Essential Oil use has risen in popularity over the last several years. This mama was excited to enter into the world of using EO's! I too wanted natural remedies as a first course of action before considering pharmaceutical options as well as preventative maintenance for health, beauty, and emotional and mental well being. It seemed so simple, so amazingly natural... so safe!
Think about one oil: Eucalyptus essential oil. Very common for treating congestion. There are 3 types and a simple google search will give you information such as:
Eucalyptus Globulus - The classic eucalyptus inspires deep breathing with its foresty, vaporous, camphor-like aroma. It's a mainstay aroma for clarifying bath preparations and body applications.
Eucalyptus Radiata - A gentler and greener scented version of the classically camphorous blue gum eucalyptus aroma, narrow leaved eucalyptus offers a softer, milder aroma. It's great for kids and people who are more sensitive to powerful aromas.
Eucalyptus Citriodora - The camphorous aroma of this essential oil takes a back seat to a distinctly lemony, lemongrass-like aroma, making it a nice addition to room mists, skin care oils and lotions. Lemon eucalyptus is a wonderfully protecting summertime oil, great for outdoor use.
Notice the one that says "great for kids" - Did you know that NO Eucalyptus is considered safe for children under 10? When I first started using oils, my son was an infant. I wanted natural remedies for his congestion and immune boosting, etc. I kept seeing advise from blogs, and MLM Facebook pages for "breathe" blends and other suggestions always involving eucalyptus, it was so frustrating. There are lists for age appropriate oils.
It's wonderful that awareness for natural options such as EO's has grown, however, this generates opportunity in the open market for new companies wanting a piece of the action offering consumers a plethora of companies to choose from. We all know this means differences in price, quality, ethical & sustainable business practices, etc. And that means we as the consumer are responsible for choosing the best one. I don't know about you, but I am absolutely exhausted from having to research every last little thing that I buy just to know it's safe! Everything from the food we eat to the plastic we used to eat or drink it out of, to candles, makeup, diapers, toys, chemically scented things we used to pay no attention to that are everywhere. Sometimes I want to throw my hands up in the air and go buy non-organic food that saves me so much money, shop at the big, evil chain store that saves me so much money, use a microwave because it's so much quicker, stop reading labels to see how much added sugar is apparently in everything! I want to stop making my life so much more challenging. I get it people, I get it. Quite the tangent, I apologize, but we need to vote with our dollars and tell all the slime bags who just want to produce crap as cheap as possible to make a bigger profit for their pocket that WE DON'T WANT YOUR CRAP! Stop making it!
So back to the world of EO's: Most companies claim their oils are 100% essential oils, but it simply isn't true. That's why you want to purchase quality oils. There are crappy oils that just smell nice and are great for diffusing for scent or putting in cleaning products for scent, they will not be harmful as they are also not affective for therapeutic benefits.
Lea Harris, CCA, her blog usingeossafely.com is the best site I've come across and I've been reading and researching for a while. She has a list of rated brands and how she rates them. Just because the company doesn't get 3 or even 4 stars doesn't mean you shouldn't buy their oils. For example, she lowers their rating if they don't have clear safety information, but that doesn't mean the oils are unsafe themselves or poor quality. If you are doing your own safety research then it doesn't matter to you if they don't provide safety info. Click here if you are interested in purchasing oils and want to stick with some good brands.
Another issue: You need to be aware of your own health issues and medications. For example:
A woman had purchased some blends from an EO company (blend is several oils pre-blended and sometimes, not always, diluted in a carrier oil). Her blend included eucalyptus and rosemary and wintergreen. Every one of those oils could trigger a seizure and she was an active epileptic. There are also oils that can cause blood thinning. My Dad is on blood thinning medication so that would be dangerous to apply such oils on him! If you are otherwise healthy but are going to have surgery, you need to stop using such oils at least 2 weeks before.
The Directory of Essential Oils, by Wanda Sellar, which has thorough safety information for each essential oil.
Cancer - I fully believe in EO's, but again, be informed! It's can be very overwhelming, I should know! I'm still learning constantly. There are many EO's and natural remedies that can actual protect the cancer cells! It is highly recommended that you work with a certified aromatherapist if you are diagnosed with anything or taking any regular prescription meds. There is also a list of oils that are carcinogenic so you'd definitely want to avoid that if you are already at risk for cancer.
"I realize there are many other more dangerous substances out there which also cause cancer, and I would agree that essential oils are not high on the list of potential carcinogens.However, due to the popularity of ingestion that is promoted by marketers in some essential oil circles, the cancer potential needs to finally be addressed. Multiple drops of essential oils consumed on a daily basis are encouraged by some of these marketers – and some of the essential oils used are potentially carcinogenic. It is this kind of regular, long-term use that can put one at risk." - Lea Harris, CCA
So there you have just a few examples of why it is SO important to do your research. I like to keep a spreadsheet. Anyone who knows me knows I love a spreadsheet! I have tabs for kid recipes, my recipes. I have the kid friendly list and check off the ones I have on hand. I have my inventory of oils with descriptions, warnings, dilution recommendation, etc.
Another good source:
