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Risks and Dangers of Essential Oils

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Katie Wells

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Warning- risks of essential oild and how to use them safely
Wellness Mama » Blog » Natural Remedies » 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:

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?

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Katie Wells Avatar

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”

  1. Laura Vacca Avatar
    Laura Vacca

    This may have been answered but I didn’t see it – the Onguard blend seems to have rosemary in it but that was listed under the oils that are not safe for babies that you mentioned above, So how do you use this around your young family?

    Reply
  2. Jodi Cohen Avatar
    Jodi Cohen

    i very much appreciate this conversation. i started a small essential oil company and advised that all blends except for one that controls sugar cravings be topically applied. after reading this article and the comments, i will advise that all oils be topically applied. i believe they are wonderful healing tools and much benefit can be garnered from topical and olfactory application. it is not necessary to ingest them. thank you for your wonderful research Katie! I really appreciate this article! I know you are expecting again and wonder if you might take on the topic of essential oils and pregnancy next. That is another hot topic that i would love to hear you address!

    Reply
  3. Halana Avatar
    Halana

    Oh and one more thing….for those who say that essential oils should NEVER be ingested….check this out:
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_cola
    And I understand a lot of you on here like myself may not drink Coca Cola but if essential oils are so harmful why is the FDA allowing it into soft drinks all across America? I know a lot of people will still disagree because they will say soft drinks are bad for you….so are a ton of other things the FDA and USDA allows onto our shelves. Some will also disagree with the fact that YL oils are safe because they don’t have an organic seal….I’m sorry but (my opinion) it doesn’t mean much. YL has a seed to seal approval that means more to me than an organic seal and for those who say that YL doesn’t have outside testing done as well…..I’m sorry but you are wrong on that as well. Glad to have been a part of this discussion but it’s very apparent that a lot of us on here are very passionate about what we believe and don’t believe and we will all have to agree to disagree but when you want to start pointing fingers and saying you’ve done your research and act like an expert on eo’s….please remember there is always something ALL of us can learn….yes I put myself in that as well. This is an ever changing world with new products being sold all the time. When you find something that is harmful just stop using it and try to share….simple as that. Some will disagree and that’s ok. As for me….I will stick with what I know works. ?

    Reply
    1. Ena Avatar
      Ena

      @ Halana: Thank for your insightful post. Yes, everybody always has something to learn. For example: I just learned from you that there are essentials oils in coca-cola (a lot of them, too). Though I won’t touch coca-cola with a ten-foot pole, that’s good to know!

      Reply
  4. Halana Avatar
    Halana

    This has really sparked some interest in me so I looked on the FDA website where the “organic” label is regulated. This is what I found concerning eo’s: Sometimes people think that if an “essential oil” or other ingredient comes from a plant, it must be safe. But many plants contain materials that are toxic, irritating, or likely to cause allergic reactions when applied to the skin.
    For example, cumin oil is safe in food, but can cause the skin to blister. Certain citrus oils used safely in food can also be harmful in cosmetics, particularly when applied to skin exposed to the sun. FDA doesn’t have regulations defining “natural” or “organic” for cosmetics. All cosmetic products and ingredients must meet the same safety requirement, regardless of their source. To learn more, see “’Organic’ Cosmetics” and “FDA’s Poisonous Plant Database.”
    Check it out here: https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-products/aromatherapy
    But what I found on their site about therapeutic grade oils was this:
    product is intended for a therapeutic use, such as treating or preventing disease, or to affect the structure or function of the body, it’s a drug. For example, claims that a product will relieve colic, ease pain, relax muscles, treat depression or anxiety, or help you sleep are drug claims. Such claims are sometimes made for products such as soaps, lotions, and massage oils containing “essential oils” and marketed as “aromatherapy.” The fact that a fragrance material or other ingredient comes from a plant doesn’t keep it from being regulated as a drug.
    Under the law, drugs must meet requirements such as FDA approval for safety and effectiveness before they go on the market. To find out if a product marketed with drug claims is FDA-approved, contact FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER).
    I find this all very interesting. One thing I’m sure of is this…before, I used an “organic” oil which made me extremely sick and a friend of mine asked me if I still had the YL eo’s she had given me and to try those instead. I did and felt some better the next day and completely better two days later. I was hooked from that day forward. I searched the site over on the so called organic oils that I had used prior and found after hours of searching that yes they did actually add solvents to their product to “extract” as much as possible from the plant. I have used YL eo’s to treat allergies, athletes’ foot, upset stomach, back pain, etc. Am I a doctor?…no. I am not a medical professional in any way and I understand that when I self medicate I am doing just that and it may not work but so far I haven’t had any bad reactions to YL eo’s and I HAVE had a bad reaction to a so-called “organic” oil that I will not bash the brand of. Do I suggest my child ingest them? Absolutely not. He’s a child and I barely give him Tylenol. We are not an advocate for over the counter or prescription meds. We try to do everything we can naturally but when needed, yes we go to the doctor. But since I have been using YL eo’s, we haven’t been to the doctor once, other than a checkup. We can go on and on and on about whose eo’s are the best, most natural, etc. I trust YL eo’s and someone else trusts another brand but for anyone to make claims saying this is better than another…truth is unless you are there from before the seed is harvested until after its distilled and bottled…..you really don’t know for sure. I can only trust what I know for sure and that is that YL eo’s have worked for me and my family. I use them daily and have been for quite some time and have a friend who has used them daily for 20 years and has researched oils much more extensively than I have and she IS a medical professional. The FDA puts regulations on any claims that can be made with eo’s and they don’t have regulations defining “organic” or “natural” cosmetics and that’s what they consider eo’s….cosmetics. They say if it’s applied topically it’s a cosmetic. It can’t be a cosmetic and a drug or dietary supplement.

