Essential oils are quite popular nowadays. They have been found to offer some health benefits, but there some things to know. Last month's blog explained what essential oils are and what they do. This week I want to give you some examples of major essential oils and what they can be used for. I picked up this fact sheet at the Novant Integrative Medicine Symposium in October, 2019. It is an excellent sheet explaining a lot of the more common and used oils.
1. Some oils are for topical use only. This means they can not be swallowed, drank, or taken internally. They are specifically for use as massage oils, foot/hand/body soaks, room diffusers, etc. NEVER take these by mouth or any other method of internal application.
2. Oils are to be used as prescribed. If you have oils that are approved for internal use, be sure not to over dose or use in any way other than what is recommended by an expert on essential oils. Read ALL instructions and warnings on labels BEFORE you use them internally.
3. Research and data are NOT widely available (yet) about the safety or efficacy of the oils. While is widely accepted that they are safe, when used as intended (internal vs external oils), time will tell if they are indeed safe.
4. Some oils may cause allergies to flare, but most of the time the oils actually help allergies. Be your own judge as to whether you should be using certain oils.
5. When in doubt, seek a knowledgeable opinion from those who sell oils or a pharmacist/doctor.
I use essential oils for various reasons. In my air diffusers I use Lavender, sweet orange, and chamomile for good sleep, Eucalyptus for congestion and allergies, Lemon, Clary Sage, Bergamot, and Jasmine for depression and sadness; Peppermint for nausea.
Some oils are toxic to pets (ingesting or inhaling). I will be publishing a whole blog on this topic in the next week or two. Look for it, I will cover the toxic oils and the symptoms of toxic poisoning in pets. Stay tuned........ (it's too much to try to cover in this blog.)
Essential oils can be great if they are used correctly. Do your research. Experiment with different oils, but one at a time until you know if they are irritating or good for you.
Do you use Essential Oils? What oils do you use? Do you see a benefit in all oils or certain ones? Which ones are beneficial to you? Have you had any negative experiences with essential oils?
XOXO