Few mainstream medicine enthusiasts will want me to share this post with you. First, they’ll say it’s because they have an aversion to all things quackery. Then, they’ll have a change of heart and try to classify essential oils as “medicine,” of which nobody else can give advice on because these oils are used to “prevent or treat disease” – along with carrots, garlic, herbal tea, and wheat grass.
Then, they’ll make an exception for reading package inserts and make up one on the spot to warn you about the potential atrocity that could result from you using something natural that has little to no side effects and is responsible for zero hospitalizations and deaths each year. While they’re busy scaring your socks off, they’ll forget to tell you they’ve had no training on essential oils and have no clue what they’re talking about.
No worries. I’m not going to diagnose you with a disease today, nor am I going to treat you. I’m not going to try to sell you essential oils either. I’m just going to sell you on them because really, life just seems incomplete without a good essential oil in your back pocket.
I know what you’re thinking…what are my qualifications for speaking on this “trend?” No worries guys. My quack degree in quack medicine taught me everything I needed to know, and what I didn’t pick up in one quack school I picked up at another, and what I didn’t pick up there, I picked up from Google University. Rest assured, you are in good hands.
Pleasantries aside. Let’s talk.
Essential oils are not a trend. They’re not voodoo or “woo.” They’ve been around a long time, are mentioned over 188 times in the Bible, were referenced in Chinese manuscripts and the Dead Sea Scrolls, and were even used during the time of the ancient Egyptians as medicine. People survived the bubonic plague thanks to this stuff. No joke.
Essential oils are not a trend. They're not voodoo or woo. They're legit and they work. Click To TweetAn essential oil is a volatile liquid carefully extracted from a plant that’s used medicinally for all sorts of health imbalances. Once carefully extracted these oils can be used for inhalation, ingestion, absorption, and are used for all sorts of household and personal products like laundry detergent, shampoo, toothpaste, and lotion. It’s the chemical properties in these oils that provide the benefit and once applied to the skin these benefits hit the blood stream within three seconds.
Essential oils are amazing. They’re powerful, and they’re safe when used appropriately. You shouldn’t take my word for it though. Let’s put on our “Google goggles” and take a stroll through the US National Library of Medicine where we will find a whole list of studies you probably never knew existed:
- You’ll find over 163 studies on the anti-inflammatory, chemo-preventative, anti-arthritic, and pain-relieving properties of boswellic acids contained in Frankincense oil (which is ironically used in both European and Middle Eastern hospitals).
- Scientific studies show that Myrrh inhibits the growth and function of cancer cells, is anti-inflammatory, relieves pain, heals and prevents infections, and kills dangerous microbes.
- In Berlin, Lavender oil pills are a clinically proven herbal alternative to pharmaceutical antidepressant medications, without the side effects. A case series conducted by the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité – University Medicine Berlin, showed that Lavender oil used in conjunction with antidepressant medication significantly reduced agitation, anxiety, and depression.
- Here’s a study from the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology showing the same and another from International Journal and Psychiatry in Clinical practice, and 38 other studies you can sift through if you get bored. But let me save you some time…lavender is always superior to the placebo, always shows benefits, and doesn’t have adverse reactions. “Lasea” or “Silexan” for anxiety, depression, or restlessness anyone?
- Forget the flu vaccine. Studies on Melaleuca (Tea tree) oil show that it inhibits the influenza virus effectively and without increasing your risk of Alzheimer’s. It also inhibits fungal growth and can knock out candida like your kid can knock back a bag of skittles. Seriously. That good. This should come as no surprise to anyone considering the aborigines have been using tea tree for centuries to heal cuts, wounds, and skin infections. (The rest of us have secretly been using it too). Did I mention that Melaleuca is one of those remedies that shows promising effects against antibiotic resistant bacteria, is anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-everything else?
- IBS or gastrointestinal disease? How about some Peppermint oil? This peer-reviewed article in the American Academy of Family Physicians Journal was pretty impressive. A systematic review of five clinical trials showed that peppermint oil significantly relieved IBS symptoms like pain, stool frequency, and gas.
- Aflatoxins are among the most carcinogenic substances known to man. The USDA describes aflatoxin as a “cancer-causing poison produced by certain fungi in or on foods and feeds, especially in field corn and peanuts. “Be afraid. Be very afraid of aflatoxin. Unless you’ve got some Oregano. After sifting through the studies on Oregano oil, you’ll want to bathe in it, wash your food in it, and add a little more to whatever it is you’re eating.
- Studies show that Clove oil is effective at inhibiting the growth of Aspergillus, a mycotoxin that’s responsible for various diseases that kill about 600,000 people worldwide each year. Lemon oil can prevent carcinogenic oral strep. The Korean government-funded a study on Ylang Ylang that showed it could reduce high blood pressure and high cortisol levels. Neroli has been shown to relieve menopausal symptoms and increase sex drive.
- Eucalyptus has been shown to be an effective natural antibiotic against several infectious diseases and is an effective preventative tool used against the diseases we vaccinate for. Tumeric oil prevents cancer. Research on Melissa essential oil suggests it would be a great alternative treatment for diseases associated with inflammation and pain.
I could go on. There are hundreds of oils and even more studies, but you get the picture. Do you know what you won’t find in these studies? Adverse reactions like death, brain damage, SIDS, meningitis, gastrointestinal disease, rheumatoid arthritis, bronchitis, or fevers. You won’t find a package insert that’s 8 pages long because you’d have to make up 8 pages of adverse reactions that don’t exist.
I know…you feel a little misled that you were told pharmaceutical drugs, vaccines, and anything else that contains a carcinogen, neurotoxin, or hazardous waste were your only options for whatever it is that ails you. I did too. Then I realized that essential oils had been used since the beginning of time, are without the long list of negative side effects that accompany every single medication, and are corroborated by clinical trials and studies from all over the world…except for here really.
This shouldn’t surprise you. We are behind the times and refuse to acknowledge a potential treatment or cure that could come from something other than a pharmaceutical and we prohibit any company from claiming that something natural, like an oil (or even a carrot), could have some protective health benefit.
For the sake of full disclosure, here’s what an essential oil isn’t:
An essential oil is not a magic “pill” or a quick-fix. It’s not a substitute for living a healthy lifestyle and for making smart decisions. If you think you can use an essential oil for acne but you continue to eat foods high in dairy, sugar, and bad fats, your acne probably isn’t going to go away. If you think you can down a box of donuts and take an essential oil to melt inches, you’ll be disappointed when your pants don’t fit. If you think you can take an oil for your crohn’s disease (like I did mine) but you continue to eat foods that contribute to gut disorders, your crohn’s probably isn’t going to go away.
Essential oils are just one of the many things we should have in our bag of tricks for prevention and for those sticky situations we will inevitably find ourselves in. So while everyone else is waiting for the one-pill-cures-all that will never exist and is looking to “prevent” disease with hazardous wastes, or wipe out their immune system with antibiotics…you and I can just take a walk on the side of woo and pick up an oil.