    Reply
  5. Cindy Shaver Avatar
    Cindy Shaver

    I use EO Lemon, Lime, Orange, Grapefruit, and Tangerine oil in my water all the time with no Adverse effects.. You should only be using therapeutic oils.. And because they are concentrated you only need a drop or two.-
    Everybody’s tolerance is different, just use sparingly at first.
    Excellent article thank you.

    Reply
    1. Mackenzie Avatar
      Mackenzie

      Cindy, you should only be using ORGANIC oils, not “therapeutic” oils….ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE INGESTING THEM! It is NOT safe to ingest oils that are not organic. The definition of therapeutic is: “of or relating to the healing of disease.” Lots of things are therapeutic, but it has NOTHING to do with being organic.

      If you ingest oils that are not organic, you are ingesting a HIGHLY concentrated amount of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers from those plants as well. It is perfectly safe to ingest ORGANIC essential oils (only if you are really educated by a certified aromatherapist about which oils are safe, when and why to use them, how much to use, who is ingesting them, and if there are interactions with other medicine you may be taking).

      Please do your research and look at your essential oil bottles. If they don’t say organic, then they’re NOT organic. This is crucial for your health and your family’s health. You should not be putting non-organic oils on your skin, inhaling them, or ingesting them.

      Skin is our largest organ and what we put on it is absorbed right into our blood stream. The molecules then pass through the blood-brain barrier to the limbic system in the brain, where they can influence the endocrine and autonomic nervous systems. Essential oils are absorbed into your body just like the ingredients in common pharmaceuticals, such as hormone replacement cream and nicotine patches.

      When we inhale essential oils through the nose or mouth, airborne molecules interact with the olfactory organs and, almost immediately, the brain. They are also carried to the lungs and interact with the respiratory system. Therefore, inhaled essential oils can affect the body through several systems and pathways.

      When we ingest essential oils, obviously they are distributed throughout the entire body. It’s imperative that we’re only absorbing, inhaling and ingesting the benefits of the essential oil, not highly concentrated amounts of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.

      Reply
  6. Mackenzie Avatar
    Mackenzie

    The most important thing to consider when choosing essential oils is very simple: ARE THEY CERTIFIED ORGANIC?
    DoTerra oils are NOT organic. Young Living oils are NOT organic. Just as it is incredibly important to purchase organic food, it is just as vital to buy organic oils. In fact, because essential oils are such a highly concentrated form of the plant, if the oil is not organic, then the pesticides and chemicals used on the plant are highly concentrated into the oil as well. So you’re actually putting extremely high doses of toxic chemicals onto or in your body with an oil that is not certified organic.

