Essential Oils – Good or Bad?
Are essential oils good for you? Are they bad for you? Are they neither good nor bad, sort of like a placebo? It’s a hot debate in the natural health world.
Essential oils are highly concentrated oils taken from plant parts. Some holistic advisers swear by them. Other folks are skeptical, while some scientists and others in the medical field share a few words of caution.
There are many alleged benefits to using essential oils. But before you reach any final conclusions, consider these views on six of them.
Alleged Benefit #1: Better-Quality Sleep
One of the most popular reasons many use essential oils is because of their perceived sleeping benefits. Just as folks drink certain teas to fall asleep faster and enjoy a deeper sleep, some say oils from those same plants have similar effects.
Some experts warn to pay attention to directions. If applying the oils directly on your skin, they do not suggest using undiluted oils, which can contain 20 times the recommended dose of certain herbs.
Alleged Benefit #2: Less Stress
There are those who claim that essential oils can ease stress and calm anxiety. Since many headaches are attributed to stress, there are physical reasons why folks would want to use the oils to reduce it. Also, some parents use them on children who have behavioral problems before going the “medicinal” route.
On the other hand, how the oil is used is very important. Studies show that oils can have negative effects when used in combination with certain other oils and medicines.
Alleged Benefit #3: Healthier Skin/Skin Repair
Many essential oil lovers use the concentrated oils for the purpose of healing the skin. For some, that means clearing up acne and skin blemishes. For others, that could mean healing cuts and even soothing the pain associated with certain skin injuries.
But reports show that ingesting more than a small dose of certain oils (such as wintergreen oil, which is associated with pain relief) is “like swallowing a large amount of adult aspirin.” Such a statement would suggest alarming adverse effects.
Alleged Benefit #4: Better Digestion
Some believe you can cure digestive upset by applying certain essential oils on the skin in the abdominal area in a “clockwise direction.” They claim the oil will seep in through the skin and into the bloodstream.
But other sources report that “children with their thin skin and immature livers might be more susceptible to toxic effects than adults.” That would imply the oils could have negative effects on your organs.
Alleged Benefit #5: Cough and Flu
It’s common for some essential oil users to inhale oils to soothe them if they have the flu or the common cold. In this case, some would say the oils act more as a reliever than a cure.
But it’s reported that folks have suffered from seizures if they aren’t careful with how they apply the oils. In some cases, children have been sent into comas after digesting certain oils.
Alleged Benefit # 6: Jet Lag Recovery
Some holistic advisers recommend mixing different essential oils together to help travelers recover from jet lag. Oils are also said to help with sleep, alertness and energy. But when misused or abused, some say the oils can cause not only comas but hallucinations as well.
It’s important to remember that no two cases are identical. Everyone comes with different medical histories and conditions. If you have long-lasting health concerns, please consult your physician. Untreated health problems can result in more adverse health effects and even death.
Finally, here’s a list of five of the most popular essential oils, as well as what some claim they are good for:
Peppermint. It’s no wonder peppermint is a popular gum flavor. Peppermint oil is used to freshen breath. It’s also used as a muscle pain reliever and a natural energizer.
Lavender. While the scent is known to be very calming, lavender oil is also used for an ability to heal the skin from cuts and irritations.
Lemon. Lemon oil is popularly used to curb overeating and for body cleansing. It’s also used for stomach illnesses such as queasiness and cramps.
Eucalyptus. Eucalyptus oil is used to treat the flu and common cold, and sinus and allergies, and to wash hands.
Grapefruit. Grapefruit oil is used to reduce depression, clean the body and help with weight loss.
Upon researching, mainly in medical journals, Essential Oils, I have come to the conclusion ingesting them is NOT a good idea. I believe there needs to be further research on what taking them internally can do to the body in the long term. I do know, also, using the old standbys i.e., peppermint, lavender, etc do no harm and even can relieve some mild problems. These have been used for years by our grandparents and our ancestors and have proven their value. I hope this helps bring some clarity to the situation.
I have used Tea Tree Oil for over 15 years. It is great for insect bites and itching from the bites and rashes, i.e. poison ivy. Use only topically. Do not ingest it.
There is another Manufacture of Pharmaceutical Grade Oils. Young Living. They are expensive BUT IF you are going to ingest them, I’d go with Young Living or DoTerra.
I use essential oils on a regular basis and have been for over 10 years. They are our medicine. We use them for everything on us and also our animals. The only brand I recommend is Young Living Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils. We use them both internally and externally.
Happy to see you address this. I am a military brat, retired Government Contractor, professional dog handler/breeder and lifer girl scout – I have many of your products Frank and I am a distributor for Young Living EO’s. These are a must for my bug out bag and daily life because I can share all my products with my animals saving on medical bills for us all. Our premium starter kit for example covers EVERY member for any need with the assortment of included Essential Oils and provides a free home diffuser! https://getoiling.com/StehanieCottrell if you would like to know more – I am growing my nationwide team and happy to mentor and support Patriots on the journey to toxin free off grid living.