If you liked what you read, follow me on Facebook. Want to know where I source my essential oils? Get the 411 HERE.
Do you have the content for the link you cited on Tumeric oil as a cure for cancer? When I click on the link it says page is not found. Thank you.
Thank you for your informative a plain introduction to essential oils. I am tentatively dipping in my toe into essential oils. So I feel like I’ve got good points in which to further research.
I am looking for a natural way to manage my Eczema so this is a great starting point.
Some oils that support your skin are Frankincense, lavender, tea tree. Making sure you have a lotion that isn’t full of chemicals and super natual will be a good thing to start with. Even making your own is great.
Hi! I’ve had Crohns for about 4 years now. I take remicade for it and it has worked but I would love to eventually get off the medicine as I hate putting so much of that stuff into my body. I’m looking into essential oils to help keep my Crohns in remission. I was wondering what essential oils you use to help with your Crohns.
Digize is an amazing digestive support oil and peppermint oil!
A very large variety and want to try everything.
Magical, fantastic and just cool
Thank you for your article on essential oils.
I have been an aromatherapist since 1996 and was using plant oils since I was a child growing up on a tropical island where its second nature to use plant medicines.
The trend in mothers using essential oils has exploded the past decade , there is a good side and bad.
The bad side; using a pyramid sales protocol manufactured by some of these oil manuf. (not cool)
Many of these essential oil moms are not certified Aromatherapist and are only sales people following orders. The staggering profits go into the pocket of these essential oil manuf.
The good side; With this explosion of essential oil users there has been a trend of more moms using natural/holistic/alternative medicines to treat their kids instead of using harmful toxic allopathics. More awareness by these moms of how modern medicine/vaccines can harm with adverse reactions, thus doing more research on line for alternatives.
Hye ….Megan!!!!
Lavender is so wonderful! i love all that it can do. It has helped with burns and soothing stresses away. i have found lots of ways to use lavender from soap making to oils! loving this….
Love this post! I’m just getting into the Essential Oils and Lavender is one of my favorites!!!!
Keep posting!!!!
Have a nice day ahead!!!!
I am also interested which company you purchase your essential oils through. I have done quite a bit of research on companies but I’m interested in your opinion. Thanks!
Of course. You’ll find info. on what I use here: https://www.livingwhole.org/resources/
Hi Megan. Which oils do you use to treat your Crohns? Do you apply to skin or ingest them? Thanks. Julie
I loved the end with the full discloser… its also like taking a probiotic and still eating a bunch of crap and wonder why the probiotic is not working… lol good read!
But a side note…sorry if TMI… lol my mom has gut issues (I am helping her with proper eating! lol) but she would chug pepto bismal!! and not to be TMI, but the doctor told her to stop taking it, it was making her butt bleed. So I mixed peppermint and ginger EOs in coconut oil for her tummy issues, and she became a believer!! instantly her tummy issues went away, and NOT side effects like that pepto!
Hi What was your ratio of peppermint to ginger to oil please. I have been for all tests and they can’t find out what is “wrong” with me. I would love to try your mix. Thank you.
….also, as soon as you mention using a particular brand of eo, they and you are liable to the FDA for doing something against the law…mentioning EOs in disease claims. True or not, it can’t be done. The company I get my fabulous oils from has insisted that we abide by these laws to keep the FDA out of our “business” and avoid being labeled as liars by mainstream medical. It would serve you and the company you get oils from to review and make changes to your article. Look up compliant essential oil language for ideas on what you can say.
Dianna, can you please point out to me where in my article I talk about the company I get my oils from? In addition, every single one of my points is backed up by a PubMed article. I am simply reiterating what the research shows. 🙂
Respectfully,
Megan
Megan, I love you! Another fantastic article. As I understand it you have done EXACTLY what my EO supplier encourages us to do when it comes to sharing the science about oils and link to specific proof of statements. Thanks for the links! Can’t wait to refer to your constant awesomeness! You rock! P.S. Could you please infuse me with a dose of your constant ballsiness! I know the Lord is calling me to a degree of the same strong-tongue you write with but I’m a scared, scared sheep! Pray for me!! ??. Hugs! Keep it up!!! We need people to look up to for strength to speak in a land of ushered silence.
Haha. Thanks Julie! Much love.
While I have used and love my highly therapeutic grade oils for years now, and teach others how to use them, there are many myths or mistakes I see here. First, the art of distillation hasn’t been around since Bible times. The plants with volatile aromatic compounds (not volatile “liquids”) have but distilling them has only been possible since, accd. to one reference work: earliest recorded mention of the techniques and methods used to produce essential oils is believed to be that of Ibn al-Baitar (1188–1248), an Andalusian physician, pharmacist and chemist.[7]. We love our oils and some of us love the Bible but eo education is too important to not get right. No offense is meant here. I’m glad you’re reaching people with eo education.
Hi Dianna, Thanks for the comment. What I said is that essential oils have been around since biblical times. We know that oils were able to be extracted from plants as we have historical evidence and the Bible references using various oils (such as anointing oils and perfumes) in various places. We also know that the frankincense and myrrh taken to Jesus after his birth was in the form of oil. As someone certified in aromatherapy and one who has done extensive research into biblical medicine, we’re going to have to agree to disagree on this. 🙂 Though we agree that any form of distillation we use today was probably not the methods used in ancient times. With great respect, Megan
Thank you! An excellent read.
Hey Megan. Love your article and I’ve been using essential oils for almost a year now. I just want to know where essential oils were mentioned in the Bible. Thanks!
Frankincense was given to Jesus at his birth, that’s the biggest one. People were appointed with different oils throughout the bible.
Sandalwood Essential Oil (Santalum album) is calming and emotionally balancing and is used for stress and unwinding. Also called Aloes.
Frankincense Essential Oil (Boswellia carteri) is high in sesquiterpenes and naturally occurring constituent boswellic acid. It helps to uplift mood and brings feelings of relaxation. It may help smooth the appearance of healthy-looking skin*, and is useful in combination with massage after exercise.
Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil (Cinnamomum verum) The essential oil promotes a healthy immune response, and helps maintain a healthy lifestyle regimen*.
Galbanum Essential Oil
Galbanum Essential Oil (Ferual gummosa) Opens up communication to the creator. Holy incense along with Frankincense. It is a spiritual oil that has been used for mediation and to increase awareness.
Hyssop Essential Oil (Hyssopus officinalis) supports the immune system and is noted for its purifying properties*.
Spikenard Essential Oil (Nardostachys jatamansi) is known for its spiritual significance. It acts as a skin tonic and soothes the mind and body*!
Myrrh Essential Oil (Commiphora myrrha) is a very powerful antioxidant. Supports healthy skin*.
