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?

Sources

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/6/39
Bensouilah J, and Buck P. Aromadermatology. Abindon, UK: Radcliffe Publishing Ltd.
Tisserand, R., and Balacs, T. (1995). Essential Oil Safety. New York: Churchill Livingstone.
Biological activities of Lavender essential oil
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=21907890
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=10460442
Essential oils as a cause of breakthrough seizure after temporal lobectomy
Epileptic seizure induced by fennel essential oil.
Book: Essential Oils and Aromatics: A Step-by-Step Guide for Use in Massage and Aromatherapy
Book: Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals
Biological effects of essential oils – A review
Tiger Balm as a treatment of tension headache. A clinical trial in general practice.
Acute and subacute toxicity study of 1,8-cineole in mice
Antimicrobial activity of essential oils and other plant extracts
In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oils against Streptococcus pyogenes
In vitro antibacterial activity of some plant essential oils
A near fatal case of high dose peppermint oil ingestion- Lessons learnt
National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy Data Safety Sheet for Essential Oils during pregnancy
International Association of Professional Aromatherapists Pregnancy Data Sheet (PDF)
Robert Tisserand

Become a VIP member!

Get access to my VIP newsletter with health tips, special deals, my free ebook on Seven Small Easy Habits and so much more!

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”

Tania

October 8, 2017

Hi!
If essential oils burn through plastics, are they safe to use for people who have stents, pacemakers, artificial hips, breast implants, contact lenses, or anything else that might have plastic in them? Can it potentially break down an artificial hip or stent if ingested (even in proper diluted amounts)?
Thanks!

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  October 12, 2017
  
  For more reasons than the one you mentioned, I would check with a doctor first.
  
  Reply
Cathy

September 23, 2017

This post convinces me to treat essential oils as the drugs they are. And to treat sellers of essential oils like I treat sellers of drugs: I stay away from them except in extraordinary circumstances. There is no proper daily use for these products. This blog is a seller of essential oils, and while i have seen many useful and inteligent posts on other subjects I will be staying away from this blog in the future. In the meantime I hope all sellers of essential oils will carefully examine their intentions.

Reply
1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  September 23, 2017
  
  I wouldn’t go so far as to call them a “drug”, but like many things, care needs to be taken when using them, as there is a proper and improper way to use them. Many MLM companies and their distributors market them as a cure-all for everything, which they’re not, but don’t throw out the baby with the bath water when it comes to them, as they can be very beneficial when used carefully and correctly…
  
  Reply
  1. Cathy
    
    September 29, 2017
    
    The post provides all evidence that essential oils are drugs:
    
    -They are distillations of plant material in an attempt to isolate certain components.
    
    -They are concentrated.
    
    -They have unwelcome side effects.
    
    -They eat through plastic and through the finish on your furniture.
    
    -They are anti-biotic and therefore are dangerous to your gut if ingested. And you can very easily infer from the post that their anti-biotic properties work by inhalation and by application to the skin.
    
    -They are dangerous for pregnant women and children.
    
    -They are dangerous if used without special skill, knowledge, instruction and training.
    
    All of the above facts are repeated throughout the post and the comments.
    
    If that doesn’t describe a drug I don’t know what does.
    
    Reply
    1. Katie – Wellness Mama
      
      September 30, 2017
      
      By that definition, almost everything we encounter can be classified as a “drug” and can be considered dangerous. Like anything in life, the amount and the circumstance make all the difference. Vinegar is concentrated. It can have unwanted side effects and eat through certain kinds of furniture. It can eat through tooth enamel and harm the gut if used undiluted over long periods of time. The same can be said of salt, baking soda, turmeric, Vitamin C, hydrogen peroxide and many other substances. Most supplements also meet this criteria. Yet all of those things can be very beneficial as well. I absolutely agree with you that we should all be exercising caution and I only recommend using essential oils safely and in dilutions that are agreed to be safe among the world’s top experts. According to the definitions I’ve found of an actual drug: “A drug can have two distinct definitions; a “chemical substance, especially one prescribed by a medical provider that is used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a condition or disease. The second definition references the unlawful use of substances, “A chemical substance such as a narcotic or a hallucinogen that affects the central nervous system and is used recreationally for perceived desirable effects on personality, perception, or behavior”.” I’ve never recommended essential oils as a medicine or to treat any condition nor am I a medicinal provider and I don’t personally know of any essential oils that work as a narcotic or hallucinogen so I don’t think essential oils would meet the technical criteria.
      
