The dangerous practices of consuming essential oils and applying them undiluted on the skin have gone viral on the internet, chat rooms and via sale representatives of many dōTERRA and Young Living MLM representatives. Beware of anyone who tells you to ingest essential oils either by putting a few drops in your water or putting them into a capsule. The only cases of death, organ failure and hospitalization in the history of aromatherapy have been caused by ingesting essential oils. It is THAT dangerous.
Another dangerous practice many dōTERRA and Young Living representatives teach is to apply essential oils undiluted directly on your skin. Please don’t.
I am so passionate about the safe use of essential ones that I dedicated an entire chapter to it in my book The Art, Science and Business of Aromatherapy. I decided to share a section Chapter 10 in response to the overwhelming number of people I am hearing from who are being taught to ingest essential oils and use them undiluted. Please share with your friends and family. Keep aromatherapy safe.
My Top 12 Aromatherapy Safety Rules from Chapter 9 of The Art, Science & Business of Aromatherapy
History and safety testing have given us useful aromatherapy data. For review of this chapter, please study the following twelve rules that I think are the most important when it comes to using essential oils safely.
Rule #1
Do not ingest essential oils. Even if you read a book by an aromatherapist from a country that uses essential oils internally, they should never be consumed. The practice of consuming essential oils is dangerous and was designed to be done under the care of an aromatherapist trained in that form of therapy. Also, please keep in mind that oil and water don’t mix, so when consuming essential oils in a glass of water the oils are not emulsified. This means that the essential oils reach your mouth, throat, esophagus and stomach undiluted.
Rule #2
Always dilute your essential oils before applying them to the skin. There are a very small handful of exceptions to this rule including lavender and tea tree which can be occasionally applied neat, or directly, to the skin. In different aromatherapy books there may be recommendations of essential oils over 3% in massage oils but it simply isn’t necessary. Less is more in the world of essential oils. There is no need to over use and it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Essential oils are incredibly potent and need to be dispersed into a carrier before applying them to the skin. You wouldn’t wrap your body in 30 lbs. of plant material so don’t apply that much or more directly onto your skin.
Typically, essential oils are diluted into products at 1 to 3% – sometimes less and sometimes more, but that is the general rule of thumb. Some essential oils have an intense aroma and price tag combination that allows for their use as low as 0.1% Take jasmine, blue chamomile and neroli for example.
Essential oils are incredibly potent and need to be dispersed into a carrier before applying them to the skin. Typically, essential oils are diluted into products at 1 to 3%–sometimes less and sometimes more, but that is the general rule of thumb. Some essential oils have an intense aroma and price tag combination that allows for their use as low as 0.1%. Take jasmine, blue chamomile and neroli for example.
Raindrop Technique and AromaTouch Technique are good examples of the use of undiluted and high of concentrations of essential oils. Raindrop Technique is a method is the practice of dripping pure undiluted essential oils directly onto the skin which has many adverse effects. People have had burns, skin irritation, and intense sensitization that could have been avoided if this dangerous practice was no longer taught. AromaTouch is the practice of massaging a series of 1 to 3 drops of undiluted essential oils onto a subject and massaging it in. The human body does not need to large doses of essential oils, and the skin should not come in direct contact with undiluted essential oils. Please report injuries at the Atlantic Institute. You can read the 2014 Injury Report here. You can read the October 2015 Injury Report here or read the statistical break down of the 2015 report here.
As the debate rages on over undiluted usage I wonder, “Why not dilute?” A chorus of trained aromatherapists, as well as aromatherapy organizations, are all recommending that consumers dilute essential oils. So why not dilute essential oils if the practice will decrease your risk of sensitization, irritation, inflammation and adverse skin reactions?
If you skin develops a rash, becomes red and irritated, develops a rash or blisters—that is not your body detoxifying. As Dr. Pappas puts it, “A rash or burn from an essential oil is basically your skin screaming at you ‘hey, stop that and stop it now!’” I have received countless desperate emails from people who were told that they were just detoxifying, only to find out that they have a chemical burn or have developed sensitization.
Dr. Pappas debunks the detox theory thoroughly in Essential Oil Myth #6 in which he says in part, “Let’s just think about this logically for a second. Let’s imagine you rub poison ivy on your skin and you get a really bad rash. Is that just your body detoxing? Of course not. Come on people, if you get a rash or burn from putting something on your skin it’s because it’s IRRITATING YOUR SKIN. Furthermore, this ‘detox’ explanation seems to ignore the very definition of what it means to detox. Generally, a detox reaction is a response that the body undergoes when it has something TAKEN AWAY from it. Think of the body of a drug addict ‘detoxifying’ during the withdrawal process as he tries to get off the drugs. But in the case of using an essential oil on your skin we are ADDING something new to our bodies that your body has no prior experience with, any bad reaction could not logically be classified as a detox reaction”
Rule #3
Keep all essential oils out of the reach of children; they are notorious for putting everything in their mouths. Compared to adults, essential oils should be used in half the dosage rate for children for topical application. They are not miniature adults, and their bodies were not designed to process the same ratio of essential oils on their skin. I have safely used aromatherapy on all three of my children since 1998.
I heard of a case of a woman who read that tangerine essential oil would help with hyperactivity in children. She decided to put undiluted tangerine essential oil directly on the palms of her child’s hands. Thankfully, tangerine is a safe enough essential oil and the child suffered no serious ill effect. But she had decided to try it on a day that the child had a big test to take at school, and the high concentration of tangerine oil knocked the child out for the entire day and he slept through his test, lunch, dinner…and into the next morning.
Rule #4
Stay with the tried and true essential oils until you have a solid understanding of essential oil chemistry. Avoid ones that are not the common essential oils used historically in aromatherapy. Unless you understand the chemistry, it is best to stick with the commonly used essential oils. A trained aromatherapist can read the chemical composition of an essential oil profile and make an educated decision about the safety of an essential oil. But without that training you would not know whether you should avoid or use essential oils based on their chemical composition of aldehydes, esters, ketones, phenols, and monoterpene hydrocarbons.
Rule #5
Know which essential oils to avoid or use with caution. Avoid them even if you like the way they smell or the properties that you read about them. For example, let’s look at wintergreen and sweet birch. Whether methyl salicylate is naturally occurring or synthetic, it has the risk of building up in the body and becoming toxic. Wintergreen essential oil naturally contains 98% methyl salicylate and sweet birch essential oil contains approximately 90% methyl salicylate. According to an article on Medscape, “One teaspoon of 98% methyl salicylate contains 7000 mg of salicylate, the equivalent of nearly 90 baby aspirins and more than 4 times the potentially toxic dose for a child who weighs 10 kg [22 lbs.]” (Muhammad Waseem 2017).
The common warnings for anything containing methyl salicylate or acetylsalicylic acid say that they must be avoided by people who have aspirin allergies, blood clotting disorders or are taking anticoagulant drugs. Additional warnings include those with asthma, history of seizures or epilepsy, those with fragile skin and connective tissue disorders, and those with a hyper-sensitivity to salicylates or who are pregnant or breast feeding. Exposure to methyl salicylate can cause Reye’s Disease in children. Methyl salicylate may also raise red flags for those with congenital disorders, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, the elderly and purpura. Since it impacts blood clotting, anything containing methyl salicylate should be avoided altogether, before or after surgery. Wintergreen must absolutely be avoided by anyone taking blood-thinning drugs, since it increases the action of the drugs.
Health Canada restricts anything containing methyl salicylate to 1% for topical application. According to Clinical Advisor, salicylic toxicity can occur from an acute exposure or from lower doses taken over time, internally and topically. In 2009 there were more than 29,000 poison center reports of salicylic toxicity that resulted in 22 deaths (Fletcher Penney 2017).
The FDA has a specific regulation in place for wintergreen oil in which it warns, “Because methyl salicylate (wintergreen oil) manifests no toxicity in the minute amounts in which it is used as a flavoring, it is mistakenly regarded by the public as harmless even when taken in substantially larger amounts. Actually, it is quite toxic when taken in quantities of a teaspoonful or more. Wintergreen oil and preparations containing it have caused a number of deaths through accidental misuse by both adults and children. Children are particularly attracted by the odor and are likely to swallow these products when left within reach” (FDA). The FDA Code of Regulations Title 21 states that “the Department of Health and Human Services regards a product as misbranded if it contains more than 5% methyl salicylate (wintergreen oil) without a warning label” (FDA Code of Federal Regulations 2017).
Rule #6
Use common sense. Essential oils are safe when used in moderation. Many substances on earth are toxic when used in the extreme. Too much water can lead to water poisoning, and carrots, tomatoes, saffron, and mustard will all cause illness when consumed in excess.
Rule #7
Always use the botanical name for essential oils when ordering. I never make an aromatherapy decision without reviewing the botanical name. The botanical name tells the genus and species of the plant and includes information about the variety, cultivar, chemotype, and hybrid when needed. Often these details are the difference between an essential oil being safe for use or not.
Rule #8
Check contraindications of an essential oil before using it. You don’t want to be making a sleepy time bath with essential oils that are contraindicated for insomnia like peppermint, basil, lemon verbena, cornmint or rosemary.
Rule #9
Use extra caution when using essential oils on children, the elderly and pets. The dosages should be at least half for children and elderly, sometimes more. Also cats lack the liver enzyme—glucuronyl tranferase—which is important in the metabolism of essential oils. It is best to error on the side of caution by not using essential oils on cats unless you have a firm understanding of which constituents are in each essential oil that could pose a problem for our furry friends to metabolize.
The following three rules apply mostly to those who work in the aromatherapy industry or with large quantities of essential oils.
Rule #10
Always wear protective gear while handling essential oils. Remember that essential oils are very concentrated and should not be applied directly to the skin. If you wear gloves while handling essential oils, you lessen the chance of spilling undiluted essential oils directly onto your hands. Even if it doesn’t hurt at the moment, it could hurt later. A good example is how peppermint essential oil spilled directly onto your hands might not hurt at the moment, but later when you touch your eye, it will burn like crazy.
Rule #11
Work in a well-ventilated area. Remember that essential oils can enter the body through inhalation. Some essential oils can cause euphoria, sleepiness or can be extremely stimulating. In a closed space with poor circulation the essential oils can become overwhelming.
Rule #12
To safeguard your business, do not make healing claims about your products. That would transform your cosmetic into a drug. The rules and regulations for drugs are completely different, and aromatherapy does not qualify on any monograph for approved over-the-counter drugs.
FYI (from earlier in Chapter 10) on the Seriousness of Ingesting Essential Oils
There has never been a reported case of a woman or baby being harmed by topical or inhalation therapy used during pregnancy or labor. Aromatherapists all warn their clients away from pennyroyal essential oil due to a case in the USA in which a woman drank a large dose of pennyroyal in order to induce an abortion that proved fatal to her (Gold and Cates, 1980). One out of four cases in which pregnant women accidently drank camphor oil instead of castor oil resulted in the death of the baby (Weiss and Catalano, 1976). Another reported case in which pennyroyal and parsley seed were taken in large doses caused hepatotoxicity which resulted in the death of the baby.