Cassia Essential Oil (Cinnamomum cassia) smells and tastes like cinnamon oil. Contained in the recipe for the Holy Anointing Oil given to Moses.
Cypress Essential Oil (Cupresus sepmervirens) Cypress is also beneficial for oily or troubled skin. Grounding and gets things moving!
Cistus Essential Oil (Cistus ladanifer) supports the immune and respiratory systems*. It is a spiritual oil made famous by the Song of Salomon. Also called Rose of Sharon.
Cedarwood Essential Oil (Cedras atlantica) has an earthy aroma that gives you a sense of security. It is beneficial for oily skin and hair*. It is calming and purifying.
Onycha or Benzoin Essential Oil (Styrax benzoin) is in the Holy Incense Oil given to Moses.
Thanks so much for this great info, Ashley! God made some plants smell amazingly wonderful! Frankincense is definitely one of my absolute faves that I use daily! And Sandalwood… oh my! Such a heavenly fragrance! No pun intended 😉
Manufacturing pure quality first cold pressed oil started well before 5,000 years. It was ordained by God to Moses. The Israelites and other surrounding nations were already making oils before God instructed Moses to do so. You will find these verses in the Book of Exodus.
Noah was also making wine, before and after the flood. This means that the Noah generation was already extracting from herbs, plants, fruits and vegetables. Noah lived quite a few 100s years prior to Moses. You can check all this in the Book of Genesis.
Producing pure oils is not new. Our ancestors survived many diseases by using these natural potent extractions. They used it for tooth extraction, skin boils, hair, scars, bacteria, virus……
Google it and you will find a fountain of legitimate information.
This article is awesome. Thank you!
The part about the flu vaccine isn’t correct. It isn’t scientifically connected to Alzheimer’s. I like your article, but just wanted to let you know because that part could take away from the credibility of your article.
The flu jab is no only creating mental disturbances it is pure POISON. Look around, do your own survey and prove it to yourself, take no ones word for it. All vaccines create disease and death. The end….
Love, love, love my Doterra essential oils. There is absolutely such valid integrity in this company, and thus in their oils. I would have never budgeted in money each month for my oil purchases before becoming somewhat educated and informed about their phenomenal benefit. Doterra essential oils have replaced almost everything in our medicine cabinet. Agree totally that a purposed, healthy lifestyle is critical while adding high quality, selective essential oils as preventative and aides to our home has been such a game changer. Thank you for your very informative article, looking forward to reading more on your blog.
Hi,
would love to know your top brands and top picks of EOs. I am going to be buying some very soon.
Thanks in advance =)
Thank you for this article. I am beginning the search for EO’s for my family. In the past year I have fought breast cancer and my son was dx with type 1 diabetes. Needless to say I have reason to research and make changes in our home. Please share your findings as to your fav products. It is so overwhelming at the start. Thank you.
Hi Tammy. Thanks for the comment. I sent you a message.
Hi Megan, thanks a lot for the info. I believe you have put in a lot of study and survey to have this article. I love essential oil and sincerely it really make miracle in my healthy family lifestyle. However, I am using a super expensive (MLM company – Not YL or DT, it claimed that is even higher grade than them and the price is few times higher) I find it is good and effective but I still couldn’t accept the “overpriced” oil. I am searching for a good quality oil as a replacement of the high price oil that I am using now so that it would not only benefit to my family but also my friends too. Therefore, I would appreciate if you could recommend any good quality oil.
Thanks a lot!
Tammy, I’m so sorry you are going through such a difficult time in your family. There is HOPE for you though! A friend of mine did a tonne of research on natural alternatives a few years ago when she was diagnosed with kidney cancer. She had desperately tried many different natural methods without success, until she found one amazing product that has been an incredible healer. She is a different person now – looks amazing, has light in her eyes and so much LIFE! I would be happy to pass on her story to you and connect you with her if you like. I can also share some success regarding diabetes. It will save you a lot of time and energy and point you in the right direction. Feel free to email me at [email protected]. Blessings.
University of Cairo found Coriander oil to have incredible results against diabetes: http://www.aensiweb.com/old/jasr/jasr/2012/3646-3655.pdf
Young Living oils work best for my family. For 160 dollars I purchased a kit which includes 11 oils, one aroma diffuser and a few other things. Absolutely love it! You get Frankincense, Stress Away, a digestive help oil, peppermint, lavander and Copaiba which I am absolutely in love with! Lots of prayers for your family!
I use Young Living Essential Oils.
I experienced that any of their oils applied 4 to 5 times on the very first day stops cold sores instantly.
I use any oil as a deodorant, depends what I want to wear.
Melrose puts me to sleep in 5 minutes.
Wintergreen and PanAway have done wonders for my x3 times over sprained ankles.
Melaleuca, Cedarwood, Copaiba, Cypress, Longevity, Clove, and a few more have done the job for neck and shoulder pain.
Joy, Purification, Lemon, Orange, Tangerine, all the citrus ones are awesome for diffusers.
Highest potential is wonderful for application and inhalation.
Peppermint is great if you have to study or work long hours.
The fix-all are Lavender and Frankincense.
I love the oils. I hope you find them to be extremely useful in your day-to-day activities and lifestyle.
Hi Kari,
I see that youve written that you are a distributer for Ameo EOs. I just visited their site. Looks impressive. Wanted to check out prices but I am blocked unless I go through a distributer? Is this something you can help me with?
Carol, Sorry for the delayed response. If you email me at [email protected] I will connect you with the information you have requested 🙂 Thanks for asking!
I would love to know which oil company you prefer! Thanks for sharing your findings!
I have been using Young Living Essential Oils for the past year. They are the best. Thanks for reaffirming that EO’s are not fad.
I am ready to use EO is for my family, but I am in doubt where to buy you help me? This article was very good, congratulations.
Hi Megan, this blog and your name feel strangely familiar for some reason…do you by chance know Emily Jacks (Hartsfield)? She guest wrote a blog, oh a long time ago, anyway my name is Josiah Hutchison and would love five minutes of your time to fill out a pre-marketing survey for an essential oil companion tools company that I’m trying to start. I use essential oils nearly all the time and want to develop and sell products that promote people using them more than just at home. I would love your input, and though the survey just came out today, the results will be available for free at the end of it. Here’s the survey if you’re interested: http://goo.gl/forms/EjbnI7Gy6b
Sincerely,
Josiah Hutchison
I apologize, I looked up the old blog, and it was someone completely different. http://littlemorganpeople.com/birth/
-Josiah
I’d love to know which company you get your EOs from.. I love everything you post as we are very like-minded.
I’d love to know which company you get your EOs from.. I live everything you post as we are very like-minded.
Would also like to know of a reliable company that sells oils.
There are several good companies that produce high quality oils, albeit in different “grades”. My totally biased preference is a newly launched, solidly backed company that offers the only “clinical grade” oils available to consumers. Their name is ameo. Do your own research before you choose what will be best for you and your family – you will be glad you did. For info on ameo you can go to kariamalia21.myameo.com or ameo.com.