    It’s crucial to take some classes and learn from a certified aromatherapist so you can have the knowledge to make healthy choices in your essential oils. I searched high and low before I finally found certified organic, medicinal grade oils from a certified aromatherapist, not a MLM company trying to deceive everyone through their clever marketing. Words like “therapeutic” and “beyond organic” are just deceptive ploys to cover up the fact that they are not organic. They are either certified organic or they’re not. If it doesn’t say organic on the label, then they’re not organic. Period. Companies who truly have organic oils go through a lot to obtain that certification and they certainly are not going to “forget” to put it on the label. The only two companies I’ve found that have organic, high quality, medicinal grade essential oils are Purify Skin Therapy and Mountain Rose Herbs. I personally use Purify Skin Therapy.

    Do your research everyone….thoroughly. Don’t just use something because someone else recommends it or they have fancy marketing and materials. This isn’t about bashing other companies, it’s about being wise and informed in our choices. That’s what is wonderful about Wellness Mama. She gives a lot of great information and research, but it’s up to each one of us to further investigate and decide what’s right for our families. I’m thankful for this blog and the collaborative voices we all have to help one another learn and grow in our journey to have healthier families. We need to support each other, not attack each other. I think we all have similar goals and that’s a refreshing thing to see, especially in the world we live in today!

    Reply
    2. Halana Avatar
      Halana

      I’m sorry maybe I misunderstood what organic means but from what I’ve been informed young living eo’s are grown without the use of artificial chemicals. I have a friend whom I trust very much who has actually been to one of the YL farms and has seen how they treat their plants with their very own eo’s….not chemicals and has seen how they have farmers who harvest them with their very hands and she even got to participate in harvesting. She has seen the very distillation process first hand. She has seen how they do NOT add any solvents to their plants when distilling. So is this not considered organic???

      Reply
      1. Mackenzie Avatar
        Mackenzie

        Halana, I understand that it can be quite confusing, especially with the massive amount of misinformation and marketing hype out there from the MLM essential oil companies.

        When an essential oil is USDA Certified Organic or Wildcrafted, it says so right on the label. It verifies that the plants were grown without any pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers. It also verifies that during the entire process – from growing the plants, to distillation, to bottling – the oil has not been diluted, altered, or synthetically modified. It is crucial to use only USDA CERTIFIED ORGANIC or WILDCRAFTED essential oils. Why? Because essential oils contain highly concentrated amounts of that plant and anything that was sprayed or applied to it as well. So a non-organic oil contains HIGHLY concentrated amounts of pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers.

        Participating in a company’s harvesting and distillation doesn’t mean much. That’s not going to tell you if the plants were grown organically or not….that’s where it all starts! You’re just harvesting the plants and distilling them. The plants that Young Living and DoTerra use are NOT grown organically. They are NOT USDA Certified Organic. You have no idea what pesticides, herbicides and chemicals those plants have been sprayed with while they were growing and what’s in the soil they were grown in. All your friend saw was the harvesting and distilling process. They may not add anything during that process – who knows – but it doesn’t matter because if you’re using a non-organic plant to create the oil, then you CAN NOT ensure that the oil is truly pure and free from pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers.

        No matter what fancy marketing words are used (therapeutic, pure, beyond organic, etc), they are NOT organic unless it says USDA Certified Organic on the label. And there is NO such thing as “beyond organic”. These fake, fluffy terms are just laughable – they are incredibly deceptive and they’re playing on people’s naivety and ignorance. Being USDA Certified Organic is a VERY important and costly designation for a company to acquire, so if the oil is truly organic, the company will absolutely say so on the label. If it’s not organic, then the company will try to deceive people into thinking it is by using clever marketing words and terms that people will just ASSUME means organic. It’s deceptive and wrong. Don’t just assume anything!

        It’s very black and white – it’s either USDA Certified Organic or it’s not. Just like when you go to buy food, it’s either USDA Certified Organic or it’s not, and we all know what organic food ensures. It’s the same thing with essential oils. Having that USDA Certified Organic distinction ensures and verifies that the plants used in that essential oil were grown within the strict USDA Organic guidelines. These labels are there for a reason, to inform and protect us consumers from deceptive companies. Look for the USDA Certified Organic label! There is no substitute for it, period.

        Furthermore, many companies with non-organic oils add diluents, extenders, and adulterants to stretch the oil for economic reasons. Some of these adulterants are toxic, such as, SD40 alcohol, propylene glycol, diethylenephalate and other synthetic chemicals. I’m sure that’s not what you want to be absorbing into your skin, inhaling, and ingesting. It’s VERY clear if the oil is organic or not, just look at the ingredients on the label. There should be no confusion.

