on me, she did not ask if I was pregnant or had a health condition first and I found out after that she was not even a trained massage therapist or aromatherapist but that she had just “invented” the technique as a way to therapeutically use essential oils.

Again, I should have acted differently and probably asked to see her massage license first, but my experience with this amount of essential oils on the skin was not a positive one.

Bottom Line: Exercise caution and do your research before using essential oils on the skin, even undiluted.

Photosensitivity of Certain Oils

I always include a caution on my recipes that include citrus oils that they may make the skin more sensitive to the sun. These oils have certain constituents that can make the skin more sensitive to UV light and can lead to blistering, discoloration of the skin or burning more easily from minor sun exposure.

Though the risk of photosensitivity or phototoxicity varies based on the way the oil was distilled, oils generally considered photosensitive are: orange, lime, lemon, grapefruit, and bergamot.

Internal Use of Essential Oils

This will be a controversial point, but many essential oils are not safe for internal use and others should be used with extreme caution. Since essential oils are the equivalent of 10-50 cups of herbal tea (depending on the herb) or 20x the recommended dose of an herbal tincture of the same herb, they should only be taken internally in situations where they are absolutely needed and with extreme care (and under the guidance of a trained professional).

Here’s the thing- essential oils are extremely potent plant compounds that can have a very dramatic effect on the body. Many online sources tout their “antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal” properties. You know what is teeming with many types of bacteria? Your gut.

Research is emerging constantly about our extremely diverse gut microbiomes, but we do not fully understand them yet. We do know that gut health drastically affects other aspects of health and that imbalances in the gut can cause problems in the skin, brain and other parts of the body. The effects of essential oils on gut bacteria have not been well studied yet and the very real antibacterial properties of essential oils may kill many types of bacteria in the gut (including beneficial and necessary bacteria).

In fact, the studies conducted about the antibacterial properties of essential oils compare them to antibiotics and suggest that they may be an effective alternative to antibiotics (here’s one study).

Antibiotics can be life-saving and necessary in some cases (they saved my husband’s life several years ago) but they should not be used regularly, preventatively or without the oversight of a medical professional. If essential oils can act in the same way as antibiotics, we should exercise the same caution in using them internally.

In most cases, some of the same benefits of an essential oil (taken internally) can be obtained by using the herb itself (fresh or dried) or a tea or tincture of that herb.

Many essential oils are considered “GRAS” or Generally Recognized as Safe for food and cosmetic use. However, most essential oils have not been studied, especially in concentrated internal amounts. Things like vinegar, salt and baking soda also are given this status, but that doesn’t mean they should be consumed regularly or in large amounts. Always do your research first!

Essential Oils During Pregnancy or Nursing

Essential oils can affect hormones, gut bacteria and other aspects of health and extreme care should be used when taking them while pregnant or nursing.

There is evidence that essential oils can cross the placenta and get to the baby. The effects of essential oils can be compounded in utero and extreme care should be taken with essential oil use during pregnancy. Again, I’m not saying they should not be used during pregnancy, but that extreme care should be taken and research done first.

I personally would not take any essential oil internally during pregnancy (or even while nursing). At these times, I stick to aromatherapy and very diluted use of approved essential oils in skin care recipes and baths. I also always re-test an oil in a diluted skin test before using it during pregnancy.

Many oils are considered safe during pregnancy, especially after the first trimester (depending on the source), but again, I’d check with a professional and use caution with any herbs used during pregnancy. Even oils that are considered safe may be harmful to certain women and there is some speculation that the actions of some oils on hormones can cause dangerous hormone imbalances during pregnancy.

Oils Considered NOT Safe During Pregnancy

Aniseed, Angelica, Basil, Black pepper, Camphor, Cinnamon, Chamomile, Clary Sage (often used during labor by midwives safely), clove, fennel, fir, ginger, horseradish (should not be used by anyone), Jasmine, Juniper, Marjoram, Mustard, Mugwart (should not be used by anyone), Myrrh, Nutmeg, Oregano, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Wintergreen.

I would personally recommend checking with a doctor or midwife before taking an essential oils during pregnancy.

Peppermint essential oil may decrease milk supply while nursing, and as such, I avoid it topically while nursing.

Use on Babies and Children

This is one of the things that concerns me the most with a lot of the essential oil recommendations I see online. In my opinion, essential oils should never be given internally to children or used undiluted on the skin. They should be diluted more than they are for adult application and care should be taken with any essential oils considered “hot” as they may cause damage to the skin.

In general, oils like lavender, chamomile, orange, lemon and frankincense are considered safe for diluted use on children, but I would personally still do a skin test and check with a doctor first.

Some oils have caused seizures in children and extreme caution should be used (this article from a naturopathic pediatrician explains more and gives some case studies– since people have commented, I want to mention that I do think her post is overly alarmist but she makes some good points as well). To clarify- these seizure reactions were rare and most were in people who were predisposed to seizures, but this still isn’t a risk I would take with small children.

Others, like peppermint, rosemary, eucalyptus and wintergreen should not be used around young children or babies. These herbs contain menthol and 1,8-cineole. These compounds can slow breathing (or even stop it completely) in very young children or those with respiratory problems. Of course, they should never be used internally or undiluted on the skin for children, but these particular oils warrant caution even for aromatic use. I would not personally ever use these oils on or around babies for this reason.

This article from the University of Minnesota cautions about the use of peppermint and similar oils in children under six, because: “Menthol-one of the major chemicals in peppermint oil-has caused breathing to stop in young children, and has caused severe jaundice in babies with G6PD deficiency (a common genetic enzyme deficiency) (Price & Price, 1999).”

Since the effects of essential oils are more concentrated on children, it is prudent to exercise extra caution when using essential oils on them. Personally, I stick to using safe essential oils in a diffuser or in very diluted amounts in beauty and cleaning products.

Important note to add: pets can be just as vulnerable.

Essential Oils in Plastics

Another thing that is not often mentioned is that essential oils should never be stored in plastic containers, especially in concentrated forms. Many essential oils can eat through plastics when undiluted, and even when diluted, they can degrade plastics over time.

I make homemade cleaners with essential oils in glass bottles for this reason (even though they are very diluted) and store homemade beauty products in glass whenever possible.

This caution also extends to other surfaces in the house, which I found out the hard way. A bottle of wild orange oil was left on a piece of homemade furniture in our house and when I picked it up the next day, it had stuck to the piece, pulling off the finish and stain when I picked it up. Apparently, there was a little bit of the oil still on the bottom of the bottle (likely from my hand when pouring it). Be extremely careful about leaving any oils, especially citrus oils, on wood or other stained surfaces.

The Good News

Though there are a lot of warnings about safe use of essential oils, they are wonderful natural remedies when used correctly. I hope that this post doesn’t discourage anyone from using essential oils, but rather encourages proper research and safety first.