Thanks so much for this blog! A friend just posted this in a FB group today. So glad I made the time to read it. Very well written and unbiased with plenty of links to refer to. I enjoyed your humour too!
I am a recent convert to EOs. Been delving into natural treatments and products for several years, and had used a few oils here and there, but really had no idea what all they could do. At the end of September ameo launched the first line of clinical grade essential oils available for consumer use. I purchased a kit of about 19 oils and have been incorporating most of these into my daily life – with incredible results!
I had been able to alleviate most of my “ailments” through the use of some natural remedy or other (including exercise), but still struggled to find a quick and easy way to alleviate the pain of headaches and menstrual cramps. I had tried many different remedies and after suffering for several hours I’d give in and take medication. I am happy to say I’ve finally been able to consistently relieve both issues with essential oils! I’ve been telling friends and family, “No more drugs for me!”, as these were the last two drugs I had in my medicine cabinet.
So despite the naysayers (like the one who responded to this blog, which by the way you responded to very tactfully), I am a believer. God made plants, not drugs. God made our bodies to respond to plants, not drugs. Essential oils don’t have guaranteed multiple side effects like ALL pharmaceutical drugs do. It is absolutely imperative that people know what they are doing with oils though, as they are very potent. I have a great resource book (and app) that gives protocols for many different symptoms, and I refer to it constantly to ensure I am following the correct protocol, using the proper oils in a safe and effective manner.
Like many other respondents, I am curious to know which oils and brand(s) you have used and gotten the best response from. The oils I have been using are from ameo – have you heard of them yet? They are labeled as “100% pure, clinical grade, cell-active and permeable.” The website (ameo.com) even shows the test results from each batch along with video results showing the oil penetrating and interacting with human cells. It’s pretty cool!
It’s great to see that so many people are curious and ready to get started with EOs. If you have a brand you love that is giving you the result you are looking for, that’s great! Anyone who would like more information about ameo is welcome to check out the website and/or contact me at [email protected]. Thanks again for the great info! I will be sharing it to my personal FB page.
Megan, I would love to know which EO company you trust and why. Are the EO’s organic? If not, why not?
Thank you very much!
Liliya
I started using doTerra essential oils in January of this year due to taking my daughter to the doctor every 13 days and them switching antibiotics on her! She has febrile seizures as well and wouldn’t sleep over 4 hours in a 24 hour period and she was 20 months old! Needless to say after 1 night of applying to the bottom of her big toe and her sleeping 10 hours I was VERY interested! I began to read everything I could get my hands on and using them on a daily basis, using the onguard to build her immune system and the peppermint/lavender if she did start to run a fever to keep it from skyrocketing her into a seizure. I not only use them on my daughter but also my 6 year old son for his asthma and myself for allergies and several other items. We have replaced everything down to the neosporin in our medicine cabinet and love that I can better take care of my family!
People need to research oils a bit better rather than going off information a company is giving you. Pure healthfood store grade oils should not be digested due to the potency. The reason you can consume the two popular rivals that are being sold from door to door is, because they are so unpure. From the court documents provided to the public concerning lab testing the way expensive oils sold from door to door are like going to the baking aisle and purchasing those. It is very dangous to consume essential oils thar are pure. As far as the two companies are concerned it is a trick of the mind. I have tested and compared oils the lavender sold by one of those companies was laughable, did not smell pure and did not work like the pure stuff I have used.
Do you have a link to the court docs? I am interested in reading them. I assume you are referring to YL and Doterra? Thanks!
Kat, I am curious to know which oils you use and consume, and how you know that they are safe to consume. Also, where or what did you research to conclude that, “Pure healthfood store grade oils should not be digested due to the potency. The reason you can consume the two popular rivals that are being sold from door to door is, because they are so unpure.”
According to what I have read and seen and studied, and what makes sense to the rational, thinking part of my brain is this: the ONLY oils you SHOULD ingest (consume) are those that ARE 100% PURE and unadulterated. The reason you SHOULD NOT ingest inferior oils no matter where they are purchased (health food store, farmers market, or even a popular oil company) is because they are NOT pure. PURE means: no fillers, no additives, no chemicals, no toxins, no bacteria, etc, etc. If your oils are NOT pure, they can have any manner of ingredients in them that can potentially be harmful to your body. For example, a friend of mine had used tea tree oil that she had purchased from a health food store, and broke out in hives because of it. It was not a pure oil, and there was obviously something in it that caused her body to react rather violently. 100% PURE oils are free from pesticides, herbicides, bacteria and other contaminants that I personally do not want to ingest, put on my skin or breathe in. This is precisely why I have chosen to use ameo oils: each batch is rigorously tested by both third party and company experts, and the test results showing their purity are available on the website for all to see. Each label contains warnings for use, and each oil that is ingestible also has a Supplement Facts label.
You are absolutely correct in stating that essential oils are potent. They should be used only as recommended – particularly ones that can have very serious side effects if used improperly. Like Wintergreen, for example, which should NOT be consumed. Just like you read the label on a bottle of vitamins, or ask your pharmacist how to use a medication prescribed for you, you should also know how to properly use essential oils.
I would really like some info on starting with EO. I am a virgin, and am interested in good companies as well.
Beth, I would be happy to help you figure out which oils to start with and how to begin incorporating them into your life. Please note that I am an Independent Distributor for a newly released essential oil line that is clinical grade, so my recommendation of which brand to purchase will be biased. You can get my phone # and email at my website: kariamalia21.myameo.com.
Hi there! Will you send me a message about the essential oil company you use? Thanks much!!
please let me know what company you buy your oils from and what oils you us daily for your family. I really want to try this.
Hi Veronica. I sent you a message.
Love your article! Would love to share it, if that’s ok and wouldn’t be infringing on any rights. 🙂
Thank you….just let me know
Welcome to share. 🙂
Megan
I am just learning about EO’s. I would like to know the brand you use as well.
I don’t sell oils but I know several people that got great information about pure oils and their uses from the website http://www.dropsofmercy.com
It’s important to research from several different sources and not to buy from from an unreliable company.
Love you article. I’m down to deciding between 2 brands, but would love to know what you use first. Thanks!
Messaged you Kat. 🙂
I am ready to use EO’s for my family. I just don’t know which company. I have used Aura Cacia and NOW in the past but I am ready for better results. My husband is home today with some bug that seems like the flu and he is so set on the flu vax our kids 2 and 6. I want more natural methods but my 2 year old has a whole in his heart and will need open heart surgery to close it in the spring of next year. So, I am so scared a bout of the flu or this entovirus going around will hospitalize him. so I am also scared to do nothing,
My 6 yo has anxiety like her dad and has trouble sleeping through the night without one of us in her bed with her. I had low malignant borderline ovarian cancer twice and had a hysterectomy last May. So my body is all messed up, too. We try to eat as clean as possible but I really want to add EO’s to our toolbox but I am just a bit overwhelmed. Ehhhhhhh…so any advice on which company you use would be helpful. Thank you!