        Once you’ve narrowed down a list of the truly USDA Certified Organic oil companies, request a GCMS analysis paper (gas chromatograph mass spectrometer) from them. A reputable organic essential oil company will be able to provide you a gas chromatograph on all of the essential oils it sells. A gas chromatograph identifies and analyzes the presence and relative quantities of chemical constituents within an essential oil. It is a technique that separates the components of an essential oil according to the differences in molecular volume. It provides a fingerprint of the oil, and shows the relative concentration of chemical compounds according to retention time.

        Here are some other questions to ask essential oil companies:

        1. Were the oils steam distilled or extracted with alcohol or carbon dioxide?
        2. Were the oils distilled at low temperature and low pressure over a period of time or were they distilled quickly (high temperature can fracture the essential oil molecule resulting in an inferior aroma and taste).
        3. Were the oils developed by a Certified Aromatherapist?
        4. Do they have specialized oils formulated specifically for children and babies?
        5. Are the oils labeled by batch, lot and gas chromatograph report?
        6. Are the oils produced in small quantities to ensure freshness – not sitting for months in a warehouse?
        7. Are the oils stored in blue cobalt glass bottles to maintain and protect the quality of the oil?

        One final tip….Always purchase essential oils by their Latin name, and always check the label for the correct botanical name. Plants can have similar common names (Lavender, for example), but there are several different kinds of lavender plants – they are not created equal and can produce very different results.

        I know it can be confusing to navigate the tricky and deceiving marketing from the MLM essential oil companies. Hopefully this information will help arm you with the knowledge you need to find USDA Certified Organic, clean, pure, potent, medicinal grade oils. When you use a higher grade of organic essential oils you can use less and get even better results for your money. Plus, you’ll know exactly what you’re putting on and in your body and your precious family as well. : ) God bless!

        Reply
    3. David Roe Avatar
      David Roe

      NOTE FROM KATIE: PART OF THIS COMMENT WAS REMOVED DUE TO VIOLATION OF THE COMMENT POLICY/MARKETING OF A PRODUCT/MEDICAL CLAIMS.

      Licensed aromatherapists object to COMPANY NAME REMOVED because they paid a lot of money to learn the AMERICAN model of aromatherapy and it is all about job security for them. They only know what they were taught – and they weren’t taught the whole story unfortunately.

      Please stop bashing essential oils on this blog! You have people frightened that a little Lavender room spray might get on their skin and hurt them which is insane. You have mothers freaking out because they let their little ones smell some eucalyptus oil for a cold – something I grew up with and I can guarantee those oils weren’t pure – but that is a WONDERFUL way to combat a cold and help breathing when you don’t feel well. Please please stop scaring people… and then turn around and post your OWN recipes calling for use of EO’s on the skin. That just makes no sense at all…

      Reply
      1. Wellness Mama Avatar
        Wellness Mama

        Hi David, I removed part of your comment because it was specifically about one company, bashed another and did not provide documentation to back up claims. Disagreement is fine, marketing for a specific company is not. I am not “bashing” essential oils, merely suggesting that people use them cautiously and correctly. This should not in any way seem threatening to someone promoting the proper use of EOs.

        Reply
        1. David Roe Avatar
          David Roe

          It looks as if you removed the majority of my comment. And none of the comment were health claims in anyway, in fact, they were the opposite. I am confused about something though – aren’t these the exact same companies that YOU disparage daily on your site? You post non-stop about these companies yet we can not reply or speak any rebuttals? My comments about ALL the companies I mentioned are true and are easily confirmed.

          As for the other parts of the comment that you removed, why? Because they contradict other posts on your blog or were they just too close to home? Or just too critical of the things you have said? You consistently say you should never use EO’s on the skin yet you have a recipe posted combining honey and Lavender for burns and skin ailments. So which is it Kate?

          Why the heavy censoring of this site? I guess you do not truly desire an open, truthful conversation on this topic…. or maybe you will lose money from your sponsors if you allow that.

          You post so many things that are helpful yet Iose more respect for you everyday. Please quit misleading and scaring people about the use of essential oils.