I use essential oils almost daily, but I make sure to research each oil and its proper use first. It can also be really helpful to find a trained aromatherapist, herbalist or naturopathic doctor to ask specific questions about essential oils. It is also important to make sure any essential oils you use are organic and very high quality.

Safe Ways to Use Essential Oils:

At the end of the day, essential oils can be a great and safe natural remedy, if used safely. The main ways I use essential oils are:

Aromatically– in a diffuser
Topically– Diluted in homemade lotion, toothpaste, lotion bars, body butter and other homemade recipes.

I reserve undiluted skin use and internal use for times of real need when the benefits outweigh the risk and I avoid using essential oils in this way on babies/children or when I am pregnant.

What essential oils do you use? Have you ever had any negative effects from their use?

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

498 responses to “Risks and Dangers of Essential Oils”

Ursula

January 15, 2015

Peppermint and Rosemary oils are used in store bought and homemade vapor rub, right? Would you recommend the homemade version to be used in toddlers? I have a 2 1/2 year old.

Reply
1. Tiffany
  
  January 16, 2015
  
  Ursula – I personally use dried leaves instead of essential oils for my vapor rub for my kids. Just 1/4 ounce each of peppermint and eucalyptus leaves added to coconut oil. Heat the oil on low on the stovetop and allow the leaves to infuse with the coconut oil. Strain the leaves and add beeswax (if using). Melt, stir and allow to cool.
  
  Reply
Rainah

January 15, 2015

Well said…… Thank you! Your voice has been one I’ve been following for a just little while now. I haven’t followed your advice significantly *yet*, because, first, I’ve been trying to get a grip on how carefully you do your research and how liberally you might comment before making well informed decisions. Today you have earned a great deal of respect from me as a voice of reason in a world of chaos. Each. and. every. comment. you. have. made. today. echoes the concerns of the most carefully researched voice I was able to glean from in my past. Her advice never failed our family, but of late, she has had to move back to the state in which she was born and her family’s and her own needs take priority over her outreach opportunities on a day to day basis. Therefore, I’ve needed to either find a new voice, or dig in and do similar research myself. — Methinks, with your help, I can do a good bit of both: following along and benefiting from your research, and doing more research of my own. — Thank you again!

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Lydia

January 15, 2015

Thank you for your informative and useful post!

I’d only like to add that essential oils are also unsafe to use on pets. We may like to smell like spices, herbs and flowers but Fluffy and Mittens have different biology, as well as super sensitive noses.

Reply
1. Sherry Swing
  
  March 18, 2015
  
  Thank you for including the pets. Cats, especially, are susceptible to toxicity with eo’s. I am horrified when I read or hear that we can use oils on our pets.
  
  Reply
Danielle B

January 15, 2015

Hi! Interesting article. I’m a 23 year old woman and I’ve been using essential oils for two years. I have always used them undiluted on the skin and have never had a negative reaction. Oils I use regularly are Lavender, Peppermint, Melaleuca and Wild Orange. Others I use but not as often are Oregano, Lemon, Frankincense, and various blends, all by DoTerra. I use their protective blend internally on a daily basis because I’m a student and I believe it has helped me greatly in not getting ill.

I guess I’m just wondering if maybe the quality of the oils used would make a difference? It sounds like the “massage therapist” you saw may have really not known what she was using, and perhaps they were not high quality essential oils?

If we do want to chat with a naturopathic doctor or some equivalent, do you know of anywhere online to do that? I live very remotely and there are no naturopaths around here at all.

Thanks!

Reply
1. Patricia
  
  January 15, 2015
  
  No, the quality of the essential oils does not mitigate the safety precautions. Essential oils are not safe to take internally unless under the guidance of a trained Professional or Clinical Aromatherapist. Also, a naturopath is not necessarily trained to use essential oils, and would certainly not be trained for internal use unless said naturopath had obtained aromatherapy training independent of naturopathy.
  Find a trained Professional Aromatherapist you can communicate with from a reputable association such as NAHA or AIA.
  
  Reply
  1. Sue
    
    January 15, 2015
    
    EXACTLY!! Robert Tisserand wrote on his Facebook Group last week: “There is no such thing as a “safe” brand of essential oils. Essential oil safety has really got nothing to do with the brand of oils you use. Most poor quality oils are not especially hazardous, they simply don’t do much of anything, and there is no single brand of oils that has a monopoly on quality. There are many brands with great quality oils! Safety is about constituents – the ones that are naturally there. “Not everyone reacts in the same way to essential oils, but safety guidelines are there to protect you. And remember – not every risk is apparent – you don’t know that hepatotoxicity or carcinogenicity or teratogenicity are happening when they are happening – unfortunately, there’s no warning sign.” NO WARNING SIGN…so ignore the posts which say “I’ve been doing it and I’m fine”…because just like no one knows which cigarette will be the one that starts the first cancer cell to grow…you will not know you have started to go into liver failure, until you are.
    
    Reply
    1. Patricia
      
      January 16, 2015
      
      I totally agree, Sue, that things can happen all of a sudden… I had the unfortunately experience of just that 3 days ago. I am a Clinical Aromatherapist with 15 years of private practice, over 1500 hours of training, including anatomy, physiology and pathology. I’ve trained with some of the best known essential oil experts we have in the world today, including Robert Tisserand whom you mentioned. And still… I took a bath with 6 drops of essential oils and forgot to emulsify them properly. Don’t get me wrong, I had the oils and the bath gel in the little cup, ready to go, I just didn’t mix them together! So, when I swished the oils and gel into the bath water, I didn’t notice the essential oils float to the top and sit there, waiting to burn me, but burn me they did! Whoa, not fun. It happens to the best of us, and all it takes is once.
      Essential oil safety is very important.
      
      Reply
      1. Kim
        
        January 29, 2015
        
        Hard to believe that 6 drops of oil would burn you…what oil was it?
      2. Whitney
        
        February 25, 2015
        
        Thank you so much for sharing this.
    2. Ronda
      
      March 23, 2015
      
      Yes, please tell us what kind of oil you used. What degree of a burn did you have? Did you go to the ER? How long did the burn last?
      
      Reply
2. Julie
  
  January 16, 2015
  
  Danielle ~ You might try googling “Trained, certified Aroma-therapist” and see what pops up for you. I’ve been watching and listening to Holly Draper, a certified aroma-therapist in Utah, who is an expert on EO’s. Someone who has studied and trained on the usage of oils and their affects in our bodies could better answer your questions/ concerns. I’ve read Oregano Oil can be beneficial with infections but should not be taken more than 10 days and that it also kills the GOOD bacteria in our guts so a good probiotic is necessary afterwards.
  
  Reply
  1. Danielle B
    
    January 16, 2015
    
    Thank you Julie. I appreciate that very much. I will do that.
    
    I probably should have mentioned I don’t take any of the oils internally except OnGuard. But I do use Oregano topically for warts when they happen.
    