Shelly, I just read this article and it is wonderful! I am with an amazing essential oil company that is from seed to seal 100% organic. Many testimonies of how they have helped people for various reasons. Please contact me, I would love to help you on your essential oil journey! [email protected]
Hi !!…..
I have been using essentials oils for a quite a while now but it was only used in my diffuser except the Oregano Oil which i took oraly. Now i`m very interested in taking oïls over médicine. Theres alot of companies out there who make oils but I just wanted to make sure on which one to buy. Can you help me?
Sure. I sent you a message. 🙂
Hi Tammy, your reply came to my email! It didn’t occur to me until after I responded to your questions that I should not and I don’t want to step on the bloggers toes. It had been a few days with no response so I did respond. I apologize Megan! It sounds like she is with Young Living Essential Oils and if she is, they are the best on the market. By far superior to any other. Blessings on your journey! It’s exciting!
Thanks so much for this helpful and useful information!
It’s important to note that all essential oil brands are not created equal. Many brands are cut with synthetic scents, extenders, preservatives, and some can even be toxic. Check the label – many have warnings not to use on the skin or internally. They are often produced for the perfume industry in mass quantities, so companies are not concerned with purity, efficacy etc.
It is CRUCIAL that people know their source. I support an essential oil company that has been around for 20 years and is involved in the process from Seed to Seal (from the time the seed is planted to the moment it is bottled and shipped). They own their own farms and distilleries; and quality is an absolute obsession.
My family and I have been using essential oils internally, topically, and aromatically for 13 years. I started out using lower quality oils for “smell-good” purposes, and, about 4 years ago, I graduated to therapeutic grade (you’ll have to ask me what I mean by that, since it isn’t a regulated term). Wow! What a difference! We purged our medicine cabinet, our skin products, and our cleaning cabinets – we detoxed our home and our lives.
All my children and grandchildren are enjoying the health benefits of whole foods, essential oils, and all-natural home products! Wish I would have known way back when what I know now!
Completely agree! Very important for people to know this.
Thanks for the blog! Would love to know which company you use & what you recommend. I’ve heard a lot about young living, and a little about Rocky Mountain oils & doTerra, but don’t know where to start. With 4 young kids, it’d be nice to try something.
Hi Julie. I sent you a message!
Thanks for reading. 🙂
Thank you for the links to the studies you’ve referenced concerning specific oils. Is there one available for the list of studies you reference on frankincense? The link to the library only goes to the general library homepage.
Angie, it should link the studies on Frankincense. Did it ask for a log-in?
Lovely article. I feel as though, yet again main stream conglomerate companies are taking over our health. It used to be we would have a headache and wonder why… Could it be because you were out in the sun too long or squinting?
Now we ask, did we eat to many chocolates or is, the large soda messing the sugar imbalance. Or are the food additives giving me a head ache. To which we reply… Give me a (insert name of pill to get rid of headache) rather than thinking about what caused it in the first place.or thinking about changing to prevent occurrences of the headache.
Now we say, I have a head ache… Give me a pull. I’m not supposed to be feeling like this. Well maybe you are. Maybe it is your body telling you something. So listen to it.
We have been advertised to for so long we feel slighted of we are not allowed to have the cookie or soda or treat. We feel like we are missing something, or we are not good enough.
I think you are spot on. We have to take care of ourselves and not automatically think some one else- think giant pharmaceutical companies -know what is in our best interest.
One way of doing this is taking your life in your hands and doing what it’s best for you. Not what is going to make large conglomerates more cash in their pockets.
EO is one way to take back control. You may require doctors direction but EOs are a safe and easy way to start to under stand the complexities of the chemicals which are so eagerly gladhanded when you visit the Dr.
Some medications actually come from historical recorded based on plants.
~Laura
I would love to hear more on how EO has made your Crohn’s disease non symptomatic.
Thank you for an excellent article.
Just hearing all the possible side effects at the end of a prescription commercial should be enough to make most of us shy away from synthetic pills and lotions.
I used redux, a weight loss drug in the 90’s they said was safe yet, it killed several women and even though I was only on it for 60 days I had to have my heart checked for damage.
Nature is MUCH safer. I cannot stress how much I love that EO’s are biblical. I love washing my face at night with frankincense. I am excited to learn more about Essential oils and am very glad I found your blog today.
Just a thought, definitely not 100% safe. My friend Alisa was giving out essential oil samples and nearly killed her neighbor Janet. She had an allergic reaction to it and was unable to breathe and…was hospitalized for the whole day. My advice, check your facts. The human body is amazing at healing itself…BY ITSELF. All this talk about essential oil makes me mad because you’re alive now and your body has taken care of itself wi th out essential oil so far. Why waste money on something that your body already does naturally??
Hi Daniel, I am sorry to hear about your friend. I did not say essential oils were 100% safe. I said they are safe when used appropriately. Even your stairs aren’t safe (thousands die each year) and people can die from drinking too much water. I also did not say you NEED an essential oil in order to live but unless one is getting proper sleep, excercise, and is on an impecable (mostly raw) diet and does not have any health issues at all, they would probably benefit from an oil. Oils also help prevent sickness (diffusing an oil for say 20 minutes can eliminate some of the worst bacteria in our air by almost 100% according to research) so why wouldn’t we help our body do what it does best?
I am not sure what oils your friend used or whether they were used correctly. I am glad she is okay though. We’ll have to disagree on oils being a waste of money. I don’t have crohn’s today partly due to EOs, my kids have never been to a doctor or needed a fever reducing medication or any medication for that matter thanks to oils, and my medications would be 8K per month but thanks to spending a couple of bucks on an oil, I don’t have that expense either. 😉
I stumbled across this post very randomly and thought wow what a nice balanced article about essential oils. Then completely out of character I have posted twice in defense of the EO’s. And I am again going to defend EO’s. Ignoring a child swallowing an EO, which though unfortunate, has nothing to do with the correct use, EO’s have proven therapeutic benefits. Research and then apply appropriately. And perhaps keep them out of the reach of children……..along with your household cleaners and prescribed drugs.
I don’t think we can say they aren’t responsible for hospitalizations. I just heard a story of a little boy swallowing almost a whole bottle of wintergreen which can be fatal. Luckily he is alive but I’m wondering at what cost. Don’t get me wrong I absolutely love my oils, but people need to realize they are medicine and they will also have contraindications and need to be used with extreme caution around children and pets. People need to read exactly what they are using and not blindly following others. I love your blog but I think those things should have been addressed as well 🙂
Beth, That’s why I said they are safe when used “appropriately.” I have even heard people dying from drinking too much water. You’re right, essential oils are very potent and need to be used with caution and per recommendations. At the bottom of this post I said I would do a separate post on how to use them. I could not address all of those issues in this post. 🙂 So glad you like my blog. Thanks for your comment!