      Reply
theresa haugen

September 22, 2017

Dear Katie,

I really appreciate your website and all the information! I have been reading through the comments. I was introduced to Young Living and attended a party about a month ago. I have always been interested in essential oils and thought it would be a great way to become introduced. I had two areas of concern. First, it is a MLM company, which I knew when I accepted the invitation so very minor. However, as a registered nurse, I absolutely disagree with the promotion of ingesting the product. I sat, listened and observed. Not a word was mentioned regarding allergies, contraindications with medications, nor mention of precautions with children and pregnancy. One hostess was pregnant and shared how happily she is using all the oils. I questioned her about precautions and apparently there were none. I did purchase the starter kit and have to say the oils smell amazing. All the people attending were very nice. I will be moving on though. This prompted my quest to educate myself about the world of essential oils. Right now I’m doing research to become certified in aromatherapy.

Thank you again and Blessings!

Theresa

Reply
Donna

September 8, 2016

Why should she not do this? Peppermint IS edible, as is peppermint essential oil especially if it is an unadulterated brand and which should have a GRAS (generally regarded as safe) notice on the label as well as a “serving size” recommendation.

Candy and tea and many other products are flavored with peppermint essential oil (even tobacco!) so I really do not see your objections to her idea. It would be highly diluted after all, as it would be mixed with the alcohol and water AND when used, only a small amount would be used.

So I will answer the question – Essential oils are very strong and much more potent than the actual herbs so you would not need much at all, a few drops of a quality, solvent free oil should do the trick. But if you are planning to use the extract to flavor foods, teas or candies there really is no need to make one at all. Just add one drop of quality oil and taste. If you desire a stronger flavor, add one more drop. If you are afraid it will be too strong (for beverages for example), dip a toothpick in the oil and stir the hot tea or iced water with it. Once you get the flavor you are looking for, enjoy!!

Ever make Lemon Chicken for your family? After plating and just before serving, add just ONE drop of lemon essential oil to the dish for the BEST Lemon Chicken you ever tasted! The aroma will be delightful, the flavor will be enhanced and will have everyone asking for more.

I hope this is helpful. 😉

Reply
1. Cathy
  
  September 9, 2016
  
  I would never ingest essential oils and I have worked hard to get them out of my household. I know two people involved in the soap making and EO promoting business which brings them into close dealings with essential oils. One has a mysterious illness suspected to be an auto-immune disorder which has worsened as her involvement with EOs has increased. She and the other person have not been able to carry pregnancies to term after several tries. My brother used to work making scented candles and became quite ill during that time, and his illness subsided after he quit that job. It is my understanding that these oils are so strong as to attack the mitochondria. Put some on a piece of finished wood furniture and see what happens.
  
  I am not attacking any particular brand. But I do not believe that products of this nature should be sold by the multi-level marketing method, which encourages hype about a product that, when cornered, all its proponents finally say you have to be very careful and very knowledgeable about. Nor should EOs be included in all our household products without appropriate warnings. The entire EO industry is plagued by problems, questions, inquiries and investigations, which you will see if you consult the FDA website. This is a clue that they are unsafe in normal use.
  
  If you want to make a tincture, obtain the fresh plant and put it in vodka for six weeks. Mint is just not that hard to find. And then you have what you are looking for. EO in vodka or other alcohol is not a tincture. It is a drop of EO, which I consider unsafe, and which is made of gargantually more plant material than you could possibly fit into any jar in your house, and is not the whole plant but an isolated and distilled part mixed with vodka. I wonder if anyone can tell us just what the constituents of that mixture would be?.
  
  Reply
  1. Daiva
    
    September 9, 2016
    
    Well, I remembered, that I had peppermint softgels, so I used one in the smoothie and it was way too strong. So I took 10 of those softgels, cut them and squeezed out into about 1 ounce of alcohol/water mixture. Now I take 3 drops of that, and it is good.
    Actually I read an idea about making our own essential oil by making tincture with alcohol, and then freezing it. Oil part will freeze, but not he alcohol, and we can separate them. I never tried this, so not sure it works. In either case, it is not worth probably since it would take lots of tincture to make tiny amount of the oil. We can also make peppermint oil instead of tincture by simply steeping herb in the oil instead of alcohol.
    
    Reply
    1. Cathy
      
      September 10, 2016
      
      Essential oils cannot be made at home. I am relieved to know that you are aware of how to steep a whole herb in oil instead. That method produces an herbal oil which is far different from an essential oil. I am not familiar with “softgels”. If they are made of essential oils one needs to know that before making a choice to ingest. The freezing method with the tincture I don’t understand because I can’t tell where your oil is coming from in that example. I believe that many subscribers and commentators on this blog post don’t know what an essential oil is nor how one is made nor why they are even feeling compelled to ingest them. When it comes to something as powerful as an essential oil, it pays to know what you are eating. In fact doesn’t it always matter very much what you are eating, where it came from and how it was prepared? It is usually much safer to use something that can be prepared at home (even if you don’t do it yourself) than something that has to come from a factory with fancy and expensive distilling equipment and huge amounts of raw material such as essential oils are.
      