    Reply
Brooke

January 15, 2015

Thank you for this post! I’m by no means an expert, maybe an expert research junkie. A lot of info and recipes containing essential oils worry me for other’s safety. I love EO’s, they are lil drops of miracles! But not enough studies have been done and as with all things, moderation is key. Better safe than sorry. Thanks for being caring enough to remind/educate.

I’m interested in taking a certified class in EO’s and/or herbs. Have you heard or know of a good online course to consider?

Reply
1. Sommer
  
  January 19, 2015
  
  Aromahead offers great classes!
  
  Reply
Marina

January 15, 2015

Hi Katie, what do you think about Slim and Sassy essential oil, from doTerra. Have you ever used it?

Reply
1. Whitney
  
  February 25, 2015
  
  Any oil that is suggested to add to water and drink daily is no bueno. There is absolutely no reason it is necessary to ingest such highly concentrated oils on a daily basis. Just no.
  
  Reply
April

January 15, 2015

very good article, I use essential,oils for everything. I make all my own skin care products and all the products for my small children. They have helped us out a lot. We have not need a prescription medicine or and over the counter med in over a year. Saved us lots of ,oney in times of need.

Reply
1. Colleen
  
  January 15, 2015
  
  I have a granddaughter (8 months old) that has baby eczema and I was wondering if you have ever made up something for that? I have tried coconut oil with lavender and coconut oil with roman camomile without success, anything you could recommend? thank you
  
  Reply
  1. Shauna
    
    January 16, 2015
    
    In my experience, eczema is caused as much internally as externally. If you can, it might be a good idea to talk to her mom about their diet, as it may be something they’re eating that’s causing it. I personally had some that didn’t heal at all, even with the help of prescription corticosteroid cream, until I completely eliminated grains from my diet. Once I did that, it healed on its own, without the need for the cream.
    
    Other than that, Katie does have an eczema lotion recipe on here. Just type in eczema in the search box and it should pull up at least one, if not more, that you can try.
    
    Reply
    1. Colleen
      
      January 19, 2015
      
      Thank you for your reply, she is on formula and my daughter has tried every kind out there including goats milk with no luck. I will look for the lotion recipe for her.
      
      Reply
      1. Kim
        
        March 11, 2015
        
        My 2.5 year old granddaughter has eczema due to a corn allergy. This took my daughter quite a long time to figure out what was causing her problem, because corn is in everything. Now for a year and a half we have kept milk goats so that she has milk from animals who are not fed any corn (they get oats for their grain). All types of formula, even supposed non allergenic ones, gave her eczema. Most dairy animals are given corn in their grain and corn allergic people can’t eat it.
        
        Your daughter might try connecting with the facebook corn board for more information. I don’t have the link, but she can probably find it by searching. I know that this isn’t about EO’s but I feel I must post this information anyway.
  2. Abigail
    
    January 18, 2015
    
    My grandson was born w/ eczema. There are several things we have done/used to help: 1- use soap as infrequently as possible when you bath her and be mindful what soap you are using when you do. 2- Avon Moisture Therapy lotion– the original white bottle w/ blue writing. 3- Bag Balm. It comes in a green metal square can; I find it at CVS Drug Store for app $10; or try amazon. It is very thick, and so rub your hands together to warm it, and then apply and massage it into her skin. Apply as many coats as her skin absorbs. Do it as many times a day as necessary. You can also use Avon Moisture Therapy with it, if ned. 4- keep cotton next to her body; NEVER let her wear or use acrylic clothes, sweaters, shirts, sleepers, or pjs w/ any acrylic. 50/50 cotton/polyester is acceptable but not optimal.
    
    Reply
    1. Colleen
      
      January 19, 2015
      
      Thank you for your reply. We have tried the Avon Moisture Therapy lotion with no luck, but I will look at CVS or amazon for the Bag Balm so she can try that. She already has her in a cotton oneis under whatever she is wearing about 90% of the time. Again thank you for the help.
      
      Reply
      1. Lois
        
        January 26, 2015
        
        Try Dr. Bonners soap for babies, I use unscented for myself and i have psoriasis and it is comforting for me. There is a lot out there for eczema but these help me.
    2. Sarah
      
      January 7, 2016
      
      There’s an app called think dirty where it reviews product ingredients for harmful chemicals. You should check it out 🙂 Please search your Avon cream in it before you use it again.
      
      Reply
      1. Tracie
        
        March 18, 2016
        
        Ewg.org! Look up the Avon cream!
  3. KaliMom
    
    January 23, 2015
    
    Colleen. I saw your comment and had to reply, as I have a daughter of my own who suffered from really bad eczema. We tried eliminating so many things to find the cause of this. After a long time and things getting so bad we had to turn to a mild hydrocortisone we finally figured out she is badly allergic to eggs! After doing more research I saw that there are indeed quite a few studies that shows how this is often related to food allergies. Her skin is still quite sensitive and she will also get a terrible red and itchy rash if tomato, for instance, is exposed to her bare skin. (because of the high acid content). Eating tomatoes doesn’t seem to give her any reactions though, only skin contact (we wash her face and exposed areas quickly), citrus fruits on the other hand seem to give her a really bad diaper rash. Her skin is definitely sensitive in itself, but it was the eggs that caused the most trouble, even if I had tiny bits of it while nursing… and, it always lasts a long time, so while figuring out what is causing it keep that in mind, it takes my little ones skin probably a month to really clear up from an outbreak. And the major causes are usually gluten, milk and eggs, if I remember correctly. But do some searching and you will find quite a few scientific articles about food allergies related to eczema in children. Keeping the skin hydrated is good and important before you can cure it with the cause, I know it offered a lot of relief for my daughter when her skin turned dry and itchy! Hope you figure things out soon!
    
    Reply
  4. Stacie
    
    January 26, 2015
    
    Try babo botanicals. Works AWESOME for soothing sensitive skin. It’s organic. It’s a little spendier than other soaps and lotions but has done wonders for my son. He is now 2 1/2 years old and we still use it.
    
    Reply
  5. Dana
    
    May 14, 2015
    
    My son had terrible eczema (the scratching and bleeding was terrible). I did take him to an allergist when he was almost two. The problems started at about one when he stopped nursing and was just on cow’s milk. He is allergic to cow’s milk and taking him off of all dairy helped a lot (along with the cream the doctor recommended). That being said… the best thing for him has been fish oil. We can forget the probiotics for a while and things will still be okay but if we miss the fish oil for a week he starts breaking out again even when he has had no dairy and continued using the cream. He just turned seven yesterday and as of now still has his allergy (and others) but we manage and still believe for God to heal him one day. The fish oil we use is Nordic Naturals. I am sure there are other good brands and maybe some better. Those are the ones we use/can afford and that work. The LDL blend (and a few other herbs) have also done wonders for my cholesterol. My doctor was quite surprised. I say that because I see results with this brand. Hope that helps.
    
