Essential oils have been used for centuries for their therapeutic and health-promoting properties. Some are known for their calming, detoxifying or antibacterial benefits while others may promote sleep, boost energy levels and relieve pain.
However, essential oil products aren’t regulated by the FDA so they can have unintended side effects. It’s important to follow safety guidelines and experiment with the different oils to find ones that work for you.
Aromatherapy
Essential oils may help reduce stress and anxiety and lift mood. They may also alleviate certain types of pain, such as headaches, fibromyalgia and menstrual cramps. But more rigorous clinical studies are needed to validate these effects.
Test-tube research has shown that some essential oils may have antimicrobial properties, which can be helpful in combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, these results don’t necessarily translate to humans and other animal species. Further, many clinical trials use different methods to study aromatherapy, which can make it hard to compare results.
People should always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil before applying them to the skin, and they should not take them by mouth. They should also inform their aromatherapist if they have a nut allergy, as some carrier oils are derived from nuts. It’s also important to choose a high-quality, genuine product, as many essential oil companies sell products that are not pure or reputable. Look for a label with the Latin name of the plant, its country of origin and the purity percentage.
Cooking with Essential Oils
It only takes a few drops of essential oils to elevate recipes from ordinary to extraordinary. With a wide variety of culinary oil blends to choose from, it’s easy to give time-tested favorites new life or create an entirely original dish.
Before adding essential oils to any recipe, they should always be diluted in a lipid (fat) first. This helps the oil disperse evenly, and also protects the oils from heat which can destroy their beneficial properties.
The best choice for diluting oil is olive or coconut oil, as they are the safest cooking oils to use. For savory recipes, we recommend using a drop or two of oil per tablespoon of dry herb or spice. For sweet dishes, try a single drop of oil per cup of sugar. Be careful when substituting strong flavored oils for spices; the oil could overpower the flavor of the recipe. For safety, we only recommend using essential oils that have been deemed safe for internal use by the FDA.
Health Benefits
Studies show that essential oils have antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant properties. They also help reduce pathogens in the digestive tract, and act as natural emulsifiers to keep ingredients like healthy fats together.
They can be used for aromatherapy by rubbing them onto the skin or inhaling through a diffuser. They can also be added to food or drinks. You can make your own flavored teas with citrus oil, rub peppermint on the temples for headaches, add tea tree oil to homemade soap or use sandalwood as a natural aphrodisiac.
When applying the oils to your body, it is important to use them diluted with a carrier oil like fractionated coconut or jojoba oil. This diluting increases surface area for absorption and helps prevent sensitivities. The recommended dilution is five drops of oil per half teaspoon of carrier oil. This is especially true if you have sensitive skin or are using the oils topically to treat a condition.
Safety
As with any wellness tool, it is important to know the proper and safe way to use essential oils. The good news is that when the proper methods are followed, the vast majority of people have no negative reactions to these highly concentrated plant substances. It is also critical to purchase high-quality oils that have undergone extensive purity testing to eliminate adulterated oils that can increase the chance of an adverse reaction.
Using the correct dilution of the oil and not placing it directly on the skin can prevent an adverse reaction. A rash or irritated skin is one possible sign of an allergic reaction.
Taking care with the storage and handling of these products is important as well. A child-proof container should be used to store them out of the reach of children. Getting too much of certain essential oils can cause toxicity, and symptoms can range from nausea to dizziness to vomiting. As with any substance, it is always best to talk to your doctor first and follow his or her recommendations.
