Safety and Essential Oils-134

Apr 15, 2021

Let’s talk about essential oil safety. There are so many misconceptions about essential oils and in this series, we’re going to try to tackle some of those so that you can make informed decisions.

Keep in mind that essential oils are not a cure all and should not serve as a medical alternative. You should always speak to a healthcare provider about your unique needs.

When we think about essential oils, the key is understanding their power and volatility. Essential oils are extracted from plant matter and depending on the way that the plants are harvested, the climate in which they’re grown, and the region where they’re grown can impact the stability of the compounds.

To start, like supplements, the essential oil industry IS NOT FDA regulated and it is important that you understand the following:

• How were the plants grown and harvested?
• Does the company have a safety data sheet (SDS) that they can provide related to the essential oil (and even carrier oils)?
• Always pay attention to botanical names (Citrus bergamia for Bergamot). If you see an essential oil that simply says “Lavender Oil”, run!
• Trust your nose. Once you become familiar with smelling essential oils, 
• Diffusing an oil….if when you add an essential oil and it’s cloudy in the water...most like a solubilizer has been added to it
• Pay attention to the price of essential oils. If you see an oil such as rose or jasmine that is only $10...run...

When you are working with essential oils, ALWAYS dilute them. You want to make sure you’re protecting your skin and I want to make sure you exercise caution. As much as I love Pinterest, the recipes aren’t always calculated appropriately and some oils are rather potent, which makes sense as to why many people end up with burns or skin irritation.

My favorite essential essential oil companies

 

• Pranarom 

• Plant Therapy

• Simplers Botanicals

• New Directions Aromatics

• Phibee Aromatics

 

 

References

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1541-4337.12006

 

https://sfamjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1046/j.1365-2672.1999.00780.x