There are two other cases in which women consumed the same large doses of pennyroyal (100 to 200 times the recommended topical application) in which both the mothers and the babies survived unharmed. It is cases like this that give essential oils their warnings and contraindications.
IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING AN ESSENTIAL OIL INJURY PLEASE READ: What to do When Injured While Using Essential Oils.
Other Safety Topics
Chapter 10 of my book The Art, Science and Business of Aromatherapy also includes other safety topics including: essential oil testings, grades of essential oils, drug claims, essential oil adulteration, contraindications, more safety warnings, the use of essential oils during pregnancy, the history of aromatherapy warnings in pregnancy, MSDS information along with my top 12 aromatherapy warnings. You can find it in paperback and on Kindle. The layman-friendly Abridged edition The Art & Science of Aromatherapy is available for a lower price as well.
What makes me qualified to teach about aromatherapy? I am a Certified and was a Registered Aromatherapist with more than a twenty years of experience. The references for this article and my book can be found here. I was certified by a school approved by the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy and was registered by The Aromatherapy Council.
UPDATE: You can now find The Unspoken Truth About Essential Oils on Kindle and in paperback. This book is for you if you or someone you love is seeking a true story about essential oil injury and advice on how to avoid it.
UPDATE: Many of the comments below ask for proof. Others have said injury is only caused by other brands of essential oils. Please take the time to read these articles. I have now turned comments off due to ugly and negative comments. It is clear that most attacks are coming from people who have not read this entire blog post or the comments — they simply read the title. Please read all the articles below and comments. Everything has been asked and answered. Please do not email me asking the same questions answered below. I will not engage in further arguments even if you send me a nasty email.
For further information on the subject of safety please read the links below.
Articles:
- Essential Oil Safety: Documented Side Effects, Injuries, and Deaths from Essential Oil Ingestion by Lee Tea
- A near fatal case of high dose peppermint oil ingestion– Lessons learnt by US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health
- Essential oils and eye safety by Robert Tisserand
- Truth Seekers – Young Living Deposition on Personal Care Truth
- Adverse Reactions to Peppermint Oil and With Friends Like This, Who Needs Enemies by Aromaceuticals
- Sultan Yusuf Salah – Response to “Gary Young: A Somalian Adventure”
- American Essential Oil Trade Association
- Aromatherapy Studies – Dr Robert Pappas talks about his experience of Young Living and Gary Young
- Top Ten Worst Injuries from Essential Oils of 2014— Part 1 AND Part 2
- An update on Young Living, the Cinnamon Bark Testing, Me, and this Blog
- Fact or Fiction: Drinking Essential Oils is Perfectly Safe
- Fact or Fiction: The Detox Theory
- Fact or Fiction: On the Topic of FDA Approved Brands
- Fact or Fiction: On the Topic of Allergies + Sensitization
- The Safe Use of Essential Oils
- Confessions of an Aromatherapist
- Just Because it Smells Nice Doesn’t Mean You Should Use It
- Ingesting Essential Oils: Controversies and Myths Revealed
UPDATE: The negative response to this blog post by some MLM members inspired me to share what I learned from being in an MLM: 12 Signs of a Cult.
FDA ACTION UPDATE: Many commenters from Young Living and dōTERRA made claims that were against the law and linked to sites that clearly were actively breaking the law. On 9/24/2014 the FDA sent Young Living a Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations Warning Letter and dōTERRA a Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations Warning Letter. Ingestion, undiluted usage, claims of medical cures and medical treatment given by a layperson is not only dangerous, but can warrant legal action. To quote the FDA in the Young Living letter, “. . . , in light of their toxicity or other potentiality for harmful effect, the method of their use, or the collateral measures necessary to their use, they are not safe for use except under the supervision of a practitioner licensed by law to administer it.”
If you have questions please read Aromatherapy FAQ.
If you have been injured please read What to do When Injured While Using Essential Oils.
UPDATE: I never imagined the popularity of this blog post when I posted it in 2014. At the time I was on a hiatus from the industry after the sale of my company in 2011. As of December 1, 2017 I am back in the industry that I love so much. I have launched a new brand, Ology Essentials. At Ology Essentials, we take our name seriously, with a research driven brand of high quality products, fluffery-free aromatherapy certification program, experience based business consulting, and honest no-hype custom formulating services.
Kayla, The Atlantic Institute has the only Injury reporting site, and a first report was issued in April. Go see! http://www.atlanticinstitute.com/injury-report-2014. We issue the second report of over 60 entries in the Fall.
Thanks Sylla! I updated the information. I am so glad you are doing this.
looks like you should do a great deal more research before you publish your book…I am very surprised I am not dead yet…afterall you obviously know what is “best” with all your knowledge of expertise…I actually feel badly for you, near ignorant.
just really wish you would actually know the whole process of how the young living oils differ from oils that have added chemicals to them, they way these oils are processed makes them completely safe, and they do give warning about which to ingest and which to not ingest…
I totally agree with you Nicole. She needs to do more research on Young Living and maybe she would not be as ignorant about the oils. Some expert!
I don’t think you want to see all the research I have done on Young Living. You have no idea how much I know. I chose not to put it in the blog. I have read his books. I have read his claims. I have read about his arrests, fraud, lawsuits for injury, I’ve seen chemical analysis of his so-called pure essential oils and so much more too. I’ve read his side and other people’s side. Don’t assume that I don’t know about Young Living. I know more than you would be willing to accept. Because I did not want to make this an attack of either company I only chose to talk about two methods of dangerous application that they teach. Check out this about putting essential oils in your eye: http://roberttisserand.com/2013/02/essential-oils-and-eye-safety/
I would actually like all that info. knowledge is power afterall.
Kayla, I read the article with fascination and the realization that as big of a fan as I am of essential oils, I need to be sure I am a whole lot more educated about them. I found your article to be very informative and thoughtful. Thank you. Leslie
Can you please tell me how many of you young living reps are actual certified aromotherapists. This is not scentsy. You can really mess up someone pyhysically without the proper use of these oils. Young living is a money maker not a company who cares about people and their health or safety. I have been dealing with this industry for many years and it is amazing how you can come on here and only go off what people who are making money off of you say. When legal issues arise it will not be against young liviing, it will be against you. Everybody wants to be a know it all, but does not want to take the time to get to know it all. This comes from an certified aromatherapists. So please ask your young living advisors for their credentials.
Thanks Mike!
Nicole,
I have read all of Young Livings books and material. In fact my first introduction to aromatherapy was a Young Living book. I then read every book on the market including textbooks.
I have studied the distillation process in great detail. I have taken part in continuing education courses in which I distilled essential oils. There is nothing about the distillation process of any essential oils that make them safe versus unsafe made by one company or another.
I know you are taking offense to this because it goes against what the marketing department at Young Living has been teaching. But I highly suggest you read some non-Young Living books. Since you think I am ignorant may I suggest a book by Robert Tisserand. He is one of the most knowledgeable aromatherapists in the word today. http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Oil-Safety-Health-Professionals-/dp/0443062412/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406766081&sr=8-1&keywords=robert+tisserand
Robert T is not the most knowledgeable in the aromatherapy business. Gary Young is. He has studied in the field for over 25 years and actually coined the phrase “therapeutic grade essential oil”. Everyone else just added it to their products in hopes to sell them. Instead of actually researching how to make a therapeutic grade of essential oil.
Read up on Robert Tisserand. http://roberttisserand.com/about/robert-tisserand/
1977-2014 is about 37 years.
You are correct that Mr. Young “coined the phrase”. He did so for marketing purposes. There is actually no governing body that “grades” essential oils, just as the FDA does not “approve” essential oils before or after a company markets them to the public. Perhaps you should read up on the coined phrase of “therapeutic grade essential oils”.
http://www.aromaweb.com/articles/therapeuticgradeessentialoils.asp
Saw this post on my Facebook page. Just wanted to comment that there is a new company starting and is going to shake the essential oil market like Netflix shook blockbuster… A company will launch in late sept this year that does have a standard the FDA. They will also be issuing to the public every batch of oil analysis and the oils will be clinical grade. Meaning the same grade and standard of oils that are being used in all of the tests being done mainstream on essential oils. The company also will have a machine more advanceded than the zyto that can actually show and prove what essentials oils do to our bodies on a cellular level! Keep your eyes open! And message me if you have any questions! cassidiebird@live.com
Robert is an aromatherapist, that is a completely different world. PLEASE do more research before publishing.
Here is who I researched over 13 years in the industry.
Alliance of International Aromatherapists, American Medical Association. Committee on Coetaneous Health, Glen O. Brechbill, Australian Tea Tree Oil Standards, Salvatore Battaglia, Robert Bike, Jane Buckle, Tony Burfield, Patricia Davis, Judith Fitzsimmons, European Commission Health and Consumers, FDA, Rene-Maurice Gattefossé, Nelly Grosjean, Health Canada, International Fragrance Association, International Organization for Standardization, W. Jager, G. Buchbauer, L. Jirovetz, M. Fritzer, Maria Lis-Balchin BSc, PhD., Mark Lees PhD, National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy, NPCS Board of Consultants and Engineers, Official Journal of the European Union, Dr. Robert S. Pappas, Personal Care Products Council, Len Price, Shirley Price, PubMed.gov., Lisa Rodgers, H. Rommelt, A. Zuber, K. Dirnagl, H. Drexel, Jeanne Rose, H. Schilcher, Kurt Schnaubelt Ph.D., Wanda Sellar, Sense of Smell Institute, Sylla Sheppard-Hanger, Smell and Taste, Sundale Research, The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), The International Organization for Standardization, Maggie Tisserand, Maggie, Robert Tisserand, Dr. Jean Valnet, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Martin Watt, Chrissie Wildwood, David G. Williams, Susan Worwood, Valerie Ann Worwood.
Robert Tisserand is an aromatherapist. This blog post is about essential oils. Hence the reference to a world famous aromatherapist.
The Young Living cult is so misinformed. Thank you for your voice of reason.
Thank you for your support.
Out of all the incidents reported for taking oils internally and apply topically without diluting have been for Young Living Essential Oils? Have other companies that create the essential oils been research also or is it just the two companies? I understand the peppermint oil and eye contact that is common sense but has nothing to do with these companies. I have research biblical oils and there is no reference to carrier oils used for them.
The personal stories I have been told recently have been from people being told to consume essential oils and use them undiluted by YL and DT representatives. The Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy recently started taking reports. You can read them here http://www.atlanticinstitute.com/injury-report-2014
What about the olive oil in this Biblical reference? “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant
cane, 500 shekels of cassia – all according to the sanctuary shekel – and a hin of olive oil. Make these into sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be sacred anointing oil.’” Exodus 30: 22-25.