    Reply
  6. Rachel
    
    November 20, 2018
    
    From what I understand babies do not need soap or any other kind of product on their skin, water is perfectly adequate! I only bathed my babies once a week, letting their skin and hair self regulate. A warm cloth was perfectly adequate at other times. Now that they are older (5 and 7) I have started using a shampoo bar on their hair once a month. But they still only bathe weekly, and I use an organic olive oil as a moisturiser after the bath. And no, they don’t smell, and their hair and skin are beautiful. As a lifelong sufferer of skin senstivity and exzema I was determined to look after my kids skin. I myself only bath 1-2 times a week and only use gentle bar soap on those necessary areas! Again, I always follow up with the olive oil within 5 minutes of drying my skin.
    
    I would also be paying close attention to clothing as well, fine cotton is really the best. Wool and Merino are the worst. Put the material against your cheek and if it feels scratchy then don’t use it.
    
    Lastly, as mentioned diet is a huge factor. Skin problems are very closely linked to gut bacteria health and (I am not going to start a breatfeeding/formula war) unfortunately baby formulas aren’t always known for benefitting gut health. It could be an allergy, but again, many allergies are getting linked back to gut health to start with. Corn fed dairy is bad, bad, bad. Grass fed 100%, and preferably organic if you can. I’m not sure what’s available in your country, but here there is a big range of organic products for comparable prices – so why wouldn’t you invest in quality?
    
    Anyway, that’s my two cents worth, feel free to disagree 🙂
    
    Reply
Sarai

January 15, 2015

Hi! I use doTerra oils. I have a few friends who use different brands, (much cheaper, too,). So I’m wondering if you know any specific things to look for when selecting oils or about different brands? Thanks!

Reply
1. Chanda
  
  February 7, 2015
  
  I sincerely hope you get the right information about Essential Oils before you share it with your audience.
  1) Only EO without chemicals and fillers are therapeutic grade.
  2) Only one company can legally claim TPG
  3) Only TPG can be taken internally
  4) Application of EO that are not TPG are dangerous to apply due to the chemicals and fillers in them
  5) The entire chemical make up changes if you dilute ES with anything other than fractionated coconut oil made just for that
  
  I teach on EO and have a free PDF if you would like it.
  
  There is much misunderstanding about EO.
  
  Reply
  1. Katie – Wellness Mama
    
    February 9, 2015
    
    I agree that there is a lot of misinformation about EOs, but from my research, the “therapeutic grade” label is a source of misunderstanding not an answer to it. I’ve been unable to find any kind of “therapeutic grade” labeling that was from a third party, independent and unbiased source that was not financially connected in any way to the product. If you have documentation of this, I’d love to see it, because every time I follow the labeling, it always traces back to an EO company. Also, just having a label of “TPG” does not make oils safe for internal consumption…
    
    Reply
    1. Sherry Swing
      
      March 19, 2015
      
      I have had this discussion often lately. This blogger did an excellent job as well. Perhaps this can add to the discussion.
      https://gisellebaumet.com/blogs/granola-living/why-i-don-t-use-doterra-young-living-or-other-multi-marketing-brands-of-essential-oils
      
      Reply
    2. tammy
      
      April 18, 2015
      
      Do you know anything about these oils made in France? https://www.florihana.com/en/
      You can order them from their distillery in France or through this website https://wellnessmama.com/go/tropical-traditions/
      Everything I have found about them points to Pure oils.
      
      Thank you
      
      Reply
      1. Julie
        
        January 6, 2016
        
        LOVE my Florihana oils from France and I discovered them while on the Tropical Traditions website that Katie referred to in another posting. The prices are amazing, and their Organic and other certifications for EO’s are on every bottle.
    3. Zack
      
      May 24, 2015
      
      Hello Katie and thank you for writing this post. I have a question because recently I’ve been using essential oils to help congestion. Specifically peppermint and melaleuca oils. I fill a cup full of water, heat it up hot in the microwave, drop a couple drops in and breath it. It really helps with congestion but sometimes if I breath too hard I feel a pain way back in the back of my head. Like in my brain (I’m assuming). It’s really strong stuff.
      
      So my question for you is, should I not be breathing it like this? What is your suggestion? I look forward to your reply.
      
      Reply
      1. Wellness Mama
        
        May 26, 2015
        
        In a case like yours, I would talk to a functional medicine doctor. They can give you a better idea of what could be harmful and what possible alternatives could be 🙂
  2. Whitney
    
    February 25, 2015
    
    TPG is nothing more than a trademarked phrase. It literally means nothing except the company came up with the term and decided it sounded official so they registered it and said no one else can use it. The reason these companies can claim ingestion is safe is because they paid for the FDA approval, there are MANY other brands of EOs that are just as pure and safe (though one should NEVER ingest oil without the guidance of a QUALIFIED professional), but they are able to keep their cost (and the cost of their oils) down by not labeling for ingestion. The fact of the matter is, there are a LOT of 100% pure essential oils that are just as good as any of the MLM brands. It’s all about the marketing….
    
    Reply
    1. Donna
      
      March 17, 2015
      
      Paid for FDA approval?? lol… I’m sorry, but what on earth gives you that impression?
      
      Reply
      1. Joseph
        
        February 2, 2016
        
        The FDA is funded in large part from the fees it collects directly from companies seeking the “FDA Approved” stamp on their product. Whether it’s a prescription or over-the-counter drug, food additive, dietary supplement, or cosmetic drug is of almost no consequence. It is claims anything other than a greater appearance of beauty or maintained natural healthy state, it is considered to be making drug claims and will be regulated as such.
        Using aromatherapy to relieve a headache is “a smell curing a state of pain or discomfort.”
        
        A lotion relieving a persistent itch or skin condition is “a topical ointment curing a medical skin disorder.” Both of these situations are legally considered by the FDA to be a drug designed to “treat, diagnose, prevent, or cure” a medical condition (nearly all of which now fall under the label of “disease”). An upset stomach now falls under “Acute Irritable Bowel Syndrome,” a new-age disease which requires a drug to have a legal impact.
        
        Most all EO items used and marketed for anything but general household cleaning and presentation will fall into one of those two categories — depending upon whether topical (cosmetic drug) or internal (dietary) use is intended.
        
        See the following official Gov’t pages for verification of this information:
        Official Fee Schedule –> https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/08/03/2015-18914/prescription-drug-user-fee-rates-for-fiscal-year-2016
        Personal Care Products –> https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/transparency
        Cosmetic, Drug, or Both –> https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-laws-regulations/it-cosmetic-drug-or-both-or-it-soap
        OTC Drugs –> http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/Transparency/Basics/ucm194951.htm
        
        Take note that according to FDA Policy, OTC drugs follow the same path to approval as prescription drugs, just using a special product profile and waiver system to avoid the Rx requirement. As such, their fees are normally the same.
        
        Now, the fact that fees for approval come directly from the company intending to profit from the drug is a major problem with the US Pharmaceutical industry right now, in that they can all but directly bribe their way into the market, collect billions form sales, be discovered as highly dangerous and often lethal, and only have to pay out $15-20 million in lawsuits. The FDA cannot refuse everybody or they’d never make ANY money, so they let things through that more often than not should be denied.
        
