Are Essential Oils Safe?

on

What are essential oils?

Essential oils are made from certain parts of plants such as leaves, herbs, bark, and rinds. They are concentrated extracts and are extremely volatile. An essential oil gets its name from the plant it is derived from. These oils were given the name “essential,” because they were believed to capture a plant’s essence, which is its odor and flavor. They lend plants their distinctive fragrance.

Essential oils have been used for centuries and is difficult to exactly pinpoint which culture began its usage but the first records of essential oils allegedly come from ancient India, Persia, and Egypt. Each culture had various uses for them ranging from health to spiritual practices.

Essential oils can be inhaled, topically applied or put them in your bathtub.

What are essential oils used for?

Essential oils are widely used in aromatherapy to bring mental and physical well-being. Aromatherapy is the practice of blending essential oils with various essential oils to promote the desired effect. Essential oils can be applied or massaged on the skin, inhaled, or immersed in water.

While aromatherapy has been used for centuries in various cultures, it has not been properly tested for its effectiveness in medicine. However, it remains a popular complementary therapy to help with specific health conditions.

Examples include:

What are the dangers of essential oils?

There have been claims made by companies that produce essential oil products that essential oils are ‘natural’ and therefore ‘safe to consume’. However, Essential oils are not safe to consume and can cause significant toxicity even in small amounts. Therefore they should never be ingested, except under the guidance of a medical practitioner.

Irritation and Burning: Always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil before applying to the skin.

Asthma attacks: While essential oils may be safe for most people to inhale, some people with asthma may respond to breathing in the fumes.

What are the symptoms of toxicity?

Essential oils are quickly absorbed orally and symptoms can develop as quickly as 30 minutes after ingestion (some people experience symptoms that are delayed for up to four hours after exposure). The severity of the toxicity depends on the type of oil and the amount ingested.

Children are especially affected. Just 2mL (less than half a teaspoon) of eucalyptus oil can cause severe poisoning in a child.

Symptoms of poisoning include:

  • Drowsiness, shortness of breath / deep, coma (after heavy ingestion)
  • Epilepsy
  • Persistent cough, choking/suffocation, shortness of breath, shortness of breath
  • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
  • Skin irritation (skin exposure)
  • Eye redness, irritation or pain (eye exposure).

Dos & Don’t’s of essential oil

Do’s of essential oils:

  • Do try essential oils if you’re Anxious.
  • Do check the quality.
  • Do toss out older oil.
  • Do consult your doctor.
  • Do dilute them.
  • Do consider age.
  • Do a patch test
  • Do stop use if your skin reacts.
  • Do choose your therapist carefully.
  • Do take care if pregnant.

Don’t’s of essential oils:

  • Don’t just rub them anywhere.
  • Don’t trust buzzwords.
  • Don’t put edible oils on your skin.
  • Don’t use it on damaged skin.
  • Don’t forget to store them safely.
  • Don’t overdo it.
  • Don’t be afraid to try them.

Takeaway: Essential oils are generally safe to use when used externally and in low concentrations (less than3%). However, there are safety concerns associated with them and they should never be ingested. If in doubt, one should always consult a healthcare practitioner who has knowledge of essential oils.



Comments

Post a Comment