The oils of the bible were not made the same way the oils of today are. The oils of the bible used an infused process., which doesn’t mean they didn’t have healing properties, but does mean they didn’t use them neat. I have learned over the years not to believe everything someone says or tells you without thoroughly researching it.
Both points are very true.
Hi! Very informative article! I am a consultant for doterra and if other reps are telling people to not use a carrier oil, they are insane! Some of our oils will literally burn your skin if you do not properly dilute them. The ONLY oils I have ever used without diluting, are frankincense, and lavender…. and that was literally only once or twice. If you are using EO’s without a carrier, you are asking for trouble. And to whoever said that the bible doesn’t reference a carrier, that’s what the olive oil was for. They weren’t stupid either.
Excellent reply Kayla. I’m with you 100%. I’m a certified aromatherapist trained at ACHS. We just need to keep getting the information out there about how to safely use EOs. YL and dT are well oiled, well financed, untrained marketing machines. Keep up the GREAT work!!
Thank you for writing on this topic that I am passionate about. Your comments echo my sentiments exactly. I am extremely worried how the do Terra and Young Living are going to have implications for our industry. I am also trying to educate and raise awareness about the dangers of ingesting Essential Oils on my page The Aromatherapist.
I have yoga teachers treating people without any education on Aromatherapy. If we don’t watch out Essential Oils will be taken off the market and sold by Aromatherapists only. Actually maybe they are doing us a favour …..
Thank you again .
Thanks Simone. Good luck spreading the truth.
Really Kayla spreading the truth ? i know you didn’t just say that. u r the carrier of the truth. please stop yourself right now. if you had any credibility before this truth statement you lost it already. if you want to warn people because u feel concerned thats cool. by all means. but just because you are certified aromatherapist and a researcher doesn’t make you in my eyes an authority on the subject. if you have a belief and want to proof something you can find info to back that up. that’s how the stuff works. weather is positive or negative. i rely on me and my gut, my body in using things. and that has been working amazingly in my life and i teach people to do the same. people have a brain and common sense. but i guess that is not your experience. Since you r so charged up about the subject and really want to warn people and want their safety let me ask you this. you talk a lot about the books you read and the research u looked at. I haven’t hear you say anything bout your personal experience and fatalities of essential oils you talking about? Did this happen to you or someone close to you? and did it happen in such vast quantities in your circle that you needed to warn everyone about it? people have the right to choose for themselves, choose what is right for them. u r like any other “guru” want to be person that really hides under umbrella of caring and wanting people safe but really it is about u. you starting movement to prove someone wrong. in my mind you are not very secure person in who u are mixing ur agendas under the notions of safety. because if you were true leader you would not bash companies and point fingers and be making right from wrong and showing how you r the authority on the subject because of your degree and your research but you would express and share and let people make up their their own mind where they stand. but that is not what u did. people like u r dangerous. maybe you should check your intentions and where you come from before next time you trying to strong-arm people with your words and with your degrees and research facts. as for research not the best barometer on how to navigate in life simply because it depends who conducts it and what is their agenda. and wouldn’t it be cool if all people who wanted to use oils had to pay u or someone like you with a degree to use oils. wouldn’t then we be all safe and happy?
I said keep spreading the truth because Simone wrote, “I am also trying to educate and raise awareness about the dangers of ingesting Essential Oils on my page The Aromatherapist.”
Your entire attack based on me saying “keep spreading the truth” is completely off base.
I don’t bash the companies in the blog post. It tells you the common safety practices of aromatherapists. I shared my research resources so anyone could further their research.
I’m sorry this all makes you so angry. In the business of aromatherapy outside of YL and dT these safety warnings are common practice.
if anyone is off base it is you darling. maybe revisit what u wrote. and i read everything and the comments the truth was just the icing on the cake. u looking for validation not to spread awareness. u didn’t answer any of my questions. of course and as for you being sorry i’m angry don’t be i’m not. thats how it comes off to you. u missed the point of what i was saying. u focus on my aparent anger rather then the message but its cool. people who spread awareness r not making claims for what is right from wrong. as for standard practices of the aromatherapy i’m very well versed after 14 years studying it and use of oils. i don’t need you or someone like u telling me. I’m my own authority. your statement like” wear protective gear and gloves.” seriously u come from a place of fear and have you ever done raindrop therapy that u know is dangerous for you or someone told you? or did u find that in your books? i mean really. u blowing stuff out of proportion and if people don’t know anything about oils u will scare them shitless because on ur own fears. maybe u should focus on pharmaceutical industry. lot of people die every day because of all the medications and its interactions. u could be very useful there. and as for what young living and do terra won’t tell you… how do u know what these companies r telling and not telling people ? because u met couple individuals and ur friend has negative experience now u now know. ok. whatever u say.
it is sad that u speak of essential oils as if it was nuclear waste. to be feared not to be experienced. and one last question: did u ever see anyone overdose on oils? just curious. but i don’t expect you to answer any real answers to questions from my first post or this one because u too busy enjoying battling with people on their response. clearly you the one who want s to teach people and u don’t want to learn anything.
Erika,
I have no need to be validated in the aromatherapy world. I sold my company in 2011. I no longer sell essential oils. I wrote my book “The Art, Science and Business of Aromatherapy” to share my knowledge from working in the aromatherapy world as a business woman. I was speaking to business owners, formulators, perfumers, and others who work no less than an 8 hour day using essential oils. Yes, when you are exposed to essential oils for hours on end you do need to wear protective gear and gloves. Gloves for your good and gloves for the integrity of the product you are blending.
I read the lawsuits about raindrop therapy. I read various cases that came up in the aromatherapy world over the years. I heard from people who were injured and afraid of essential oils. I taught them how to use them diluted so they could continue to safely use essential oils.
I did not focus on the pharmaceutical industry because it was not my field of study and business. I would be doing exactly what you are accusing me of doing if I did that.
I love essential oils. I use them every single day throughout the day. They are not nuclear waste in my mind, but they are powerful. They should be used diluted.
Of course I never witnessed someone overdose on essential oils. I would never site by idly while someone consumed essential oils. I have seen burns caused by essential oils when people came to me for help.
I agree…where are your studies? I for one use DoTERRA regularly and flat out don’t believe you….your opinions should not be presented as fact. Surprised you haven’t been sued for slander. DoTERRA prides itself on delivering essential oils that are 109% natural….no synthetics or harmful additives. Get your facts straight…an actual physician help found doTERRA.
I am not saying anything about the purity of the essential oils used by either company. In fact, it is due to the purity and concentration of plant material in essential oils that they should be diluted. Robert Tisserand has a good explanation here: http://roberttisserand.com/2014/05/essential-oil-dilution-important/
Thank you, I too have been concerned when I hear about how some people are promoting the use Eo’s. It’s dangerous territory. Just because we don’t immediately see the dangers does not mean their aren’t any.. Like for instance Liver damage, you won’t immediately see these types of problems right away..
I also am happy to hear which companies are promoting these practices. I also have been made aware of some of the court cases brought upon one of the Founders and that is why I chose not to go with that company. The facts are out there if we want to really ingest them and not respond emotionally because we have a connection to the company.
Seems like a lot of these responses about what kayla is trying to make us aware of are turse. Thank you kayla for making this info available..
I also have been made aware that yl for one is not NADA certified which says alot..
I just went to a do terra party at my friends house and honestly I don’t believe that this oils can cure you any better then the wholesome foods we eat everyday. Everybody is an expert on what they believe. I think a lot of it is brain washing so people will buy the products. I’m very skeptical about putting something in my body or on my body for that matter that may or may not harm you, more studies need to be done on this. Stop trying to scam people out of there hard earn money. I agree with the certified trained aromatherapist here 100%.
Thanks Babe – there are many great benefits of aromatherapy but training is key.
Erika,
It might help your cause it you learned how to spell. Due to the many misspelled words I would think you were uneducated. I actually believe essential oils help tons, this is from my experience with them. Also the lady whom I get my oils from has told me to use a carrier oil often. Most oils I take orally are not for extended use. I also research the oils myself. I completely agree with educating yourself when taking any supplement/meds/oils. I have a child with SPD and essential oils have been a blessing to us. I always use a carrier oil on my son when used topically and I will defuse often.
Thank you for so eloquently saying what I was thinking!
I can tell by your grammar that you are an idiot.
Your comment is complete rubbish. From the way you write, you clearly don’t care about education yourself about anything.
In case you didn’t notice, she isn’t trying to sell anyone a dang thing. Her SOLE objective is teaching people to be safe. Sadly, MOST reps for those two companies are uneducated in the proper use of essential oils and have no right to be peddling them.
She on the other hand has years of research and hands-on experience under her belt in her favor, so she is definitely someone to listen to. I don’t know her from a hole in the wall, but I trust her judgment completely based off of the sources she has cited and the research she claims to have done.
Please, stop embarrassing yourself. I’m embarrassed for you, in fact.
Treating without education in any area is dangerous. My only concern is where the facts of the called out businesses are. I would hate for people to misunderstand the benefits of essential oils and judge companies on opinions.
Do you mean the facts that they teach consuming essential oils and using them undiluted? My facts on that came from representatives of both companies. They also came from people who had been directly advised by a rep. One person had been told not to do cancer treatment because she could be cured by dT essential oils by a representative. Countless others have been told they could cure or treat a variety of different diseases or symptoms by reps. Is that what you are asking?
it’s very sad to see that reps have stated that essential oils can cure, treat or heal. Especially in telling someone to forgo cancer treatments. However, that is an error of that/those reps. DT as a company, by no means makes those claims. In fact, all throughout their information on oils you see countless times the statement “Essential Oils do no Heal, Treat or Cure”. They are powerful aides which can help our bodies, which you know 🙂
That is excellent news Aryn. I am not sure why reps are saying differently. I have been part of a MLM in the past and there were certain legs of the company that were more radical than others. Some taught different business practices than others. Not sure if that is the case with dT or not.
Actually, my sister had several lumps on both breasts, cancerous. The dr recommended she get double mastectomy and chemo treatments. She changed her diet, used YL Frankincense oil topically and internally, and Reiki, and no more tumors….proven by followup dr visits and scans…..=)
The unknown is whether it was the diet change, topical, Reiki or other that what what made the difference. Someone could take this information and think it is just one factor. Many studies have been done on topical use of diluted Frankincense. Even with your sister’s experience you can’t say Frankincense is the cure to cancer. But it is great news and worth researching thoroughly.
I have never been told I would be “cured” of anything if I use the oils. No rep from any MLM company can make that claim. If one did they are doing business against the company rules.
I agree. I hope the companies are not making those claims. The tough part of an MLM is that one upline can change the information going to their downline easily.
Great post!
Thanks Anna.
I agree with much of your article, but not all. I also have years of experience with essential oils as well as schooling. Spearmint and Rosemary are very safe oils to use. Can you explain your theory on this one?
Leslie,
There are some contraindications for Rosemary and Spearmint. I go into all of those in the rest of Chapter 10 in the book. Both should be avoided during pregnancy. IFRA lists spearmint as a hepatotoxicant. I don’t say not to use them. Just to use them with caution.