        At this point, the FDA is just another corporation trying to control an industry that has essentially regulated itself due to the financial power it possesses. The pharmaceutical firms can afford to payout any settlements they receive because upon getting the FDA to approve their drug, getting a 3-yr patent protection on their product is guaranteed. They now have a cornered and captive market to which they directly advertise (legally), doctors writing prescriptions for their drug who receive ‘bonuses’ for doing so (without legally violating any fiduciary responsibilities they have as a paid medical advisor), and a legal system getting a piece of the pie when the inevitable settlement against the drug occurs (which keeps them from wanting to stop the cycle before-hand).
        
        So if a company doesn’t intend to participate in this exact system doing the same things the others are doing (it’s the only way to compete after paying so much to get the approval), there is no reason to become part of the game. But once you enter it, you are in this cycle…. whether you wish to be or not.
  3. Kristi
    
    August 22, 2015
    
    Hello could you please send me the PDFs or info you can offer me. I’m very new to oils
    
    Reply
  4. Ishah Hesed
    
    May 18, 2016
    
    “I sincerely hope you get the right information about Essential Oils before you share it with your audience.” —AGREE. you should apply this yourself.
    
    “1) Only EO without chemicals and fillers are therapeutic grade.” – you can take out the word “grade”
    “2) Only one company can legally claim TPG” – sure, if they trademarked it. but if you are saying that only one company sells therapeutic EOs, then you might be very badly brainwashed.
    “3) Only TPG can be taken internally” – no EOs should be taken internally without the guidance of a trained health professional
    “4) Application of EO that are not TPG are dangerous to apply due to the chemicals and fillers in them” – some companies who claim to have therapeutic EOs have been failed 3rd party testing. trademarks are not a guarantee of purity.
    “5) The entire chemical make up changes if you dilute ES with anything other than fractionated coconut oil made just for that” – FCO made just for one company’s EO????? sounds like a line to keep you from buying carrier oils from anybody else XD
    
    I suggest you study EOs thoroughly – apart from a network marketing company – before you try to teach others. EO networkers have propagated so many lies that endanger people’s health such as ingestion of EOs, etc.
    
    Reply
Nichole

January 15, 2015

I recently made an arthritis cream for a friend. It contained PanAway, peppermint, valor, and lavender diluted in coconut and Shea butter. Do you know, if someone has a liver disease (non alcoholic cirrhosis), is topical use harmful?

Reply
1. Donna
  
  February 5, 2015
  
  Nichole, in my experience and according to the EDOR’s, that blend should be just fine. All of those should help her pain and I am not aware of any reason why any of those oils would damage the liver. You did good! 😉
  
  Reply
2. Sara
  
  March 30, 2015
  
  Hi Nichole, I’ve done some research on this, PanAway contains Wintergreen oil which is naturally high in Methyl Salicylate, which is metabolised into salicylates in the body, which is the same as the active ingredient in Asprin and NSAIDS. Salicylates are metabolised in the liver. So she would probably need to take the same precautions that she takes with the synthetic form ie. NSAIDS and avoid continued use.
  
  Reply
Danuta

January 14, 2015

Your post is simply fantastic, will share it so maybe some people start to think. Thank you so much for it:)

Reply
Ashley

January 14, 2015

I use tea tree almost ( small amounts ) daily undiluted as it zaps zits and heal cuts like incredibly. I use thieves oil in my cleaners and diffuse when people around me are sick. Diffuse lemongrass a lot mmmmm smells so good. Just inhale clary sage for anxiety or if I can’t sleep. Occasionally use lavender in the bath. Absolutely love my oils. My mom went to school for them so I do have guidance.

Reply
Casey

January 14, 2015

when you say it’s important to research oils before using them, what sources do you recommend? anytime I’ve done research online I’ve found hundreds/thousands of resources all with a different opinion/explanation for safe use. my midwife had me take oregano + tea tree oil in capsules internally when I was 38+ weeks pregnant for a possible yeast infection, and I went into labor the next morning. I’ve always wondered if I went into labor early because I took those or if they negatively affected my daughter (she’s had lots of issues, mostly with sleep + temperament). based on your research, do you think that could have done damage to my baby?

Reply
1. Melody Watts
  
  January 15, 2015
  
  http://www.aromaticscience.com is very well researched as well as pubmed.gov
  
  Reply
2. Nina
  
  January 17, 2015
  
  I do not know the answer to your question. However, you brought something to mind. Alcohol is another substance that crosses the placenta barrier and it is considered a teratogen (poison, harmful) to the fetus. Current research knows of no safe amount of alcohol to consume during pregnancy. Early birth, sleep and temperament issues are all possible outcomes of being exposed to alcohol while in the womb. The exact impact varies from person to person based on their genetics, mom’s genetics, when in pregnancy it was consumed and the amount (that is, more exposure would have the most obvious impact, but there can be subtle examples of alcohol’s interruption to in-utero brain and body development as well.) I write this comment with the mindset that knowledge is power, and perhaps it will help you or someone reading this. More info is available at http://www.nofas.org
  
  Reply
  1. Robin McGregor
    
    December 11, 2015
    
    Thank you so much for your help. My adopted son has FASD from his birth mother drinking while pregnant. I bought the doTerra EO to help him with his aggression, hyperactivity and other issues. I was convinced after attending a EO party (which I was actually told it was for something else). But after doing my own research and reading a lot of articles, including yours, I do not wish to risk my son or my families health. And I certainly don’t feel that Gary Young or many others deserve my money or my confidence! Also thank you for bringing attention to FASD and the dangers of drinking while pregnant. As someone who lives with the effects from it on a daily basis, I can assure you that no amount of alcohol is safe for a baby in the womb! No child or family should have to live with the preventable and permanent effects of alcohol exposure. Again, thank you so much! Robin McGregor, mother of 5 and FASD awareness advocate.
    
    Reply
  2. Sandy
    
    July 2, 2023
    
    No Casey that would not have made you go into labor early. You know you can also use oregano on the back of your neck or the inner parts of your wrist and it is like a natural antibiotic. My grandmother used it and never went to a doctor so that tells me a lot about the oregano oil. As far the tea tree oil for me I do not like the smell of it so I tend to stay away from that. For me I have got off about 10 medications because of using a lot of the essential oils. I love you the oils for pain for upset stomach or anything else because I do not want to use medication. These are all natural & I just search what each one is used for especially since I cannot handle campher, the stuff in Icy Hot or Ben Gay that makes me nauseous, and I have fibromyalgia so that makes me very susceptible to different scents that I can not handle. And don’t get me started on perfumes that’s why I think I like the essential oils because I can get the smells and the scents that I want and use them with my coconut oil, almond oil or in my lotions which makes it really nice. You control the amount of the oil you add to these products. Good luck and prayers go out to you & your baby ???
    
