Know The Essentials Of Your Essential Oil Before Using And Get Better Results
Introduction
The current crisis in our world has led to an explosion of people seeking ways to maintain or improve their health and wellness. Before the pandemic, the global health and wellness industry topped $4.5 trillion; that's a trillion with a T. The World Health Organization puts current global health expenditures at over $7 trillion. Out of that significant number, the essential oils industry's expected growth is over 18% annually over the next five years. A figure that likely represents billions of dollars, but more importantly, hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of people trying and testing essential oils for the first time. The immediate concern now is, how do we make sure everyone is using their oils safely?
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What are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are highly concentrated chemicals derived from plants. You can think of them as plant medicine. Like any other medication on the market, it is vital to use good judgment in their application. One of the biggest myths held by consumers in the health and wellness industry is that it is safe if it is natural or organic. While I don't recommend being fearful of your oils, you need to respect them and ensure you educate yourself in their proper use.
A simple example was the 2019-2020 safety recall by many essential oil companies of the essential oil wintergreen. Companies selling wintergreen essential oil must package them in child-proof packaging because they contain a high methyl-salicylateconcentration. You might recognize this chemical. Salicylate is the active ingredient in aspirin. If dosed incorrectly or accidentally in adults and children, it is lethal. It doesn't mean that wintergreen essential oil doesn't benefit the consumer; it means you need to exercise good judgment.
Best Practices
Dilute, dilute, dilute
You can use oils, topically, aromatically, and internally. When starting with your oils, it is essential, to begin with, a low concentration. Remember, this is highly concentrated plant medicine. You can always increase the concentration once you know how your body reacts to the chemical.
Here is a chart provided by the American College of Healthcare Sciences that sums up how to properly dilute your oils. Remember, when getting started, that less is more.
If you find an oil that you develop a skin irritation against, it is always good to do a skin patch test. Make sure that you conduct the skin patch test with the dilution concentration you are using.
Here is another excellent resource provided by the American College of Healthcare Sciences that demonstrates how to do the skin patch test.
Using caution and getting educated doesn't mean you need to fear essential oils. A study reported in the Journal of Contact Dermatitis in 2010, where they reviewed over 15,000 skin patch tests, reported an average positive result of approximately 2% in the individuals tested. While not a high percentage, you don't want to be in the 2%.
Know Yourself
Every single person is a unique individual. In the holistic health and wellness industry, we respect and treat the entire individual, not the parts and pieces. Like any other medication, you need to listen to your body when it comes to essential oils. Whether it is topical, inhalation, or orally the chemicals in essential oils are potent. Inhaling essentials oils is the fastest way to get oils into your bloodstream. Inhalation also allows you to tap into all aspects of your brain. Learn to trust your feelings and instincts with essential oils.
Always be Learning
When it comes to your health and wellness, you have no bigger advocate than yourself. You care more about your health than any doctor, friend, parent, or significant other. The Internet has a lot of great information. It also has a lot of misinformation. Always be asking good questions. a curious mind is not only healthy and vibrant, but it will keep you safe.
Conclusion
Like any other medication, you need to know the contraindications of your essential oils. If you are on medication or have other health concerns, it is always best to consult with your provider before using essential oils. Above all, learn to love your essential oils. They are a tremendous resource to improve your health and quality of life.
References
American College of Healthcare Sciences. (2017, April 20). Essential oil safety: Practicing aromatherapy with caution. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://info.achs.edu/blog/aromatherapy-safety-basics
American College of Healthcare Sciences. (2017, August 15). 3 common and dangerous essential oil mistakes | achs.edu. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://info.achs.edu/blog/aromatherapy-essential-oil-dangers-and-safety
Aromatics International Recalls Wintergreen Essential Oil Due to Failure to Meet Child Resistant Packaging Requirement; Risk of Poisoning (Recall Alert). (2020). Washington: Federal Information & News Dispatch, LLC. Retrieved from ProQuest Central https://search.proquest.com/docview/2402549633?accountid=158302
Data Bridge Market Research. (2020, September 9). Essential oils market 2020 increasing demand, industry share with incredible possibilities, growth with industry study pandemic, analysis & future growth analysis report by product type, industry application and future technology 2027. openPR.com. https://www.openpr.com/news/2131181/essential-oils-market-2020-increasing-demand-industry-share
Global health and wellness food market (2020 to 2024) – Industry trends, share, size, growth, opportunity and forecast | Technavio. (2020, November 3). Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201103005256/en/Global-Health-and-Wellness-Food-Market-2020-to-2024—Industry-Trends-Share-Size-Growth-Opportunity-and-Forecast-Technavio
Piping Rock Health Products Recalls Wintergreen Essential Oil Due to Failure to Meet Child Resistant Closure Requirements; Risk of Poisoning (Recall Alert). (2019). Washington: Federal Information & News Dispatch, LLC. Retrieved from ProQuest Central https://search.proquest.com/docview/2277605924?accountid=158302
Plant Therapy Recalls Wintergreen Essential Oils and Essential Oil Blends with Wintergreen Due to Failure to Meet Child Resistant Packaging Requirement; Risk of Poisoning (Recall Alert). (2020). Washington: Federal Information & News Dispatch, LLC. Retrieved from ProQuest Central https://search.proquest.com/docview/2379045565?accountid=158302
PubChem. (n.d.). Methyl salicylate. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Methyl-salicylate
Seladi-Schulman, J. (2020, June 3). What is wintergreen oil, its benefits, the evidence, and risks? Healthline. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://www.healthline.com/health/wintergreen-oil
Statistics & facts. (2020, April 23). Global Wellness Institute. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/press-room/statistics-and-facts/
Uter, W., Schmidt, E., Geier, J., Lessmann, H., Schnuch, A., & Frosch, P. (2010). Contact allergy to essential oils: current patch test results (2000-2008) from the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK). Contact dermatitis, 63(5), 277–283. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0536.2010.01768.x
Viva Doria Recalls Wintergreen Essential Oil Due to Failure to Meet Child Resistant Packaging Requirement; Risk of Poisoning (Recall Alert). (2020). (). Washington: Federal Information & News Dispatch, LLC. Retrieved from ProQuest Central https://search.proquest.com/docview/2405315590?accountid=158302