Being epileptic, I have to watch using rosemary as it is known as a seizure trigger for some people. Whenever, I have used it, I make sure to tell my husband in case anything happens. Being medicated to control my seizures, I doubt I will have trouble with the oil…and I haven’t so far.
It is best to know what the possible issues could be for people instead of just claiming they are perfectly safe.
With your personal story you totally nailed why I think layman should not be advising. You have been wise and done your research, but someone who is epileptic may not know to inform a layman because they have been told it is perfectly safe. And a layman may not know the contraindications. And instead of inhaling or diluting safely they may follow directions that are too potent for their body.
Where are your cited sources for your thoughts? I would love to research this and need some studies to view and such…I saw in the comments you recommended some books, but do you have any sources to back up your article? Seems like decent info you are sharing, but you didn’t seem to include proper citations.
This is an expert from my book “The Art, Science and Business of Aromatherapy. I put all the references in this link for you: http://kaylafioravanti.com/references-for-the-art-science-and-business-of-aromatherapy/
In your Rule #5, second paragraph you state to not use cinnamon bark at all then in the fourth paragraph you say to highly dilute that same oil.
You are right. I fixed it. I meant to say only cinnamon leaf should be used highly diluted.
You also list Cassia in Rule #5 as an “avoid” and “heavily dilute” oil. If this is an excerpt from your book, I feel these kind of inconsistencies should have been ironed out previously….not editing on the fly in this blog post. Just my two cents.
Thanks for your two cents. Let me know when you write a 300 page book without a single thing missed.
That was a good one. I hate when people criticize, when they haven’t put in any time and dedication to something. I am betting that this individuals life is without flaw. Good article by the way Kayla. Its nice to see someone standing up for their own convictions and passions.
One question– you said cinnamon bark shoud be avoided altogether and then had it also listed under dilute generously. Isn’t that in thieves blend?
The onky thing I do with oils is waft rosemary, cinnoman (I don’t have cinnoman bark), eucalyptus and clove oil during the winter months or when someone is sick, to help the air in the home. I have a friend that’s been pushing doTerra for a year or so and it always made me uncomfortable how far she claimed the oils would heal her, of anything, physical, emotional, etcetc.
I just fixed it. I meant to say don’t use cinnamon bark and you can used highly diluted cinnamon leaf.
As a wellness advocate for doterra, one can never say that it cues this or does that. They are not doctors, nor are aromatherapists. But what they can do is tell you experience, and suggest things. I can tell you in my house, I’m using it for Lyme disease, ringworm, bug bites, after removing tick bites, cleanses, burns, strengthening hair, cleaning, etc. from my personal experience as a serious skeptic in the beginning, and after gobs of research, I’m not a skeptic any more.
I am not a skeptic of aromatherapy at all. I have been using essential oils every day since 1998. You are right that doTerra reps should never say those things, but unfortunately they still do. This blog post was inspired because a friend of mine was told to have their 6 year old daughter drink Vetiver essential oil to treat ADD. I had someone come to me asking if they should really not have cancer treatment or not because a dT rep told them she could cure it with essential oils. I am so glad you are using caution and reason. If more people were doing business like you are this blog post wouldn’t even exist. These words of caution would have remained in my book.
While you do make some great points, and it seems like you have some knowledge to back up those points, if you are more concerned about how the reps are trying to “heal” people, then your post should be more on what they shouldn’t say. Not warnings on why they are bad. I agree you shouldn’t give your child Vetiver to ingest, but I have read many reference books that say it helps with ADHD. I also agree no rep should be trying to claim they can heal cancer with the oils. But that’s not what our article was about. It had no real studies to link to, only one link to the Atlantic Institute that was not very in-depth, and not really a study. It seemed like you are just pushing us to buy your book, more than trying to help others. If you have a blog posted trying to state these facts as facts and not opinions, then you really need studies or links to back them up.
Ok I see a link now of references. Not sure if I missed it the first time, or if you just added it. Either way, thanks. Also, your posts in all these comments are great. I didn’t really like the format of your original post, but you make great points in these comments. Maybe adding these more personal stories under your rules would help get your point across. I know what you are trying to accomplish. You believe in EO, but the reps of some of these companies are trying to heal and treat customers, when they are not trained to do so. (I “sell” YL, but have never really tried to sell it. Just for my own use). I do hope that your point on gets across through all this!!
Catrina,
I see you found the link to references. For anyone reading this comment here it is: http://kaylafioravanti.com/references-for-the-art-science-and-business-of-aromatherapy/
I added the link a couple of days ago in response to requests for it.
Traditionally in the publishing industry Chapter 1 is often shared for free to promote books sales. I did that a long time ago. This is a section of Chapter 10 because that is where the safety information was written. Honestly I’d be happy if people bought my book in response to this blog post. I’d be happy if they bought any of the books in the reference link too.
“For over 30 years, the American Association of Poison Control Centers has issued an annual report which publishes data collected by the National Poison Data System (NPDS). Basically, if an event was called into a poison control center, it is documented in this annual report.
The reports can be found published in their entirety online and are available for public review. Each year, the report includes a table called “Demographic profile of SINGLE SUBSTANCE Nonpharmaceuticals exposure cases by generic category”, in which “Essential Oils” is one of the catagories listed in the table. Essential oils included in the report year after year include cinnamon, eucalyptus, tea tree, pennyroyal and clove, with the additional category “miscellaneous oils” accounting for the bulk of injuries reported.
In 2010, over 10,000 cases of essential oil poisoning were called in to poison control centers, over 8,000 of those cases involving children age 5 or younger. Over 2,000 cases reported undesirable effects, with over 130 being moderate or major outcomes, and 1 death from eucalyptus oil.
In 2011, 168 moderate-to-major outcomes were reported, up 38 from the previous year. In 2012, 180 moderate-to-major outcomes, up 12 more. This is proof that not only does poisoning occur from essential oil ingestion, but the number of major poisonings is rising each year.
This information was derived from the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ Annual Reports of National Poison Data Systems (NPDS). The 2012 report can be viewed here: https://aapcc.s3.amazonaws.com/pdfs/annual_reports/2012_NPDS_Annual_Report.pdf. Reports for previous years can also be located online through search engine searches.”
FROM: http://leetea.hubpages.com/hub/Essential-Oil-Safety-Documented-Side-Effects-Injuries-and-Deaths-from-Essential-Oil-Ingestion
You are making a very large generalization over all YL and dT reps which is slanderous. This is not common practice in dT for sure as I teach and use the products with my family. While there are always bad seeds in an apple just like doctors, chiro, aromatherapists, massage therapists, teachers and the list goes on. Do not make these sort of generalized statements about everyone. Spreading fear is like slinging mud, you always get some back on you. If you are going to educate then do it with dignity of your knowledge not hearsay.
I guess I didn’t mention that I have had countless conversations with dT and YL reps as well over the years. I didn’t post this in response to those conversations. I posted in response to people I know being hurt or exposed to dangerous practices by dT and YL reps. In the comments section is the first time I’ve heard a single dT or YL rep say that they don’t practice consumption of essential oils or applying them undiluted. I am glad there are people out there in both organizations who practice safe aromatherapy. I’ve talked to YL reps since 1998 and dT reps since it started up.
Well said. Please focus on educating what you believe to be in peoples best interest and stay away from naming companies you disagree with and the small percent of people who are sharing their experiences without the research to back them up. Wise to highlight using caution when using oils but you ruin the integrity of the whole Aromatherapy community when you spread fear with these stories. Stop the witch hunt and start steering the people to the right information.
Thanks. I named the companies because what reps have said in response to the warning is, “This doesn’t apply to Young Living or doTerra oils because ours are pure.” I felt I needed to keep the names with the article so that people would know that even though they say that it isn’t true. You have to dilute because essential oils are so potent. Here is an example from my book, “Two hundred pounds of bergamot yields one pound of essential oil.”
I have read a lot of info on the usage of essential oils prior to usage myself. From what I can only assume is that there are millions worldwide using essential oils for ailments and you have cited a report of 34 incidents of adverse reactions. Odds are yes that not everyone reports an adverse reaction but I do not see millions of people not filing a report. My other thought is essential oils have been around for thousands of years and only pushed to the background by big pharmaceutical companies who are not in business to cure you but to keep you sick. The side affects from prescription drugs is far more dangerous in my opinion than ingesting essential oils. It is ridiculous to say you can not ingest an essential oil that is 100% pure oil. Oregano, thyme, basil, pepper, cinnamon just to name a few that must be poisoning when we eat spaghetti sauce. If a person is stupid enough to take a whole bottle of essential oil than they deserve to have the adverse reaction for their stupidity. Young Living is not adulterated with chemicals making them unsafe for ingestion and I have read many articles and my own family doctor supports my decision to use essential oils for my sons ADD versus a drug that suppresses his appetite and causes more health issues than the essential oils. But then again she is not a western doctor who is brainwashed and manipulated by pharmaceutical companies. My I wonder if you are with this story trying to cause controversy. If you say no you are not pro pharmaceutical than it must be controversy to just sell your book.
Karen,
When you make spaghetti you only use a few dashes of dried herb. You do not make it with 30 lbs of it, right? That is the difference. Many essential oils have the equivalent of 30 lbs of plant material in one drop of essential oil.
Wow, I can not believe you just said this, ” If a person is stupid enough to take a whole bottle of essential oil than they deserve to have the adverse reaction for their stupidity.” Really? Someday this could come back to bite you in the form of a lawsuit when someone you teach, teaches someone else, who teaches someone else, who misuses an essential oil. I hope you don’t mean this because it is the ugliest comment of all the Young Living comments on here.
Your accusation that I shared this information to sell books, promote pharmaceuticals or any other thing is ridiculous. When I sell I book for $14.99 for the paperback and $2.99 for the Kindle I am not rolling in profits. I make a one time profit off of the sale of the book. I don’t have repeat business. I am not selling essential oils. I don’t have people on auto-ship. This post is a section of my book that I gave away for free. Sure some people might buy the book but the majority of people will just read the information and be informed.
And you are sadly mistaken to think that I am pro-pharmaceuticals. I spent 13 years in the natural and organic industry….a far cry from someone manipulated or brainwashed.
again that is why you only dip the toothpick in and don’t use a whole drop of oil. and i don’t teach anyone anything i use them for my own personal use and they have helped me tremendously so lawsuit is not an option. Western thinking about essential oils and all other eastern type medicine is generally regarded as snake oils and quacks. Yet many people use eastern medical practices. Knowledge is the key. People can decide for themselves is they work for them or not. Closed minded people who regard them as snake oil as I once did, until I realized I do not need to run and take a Tylenol for every ache and pain. I think back to my grandparents and what they used and they never ran to a Dr every time they had an ache or pain. I am of a generations where we were dictated by big pharmaceutical companies what was better for us. They used herbs and oils and lived a hell of a lot longer healthier happier lives then people these days. I am sorry you think that someone that doesn’t agree with your opinion is stupid in your mind. I am going to continue to use for myself and my family as if it was good enough for my grandparents then it is good enough for me. And I am sure you are making money on your book…
I did not call you stupid. I am not sure where you are getting that. My opinion is that a little bit of information can be dangerous when you are preaching topical application and ingestion of essential oils. Just enough information to be dangerous. Of course I am making money on my book, my point was that I make a one time sale to a customer and not repeat sales off of essential oils. I respect essential oil and do not regard them as snake oil. I am sure we could debate back and forth all day. In the end of the day you won’t respect my opinion no matter what I say. That is okay.