    Reply
3. Angelica
  
  October 23, 2019
  
  I’m really trying hard to find any science backing up whether there’s a difference in phototoxicity between topically using grapefruit essential oil diluted, or topically using a grapefruit peel tincture. I cannot find anything remotely close and I’m really hoping you might be able to steer me in the right direction!
  
  Reply
Heather

January 14, 2015

As you likely do, I have been learning about and researching on the uses and safety of pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils for several years now. I was tracking along fine with your blog here until you posted the link to the ND’s article about essential oils, seizures and children. I must say on the outset here, that I have really appreciated (and trusted) your health/wellness articles for a while now. So – it was a big of a disappointment that you linked this article. The ND bases her (scare tactic, really) article on FOUR case studies — which involve a total of 3 children, two of whom were diagnosed epileptics to begin with. They were also never quoted as having taken the oils inappropriately, but rather having been exposed to sage oil accidentally. What manner of science/medical advising is this? This ND also maintains several times that her advice is based on hearsay (from colleagues) — and she later makes the comment that her advice is based on “sweeping generalizations.” This being said, I don’t feel it’s right for you to give credence (and web traffic) to this ND’s article. Your advice on essential oils is right-on! And your readers follow your research/advice carefully! But, you may have marred your advice here with a non-scientific, ill-written article. Would you consider removing that small paragraph and reference? That article just stands out as an awkward link in your wonderfully written blog.

Reply
1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  January 15, 2015
  
  You make an excellent point and I should have just talked about the case studies myself as her article was a little fear inducing.
  
  Reply
  1. Julie
    
    January 16, 2015
    
    I appreciate reading all opinions, case studies, etc. then judge according to what feels right to ME. I’m shocked at the number of people on Facebook EO threads that are suggesting any number of protocols and doses for babies, kids, animals, serious medical conditions, etc. to clueless new users of EO’s who have done NO research of their own or consult from a trained aroma-therapist. They’re accepting medical advice from marketers!! And don’t get me started on the use of non-Organic EO’s! Horrors! Thanks Katie for all the information you share!!
    
    Reply
2. Carl
  
  January 17, 2015
  
  Thanks for that response from above her advice and research is flawed? Right on! I feel that, when used directly on the skin , internal etc. It is safe (gras) and you must know that its therapeutic grade 100% pure -oil not a claim for that title.
  I know first hand that,many,many of those 1000’s of claims are true. I’ve personally have seen many miracles I have used them on many children with no ill effects and pregnant women with wonder.
  
  Reply
  1. Whitney
    
    February 25, 2015
    
    This comment really scares me…. What you are suggesting is dangerous if not done at proper dilutions.
    
    Reply
3. Donna
  
  February 5, 2015
  
  I completely agree with this last statement….
  
  Reply
4. Heidi
  
  February 20, 2015
  
  If you do enough research there are quite a few cases of seizures in children that involve essential oils. The article might not be a great one but it might get you to do allot of research before using something that could potentially harm your child. Better be safe than sorry! some essential oils you have to be very careful with. i have burnt my skin with oregano and clove oil (on my face trying to get rid of my acne ) and ingesting oregano oil witch i do for a natural antibiotic gives me a stomach ache. it just pays to research and many different sources so you can compare.
  
  Reply
Kari

January 14, 2015

Great article. Thanks for sharing. Knew most of this but was nice to refresh my memory.

Reply
Amber

January 14, 2015

Thank you for the well put piece. I love essential oils, and I use them daily myself, but get frustrated at all the of blanket claims that are potentially dangerous swimming around out there.

Reply
Emily

January 14, 2015

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!! Awesome article of all of the stuff I wish I knew a year ago when I started using essential oils and what took me a year to learn. A lot of people deny all of this safety info but it is so important when using oils to use them appropriately. They are so great they just need to be used cautiously and people need to know what to look out for. Some can also interact with medications, thin the blood, or have a negative effect due to preexisting medical problems especially when ingested. Babies skin is also thinner and they absorb more oils so oils shouldn’t be used often on babies under 6 months especially.

Reply
Devin Lindstrom

January 14, 2015

Hi, thanks for this wonderful read! I was wondering why mugwort essential oil shouldn’t be used by anyone as I’ve never heard of it and all I can find on it through google are its “health benefits.” Thank you!

Reply
1. Donna
  
  February 5, 2015
  
  Rather sure that there is no such thing as a mass produced Mugwort essential oil…. It would extremely poisonous. I studied herbs for over 20 years and never was Mugwort ever called upon to cure anything…. it’s not that kind of herb.
  
  🙂
  
  Reply
2. Mel
  
  January 21, 2018
  
  Artemisia vulgaris (Mugwort) is high in thujone. It is a toxin and the oil is a known abortifacient. Please do not use it.
  
  Reply
Paula

January 14, 2015

Hi Katie, I was told about using 7-10 drops of EO such as clove or tee tree ( peppermint burns my mouth) mixed with distilled water in an eye dropper for toothpaste. I use it often but since I dont know enough I dont use it all the time. I like the simplicity of this especially for traveling. I know you make a paste with other ingredients, what do you think of this?
Thank you so much,
P

Reply
1. Mary
  
  January 16, 2015
  
  Essential oils are often acidic and acid is what causes tooth decay. The holistic dentist I see says brushing with clay is a better option.
  
  Reply
  1. Ellen
    
    June 15, 2015
    
    I’m learning this lesson for myself. I’m 43 years old and have never had a cavity before the dentist found one today. The only thing I’ve been doing differently is drinking lemon or lime oil in my water often. My adult niece is having the same problem. Her multiple cavities are between her teeth. She has stopped drinking lemon oil on her water also.
    
    Coincidence? Maybe. I won’t be drinking oils in my water anymore.
    
    Reply
    1. Brendalee
      
      November 1, 2015
      
      You are very wise Ellen to discontinue ingesting these oils. Coincidence with your cavities, maybe or may not. My concern would be with your intestinal system and your liver which processes the oils. There are other ways of keeping on top of your dental health. A sulka brush, flossing and avoiding sugary stuff, especially drinks that contain a lot of sugar and we sip on them and the sugar sits on our teeth. As an aroma therapist I know the value and power of essential oils, the treatment explained in this post in the ‘rain drip technique’ and has been discredited and well documented as unsafe. This technique comes directly from YL and is promoted by their leader. A fact is a fact. There are many quality and trustworthy companies who do sell essential oils. Read NAHA’s posts on how to find one. If I do not feel comfortable with the owners or CEO’s ethics I certainly won’t be trusting their marketing or their products. YL pushes to discredit other companies all the time. I know this as I have read and seen it in action. To me this does not lend credibility to the sales reps, the product or the company.
      