My journey was long and overwhelming at times, but I chose doTERRA. I, too, started with oils from Whole Foods, but quickly realized that they weren’t as effective as I felt they should be. I did a lot of research on doTERRA and another company, but finally decided on doTERRA for a couple reasons. One, I firmly believe that the best quality plant is grown in its indigenous environment. If fertilizers, soil additives, or other chemicals are added to the soil to “force” a plant to grow, those chemicals will be in the plants as well, and the plants will not be as good a quality. Second, I despise the trash talking that is very prevalent from the other oil company that I researched. If a company’s product is the best and the greatest, the reps should not have to trash talk to convince people that their product is the best. The product itself will prove its superiority. Not to mention that trash talking is just plain unattractive and unprofessional. Each person will have their personal preferences for oil company(ies), but the main thing is that the product be 100% pure and not contain any additives or synthetics.
My wife got an infection while trying to breastfeed our child. We talked to the doctor and he suggested putting cabbage leaves on the infected area. He then said they tried to make a topical cream from cabbage leaves and it didn’t work. There was something about breaking it down that destroyed the healing properties. You quote a lot of uses here for things in their natural state. What studies are there out there for these things in their unnatural state?
Hey Jason, the studies cited in this article are on essential oils, not the plants. Obviously essential oils do not constitute the entirety of a plant but if they come from a reputable company they will not have had any synthetic substances added to them. What that pharmceutical company attempted to do is take a property in cabbage and isolate it and synthesize it so they could patent it and make money off of it. Unfortunately the synthesized, isolated, (manipulated) chemical in cabbage didn’t have the same effect on the body as cabbage leaves did. A pharma company can’t patent essential oils which is why they do not promote them. Essential oils are natural potentized substances derived from plants.
I used to get a sinus infection following EVERY cold or increase in allergies. This lead to a $25 co-pay and $60 in medications which worked very well. But I also lost a week of productivity and had to endure the pain until the infection cleared. This was happening about every six weeks, sometimes my doc would give me refills so I could save the co-pay and time at the doc’s office. I was about to start allergy shots and was supposed to schedule an MRI of my sinuses. $$$
In December last year I was introduced to essential oils and taught how to use them for my sinus problems. I have not had a sinus infection since then. I have spent a fraction of the money on essential oils as I would have on seeing the doc, medications and testing for more help.
In most cases I can stop a cold in its tracks with oils and a day of rest.
If this was the only thing (it’s not and I don’t sell them) I had gained from using essential oils, it would be more than enough of a reason to use them and love them.
Don’t knock what you haven’t experienced, Jenny. Your family is blessed that you are all just fine.
I still see the doc when I need to and don’t hesitate to take my kids when they need it. Coincidentally, we don’t need to nearly as often as we used to. That is money well spent!
Thank you, very well said. http://www.eomiracles.wordpress.com
The statement that “natural treatments, etc have not been responsible for hospital visits” is not true! I personally can attest to that! Ghinko Biloba (from a “tree”) nearly caused me to bleed to death internally. I’m not saying the oils are bad or going to do the same. I just don’t like the implication that they shouldn’t be used with the same care and caution as any other substance. Statements to the contrary are dangerous.
Qeena, this post was about essential oils not other forms of natural medicine (though if you look at the statistics they are responsible for about zero deaths each year). I’m sorry you had a bad experience but I, in no way, encouraged people to do anything without caution, which is why at the bottom of this post it says I will write another article on how to use these oils and why I included the following statment in this post:
“Essential oils are amazing. They’re powerful, and they’re safe when used appropriately.”
The problem being of course, that so many companies and company reps and “wellness consultants” are pushing INAPPRORIATE and UNSAFE methods of use of these powerful healing oil. Anything powerful enough to heal is also powerful enough to do harm. There are a lot of reports of harm done from inappropriate use. People with permanent esophagus scarring from drinking oils in a glass of water, people with liver damage from uneducated internal overuse, people with chemical burns (wrongly explained as a “detox reaction”)
How do I find out about getting into the group to sell your essential oils. Have been checking out companies and this one sounds great.
I agree with an above commenter about essential oil company fatigue. I have oils from a lot of companies that I like, including young living AND doTerra. I will say though that DT was my first introduction to EOs and I felt rather deceived when I learned that the Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade label was made up by DT. For them to say “Only buy oils with the CPTG label on it” is misleading. That doesn’t make the OILS bad. But when I tried to find who does that certification, and found that it’s only DT, I felt like I had been hoodwinked.
Great post! Please don’t make the next one a doterra vs young living debate! I think that they both have great oils and it would be so sad to have such a great post tainted by that ridiculousness.
I have not experienced any other companies and have no allegiances anywhere, but I must agree that I too felt hoodwinked by the CPTG rating. It is not a rating standard used by any one else. I also agree that it does not mean the oils are not superb. That rating is just misleading
I love the lotions and sprays from Alma Naturals. They blend the right combo of essential oils in all natural lotion. Easy and safe and much more affordable.
I also love my oils and can’t live without them, but I just have to tell you the picture for this post made my day! Thank you and I look forward to your next post. …p.s. next time I’m having a bad day, I am totally going to draw faces on my fingers 🙂
Haha, thank you Jan! I’m glad you enjoyed the picture. 🙂
I am a massage therapist and I have used essential oils for 14 years or so…
I want to say, though, that doTERRA oils have turned my career around.
They are harvested in the best indigenous environment for that plant.
They are tested scientifically to be 100% pure, therapeutic grade.
I can go on and on, but let me say the products I really love are Deep Blue and the toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner. Oh, and the Elevation blend is my only perfume.
My website shows more options like nutritional support, family physician kit, and the mood elevation kit.
Any questions specifically, I’d be happy to address.
Thanks
Amy
I have Crohn’s and am trying Di Gize and peppermint. What all are you taking and what diet are you using with the oils. I’ve been trying oils for about three weeks still with symptoms. Thanks
Di Gize is good. I used it external but using it as an enema was much more effective. I did strict macrobiotics for a few weeks and was able to get off all of my medications. It was restrictive but worked. I’m now on a healthy, organic, plant-based, whole foods diet. I did a lot of other things in conjunction with oils and diet as well.
Well written. Thank you! We have been using Young Living for almost 4 years now. Can’t imagine life without them now.
I have not used essential oils…yet. I’m very curious about them and believe they work. I’m concerned on the “safe when used appropriately” part. How do you know if an essential oil you may be contemplating using is safe with health conditions you may have? For example, I have heart PVC’s which are harmless “extra” beats. Certain medications like decongestants can make them worse. How would I know what essentials might cause issues with this condition? Do you have to google each oil to see if those warnings are out there? Do companies like YL have such info for people who purchase?