          Reply
          1. Wellness Mama Avatar
            Wellness Mama

            Wow. Sensitive much? The comment policy specifically prohibits promotional comments about a specific company, especially if a person may have a financial interest in promoting that company (like being a rep) that is not disclosed. Your comment promoted one company and bashed another without contributing to the conversation in a meaningful way in the process. That is why it was changed. Your tone was also disrespectful in places (as it is in this comment). I have no problem with disagreement, just keep it respectful.

            To clarify- I have never said that essential oils should not ever be used on the skin, only that caution should be used and dilution ratios should be observed and that some oils (like lavender) are considered generally safe for skin unless there is an allergy.

            Also to clarify (as explained in my disclosure and policies). I do not have sponsors or advertisers (perhaps you noticed I don’t even have a sidebar in which to place ads?). I don’t lose any money from anyone by moderating comments- I’m just trying to keep the environment respectful. In fact, I could probably (and know many bloggers who do) make an insane amount of money from promoting essential oils (especially one of the companies you mentioned) on this blog. In fact, I know bloggers who make 5-6 figures a month by doing so. I just can’t in good conscience promote these oils knowing the way they are often recommended for use by other (well intentioned) sales reps and have made the decision not to for this reason… so your accusations about money are unfounded.

            If you would like to continue this discussion, please do so in a kind, civil and respectful way and I will extend you the same courtesy. Whether you respect me or not is entirely your decision, of course, but I would disagree that I am “misleading and scaring people about the use of essential oils” by simply encouraging people to exercise caution and check with a qualified specialist before doing so. Also, based on your comment, I would suspect that you might be a rep or in some way make money from promoting a certain essential oil company (which, per my policies and disclosure laws, you should disclose in any online place where you promote them). I can’t confirm this and that is your business, but if you do in fact make money from promoting essential oils, perhaps you could consider your own bias in this matter and that you have more of a financial reason to encourage people to use essential oils than I do in encouraging them to use caution.

  7. Noel Nicole Avatar
    Noel Nicole

    Thanks so much for this article! I had recently bought lime, lemon, and peppermint EO to add to my water to encourage me to drink (I’m terrible at drinking plain, unflavored water). I hadn’t known that the EO was so concentrated, nor did I know that they really shouldn’t be used internally for everyday use.

    My co-workers had very recently gotten into using auromatherapy and some had started adding it to their water as flavorings. Thinking this was safe for flavoring water, I followed suit. Now I know why I always feel a little funny after drinking a lot of my EO water…too much of a good thing gives me bad side effects!

    Do you have any tips for adding flavoring to water that doesn’t also add sugar/sweetner and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg? (I’d love to just add fresh fruit, but it’s expensive and I’d rather eat the whole fruit to get the health benefits…but that leaves me with nothing to use as a water flavoring!

    Reply
    1. Noel Nicole Avatar
      Noel Nicole

      Thanks for the tip, I’ll have to try it! I did try just putting orange peel in my water and it wasn’t bad…it flavored a lot more than I thought it would!

      Reply
  8. chookov s. Avatar
    chookov s.

    Found this site by accident, and as a Practicing Aromatherapist I find nothing wrong or ‘controversial’ with what you’ve written. All sound advice in my opinion.

    What I do find troubling, is the proliferation that doTerra and Young Living are considered the ‘best’ oils out there, and being called “therapeutic grade” gives them some special high authority.

    “Therapeutic Grade” is a MARKETING TERM dreamt up by YL.

    ALL 100% PURE essential oils can be considered “therapeutic grade” – not just dt’s and YL’s.

    dT and YL are so incredibly expensive because you are paying multiple layers of people who are all taking a cut from the sale. There is NOTHING inherently “better” about either supplier.

    In fact, what a lot people probably don’t even know, is that doTerra was started by a couple of YoungLiving higher-ups that were “suddenly unhappy” with the “quality” of YL oils. (?) There is no way this company, in such a short time, can claim they have 100% ownership over every facet of their oils from the owning the land where the actual growth of the plant takes place, to owning the facilities and equpiment where the distillation/extraction and bottling production takes place. It is Just. Not. Possible.

    They buy their oils from the same growers/producers that some other suppliers do.