      Reply
      1. Halana
        
        December 14, 2015
        
        I’m not sure where you’ve gotten your information but I am a representative with YL and we are actually told NOT to put another company down in any way but to let our products speak for themselves. Sure there are some YL representatives out there that are very passionate about our product and have researched other companies and have even tried other brands of essential oils and may talk badly about them but I assure you we are not encouraged to do so. 🙂
      2. Mary
        
        December 30, 2015
        
        I do not represent any ML EO company, although I have some YL and DoT oils. Personally I found Do Terra folks more often than not put down YL. I don’t care since I don’t only want product, not a business. But it’s what I’ve noticed. Because Organic is important to my families health, I buy from a non ML CERTIFIED ORGANIC company in the Midwest – Veriditas. Reasonable pricing and excellent oils with integrity and no bashing. I also use Native American Nutritional/Rocky Mountail oils – mostly Organic or wild crafted but not certified. Best to keep an open mind and do your research.
      3. Alicia Anderson
        
        February 9, 2019
        
        The technique used not the blog post was not raindrop technique. The person giving the massage said she made it up. Raindrop technique wasn’t made up by an unlicensed back massager.
    2. Alicia
      
      December 30, 2015
      
      I looked at the Veriditas but they are too expensive. It looks less expensive because they package in 2ml and 5ml bottles but a bottle of Frankincense would work out to be $93 for a 15ml bottle. I am a fan of either Better Essentials or Rocky Mountain. I don’t necessarily look for organic anymore. I prefer to see the oils are coming from their native regions. For Example – I want my lavender to come from high altitudes in France…just like they get at DoTerra.
      
      Reply
2. Jill
  
  February 3, 2015
  
  I use this toothpaste made of clay, essential oils, and xylitol. It works beautifully and my teeth are whiter than when I used conventional toothpaste! It also has a nice minty flavor.
  
  Reply
3. Jill
  
  February 3, 2015
  
  I use Earthpaste toothpaste, which is made of clay, essential oils, and xylitol. It works beautifully and my teeth are whiter than when I used conventional toothpaste! It also has a nice minty flavor. I bet you could make this at home!
  
  Reply
  1. Terri
    
    September 19, 2016
    
    I was looking for a good natural toothpaste to use- I will try the Earthpaste. How long have you been using it?
    
    Reply
Kristin

January 14, 2015

I use doTERRA essential oils and love them! I’ve never had a problem with any of the oils but I do my research and use them in a responsible manner. I think these particular oils can really compliment western treatments for a more natural approach.

Reply
1. Lynne
  
  January 15, 2015
  
  The brand of oil isn’t what determines safe usage, it’s the chemistry of the oil itself.
  
  Reply
  1. Lindsey
    
    January 17, 2015
    
    Actually, the brand does matter some. Many problems are caused because wasn’t 100% pure or was synthetic. Of course, you should always exercise caution with oils, but making sure the brand has a seed to seal promise is one way of being cautious, Doterra is a good company. Personally, I use young living.
    
    Reply
    1. Chelsea
      
      January 22, 2015
      
      There is quite a bit of evidence suggesting that Gary Young and Young Living Essential Oils are not what they seem to be. If you are curious, it would be worth taking a look at Gary Young’s interesting, but very unsettling, past to get an impression of who he really is. If you also search Young Living and The FDA you will find an official letter clearly showing all of the inappropriate claims that are found on the Young Living website. I realize that the FDA has their own agenda when it comes to the regulation of essential oils, but putting that aside there are still some statements made on the site that are completely irresponsible. Take what you will from this information, I just thought it would be useful to have the whole story so that you can decide whether or not this company, and Gary Young, deserves your money and support.
      
      Reply
      1. Kristie
        
        March 3, 2015
        
        Chelsea, For the benefit of those you would wish to scare away from Young Living, I will share the WHOLE truth. The FDA did not single out Young Living in their correspondence. Yes, the FDA seems to have their own agenda regarding regulation of essential oils, Therefore they sent the same letter to the other larger essential oil companies – not just Young Living.
        
        By the way, personal affronts aside, I came to the conclusion that Young Living deserves my money and support because, like thousands of others, I get RESULTS with their oils. And research also shows that they have more control over the quality of raw plant materials and their distillation than any other company.
        
        I wonder what motivated you do write such personally derogatory comments about another person on this site?
        
        Katie, as a huge fan who was referred to you by a Young Living distributor, and who has referred many people to your site, I am incredibly disappointed that you approved this personal attack on an individual (Gary Young) – against your commenting policy.
        One reason I have respected your advice is that you not only promote only products that you have tested and love, but you also stay away from trashing others. Here, you allowed someone to publicly trash an individual and their company. You have had a huge following in people who use Young Living essential oils. No, you didn’t SAY it, but you allowed it. Not cool.
      2. Katie – Wellness Mama
        
        March 3, 2015
        
        Hi Kristie… I completely see where you are coming from and why you were offended by her comment. I actually researched the issue more because of her comment, and there is information online questioning Gary Young. Certainly, some of it may not be accurate, but the information is out there like she said. From the way I read her comment, she was calling attention to the information but not personally attacking him or anyone else. I think YL has good oils and I have many good friends who use them and promote them. I do not think that a CEOs actions necessarily discredit the company’s product, but I can see why others would be concerned. My hope is that there can be respectful dialogue on all of this to hopefully find some truth.
      3. Shelley
        
        March 16, 2015
        
        I think that was an unnecessary attack on Chelsea by Kristie, Thank You Katie for having the level head here and setting the record straight without the attack. Yes Everyone can do their own research on this matter and come to their own conclusions and how they wish to handle it. This is a site to learn and either accept the advice or not. There is good advice here but the attack mode turns me off from here. I hope in the future this will not happen again. Simple respect and doing your own research on what others say is good enough.
      4. Donna
        
        March 17, 2015
        
        Henry Ford was a brilliant man who completely and forever changed the way we manufacture autos and everything else. He made sure that his vehicles were not only made quickly and effectively as possible but also cheap enough for the worker to afford. He even made a car completely constructed out of hemp and which ran on hemp fuel! He was environmentally conscious and thought we shouldn’t use too much oil or chop down all the forests. Whether Ford Motor Company is your choice of vehicle or not, no one can really deny the achievements of Henry Ford. And while it is true that his past wasn’t spotless, he wasn’t a perfect man and many have complaints about this or that, his achievements are still real, still true and still stand the test of time. And no amount of bad talking him will change his place in history or all the good that he did.
        I really gotta say that surely Gary Young easily falls into this same category! The 3rd party testing isn’t being done on gossip or on Gary’s personality – it’s being done on bottles of oil made in clean labs. Love him or hate him, it is a fact that he perfected distilling equipment that would take essential oils from perfume grade (and therefore not really safe for the skin) and upgraded them into some that is therapeutic grade, and that requires that we take another look at our opinions about oils… and the way we use them. He has uplifted and enriched essential oils so that they are so much much more than they were before – and just like herbs, you just have to know what you are doing. Therapeutic grade is not a trademarked term – it is a scientific term to designate this class of oils. Just like superfood isn’t just a headline or eye catching phrase, it is an actual scientific term with a valid definition. Same as therapeutic grade essential oils, which are awesome tools given by God and Nature for us to use… and I am very grateful for pure ones!!
        