I actually just ordered a kit of essential oils from what sounds like a reputable company, I have a friend that suffers from Crohn’s disease and would love go know the oil you used that helped you? Her medications have certainly helped her but they have also made her gain quite a bit of weight
The oil I used for my Crohn’s was “Di Gize” by Young Living.
This is FANTASTIC. I love that you’ve done so much research to support your stance and that you’ve shared your findings. Well done.
Thanks Laura! Love your blog by the way. 🙂
Love this! We have been using and selling essential oils for a few months and it totally changed our family! What oil company do you use? Young Living is our choice! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Megan, I love your blog, and I am impressed with your topic. We have started using essential oils in March and have replaced all our OTC medications.
They have changed out lives!
Thanks for sharing.
Carmen
Just because you use essential oils does not mean that you don’t use mainstream medicine when necessary. Just the correct use of an oil may mean that you may not need to get to that point. I use essential oils every day without really thinking about it. In my washing, when I wash my floors, wipe my bench, to soak in when I have a bath, to burn at night and actually now, just because they smell nice, better sleep, who knows ,but what possible harm could it be doing? Cuts, insect bites, rashes of an unspecified nature, a cold coming on, (the singer in my house has his inhaler brew and swears by it). If anyone needs to go to the doctor, they do. But interestingly enough, we hardly ever need to. Essential oils are just another tool, along with healthy eating and herbal remedies that we use to keep us well. And when we are not recovering or have an accident, we use the medical system. I agree
also that the quality of the oils used needs to be well researched.
It says on deck how to choose a company? What does that mean? Ive been looking for the right company and would love to know when to expect that post.
It means the next post will be on choosing the right company. 🙂
Chelsea, I have joined a company Genesis Pure that has oils and other natural products for cleanse, balance and build…the oils they have are tea tree, lemon, lavender, grapefruit, bergamot, eucalyptus, peppermint and orange. Check out http://www.showgp.com and click on the left side info and products, etc and you can see what the company offers…I would love to have you join my team…if you want more info I would be happy to speak with you…252-826-4559 or [email protected]…I would need to sign you up and you can order your own products and get the discounts they offer, and you can also build a business if you want to.
Okay, I’m not one to usually reply to posts and I’m definitely not a big debater, but I do have some thoughts/questions. I have definitely heard a lot more about essential oils recently and know several families who use them religious. The one thing that had struck me about all of them is that as soon as they got their oils, they stopped their medications. That just seems silly to me. I know oils have been around for a long time and for good reason, but I also believe that modern medicine is around for a reason too. While the U.S. might not use oils as much add they should, countries who do use the oils have sicknesses and diseases that have been eradicated in the U.S. and their lifespan is shorter. Okay, now I’m not really sure what my questions were:)
Hey Amanda, Thanks for your thoughts. Essential oils are definitely not a substitution for a healthy diet and lifestyle and I believe both forms of medicine have their place too. 🙂
I love this blog post and wish I could ‘like’ spme of your responses!! I feel like I’ve met my new best friend!!
We can totally be friends. 🙂
Good information. I am trying to learn as much as I possibly can about essential oils. I am extremely excited as my company is launching a line of essential oils. I am told we have 2 new patents to go along with these. Thanks for the info!
This is just what I’ve been wanting and needing, some education on oils from a source thats not selling them. Thanks, looking forward to the next installment.
Glad you found it helpful! 🙂
Can’t wait for more info. We dabble now & have seen great results with oregano oil & tea tree oil. Am looking to add more into or repertoire! Thanks for all you do. Keep up the great work! 🙂
If you are trying to convince people with this article that essential oils aren’t a fad and a waste of money that already seems so scarce it is not going to happen, not the strong minded ones anyway. Where is your scientific credibility? Quack school? What is quack school? You really think you will convince doctors and other healthcare providers with this article that essential oils are a must have? This is clearly, a random girl named Megan, blogging about her thoughts on essential oils. I could easily blog on any subject and have no scientific credibility at all and people would still buy into whatever ridiculous fad I am blogging about. These companies are trying to take your money! By squeezing some lemon juice and oils from a REAL lemon, aren’t you getting the same effect? Buy some fresh mint leaves? HELLOOO??? How much can these oils cost to make? Clearly not near is much as they charge for them! Stop paying ridiculous amounts of money for these things! My family doesn’t use them and we are all doing just fine (and I am not spending $15 each for a little vile of smelly stuff)
Jenny, exactly who do you think actually recieves training on aromatherapy? Who would be qualified in your book to speak on the subject? I’m also not trying to convince doctors or other healthcare providers with this article, though I certainly have and that’s a plus.
I am just a “random” girl who isn’t qualified to talk about anything. You got me. Point taken. If you choose not to use essential oils that is your choice but I would suggest reading a book on the subject so you can understand the extremely intricate process of extracting an oil. I also encourage you to think about how drugs are made…i.e. active ingredient taken from something and synthesized in a lab. Why not just take the plant it is synthesized from? And…you should probably look into some of the sources hyperlinked in this post.
My crohn’s disease medications were $2,000 per month. The essential oil I used was around $18 a bottle at the time and lasted me several months. I now no longer have crohn’s or require the benefits of this essential oil…and I have physical proof and medical documentation that it worked. So yes, I will continue to do what’s best for my health and my pocket book. There is no question which route worked better and saved our family the most money.
Please be respectful if you wish to comment further. Although you’re entitled to your opinion and it will be respected, I expect the same courtsey as do others on this forum.
Jenny,
I agree, with Megan. Here’s the problem with the scientific argument you wage.
#1 as mentioned, read a book on the science of EOs, it’s intrinsic, the chemical composition of EOs is directly related to their capacity to have positive effects on health, their small molecular size allows them to enter cells and even cross the blood/brain barrier (with some oils). There is much to be learned. Read a book! Or even worse….try an oil….results speak volumes!!
#2 why is logic no longer a part of modern medicine. What is logical about completely dismissing something that has worked effectively without harmful side-effects since Bible times. Folks who use essential oils are not just crunchy, hippy, trenders. They are also physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and a whole slew of educated, knowledgeable people.
#3 if you want to compare costs…you should research the cost of a good therapeutic grade oil, vs. the cost of your insurance co-pay, medication, and so forth, or even the cost/drop compared to the cost of OTC and prescriptions….it’s um cheaper if you actually take the time to research and do the math.
Perhaps opinions that are so strong should be fact based a bit….
Actually, there are many doctors and hospitals that do use essential oils. Maybe you should do some research on that instead of insulting the author.
Absolutely right Heather. 😉
Jenny, here in Australia I have easy access to Eucalyptus and Maleleuca leaves. I could, if I really could be bothered, collect the leaves and with a bit of effort make my own essential oils. But my time is worth more than the $10 to $20 (depending on the bottle size) I would spend on buying them in the supermarket. To say that these products are a rip off, when so widely and effectively used here, is just uneducated. 50,000 plus years of use, probably isn’t a fad. Essential oils have been used medicinally since time began and there are plenty of scientific studies to prove different oils effectiveness in their application. I am not going to bother to provide more references as this has already been done well. And how do you squeeze lemon oil from a lemon? I squeeze a lemon each day for it’s juice, but I have yet to succeed in squeezing it’s oil.