Just today I heard about several teachers who were using undiluted essential oils. They burned themselves and they caused a serious allergic reaction in a student. I am okay with YL reps and doTerra reps hating my opinion if I can stop one person from hurting another child.
You make a one time sale of your book and make money on that sale. What better to sell books than take advantage of Young Livings tremendous upsurge of new members who are just learning than put something like this on the internet to stir up controversy even though the information is blatantly and grossly inflated? Common sense prevails. Young Living Single Essential Oils are recognized as safe for consumption by the FDA. Hundreds of thousands of people consume them and use them topically daily with common sense and with no side effects.
As a mother of 5 and grandmother of 11 my family and I will continue to use these oils with confidence and enjoy the wonderful therapeutic benefits. Blessings.
This is an outright lie Dora. “Young Living Single Essential Oils are recognized as safe for consumption by the FDA.” Whoever told you this is spreading misinformation. Please feel free to call the FDA to inquire. 1-888-463-6332 or scroll through the comments to find the link to the letter the FDA sent YL to let them know they could not make their healing claims.
If you can stop one person from hurting a child??? Please! Do some more research lady! Don’t try to brainwash people trying to get better and get off your high horse. I’ve lived in pain for 17 years! I’m a 31 year old mother with severe RA, Lyme disease and tons of other medical issues. I was bedridden before I started using essential oils. It’s been 4 weeks of ingesting, inhaling and topical use. GUESS WHAT? After my second ingestion of taking peppermint. I was able to walk on my own! So please take your book off the market. So many lives can change using these oils. Obviously they didn’t work for you, but eh maybe you weren’t using Young living. I have my life back, my kids have a new mom, my husband has a new wife. I’ll take any chance at an adverse reaction to keep THIS LIFE GOING! And yes I use the oils on my kids also, most of the time I use them “neat” guess what? They are fine too! So before you bash young living, try the oil. They have a oil called “clarity” I think you could benefit. I am not a dr so I cannot tell you what to do, but eh I read it on the internet so it must me true! Just like your ridiculous post is right!
I’m not sure if you read my blog post based on your comments. I do use essential oils every single day since 1998. I am certified by the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapists and was registered by the Aromatherapy Registration Council. If you don’t trust me. Trust that those two organizations have a high standard of requirements for research, study and practical application to certified and/or register an aromatherapist. I am not saying essential oils don’t work. I am advising the safe use of essential oils.
So are you saying that in these cases listed above in the blog post that no one got hurt? “Aromatherapists all warn their clients away from pennyroyal essential oil due to a case in the USA in which a woman drank a large dose of pennyroyal in order to induce an abortion that proved fatal to her (Gold and Cates, 1980). One out of four cases in which pregnant women accidently drank camphor oil instead of castor oil resulted in the death of the baby (Weiss and Catalano, 1976). Another reported case in which pennyroyal and parsley seed were taken in large doses caused hepatotoxicity which resulted in the death of the baby.”
I’m
Just curious then why the oils I purchase from Young Living say directly on the bottle they can be ingested: example: Citrus Fresh which contains spearmint, and citrus oils. Also there is FDA approval for a lot of the oils for purposes of ingestion. YL has doctors, chemists and scientists working for them as I’m sure many other oil companies do as well. I personally have not had any adverse effects from using my oils internally and topically undiluted ( although i would never be so ridiculous as to down a whole bottle or douse myself in cinnamon bark) . I personally feel more harm would come from ingesting some of the chemically laden foods and medicines out there. We don’t think twice about ingesting those things.
I agree that a great deal of harm can come from ingesting chemically laden food. I believe in turning to nature first and only using pharmaceuticals when absolutely necessary. FCC is one of the few US Pharmacopeia terms that can be used in essential oils. The Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) is an internationally recognized standard for testing the purity and identity of food, food ingredients, food additives and food processing aids. Just because something is listed as FCC does not mean someone at home should dose their food with it. It is for the food and flavor industry because they use these in insanely low doses. If you ever played the game telephone you are aware of how information changes as it passes from one person to another. I know of a lawsuit that happened because someone read a Young Living book that said it was safe to consume essential oils. She bought Clary Safe from another company. She drank it and became incredibly sick. She didn’t sue Young Living for teaching it — but the company she bought it from. The biggest danger of this practice is that people who are telling others to drink essential oils do know know the medical history of the person they are selling it to. They don’t know if they are pregnant.
So a lady supposedly “read” this in Young Living materials which clearly state they only suggest ingestion (of small amounts) of Young Living because of purity and seed to seal and she deliberately purchased another brand and “drank it ” because of what she read? And so Young Living is to blame?
YL did not get sued. The company who had their eo’s labeled “do not ingest” got sued. My point is that a little bit of information is dangerous.
So a bottle labeled do not ingest.. which means its not pure… whereas a YL or DT that is pure and safe… per the label…
And was this your mother’s uncle’s brother’s cousin.. that this story came from??
This came directly from the company being sued. In this litigious society you actually even question the validity of whether this happened? That tells me that there is nothing I, or anyone else, could say to inspire you to look further into the safe use of essential oils outside of DT or YL.
Why would they get sued if there bottles were clearly marked “do not ingest”?
That information is NOT dangerous IF they follow the directions printed for their safety ON the LABEL (as they are instructed and should in their life have the common sense to be able to do) and only ingest Young Living oils that are consumable. If you ingest an oil, it needs to be ingestible and directions need to be followed. Common sense!!
Sadly people will always think they can get the better deal by purchasing perfume grade, aromatherapy oils that clearly state “Do NOT ingest”. Yes, big mistake.
Clearly, all oils are NOT created equal!
All essential oils including YL essential oils are not safe to ingest. It is not because of the grade of the essential oil oil. It is because of the chemistry of the essential oil. If you would like to prove me wrong I highly recommend that you send samples of YL essential oils to Dr. Robert Pappas for analysis. Have him check it against his vast database of essential oil profiles. He has the largest database of essential oils of anyone out there.
This deposition of Dr. Robert Pappas may be an eye opener regarding the seed to seal claim. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGB1mCMBQpY
Unfortunately, this video says it is no longer available due to copyright claim.
You can read the transcript here: http://personalcaretruth.com/2014/08/truth-seekers-young-living-deposition/
They aren’t FDA “approved”, but the single oils that are deemed safe to ingest are considered GRAS (generally regarded as safe) by the FDA. There is a difference.
Not all single notes are GRAS.
Here is a link to the FDA’s site and their list of essential oils that are GRAS – in a subchapter for Food for Human Consumption: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=182.20 I know that dT labels their bottles accordingly and warns which ones should not be taken internally, and Supplement Facts for the ones that can.
I agree we need to be very careful, but also very selective with the oils we use. Most are not completely pure, and would warrant the need for diluting heavily, wearing gloves, etc. YL and dT are held at a high standard of purity and are not “scary”. I would challenge you to use those oils for yourself and really experience them personally, then see what you think. 🙂
MomVee,
I am very familiar with the GRAS list. That is how I knew that Vetiver essential oil is not on it. This blog post was inspired because a dT rep told my friend to have their 6 year old drink Vetiver essential oil for hyperactivity. The message isn’t getting trough to every rep out there and that makes it dangerous.
It is not whether or not an essential oil is pure or not that makes it safe or dangerous to use undiluted or consume them. Essential oils are very concentrated.
From my book, “Essential oils are the most concentrated form of any botanical. Essential oils are the purest form of the plant’s living structure. It takes an estimated one pound of any given plant to create one drop of essential oil, however some essential oils require much more than a pound of product per drop. For example, it takes about 1.3 lbs. or 125 rose buds, to produce one drop of rose absolute.” Another example, “Two hundred pounds of bergamot yields one pound of essential oil.”
Ever read The Chemistry of Essential Oils by Dr. David Stewart? I think I will go on what a chemist says about them rather than an aromatherapist.
You mean the same Dr. Stewart who work(Ed) for Young Living?
I haven’t read this one yet. I do see according to Young Living that he sells Young Living. Not sure if he works for them or not.There are many chemists (outside of Young Living) who warn against the internal use of essential oils. If you are willing to check them out I would be happy to provide you a list of non-Young Living and non-doTerra chemistry books on aromatherapy.
http://neatoilessentials.com/tag/dr-david-stewart/
Dr. HK Lin of OU Medical is a urology oncology specialist and not affiliated with Young Living in any way, shape, or form and yet he will only use Young Living Essential oils in his practice. He has many cited studies in pub med and several chemists he confers with.
Yes many doctors and nurses are using essential oils. They are using all sorts of brands — not just YL.
Dr. Lin is on YL’s scientific advisory board. It’s right on their website. Sounds like an affiliation to me.
Try essential oils university. He’s got a fb page. And he’s a chemist. He’ll break it down.
Dr. Robert Pappas is very good resource. He teaches the chemistry of essential oils solely. He does not advocate any form of application at all.
Dr. Pappas tests oils for do-TERRA.
I know he does. I never said anything negative about the purity of either dT or YL essential oils. I simply said not to consume essential oils or use them undiluted. That has nothing at all to do with the purity of essential oils.
Good point!
Just an FYI = Dr. Stewart is neither a medical doctor or a chemist. He has a PhD is geology and his training in EOs (as well as is income) comes from Gary Young.
I don’t think he can be considered an independent source of information.
Hallelujah, finally someone is speaking the truth about essential oils, and someone who is highly trained on the subject!
Thanks Broc!
AGREED, Broc! FINALLY someone *qualified* is warning the public against a dangerous practice advocated & promoted by reps who need to sell more bottles of essential oils!
WELL DONE, Kayla! You stand up and speak that truth – despite the inundation of half-cocked responses from people who are *obviously* sales reps from dT & YL.
Having studied phytochemistry myself, it’s blatantly obvious who has not done their research, who has conflicts of interest, & who is merely trolling. You do NOT fall into any of those categories.
Respect & admiration are due to you, Kayla, as you, and only you, have expressed concern for the health & well being of the unsuspecting public. You are the one who appropriately expresses the professional’s Duty of Care.
Kudos to you! Well done!
I agree with Joanne and think Kayla has the patience of Job! Good job, Kayla! I appreciate the truth!
Thanks!
Seriously! Nice post, and an astounding amount of patience. Good work. Thank you.
While I agree that 98% of the essential oils on the market are unsafe for use or consumption! You were educated in aromatherapy leaning toward British theology on the subject. I completely disagree with your statements about Young Living Essential Oil.