    There is also a veterinarian that proclaims she has the all miracle cures for your critters using essential oils. She was an ardent vocalist that YL was THE ONLY BRAND WORTH USING . . . until she came up with her own line – (again claiming 100% ownership from growth to bottling) then began bad mouthing YL as “not recommended”.
    I’m guessing YL, now in direct competition for her profit margin, is the sole reason after such the demand that YL was the BEST, is now suddenly not.
    Also, reading her work gives me chills – undiluted wintergreen oil “dropped” on cats ? oh. hell. no.

    One question I always ask, and have yet to get not only a coherent answer, but just an answer period, from their ‘distributors’ is:
    If YL/doTerra are THE ABSOLUTE BEST OILS AVAILABLE, why has NOT ONE of any the experts in the field of aromatherapy (Shirley and Len Price, Julia Lawless, Robert Tisserand, Kurt Schnaubelt, even Rosemary Gladstar) either recommend their usage, or cite them in ANY of the myriad of publications produced in this field?

    For all those inquiring where to learn more about the properties and safe use of essential oils – you need to look no further than the writings of the above named.

    Another point, nearly all of the unsafe usages I have come across regarding essential oils, nearly ALL of them came from those associated with either Young Living or doTerra.

    Wellness Mama, I appreciate your site and your cautioning folks on the CORRECT way to use oils.
    What I have found tho, is there really is no convincing the YL/dT oil users out there that there are in fact, not only less expensive, but better quality alternatives to their cult-like supply.

    Reply
  9. Erin Avatar
    Erin

    Hello! I am a bit confused by your list of oils NOT to use during pregnancy. I referenced this article https://naha.org/assets/uploads/PregnancyGuidelines-Oct11.pdf) even before I stumbled on this post, but noticed that many of the oils deemed SAFE to use during pregnancy in this article are listed on your “Do NOT use” list. Did you reference another source that had alternate information? Just trying to get the facts straight, as I am exploring EOs and trying to reconcile all the information that is floating around out there. Any clarifying info you have would be GREATLY appreciated! Thank you for all your posts, I appreciate it!

    Reply
    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      I researched each oil individually and if I found counter-indications during pregnancy, I included it on the “do not use” list. That being said, some oils are considered safe for aromatherapy during pregnancy but not on the skin and definitely not internally. I wanted to air on the side of caution and list all oils that I found evidence may have a harmful effect during pregnancy so women would not read about oils that were safe for aromatherapy and assume they were safe for topical use too.

      Reply
  10. Winnie Avatar
    Winnie

    Hi Katie,
    I’m still nursing my 2 year old, not a lot, just before bedtimes usually. I have a large fibroid that developed during pregnancy and has not reduced in size at all. After some research, it looks like Frankensence, Clary Sage, and Thyme can be effective in reducing fibroids some reading I’ve done says it’s safe while nursing and other places say it’s not. Do you have any thoughts on this? Or know of any effective natural remedies for fibroids? Thank you!

    Reply
  11. Emily Avatar
    Emily

    Just wanted to hop on the bandwagon and say thank you for this post!

    I suffer from clinical chronic anxiety and depression. As part of my holistic therapy, my prescribing doctor (an MD) along with my talk therapist recommended a local Certified Aroma therapist. Armed with my medical history, lab write ups, prescriptions, and supplements, I began working with her to obtain some EO products that could be used as part of my therapeutic (mental) regimen. She is so full of knowledge as far as EO interactions with medicines, supplements, and the like. She is also great about explaining the carriers she uses as well as correct methods of inhalation and topical application. She has never suggested taking EOs internally. She also suggested certain times of the day I could use and apply my oils based on when the kids slept/etc. So that their exposure would be minimal.

    Just wanted to validate what all you wrote about by saying **do your research regarding oils!!!** A great Certified Aromatherapist will have your best interests at heart, and not their pocketbook. They will work with you as an individual based on your personal needs and history, not based on anecdotal results of others.

    On a side note, really REALLY good prescribing doctors (those with an MD attached to their name) may not be the ones with all of the EO expertise, but they just may point you in the direction of a safe and well educated Aroma therapist ?

    Reply
  12. Mark Stacey Avatar
    Mark Stacey

    I absolutely loved this post. Very very informative. Thanks so much for your time and effort to make this information available for us all. my most kind regards, Mark Stacey.

    Reply
  13. Vanessa Hammond Avatar
    Vanessa Hammond

    It’s sad to know that the recent public perception on essential oils has been negative. To tell you the truth, essential oils provide more benefits than other medicines in my opinion. As long as you use the right one and apply moderate amounts, you’ll have nothing to worry about. I’ve been using essential oils for years and never had any problems.