References please!
Hyperlinked in blue/green font.
What oil have you been using for your crohns… I’ve researched some, but not sure where to start! Thanks!
Definitely feel that essential oils, when used safely and in moderation, are an integral part of the holistic healing arsenal.
Looking for to the next installment, but also really hoping you are not following in the footsteps of other holistic health bloggers and aligning yourself with any one particular company. I have essential oil company fatigue, and have unfollowed many bloggers for this reason. Bloggers with a captive audience bear a weighty responsibility to their readership/followers, and that includes, in my opinion, allowing folks to make their own decisions about which products are best for their budget and family.
P. S. My favorite resource on safety is Tisserand’s Essential Oil Safety 2nd edition.
Rachel, I understand your desire to want to read an informative article without feeling pressured to purchase oils through that blogger. I agree, it often seems to take credibility away from the writing when it ends up sounding like a sales pitch. However, it would be misleading for a blogger to list all of the ways EOs are beneficial to our health without giving us a head’s up that not all Essential Oils are created equal. Pure, unadulterated essential oils are safe when used correctly, but oils with additives, fillers, chemically created fragrances, etc can be dangerous and should not be used medicinally. This is not opinion. This is fact. Reason being is because EOs are not required by law to be 100% pure yet they may label that they are. That is scary! 3rd party unbiased testing to verify and document that an oil is pure, unadulterated & contains the proper constituents to be used safely is not required of EO companies and is costly, but is a customer’s only way of trusting the safety of that oil. So, unless it is a company’s own policy to do so, the majority of companies simply don’t, because a) they don’t have to, b) can’t afford to while still being profitable, and/or c) they know damn well their oil isn’t pure and free of pesticides, additives, etc.
I would NEVER recommend someone using Essential Oils for themselves or their children without it being from a company with STRICT internal quality control standards and 3rd party testing. I personally trust Young Living’s Seed-to-Seal guarantee on every batch and I have many friends who trust DoTerra, but other than those two companies proceed with MUCH caution and do your homework friends!!!
Great article! Love my oils! Just signed on with doTERRA and can not believe everything we use them for and all of the great benefits we have already seen. My biggest success has been using lavender for my son who was an avid sleepwalker (his sleep study said that he had a 49% sleep efficiency rating and walked three times in three hours, poor kid) – and now does not sleep walk at all!
Wow that’s amazing Dinah!
Can you share what you used for the sleep walking? I would love to get some tips.
Thanks!
that’s great about lavender oil and the reduction of sleepwalking! I use lavender a lot as a massage therapist. It’s great for stress reduction and for sleep issues.
Quick questions:
What do you do for fevers of 104-105, since you don’t medicate?
What would you do if your child was born with a condition that required medication?
What would you do, should your child come down with a staph infection from an open cut (which children actually get, pretty commonly)?
Hey Anna,
1. We’ve never had fevers that high but if one of my kids had a fever of 105 and we were ineffective at lowering it naturally (again, that’s never happened) they’d go to a hospital. For lowering fevers we utilize peppermint or lavender essential oils and lukewarm baths with these oils to keep the fever within a range we are comfortable with. This isn’t medical advice, it’s just what works for us.
2. Depends. What do you consider to be a condition that requires medication?
3. If my child had an open cut I’d address it before a staph infection would ever set in. I’d utilize proper wound care and then I’d put some essential oil on it. 😉
What about a heart problem and needing medication to regulate heart rate? What about an anaphylactic reaction so bad your child’s throat was closing?
I am not anti-medication Jenny. I’ve seen many regulate their heart rate through natural medicine and I would hope if someone had a child with a severe allergy they are carrying an epi-pen while also trying to address the root of the problem so the severe allergy can be resolved. Actually, we kept an epi pen on-hand for our child’s peanut allergy. We also addressed the cause of the allergy…which she no longer has.
People who truly need a medical doctor should go to one.
Hey Megan I really love reading your blogs we have talked on Facebook several times. 🙂 We use essential oils and Plexus probiotics my son has a peanut allergy along with some other allergies I’m curious to what regiment did you use for your sons allergy that helped. Thanks.
Love your article! I am a happy user of Young Living EO’s. I have been able to take my son off all his asthma, allergy and reflux medicine. My only regret is that I didn’t know about them sooner. They have been life changing for my family. I am going to share your article with family who calls the oils my voodoo or snake oils!
Thanks Delilah! I am so glad you enjoyed it and that your son has found relief for his conditions! Do share this article. If they are Christian you might point them to the Bible as they were not considered to be “snake oils” at all! 🙂
Thank you for this!!! I am really wanting to get into essential oils but I have no idea where to start!!
You are welcome Amanda. I’ll try to clear up the rest of the questions you might have in the next post.
Please Please PLEASE write a post on how to use essential oils! I just bought about 20 oils but I have absolutely no idea how to use them, or what to use them for! I don’t know how many drops of what to put into what kind of lotion, oil, water. I need major help! Thanks so much!!
We keep a nice selection on hand but herbs are still our go to choice. The sustainability when it comes to making these essential oils is not the best. I am curious though, as my research has led me to the biblical oils being more infused…where did you find the information on them using essential oils (as opposed to infused)? I would love to learn how they grew and distilled the plants for these oils. Thanks!
Hi Jacki, I’m sure they were used many ways and we know that plants were expressly given to us to use as medicine. I did write a dissertation on this subject. I’ll have to pull it out and see what sources I used!
Megan
According to Dr. Robert Pappas, an essential oil chemist and founder of Essential Oil University (not an actual university), actual Essential oils didn’t exist until the 11th century (when steam distillation was discovered). In ancient Egypt and biblical times they did have aromatic materials that were used for medicinal, religious, and ceremonial purposes, but they would have been extracted from the plant with some kind of solvent, and so have different chemical properties than essential oils that are available to us today.
Terrific post–thank you!
Looking forward to the rest of this blog series…now that I have oils I am overwhelmed as to how to use them, what to use for what, how much to use and how often to actually get results! HELP!!! =)
I’ll try to clear up all of the questions you have about oils (and how to use them) in my next few posts! 🙂
We can’t live without our “quack medicine”
http://www.sustainablyhealthy.net
Neither can we Jodie. 😉
Yes! I agree 100%! SO happy you are writing about EO’s! They are WONDERFUL! So happy they came into my life almost 2 years ago. I can’t live without them. Seriously! Looking forward to your other blog posts!
XOXO!
Kristina
Thanks Kristina, and thanks for the advice on breaking up my posts! More to come. 🙂