I have literally consumed and topically applied well over 100 bottles of Young Living Essential Oils including many you have listed here. My liver specialist who is a HARVARD educated MD, PHD and teaches at the University of Chicago Medical center has been fully aware of my consumption and use of Young Living Oils. My liver has gone from 65-70% bad to completely regenerated within 18 months. Young Living is the ONLY company in the world which distills oils properly, for the proper amount of time, owns their own farms thereby controlling seed to seal purity and quality, proper harvest times, tests every batch and insures no inclusions per batch. Have you visited any of their facilities to actually see any of this in action?
The company advisory board is made up of physicians. Many of the Young Living distributors are also certified nutritionists, aromatherapists, ND’s, Chiropractors, compounding pharmacists, physicians and mothers. With close to 2,000,000 worldwide members and literally MILLIONS of testimonials and bottles consumed by adults and used on millions of children, I find your article to be just your opinion and the opinion of uninformed resources. Perhaps you should, as many Physicians are currently trying to do, spend the millions of dollars required and conduct your own clinical research prior to just publishing a bunch of “opinions” from various resources also trained in the British theology of aromatherapy. Perhaps you should also consult with the 53 hospital and medical facilities in the USA using Young Living in their facilities or a few of the millions of people posting testimonials on http://www.oil-testimonials.com and personally using and consuming them.
The hospitals that Young Living lists as using their product are the exact same hospitals doTERRA lists as using their product. So which is it?
Good question. I don’t know.
Know is spelled with a “k”. The hospitals listed have video recommendations for Young Living. The Cincinnati Clinic has had news reports on their exclusive use of Young Living essential oils. Dr. HK Lin of OU Medical uses Young Living exclusively.
Thanks for catching my typing error. It happens sometimes. Do these hospitals claim to have their patients ingest essential oils? Many hospitals are using essential oils. It is a very common practice these days. I am glad to see that.
Dr. HK Lin does I know.
Because I am tired of scrolling through the layers of things you spew on this link I will answer the question you replied to here. Dr HK Lin is listed as a member of the advisory council for Young Living only because he is doing cancer research with YOUNG LIVING Sacred Frankincense and Orange essential oils. He has a certified aromatherapist in his office that has many more years of clinical aromatherapy under her belt than you and works with patients one on one there. He has a staff of chemists who test each and every bottle of essential oils they use. Young Living is the only essential oil that has passed Dr Lin’s chemists stringent testing for purity and that is the reason he uses it. He was asked to be an “advisor” to share the results of his research. He also writes articles on PubMed. Perhaps you should contact HIS office, HIS aromatherapist, and speak with them? Not only does HE internally consume essential oils he will explain to you the chemical benefit of what he does consume and in what method he consumes them. He is published many many times on PubMed with his research into essential oils and cancer. Dr David Stewart is from Missouri. Before you talk about his affiliation with Young Living perhaps you should research his history and WHY he became affiliated with the company. Dr. OZ, I am sure you have heard of him, runs the Cleveland Clinic. Perhaps you should get his opinion. Dr. Andrew Weil, ever heard of him?. He has an opinion as well. You continue to quote aromatherapist. I am showing you a list of physicians who are imminently more educated than aromatherapists who use these oils. People on this sight have asked you for information you have failed to provide to back up your statements such as the number of deaths attributed to YL or doTERRA essential oil use. Members are educated in Young Living and probably doTERRA to dilute oils especially for application on children. And all of the written information I have seen lists which oils are GRAS. The GRAS list is issued by the FDA. No one can control how anyone uses any product. If someone in an ignorant moment uses them inappropriately then it is their issue and not the fault of the oil. Your link doesnt cover whether or not the people supposedly harmed used them per directions. If you want to write a book and publish articles on the web do ALL the research. Not just what benefits your personal opinion. I am done here. You choose to believe whatever you wish. You SELL essential oils to be used under your guidelines so you benefit both from your attempt to turn people against other companies, and stirring up controversy to sell your book. A true author writes ALL the facts, not just the ones whose opinions agree with theirs. You were taught what you were taught and you have an opinion. That does not make it right or truth. I wish you nothing but blessings.
I do not sell essential oils. I sold my company in 2011. I wrote 3 industry books in 2011. I have since moved on and written 3 completely unrelated books. I am not trying to turn people against YL or DT. I am trying to tell them not to drink the essential oils or put them on their skin undiluted. That is all.
I know I won’t be winning you over. That is okay. Here is a section of an email I got yesterday. “Well, I started taking their vit PAC and started to turn yellow. I had to go have it checked out and was getting too much of something and my body could not dispose of it fast enough. That has me scared. I am very healthy and don’t want anything to mess my insides up. I stopped for awhile. The”experts” said it is defiantly safe to use full strength.”
I am sure she won’t report this incident. Safe topical diluted use of essential oils would not have caused this. I get emails like this all the time. They call their salesperson and are told it is normal. They go the doctor and find out they have a chemical burn or some other serious reaction.
This kind of comment just saddens me. “If someone in an ignorant moment uses them inappropriately then it is their issue and not the fault of the oil.” If safe use of essential oils was all that was taught then it wouldn’t happen that someone taught someone, who taught another person, who misunderstood, who gets injured.
Sure can tell who the Yl distributors are. It’s sad that people think they know everything that is biochemically going on in their body and not willing to entertain the idea that damage by ingesting could be happening. It could take years for you to finally “see” the damage that has occurred. What a silly argument to make that so and so is fine. Really? Oh ok.
Uhm I’ve never seen conflicting info on hospitals using the oils. I know Vanderbilt uses doterra, and a few others…but I’d read quite some time ago that it was very different hospitals using yl.
There are hospitals using dT, YL and countless other suppliers of essential oils. Large numbers of nurses have been becoming Registered Aromatherapists.
I find it interesting that you say, ” I find your article to be just your opinion and the opinion of uninformed resources.”
I put my reference into a link for you to review. http://kaylafioravanti.com/references-for-the-art-science-and-business-of-aromatherapy/
Alliance of International Aromatherapists, American Medical Association. Committee on Coetaneous Health, Glen O. Brechbill, Australian Tea Tree Oil Standards, Salvatore Battaglia, Robert Bike, Jane Buckle, Tony Burfield, Patricia Davis, Judith Fitzsimmons, European Commission Health and Consumers, FDA, Rene-Maurice Gattefossé, Nelly Grosjean, Health Canada, International Fragrance Association, International Organization for Standardization, W. Jager, G. Buchbauer, L. Jirovetz, M. Fritzer, Maria Lis-Balchin BSc, PhD., Mark Lees PhD, National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy, NPCS Board of Consultants and Engineers, Official Journal of the European Union, Dr. Robert S. Pappas, Personal Care Products Council, Len Price, Shirley Price, PubMed.gov., Lisa Rodgers, H. Rommelt, A. Zuber, K. Dirnagl, H. Drexel, Jeanne Rose, H. Schilcher, Kurt Schnaubelt Ph.D., Wanda Sellar, Sense of Smell Institute, Sylla Sheppard-Hanger, Smell and Taste, Sundale Research, The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), The International Organization for Standardization, Maggie Tisserand, Maggie, Robert Tisserand, Dr. Jean Valnet, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Martin Watt, Chrissie Wildwood, David G. Williams, Susan Worwood, Valerie Ann Worwood.
This deposition of Dr. Robert Pappas may be an eye opener regarding the seed to seal claim. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGB1mCMBQpY
This is great. I actually know people who can look at this type of evidence and say it isn’t true. There are court cases and newspaper articles that show the proof of Lawsuits filed against Mr. Gary Young.
I hardly know what to type…
The disservice(via misinformation) you do to the EO community here is astounding.
No doubt whatever facts, patient efficacy stats, personal testimonies, supporting panels of MD’s & surgeons(doTERRA) I list here, it’s not going to move you one bit.
No matter.
The healing wave of EO’s will march on!
Peace,
D
I do hope the healing wave of the safe use of essential oils marches on. I love essential oils and use them every single day.
Why is dalmation sage unsafe?
It is due to the ketones in it. This is from my book, “Ketones have a bad reputation, and rightfully so when they are in high concentrations in an essential oil. But don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater when it comes to ketones. The ketones that you should avoid include pulegone (found in buchu and pennyroyal) and thujone (found in mugwort, sage, tansy, thuja and wormwood.) The friendly ketones are acetophenone (i.e. cistus,) jasmone (i.e. jasmine,) fenchone ( i.e. fennel,) verbenone (i.e. rosemary) and menthone (i.e. peppermint.) Ketones are known for their ability to ease congestion and loosen up mucus.”
The idea that essential oils should “never be consumed” is ridiculous. Most people consume essential oils frequently, without ever knowing it. Essential oils have traditionally been used as flavorings in a variety of foods, for hundreds of years, and flavoring continues to be the most common use of essential oils today.
Earl Grey Tea is flavored with bergamot essential oil. Many candies are flavored with spearmint, peppermint, or cinnamon essential oil. Lemon, orange and mint extracts sold in grocery stores today are made with essential oil and carrier oils (typically sunflower). Nutmeg essential oil is used in organic hot dogs.
This is different from filling a capsule with essential oils and swallowing it, but the idea that essential oils should never be consumed is, quite simply, wrong. It’s like saying essential oils should never be put on the skin, when the truth is they should never be put on the skin undiluted</em.
Yes the food and flavoring industry does use essential oils. They are highly diluted in your foods. You are right this is totally different than filling a capsule. People in their homes dosing themselves with internal essential oils because their buddy told them to is just dangerous. That is my point.
I think you need to clarify that “never consume” essential oils is not the same as “don’t dose yourself with essential oils because your buddy told you to.”
Those are two very different statements, and the extremism of the first statement confuses people when it comes to the safe, appropriate, and traditional use of essential oils in food preparation.
I do hear you Jenny. When you consume essential oils in candy, gum, tea and so forth the dilution has already been done. My concern is that if I make that adjustment it will make people feel safe putting essential oils in their own food. I’d rather err on the side of caution than mislead anyone into believing that they can flavor their own food with essential oils.
You are misleading people now.
We are going to have to agree to disagree on this point Jenny. I own a few “essential oils” from the flavoring industry and they are significantly different than the ones we are talking about. I still don’t consume or cook with them. I am not trained in flavors.
Compounding pharmacists also Use essential oils in their compounding for topical and ingested uses.
Compounding pharmacists are not the same as an every day person taking the advice of another everyday person with just enough information to be dangerous. Just because someone with a degree does something they have been trained to do does not mean that someone with no training should do the same thing.
I would love to see a comparison on the number of deaths from ingested high-quality essential oils and over-the-counter medications. Something tells me the latter will have a higher number of deaths. Also, if someone does die from ingested high-quality essential oils, it is likely the cause will be from misuse of the product and not from the product itself. It sounds to me that this blog post is a ploy to sell your book and feed your ego.