      Reply
      1. Daiva
        
        September 11, 2016
        
        Softgels are MEANT to be ingested, they are made to help people with digestive issues. I know perfectly well, that herbs steeped in oil are not essential oil, however they can be quite strong as well as the oil in my softgels was. And the oil taken from the tincture, if it really separates from alcohol part during freezing would be quite close to the essential oil since no other oil would be added from the outside source. Same things can be made in variety of different ways.
Daiva

September 5, 2016

I am wondering, if I can use peppermint essential oil to make peppermint extract (mixed with alcohol and water)? Tincture takes 2-3 months, and we do have essential oil. I wonder how many drops I would need to make a 2 ounce bottle?

Reply
1. Cathy
  
  September 6, 2016
  
  No. Please do not do this!
  
  Reply
Donna DeMouth Shaner

August 20, 2016

Sorry, but I think these oils are extremely dangerous and I will tell you why. My daughter-in-law is heavily into the Young Living oils and sells them. A few weeks ago, she tried to treat my grandson’s “constipation” with her magic oils. Only problem was, he had a burst appendix. When he started having hallucinations she finally took him to the doctor, where he was correctly diagnosed and treated (surgery). I am scared to death she is going to kill one of the kids with her insistence on these “natural treatments”. She will not listen to anyone. Its a cult.

Reply
1. Donna
  
  August 21, 2016
  
  A cult? Really?? The owner of this blog uses essential oils and has many recipes using them posted everywhere. They are not going to kill anyone.
  
  Rubbing some oil on his belly to try to help him is a perfectly fine thing to do. As far as the child having problems with his appendix – do YOU know the symptoms of that? I don’t. Most of us don’t. She did take the child to the doctor when the issue persisted and he was treated. So what was that you were saying about her killing the children or insisting on only natural cures? Is there something wrong with trying something natural? If so, this blog would not exist. Or were you paid to post this comment?
  
  Sheesh…
  
  Reply
  1. Donna DeMouth Shaner
    
    August 23, 2016
    
    No, I wasn’t paid to post this comment and I’m not talking about “recipes”. You think it is perfectly okay to treat a child with oils when he has been curled up in his bed, in pain and vomiting for days? Sorry, but there is something wrong with you, if you do not see a problem with this. And she did not take him until he progressed to hallucinations and stoke like symptoms. As I have been reading this blog I have noticed many cautions about doing the very thing this child’s mother has been doing to him, such as ingesting a lot of these oils and infusing them into the air. She also claims this child is allergic to virtually every food (determined by placing his hand on a machine). He is on an extremely restricted diet and has lost weight and is very, very thin. She doesn’t believe in “modern” medicine anymore. There is no accountability as he is home schooled. If you don’t believe Young Living is a cult, then you have not done your research on the company or its founder. A cult encourages you to break ties with your family members if they question you and that is what has happened. As concerned grandparents, we have been kicked to the curb for having the nerve to question what she is doing. The blog writer has expressed concerns about the use of some of these oils and their use on children. So yes, I believe it is possible that her “treatments” could result in serious injury or death.
    
    Reply
    1. Donna
      
      September 8, 2016
      
      Wow! You believe that Young Living encourages people to turn from their families? Where on earth do you get that idea? It is so absurd as to be totally laughable and I surely hope none of the readers here will buy into that. If you have any proof whatsoever that this 25 year old established and successful company is encouraging people to leave their families, homes or jobs and follow them blindly, we would all love to see it. However no such thing exists so let’s just let that go, shall we?
      
      As far as the lady you are referring to, I don’t know what to say. We have no way of knowing how much you are exaggerating or are misunderstanding so how could anyone reply to your comments? You could be making the whole story up for all we know. But if not, it does sound as if she should seek more education and also use other modes of medicine when necessary. But then again, you also need education on the benefits of holistic medicine, something this site shares a lot of information about. I recommend that you do some reading.
      
      Furthermore, you did not originally state that he had been vomiting for days – only that he had an upset stomach and constipation so either you purposely omitted facts in your first post or you are embellishing them now. I myself have had a family member experience hallucinations and had NO idea this was happening to them… how could I have known? You are not giving us all the details and are only sharing one side of the story and it is completely slanted to your point of view.
      