        When researching essential oils, please don’t miss these very important sites!
        
        13751 published studies… so far.
        https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=essential%20oils
        
        This one is quite informative and will clear many misconceptions up.
        http://www.agoraindex.org/Frag_Dem/toxicitymyths.html
        
        And if you really care about certification, testing and making sure you are purchasing the purest, best oils possible, please consider supporting Airase, a non-profit, 3rd party organization dedicated to testing and certifying essential oils, because we all know the pharma companies aren’t going to do it and testing is quite expensive. So I say, let’s put our money where our mouths are, continue our educations and stop fighting about who and what is best… Let’s support this 501 so we can stop the blog wars and the misinformation once and for all, to the benefit of us all!
        
        PS. Over 1,000 people a day die from preventable medical errors. Don’t you feel that is a bigger worry that whether or not we should put EO’s on our feet? Let’s look at the big picture folks and please, please do not fall for the fear!
      5. Sarah
        
        May 30, 2015
        
        Chelsea, I am convinced the MLM companies have a cult like mentality. Money is a vicious thing. The only reliable source of testing right now is done by Dr. Robert Pappas. Essential Oil University, google it. Also a group on Facebook called Blue Tansy Analysis offers reliable testing of honest companies.
        
        A certain company in question here sells a Jasmine oil claiming to be pure, undiluted. Yet it is mostly containing di propylene glycol.
        Make of that what you will. As they say, knowledge is power. Consult a certified aromatherapist about your concerns. Check there diploma that it isn’t from a diploma factory, research the scool they graduated from, and if it is satisfactory, trust there advice. 🙂
      6. Cassie
        
        May 30, 2015
        
        It may not be nice but it is very true. Research the ceo, it’s not very pretty and was enough to make me say no thank you!
      7. Linda
        
        June 5, 2016
        
        I have been instructed by a veterinarian in integrative medicine to use some Young Living essential oils topically (undiluted)? on one of my dogs to help in the prevention of seizures. Frankincense, Clary Sage, Lavender, one drop of each placed at the base of the skull and about 4 inches above the base of the tail, twice a day. I have been using them for about a week or so. Today, for the first time, he doesn’t seem to be feeling well. His appetite is off , and he seems very tired. Could he have been exposed to too much of this?
    2. Eliza
      
      August 10, 2015
      
      I agree. The reason that you –Wellness Mamma-may have had a reaction to the oils is that they MAY have been oils that had synthetic elements in them. So then you are not reacting to an actual pure essential oil but rather something else. Also, the oils can have a detoxing effect and they reason you had a headache (if the oils were pure) could have been that your body was eliminating toxins.
      
      Reply
      1. Razenah
        
        October 23, 2015
        
        Hi there im new here. I need an ans to my ques. Cos its driving me nuts. I purchased the young living oils collection plus the diffuser. I do believe the goodness of the oils. But y do i always have a allergy reaction to all the oils. The min ute if i inhale the oils i will sneeze like mad. N there will be tears from my eyes n non stop sneezing till i pop a flu pill. They just make me so sick. But i dun wanna give up on these oils yet 🙁
      2. Takara
        
        January 3, 2016
        
        THANK YOU for sharing so much great information about essential oil use. I was trained by Dr. Jane Buckle in a course for holistic nurse practitioners to use essential oils therapeutically with clients. The golden rules are: 1) only chemical-free, low temperature, low pressure essential oils from reputable suppliers, 2) always dilute, 3) never ingest except under a doctor’s orders – I’ve heard too many horror stories. Yes, gas chromatographs are a plus, and many suppliers offer them. I’ve found many great sources over the years and I purchase oils from numerous suppliers on a regular basis. I was part of an MLM company with oils for several years. I got out for all the reasons typically mentioned. What I know for sure is that you can get absolutely fabulous oil without paying MLM prices and telling people to ingest oil without a medical degree is irresponsible and downright dangerous.
      3. kristina
        
        February 21, 2016
        
        my husband ingested pepperment and eucalyptus oil and he now has severe brain damage and is in a vegatative state and doctors say he going to die oils are extremly dangerous and this was pure
      4. Donna
        
        February 24, 2016
        
        I agree with you Eliza.
2. Cheryl
  
  October 29, 2015
  
  I use only DoTerra oils. I study the safe use. I dilute in coconut oil but mostly I use in the difusser.
  
  Reply
  1. Anne
    
    January 17, 2016
    
    I too am a Doterra user. I do not go around bashing YL or any other company. It irritates the heck out of me and I dismiss anyone immediately who does. You don’t build yourself up by knocking someone else down. Politicians do that and I am not a politician. I love Doterra oils and I use them internally with caution, topically with coconut oil or in lotions I’ve made, or by diffusing at night time. I love cooking with them or making products with them.
    
    Reply
    1. Donna
      
      February 24, 2016
      
      To the person who said their husband is in a coma – what? You do realize that peppermint is GRAS, that is to say Generally Regarded As Safe, and that many foods and candies are flavored with it. I often use the smallest drop in a glass of water for indigestion and stomach upset, rather in the same way one’s Grandma would give you a peppermint candy for the same reason.
      And eucalyptus? While perfect for inhaling in times of colds or respiratory distress, what reason would one have to ingest it? And just how much of the oils did he drink? The whole bottle?? I am sorry if your husband is truly ill but your story is very very fishy and suspicious and simply doesn’t make sense at all…
      
      Reply
Mickey

January 14, 2015

Aromahead institute has a free essential oil course you can take online. It only took me 5 days to complete and you get wonderful information and essential oil cleaning recipes. Thank you for another great post!

Reply
1. Holly
  
  January 17, 2015
  
  Which course is it? The ones I saw were not free? Do you have a link you could share please?
  
  Reply
  1. Lauren
    
    January 20, 2015
    
    Just took a look. They have a course called “Introduction to Essential Oils” which is free. 🙂
    
    Reply
    1. vicki
      
      June 16, 2017
      
      where do we find out this information for they FREE course?
      
      Reply
  2. Lauren
    
    January 20, 2015
    
    Looks like their “Introduction to Essential Oils” class is free!
    
    Reply
2. Eva
  
  June 18, 2015
  
  I think It’s not that harmful if we find the good one.
  https://www.amazon.com/10ml-Roller-Bottles-Essential-Oils/dp/B079FSJB47/ref=as_li_ss_tl?th=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=wellnessmama-20&linkId=543296fbedb588df188d2e7abdfc385f&language=en_US
  They are made of thin amber glass, which is perfect for seeing the contents through the bottle. This way I can clearly tell how much liquid is inside so I don’t overfill, and so I can tell when to refill the bottle. Very convenient..You may visit the amazon store if you need it.
  
  Reply
3. Sue
  
  November 7, 2015
  
  Thank you for this Information I am going to sign up right now!
  
  Reply