If this blog was to feed my ego I would not be approving and allowing all the YL comments attacking me. It is to educated people. I am not pro OTC — sorry if you are getting that out of what I wrote.
I have really enjoyed reading this. I admire the way you handle all of the salespeople that are trying to insult you. You have a way with people that think they’re right. Very informative as well. I am going to buy a book or two from you in the future.
Thanks! I appreciate you kind words and support as an author. If you use Kindle you can save 67% of the Kindle price if you order during the upcoming Kindle Countdown Deal.
My book The Art, Science and Business of Aromatherapy will be available on Kindle for only 0.99 cents between August 26th and September 2nd. This book normally sells for $2.99 on Kindle and will be reduced for a short period of time. If you do not have a Kindle you can download the app to your smartphone, tablet, or computer for FREE – no Kindle device required.
Wow. So apparently if ingesting oils is so “dangerous”, the thousands upon thousands of DT and YL users should all be dropping like flies, right?
Where are all these people with failing livers? Where are all the lawsuits against these companies for injuring them so severely, which is surely happening if your article has one ounce of truth? Surely their skin is all peeling off and burned now, right, because of all the neat usage?
Hmm, I have yet to meet anyone in this boat. Only happy, healthy people who love and enjoy their oils with common sense precautions.
Excuse me while I go apply my morning 12 oil routine (neat) and enjoy my daily glass of lemon water. Bottoms up!
Funny I keep hearing over and over again from people who were burned and or injured. And before doTerra and YL started suing each other you could find countless lawsuits against YL with a Google search. People are getting hurt and it is dangerous to believe they aren’t. Most injuries are under reported. I am certain I will not change the mind of a single YL or doTerra rep out there. This blog post came out of a friend being told to have their young daughter drink Vetiver by a DT rep. It came out of one person after another coming to me after being taught something that hurt them or could have.
Kayla, thank you for your information. However, you are wrong (in a good way.) You said “I am certain I will not change the mind of a single YL or doTerra rep out there. ” I am a doTerra consultant, and you changed my mind. 🙂
Granted, I don’t sell it actively; I’m not a rep for business reasons, just to use personally and to help others as they come to me. Most of my own EO use is topically, so “changing” to non-consumption is easy for me. I have always felt they are extremely potent, and have wondered if the GI tract was meant to handle that (doesn’t mean it can’t). There may come a time in the future when I feel impressed to “treat” someone in my family with a drop of melalueca internally, but your cautions will be in my mind and the prompting to take internally will need to be clear. Otherwise, topical and diffused will be my choice of use.
I appreciate your words of caution. I’m sorry for the attacks you have received in the comments. Having differing points of view is never grounds for being unkind, in words OR tone.
Thank you,
Annabeth
I have read the comments and I appreciate yours (Annabeth). I can’t believe all the unprofessional personal attacks being made. I have used DT and Yl oils and some others as well. I just hate to see such negativity and ugliness among people who supposedly have the best interest of their clients at heart. I hope others will give Kayla the respect she deserves and don’t disrespect themselves or their company with mud slinging.
Thank you Annabeth and Alana for your encouragement.
Some more information you may find interesting:
“For over 30 years, the American Association of Poison Control Centers has issued an annual report which publishes data collected by the National Poison Data System (NPDS). Basically, if an event was called into a poison control center, it is documented in this annual report.
The reports can be found published in their entirety online and are available for public review. Each year, the report includes a table called “Demographic profile of SINGLE SUBSTANCE Nonpharmaceuticals exposure cases by generic category”, in which “Essential Oils” is one of the catagories listed in the table. Essential oils included in the report year after year include cinnamon, eucalyptus, tea tree, pennyroyal and clove, with the additional category “miscellaneous oils” accounting for the bulk of injuries reported.
In 2010, over 10,000 cases of essential oil poisoning were called in to poison control centers, over 8,000 of those cases involving children age 5 or younger. Over 2,000 cases reported undesirable effects, with over 130 being moderate or major outcomes, and 1 death from eucalyptus oil.
In 2011, 168 moderate-to-major outcomes were reported, up 38 from the previous year. In 2012, 180 moderate-to-major outcomes, up 12 more. This is proof that not only does poisoning occur from essential oil ingestion, but the number of major poisonings is rising each year.
This information was derived from the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ Annual Reports of National Poison Data Systems (NPDS). The 2012 report can be viewed here: https://aapcc.s3.amazonaws.com/pdfs/annual_reports/2012_NPDS_Annual_Report.pdf. Reports for previous years can also be located online through search engine searches.”
FROM: http://leetea.hubpages.com/hub/Essential-Oil-Safety-Documented-Side-Effects-Injuries-and-Deaths-from-Essential-Oil-Ingestion
“Holistic” Aromatherapy originally developed primarily in the domain of beauty therapy. Practitioner training, even up to the present day, has tended to concentrate more on massage and other application methods, than on an in-depth understanding of essential oils from both the chemical/pharmacological viewpoint and their full history of use in traditional medicine.
M. Maury also stated her own preference to avoid the more “medical” applications of essential oils, including internal use. Such applications, she felt, were best left to medical practitioners. (3)
Following from M. Maury, the growth of “Holistic” Aromatherapy continued primarily in England by those influenced by her, such as Marceline Arcier and Daniele Ryman.
Developing from the domain of beauty therapy, we can see a particular “dogma” has evolved, one that is “gentle” and oriented from an “energetic” perspective towards both “low-dose” applications and the avoidance of internal and other “high-dose” applications.
As such, I suggest that this particular bias has served as the “philosophical base” on which many of the common statements regarding essential oil toxicity are based.
http://www.agoraindex.org/Frag_Dem/toxicitymyths.html
seems to clear up some things
There are countless aromatherapists who have studied the chemistry of essential oils and other forms of aromatherapy would not agree with you.
If you check the references for my book you will see I have studied multiple forms of aromatherapy including medicinal. http://kaylafioravanti.com/references-for-the-art-science-and-business-of-aromatherapy/
Just a name a few of those books:
Buckle, Jane. Clinical Aromatherapy, Essential Oils in Practice. Churchill Livingstone, An Imprint of Elsevier Science; 2003.
Gattefossé, Rene-Maurice. Gattefossé’s Aromatherapy, The First Book on Aromatherapy, Tisserand, Robert, Editor. Random House UK, 2nd edition; 2004.
Lis-Balchin, Maria, BSc, PhD. Aromatherapy Science, A guide for healthcare professionals, Pharmaceutical Press, London; 2006
Price, Len and Price, Shirley. Aromatherapy For Health Professionals. Churchill Livingstone: London; 1999.
Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. Official Journal of the International Society for Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, Elsevier Science, Gio B. Gori, DSc, MPH, ATS
Rommelt H., Zuber A., Dirnagl K, Drexel H., 1974 Munchener medezine Wochenschrift 116:537 In: Price, Len and Price, Shirley. Aromatherapy For Health Professionals. Churchill Livingstone: London; 1999.
Schilcher H. 1985 Effects and side effects of essential oils In: Price, Len and Price, Shirley. Aromatherapy For Health Professionals. Churchill Livingstone: London; 1999.
Schnaubelt (Ph.D.), Kurt. Advanced Aromatherapy. Healing Arts Press: Cologne, Germany; 1998.
Schnaubelt (Ph.D.), Kurt. Medical Aromatherapy, Healing with Essential Oils. Frog, Ltd.; 1999.
heppard-Hanger, Sylla. The Aromatherapy Practitioner Reference Manual. Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy; Tampa, Florida; 2000.
Valnet (MD), Jean. The Practice of Aromatherapy: A classic compendium of plant medicines and their healing properties. Healing Arts Press: Rochester, VA; 1980.
Williams, David G. The Chemistry of Essential Oils. Micelle Press; England; 1996, 1997.
This made me laugh out loud! It is GREAT to use common sense as most oils companies dilute their oils with petrochemicals and such. Do some research about how the French originated with their oils and the distillation process. I am confident that Young Living has standards above all else. The FDA has ACTUALLY approved its use for ingestion.
Veronica –
I would love to see a link that states the FDA has approved Young Living oils for ingestion.
The FDA also approved aspartame, GMO crops, and continues to approve the thousands upon thousands of pharmaceutical drugs that so many of you MLM folks keep pointing to that are so bad for you. Not sure what the point of this repetitious argument is.
FDA approval doesn’t mean squat when it’s the same organization approving the bad stuff too.
Exactly
They aren’t FDA “approved”, but the single oils that are deemed safe to ingest are considered GRAS (generally regarded as safe) by the FDA. There is a difference.
FDA site for list of essential oils that are GRAS: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=182.20
I have worked with countless growers and suppliers of essential oils. I can’t even count how many essential oil analysis reports I have read. From that experience I can honestly tell you that it is a fib to say that most of them dilute in petrochemicals. The marketing department of some companies claim this in order to tell everyone only to use their essential oils.
I was not claiming that YL or dT had unpure essential oils. It is only YL and dT reps who are claiming that everyone else does. It isn’t true.
And this blog post was inspired when a friend of mine was told my a dT rep to have their 6 year old drink vetiver essential oil. That is not on the GRAS list.
See, Veronica, it’s comments like this that incline me to disbelieve anything from a Young Living rep (and I am one).
Please do not tell anyone that YL oils are FDA approved. That is a blatant falsehood.
Certain single oils, such as peppermint or lemon (regardless of the source company) are GRAS.
That is not the same thing.
I’m now convinced that your blog entry is a reaction to…something.
The lawsuit comment, along with numerous other patently un-researched, and hereby false statements, seem to point to an underlying angst against an unknown entity.
I do not see otherwise, why an intelligent, and God-fearing person would package herself around such a large amount of misinformation.
I’m sorry to say it, but there it is.
Is it an anti-mormon thing?
She provided a long list of her resources. Scroll up. Also, calling someone’s religion into question because of a blog post about essential oils is a little short-sighted, don’t you think?
It is a reaction. Yesterday morning a friend of mine came to me to ask advice about having his very young daughter drink vetiver essential oils! It is just one of dozens of things people have come to me over the past few weeks. Burns, reactions, kids screaming while having essential oils put directly on them and so forth. I had reached my limit. I gave him a copy of my book. But they are just one family. So I decided to share the safety tips from my book with others. The information is free.
You call this a lack of research? Really?
Alliance of International Aromatherapists, American Medical Association. Committee on Coetaneous Health, Glen O. Brechbill, Australian Tea Tree Oil Standards, Salvatore Battaglia, Robert Bike, Jane Buckle, Tony Burfield, Patricia Davis, Judith Fitzsimmons, European Commission Health and Consumers, FDA, Rene-Maurice Gattefossé, Nelly Grosjean, Health Canada, International Fragrance Association, International Organization for Standardization, W. Jager, G. Buchbauer, L. Jirovetz, M. Fritzer, Maria Lis-Balchin BSc, PhD., Mark Lees PhD, National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy, NPCS Board of Consultants and Engineers, Official Journal of the European Union, Dr. Robert S. Pappas, Personal Care Products Council, Len Price, Shirley Price, PubMed.gov., Lisa Rodgers, H. Rommelt, A. Zuber, K. Dirnagl, H. Drexel, Jeanne Rose, H. Schilcher, Kurt Schnaubelt Ph.D., Wanda Sellar, Sense of Smell Institute, Sylla Sheppard-Hanger, Smell and Taste, Sundale Research, The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), The International Organization for Standardization, Maggie Tisserand, Maggie, Robert Tisserand, Dr. Jean Valnet, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Martin Watt, Chrissie Wildwood, David G. Williams, Susan Worwood, Valerie Ann Worwood.