      Please know that SOME oils are safe to ingest in small amounts and since the entire field of aromatherapy is basing on smelling and inhaling the oils, your complaint about her using them in that way is completely unfounded as that is exactly how the majority of the world uses them and exactly what the American model of aromatherapy teaches and advises.
      
      I think the problem here is that you simply don’t understand essential oils – or any alternative medicine – at all. It is obvious that you don’t believe in holistic and natural medicine and she does – that alone seems to be reason enough for you to feel free in being hypercritical of everything she does… and also good reason for her to distance herself from your constant criticism. You also are disparaging of homeschooling. Why is that? It is obvious that you do not care for your daughter in law and honestly, I do that even if she was mother of the year that you would be satisfied. Do you not allow other people to make decisions for themselves and to live according to their own beliefs? Not everyone is a follower like you. People are allowed to make choices for their own families without an in-law’s permission. And that does not mean she is involved with a “cult”, no not at all. Whatever mistakes she has made are on her head but it does sound like you nag at her about ALL of her choices and if she has “kicked you to the curb” for that, well, that is her right to do so.
      
      Reply
Daniella

August 2, 2016

I love Mountain Rose Herbs’ essential oils. They are local to the PNW, where I live, and they have wonderful ethics, and practices. Honestly they are the only essential oil company I completely trust. They also sell all sorts of awesome teas, herbs, seeds and more. Most of their stuff is organic and they always strive for sustainability. I don’t work for them, but I am always happy to share them with other people, because I trust them completely and know that my money is well spent.

As for the dangers of essential oils, it’s always a good reminder to read.
I feel like lavender is the best, safe, and multi-purpose essential oil in my household… I’m never without it!
Cheers!

Reply
helene

July 31, 2016

Way too many comments to read, so this mite have been said, but the therapist was prob doing Raindrop Therapy, not massage. She used too much EO but you just feather it along the spine, not a real massage.
If it was a cheap brand you could react to it if youre sensitive.

Reply
Cathy

July 29, 2016

Wow. After reading your excellent post, Katie, and then scrolling through hundreds of replies and reading scores of them, here’s my takeaway: essential oils are very dangerous and should be removed from our homes as soon as possible. If you want to use “natural” remedies and treatments, try some infusions, salves, and tinctures that you can make yourself with herbs available in your vicinity or local health food store or online source. To “appropriately” use essential oils takes a great deal of education, knowledge, skill, self-control, and hands-on training, and, even then, there are no guarantees you won’t have a severe reaction or disrupt your immune function. To make your own essential oils is impossible given the gargantuan amounts of plant material required to make even a very small amount of oil, not to mention the fact that you would need a distillation system. Finally, the last person I’ll be listening to as to how to use these oils is someone whose livelihood depends on my buying them.

So I agree with almost everything in your post except the suggestion that there is an appropriate use for these oils. Obviously they are unreasonably dangerous in normal use to me, to children, to pets, to pregnant women, and to everyone else.

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  July 29, 2016
  
  I wouldn’t go so far as to say they should never be used, just that caution should be taken (like many things), and they are not a cure-all as many MLM companies try to assert…
  
  Reply
Jane

July 10, 2016

Katie- can you comment on what oils are safe to diffuse around my 9 month old in my home for all of us to enjoy? Is there anything I can diffuse in her room directly?

Reply
Tara

July 3, 2016

Hello, about a month ago I attempted to use Bergamot oil topically on my armpits as a deodorant alternative. It is suggested for that specific use in the Young Living handbook with no warnings. Anyway, I’ve had a rather unsightly skin discoloration on my armpits ever since and it hasn’t faded at all after a month. I am wondering if you have any advice on how to treat it? Maybe Aloe Vera? Thanks in advance!

P.S.
I only did it twice and stopped immediately after noticing the reaction.

Reply
RIVANA

July 2, 2016

Thank you so much for such an informative post.

Reply
Dani

June 16, 2016

preg… due next week 6/26/16 (well hoping for next monday lol)
I’ve used peppermint oil on cotton balls at work cause of mice n’ spiders… I have had a perfect preg, so the lady all worried about her doing it (unless you soaked soaked u’r balls and touched them) you should be okay…
No matter preg or not, u should be careful with getting the full dose on yourself

Also have had migraines like crazy )was assaulted and punched in head 8-10 times… Peppermint was/is the only thing that helped… no one has said anything about it before (two docs and my friends on fb that typically use oils and have kids and are smart like that – one was gonna buy a kit to make her own oils)… I would heat up the bathroom shower water, fling oil on the walls (kinda like holy water towards demons, lol)
I clean with it, gallon of water to 8-10 or so drops … (Or at work, make hot water in mop bucket and put drops in there cause it’s also good for disinfecting and keeping those damn spiders at bay)

Actually gonna make a peppermint spray for when i give birth for an aromatherapy feel… Cause now peppermint smell helps my migraines and other pains, it relaxes me

but my question is… why is lavender bad when everything is lavender??? it helps soothes the baby and helps sleepy time at night…
I just got diffuse for the babys room so i can use some smells to help sooth her/if she gets a cold/ really bad smelling diapers

Reply
Megan

June 13, 2016

Love how you acknowledge the potency of essential oils and how topical use may cause irritation, especially on infants.