    Reply
  14. Jenn Avatar
    Jenn

    I’ve been searching the internet with regards on using essential oils safely and I came across this post about it (which is ironic since I recently started following your blog anyway!) There is lots of talk about diluting the EO in a carrier oil. I understand the ratios to use to dilute with, but I’m wondering if I dilute an EO in 1 ounce of carrier oil – how much do I actually apply topically once it’s diluted? Is there a “right” amount? Also – once it’s diluted, and say I only use 1/10 of an ounce…what do I do with the other 9/10? Can I save it for use within a certain time period? Or does it need to be thrown out? It seems like a lot of carrier oil to be thrown away…I’m having a hard time wording this – hopefully someone will understand what I’m trying to ask! 🙂 Thanks!

    Reply
  15. Flora Avatar
    Flora

    Dear Wellness Mama,
    Please tell out or point to me where you tell out what you use during pregnancy for toothpaste!
    And also for shampoo!

    I cannot seem to find much that does not have either chemical junk or essential oils!
    I made a homemade but…its awful.
    Thank you!
    Flora
    a first trimester pregnant reader

    Reply
  16. Brooke Avatar
    Brooke

    Dang! I wish I had read this sooner. I am 11wks pregnant tomorrow and have been using Tea Tree Oil on this horrid pregnancy acne I’ve obtained AND have used Peppermint Oil under my nose whenever I feel like I’m coming down with a headache. Cue the panic mode for the remainder of 30wks. 🙁 I thought it was better than using benzyl peroxide & taking Tylenol. Someone lift my spirits and tell me I didn’t do something to harm my baby.

    Reply
    1. Malori Avatar
      Malori

      Of course, I’m not your doctor and can’t give you definitive information…but with that said, it sounds like you weren’t overusing the oils or using them inappropriately. I know women who have used essential oils MUCH more extensively than you have during their pregnancies and their babies have been completely fine.

      Reply
  17. Alicia Avatar
    Alicia

    Thank you so much for all this info. I love essential oils and personally I make my own mouthwash as mentioned above. I use a mix of peppermint, colloidal silver, xylitol, Real salt and baking soda. I have not had a cavity for so long. I love it so much I wanted to share this. I use peppermint oil, Xyloburst xylitol, and Sovereign Silver…try it. You will love it. BTW–I use Earthpaste toothpaste with xylitol as well. Thank you so much for your blog with all this info and I love the comments.

    Reply
  18. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    Hello,

    I just came in contact with undiluded essential oil, which was my fault. It was a suggested way of using it on a friend’s blog. I thought the person knew what they were talking about but obviously not. I’m very concerned because now I have a red rash on my face that I am freaking out over! What did you do for your rash? Did it burn my skin? I’m not sure how to treat. Help!

    Concerned Mama

    Reply
    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      It should go away with time. I took a shower and used bentonite clay as a scrub or sorts to help get the residual oils off and then used natural lotion to help further dilute it… good luck!

      Reply
  19. Helen Avatar
    Helen

    Hi,
    thanks for a great article! I’m new to essential oils so any information is helpful.
    My almost 4 month old baby had a bit of a stuffy nose last night and from some research that I did, I know that Rosemary essential oil is really good for sinus infections/stuffy nose, etc. I didn’t really do any research on essential oil use on babies, but thought it would be safe enough to put 1-2 drops of Rosemary essential oil on the 2 corners of his crib, so he could inhale it while sleeping….was that a mistake?? Would you say that was ok or should I have not even put the 1-2 drops in the corners of his crib??
    Also, I always have really bad postpartum hair loss, and also through some research found out that Rosemary is really good for hair loss. Just dilute with a carrier oil and massage on scalp or put a few drops into your shampoo…using it this way while I’m nursing, is it safe or not? You also mentioned Rosemary as one of the essential oils that should not be used while nursing, but it wasn’t quite clear to me if you meant not to take it orally or also on skin…would appreciate clarification.
    Thanks so much for the information! 🙂

    Reply
  20. Kris Avatar
    Kris

    Hi, I am confused….many articles say not to use Eucalyptus oil on kids or to diffuse yet your recipe for the natural vicks rub along with the link to the organic one already made & vicks itself contains eucalyptus oil??

    Reply
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