I am very familiar with the six oils you speak of and the properties they have. I keep on hand Peppermint and Grapefruit for its refreshing and awakening qualities. I have allergy problems – big time and my sinus just kill me. My hot eucalyptus baths offer big time relief. And Lavender . . . I can’t tell you how much I depend on Lavender to chill and prepare to sleep, because I’m older now and retired and I don’t have a sleep pattern. I’ve been here 62 years now and make the best of the days we have.
I will certainly have essential oils in stock for my bugout bag. I have been using EOs for a number of years and I wouldn’t be without them. There are a lot of “Nay Sayers” when it comes to EO’s but that’s ok….means more will be available for those who know the power!
Thanks for that input, Dale!
I have been using essential oils for about 10 years and swear by them. I use Ylang Ylang or Roman Chamomile for relaxing just before I hit the sack. It works like a charm and knocks me out for a full night’s sleep. I use Helichrysum oil for my aging skin and it also eases pain and inflammation. Lavender is also great for relaxing and quickly healing up a burn/sunburn, scrape or cut. There are many others that I always keep on hand for emergencies. I can’t live without them and I don’t take any pharmaceutical medications. Essential oils are are my first aid kit. They are my all natural medicine and comprise my medicine cabinet.
Lavender oil helps reduce the itch of bug bites. Apply to bite.
Helichrysum-stops bleeding
Oregano-kills bacteria, viruses and fungus
Oil of Clove-stops toothaches
Any oils that are ingested need to be pharma grade therapeutic grade and I know of only one brand and that is doTerra.
Get a reference book before experimenting with oils too….and don’t use water mixtures to atomize the oils, get a venturi air diffuser that diffuses just the oils and takes only a couple of drops saving tons of $ because some of these oils are quite expensive like Helichrysum.
YOUNG LIVING ESSENTIAL OILS are the purest of the brands of Therapeutic Essential Oil and have been around doing research and producing oils long before doTerra came into existence. Your can look it up to see when they got started
Young Living Oils are a quality oils but are not pharma grade therpeutic and they even state do not take internally. Only doTerra is the purest and pharma terapeutic grade and some can be taken internally. Get doTerra’s Reference Book to see which ones can be taken internally. And self research is always a good idea.
I use 1)oil of oregano, many uses…skin irritations, wound care, anti fungaland anti viral uses. 2) tea tree oil, repells ticks , fleas and people, stong antibacterial mostly for topical..
3) pepeprmint/spearmint. used for digestion, repellant for fleas/ticks,/mice decongestant effects like menthol..variety of uses, can be used as flavoring.
If you have clients in San Diego County who are interested in essential oils, please send them my way! I’m a DoTerra Wellness Advocate. I’ve been using the oils for five years & in that time have only gone for annual checkups. Sure saves on doctor bills.
Tea tree would be my #1
Has so many uses
I do use essential oils and believe that they can be very beneficial when the correct oil is used in the correct way – the correct oil, at the correct dilution, on the correct person, following the correct precautions, etc. Some oils should not be used on or around pregnant or nursing women. Others should not be used on or around people with a history of high blood pressure. Just as with any other item in your bug out bag, if you don’t know how to use it then the value of it is limited and it could even be a detriment rather than an asset.
I think natural oils do have their place.these have been used for thousands of years ,but you can take that as a grain of salt?
Great post! I have been using Doterra oils now for a year. The list of benefits are endless. You are right that each person is different, so some essential oils work better than others on certain people. I was very skeptical for sure. But when I saw the difference they made for my wife and her Hashimotos Syndrome, I was a convert. I use them for my joint and tendon problems. Alot have do to with lifting your emotional well being. A good thing….happy heart=happy mind, this leads better health! Diffusing for better sleep at night too, no more insomnia!
Check out this comprehensive list of EO’s and their uses:
https://jnjfarmky.com/collections/health-care/products/5ml-essential-oils
Based on my own experience essential oils do work. I will sleep from 4 to 6 hours instead of 2 hours. It helps my breathi g. It stops pain. Salome people may have allergies to so.e Leo’s.
So far the sweet/spice oils and the citrus oils are my favorites.
Have begun use of essential oils, very interested in learning more.
Frank, it’s pretty clear you know nothing about EO’s. You repeated several statements and positions held by the Medical & Pharmaceutical industries. Would you like to know some of the LIES that these two professions have told – and still do. Would you like to know how many deaths these two professions are responsible for – EVERYDAY? I can’t even begin to correct all the flaws in this article. Let me just leave you with one response to your request for an EO in a Bug Out Bag: Tea Tree Oil. There are many others – like a few that are excellent insect / tick repellents. Oh, didn’t your MD friends tell you how dangerous and toxic commercial repellents are?
Hey, Frank, did you ever put Deep Woods OFF on your arm and then 20 seconds later taste it in your mouth. That’s because it DOES seep into your skin, into your blood, into your mouth and into your liver. Why do you find it so hard to believe that the topical application of EOs can’t be beneficial.