Reply
Nancy

June 9, 2016

so much more research for me…these safety issues on ingesting and undiluted oils….I have lots to learn. I got hooked up with one of the MLM companies and a friend told me to google the CEO, wow, not a great past. I’m not fond of MLMs either….I love making DIY home-made products without toxins, but perhaps I should not ingest the supplements from this company with oils in them … ???? Thank you for all this research and helpful resources to continue my own research.

I did heard a great podcast on “safety” Sylla Sheppard-Hanger and Nyssa Hanger — eye-opening!

I remember when I started taking some herbal supplements that I heard were so good for you — started having some strange feelings, like out-of-body feelings — Dr. sent me for tests and told me to stop taking the herbs, take vitamins w/o herbs. Maybe I should stop taking the Green Supplement I just started taking with the oils????

So much to learn.

appreciatively, Nancy

Reply
Krisi Anthony

June 4, 2016

Honey I would look a little further into lavender oil applied topically to the skin before mentioning in use with children. It can damage the skin. I’m not an expert, just something I hope you look into. And if someone knows better than me i hope they share with me because to me knowledge is more precious than diamonds and gold 🙂 I reference your articles almost daily and appreciate your work. It is far reaching. Thank you for what all of you at wellness mama do 🙂

Reply
Kati

May 24, 2016

Because it isn’t a set list that is agreed upon across the board by professionals. It is fluid in that it changes depending on who you’re talking to or whose blog you’re reading.

Reply
Katie

May 23, 2016

Regarding pregnancy and morning sickness, please don’t let the opinions of this blogger deter you from looking into using peppermint EO. I had horrible morning sickness for both of my pregnancies and my midwife encouraged me to use diluted peppermint EO topically on my tummy. It was the only natural remedy that took the edge off and really helped me get through those awful times. I was able to naturally give birth to two healthy little ones. I have known plenty of women who’ve done the same thing. While I appreciate that Wellness Mama wishes to encourage caution, which is so very important with EO’s, the list she provides of essential oils that are OK/dangerous for pregnancy is highly disputed and very fluid.

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  May 24, 2016
  
  Why do you say the list is “fluid”?
  
  Reply
  1. DANIELLE
    
    June 22, 2016
    
    i think she uses the world fluid as its always changing pending on study or by person.
    
    Pepermint oil was the only thing to help me as well while i’ve been preg.It was that as anatural assistant or take controled substances/TON of tylonal, (could take 3 K mg of it and still be hurting, which was my max for the day) for migrains that could drop me
    
    Reply
2. Alex
  
  May 24, 2016
  
  Thank you so much for making this point about peppermint oil during pregnancy. I too suffered from bad morning sickness and so did my sister. It was the ONLY thing that worked for us, only NATURAL remedy that made any difference. Lucky for all those women who don’t have to deal with awful morning sickness and can quickly dismiss peppermint as being “dangerous” without much to back it up.
  
  Reply
Tash

May 16, 2016

I can’t believe what happened to you at your massage! That many drops straight on the skin must have been so uncomfortable 🙁 It’s really sad that EOs have become something that people think can just be slapped on without thinking. I’m glad that more people know about them, but the “education” people are getting nowadays is alarming!

Reply
Natalie

April 26, 2016

Hey guys! New to the Blog Site – so sorry if this may be a repeat question of if it seems I didn’t read everything in detail (I have to admit, I did skin but only to get a general idea). So I have a question or 2 as it relates to the essential oils… I LOVE peppermint, but from what I may have read is that this is NOT safe during pregnancy. However, is this safe when used with a diffuser? I get really bad headaches and the peppermint helps so much. I currently use lavender lotions and oils and scents for aches and pains and to help with relaxation, but just wondering what other options and alternatives there may be for the respiratory senses and as a pick-me-up scent aside from peppermint. Does this also mean I can’t have my peppermint beverages? ??? another issue I have is the thinning hair, and a friend of mine recommended the Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Shampoo and Coconut Conditioner… Had to press pause when I read OIL and figured I’d do a little research and ask questions first before I either went to the store or ordered these items online.

Reply