??????? when did religion become a topic of this discussion?????
Excellent question.
I totally understand what you are trying to say and point out here. I use YL essential oils and I love them!!! Thank you for trying to educate people in the safety of oils.
Thanks! You are right – the point of this article is to educate on safety.
Young living oils are approved by the FDA. They are the only oils I would ever choose to take internally because the are guaranteed from the seed that is planted to the ground it is planted in, to the distillation process, to the bottle. They are therapeutic (medicinal) grade PURE essential oils from the plant. They are not adulterated like other companies oils.
YL oils are not approved by the FDA. Please call the FDA and ask them.
Amy –
Please provide a link that proves the FDA has approved Young Living oils.
Does the FDA know that? Amy you should give them a call and ask. They would LOVE to hear that YL is making that illegal claim.
Young Living didn’t say they were approved by the.FDA. Amy did.
Someone told Amy that Young Living is FDA approved. I’d love for her to provide the link. I’m sure the FDA would love to see that link as well since it is a clear violation of FDA regulations to make that claim.
I’m sure that the FDA would get a good laugh at people trying to get the government involved in a ridiculous argument in the comment section of a blog post. They’d be laughing allll the way to the bank, per usual. Stop arguing with each other. This is an issue on lack of education, research, and common sense. I have been very fortunate to have a great “upline” who consistently educates ALL members in their downline. I’m sad to see that that is not the case for everyone. I do not use YL as a business, I haven’t got the time or the skills to be in sales. If you’re using a new product, RESEARCH it. This shouldn’t be an argument, people shouldn’t be dragging names through the mud and pointing fingers and name calling. I use YL essential oils internally and undiluted, but ONLY the ones I have researched are GRAS to do so. What works for me may not work for my friend. We are all unique individuals. I respect your post (except for deliberately calling out certain companies) but I also think citing your sources throughout instead of having a long list would help your case tremendously. Also, everyone is gEtting paid by someone, so personally I don’t trust most researchers (I’m not saying you. .. just research being cited on both sides of this argument) bias is too common. Greed is a strong motivator.
They are not approved by the FDA. The FDA has deemed most of the single oils GRAS. I am a YL distributor, ingest and am and on your side. But they are not FDA approved.
“Never consume essential oils. Even if you read a book by an aromatherapist from a country that uses essential oils internally, they should never be consumed. The practice of consuming essential oils is dangerous and was designed to be done under the care of an aromatherapist trained in that form of therapy. In addition, studies have shown that topical aromatherapy is more effective than internal aromatherapy methods.”
You say to NEVER consume essential oils, then a couple of sentences later you say consuming essential oils is only to be done under the care of a trained aromatherapist. Color me confused.
You do say that it says, “was designed to be done . . .” I am simply acknowledging the fact that there is an arm of aromatherapy that does do this. But let me clarity further. In the French field of Aromamedicine an aromatogram is used to properly diagnose the patient. An aromatogram uses a specimen from an infected patient, a laboratory cultures the infectious agent, and multiple agar samples are impregnated with the culture. The center of each petri dish contains a disk of filter paper saturated with a different essential oil, chosen for effectiveness versus the pathogen. Each disk evaluated for effectiveness in repelling the proliferation of the cultured agent, it is measured by diameter of surrounding uninvaded substrate. Then, a combination/program of those essential oils most clinically antipathogenic is prescribed as treatment in that case. That is a far cry from a MLM telling people to just drink essential oils or put them in a capsule.
I used to sell doterra. No more… My throat was burned after being told to add 2 drops of lemon oil to my tea when I was sick. It was awful! I also was frequently encouraged to use lots of different oils on my then 8 month old! My mama instincts knew that wasn’t right. I won’t take EO advice anymore from someone who is profiting of what they tell me to use. I buy my oils from a local shop and get my advice from a independent aromatherapist. Thank you for your work!!
You have great mama instincts!
Kayla, thank you for sharing your knowledge of aromatherapy and essential oils. As a co-founder of Personal Care Truth, I can’t thank you enough for dispelling myths and correcting misinformation.
Just doing a couple searches online came up with the following on Gary Young:
The Therapeutic Grade’ Essential Oils Disinformation Campaign – http://www.quadrivium-supplies.com/cropwatchtgescorrected.pdf
The REAL Story of Gary Young and Young Living Essential Oils By Eva F. Briggs, M.D. – http://www.jonnsaromatherapy.com/pdf/Briggs_Real_Story_of_Gary_Young_2013.pdf
The FDA does not have premarket approval authority for cosmetic products or their ingredients (with the exception of color additives). I’d love to see a link from the FDA that states Young Living oils have been “FDA approved.”
FDA Authority Over Cosmetics – http://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/guidanceregulation/lawsregulations/ucm074162.htm
Keep supplying factual information, Kayla!!
Thanks Lisa for your support and commitment to safety. And thanks so much for these links.
Um, The Real Story of Gary Young, as written on johnsaromatherapy.com is supposed to be factual? Some blogger’s opinion? And some capaign (read:YL haters) is supposes to be convincing? Yeah I’d need more proof than those sources given. Pretty lame, actually.
Cindy,
I did not set out to sling mud at either company. Talking any further about Gary Young is a diversion. I am simply saying do not consume essential oils and do not use them undiluted.
I have a feeling this answer won’t satisfy you so if you want to research some of the lawsuits yourself you can start here. http://dockets.justia.com/search?query=Young+Living+Essential+Oils
Wow, that’s a lot of litigation cases against them..
So sad to see again somebody uneducated on this topic. You clearly are using the success of these companies to sell your book. For all those non-believers you should check out http://www.pubmed.org that has over 14k references in using essential oils. Also if they are so dangerous why do they have supplemental labels considered GRAS by the FDA? Also…isn’t the skin the largest organ of the body? So when you put lotions or anything on it, that means you are consuming it. Hmmmmm. So it is ok to put Essential Oils all over your skin, but you can’t put it in your mouth. Now that doesn’t make any sense at all. So tired of people trying to take down something that is GOOD for people. I have heard nothing but positive with people healing cancers, allergies, the flu, ect…but yet you say they are dangerous. Guess we all should be dead after 20 years of using Young Living.
You can claim I am uneducated if you want. But do you also claim these people and organizations are uneducated too?
Alliance of International Aromatherapists, American Medical Association. Committee on Coetaneous Health, Glen O. Brechbill, Australian Tea Tree Oil Standards, Salvatore Battaglia, Robert Bike, Jane Buckle, Tony Burfield, Patricia Davis, Judith Fitzsimmons, European Commission Health and Consumers, FDA, Rene-Maurice Gattefossé, Nelly Grosjean, Health Canada, International Fragrance Association, International Organization for Standardization, W. Jager, G. Buchbauer, L. Jirovetz, M. Fritzer, Maria Lis-Balchin BSc, PhD., Mark Lees PhD, National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy, NPCS Board of Consultants and Engineers, Official Journal of the European Union, Dr. Robert S. Pappas, Personal Care Products Council, Len Price, Shirley Price, PubMed.gov., Lisa Rodgers, H. Rommelt, A. Zuber, K. Dirnagl, H. Drexel, Jeanne Rose, H. Schilcher, Kurt Schnaubelt Ph.D., Wanda Sellar, Sense of Smell Institute, Sylla Sheppard-Hanger, Smell and Taste, Sundale Research, The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), The International Organization for Standardization, Maggie Tisserand, Maggie, Robert Tisserand, Dr. Jean Valnet, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Martin Watt, Chrissie Wildwood, David G. Williams, Susan Worwood, Valerie Ann Worwood.
There is so much good that essential oils can do when used safely. But you should not be claiming that it cures cancer…the FDA would frown upon you making that claim. You do know that your skin is completely different than you tongue, throat, stomach and so forth right? That comment is like calling apples oranges.
FYI Pubmed is one of my references. I am not saying the use of essential oils is not safe. I am saying to use them diluted and to not consume them.
No, you do not consume everything that goes on your skin.
If that were the case, I would never need to drink water I could just soak in a tub and get all the hydration I need. I could rub avocado oil on my skin and not need to eat because I would be consuming the calories of the oil.
Stop believing this myth.
Ingesting something internally is not the same as skin application. I am a biology major and these differences are major. Just because you won’t hurt your hands changing your car oil, does that make it the same as drinking it, therefore safe? Of course not! Chemistry and biology play huge roles in aromatherapy and in general, essential oils should never be ingested. The oil of lemon is not the same chemical makeup as lemon juice or even the rind of the lemon. The oils are so heavily diluted, that a little could be quite harmful.
Instead of taking offense to a great safety article, how about learning something from it?
#9 made me laugh.. I have never ever heard of someone over dosing on water. To much water can lead to water Poisoning???? Unless your talking about ALOT ALOT of water and in that case that would be considered drowning.. Then, yes that would be dangerous.. LOL!
But it does happen. Strange but true… http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-drinking-too-much-water-can-kill/
It is absolutely true that you can dir from drinking to much water. A local radio station had a contest on who could consume the most water. The young man died & it wasn’t from drowning. Another case a woman drank water before her workout & again after. When she got home. She started not feeling well & called 911 unfortunately she too died & not from drowning from drinking too much water. Google it & know your facts before basically calling someone a liar
Thanks Denise.
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/16614865/ns/us_news-life/t/woman-dies-after-water-drinking-contest/#.U-BZQvldWSo
Kayla… I have to say that your professionalism shines through in your responses. I am curious if some of the responders actually read the post before commenting. As a midwife, I have also referred my patients out to professionals, like aromatherapists.
One of my dear friends just posted this on her FB wall, they have two brand new babies and just started distributing YL: Peace and calming being diffused in the bedroom, thieves, peppermint, and lavender with coconut oil on all of our chests and feet, valor on our spines, and stress away on the wrists! Cleaned kitchen counters with lemon..Sweet dreams for us!!! And then just below was another friend who posted your link.
Thanks for the information, I’m going to share this post my friends!
Sandi
Thank you. Wow! Wow! Wow! Thanks for sharing it with your friends. I have such admiration for midwives. What a great profession!
Yes, your red blood cells can only carry a certain amount of water in the body before they burst. You essentially die of asphyxiation because there are not enough red blood cells to carry oxygen through the body.
It’s a little more complicated than that. Too much water dilutes the blood, and you wind up with hyponatremia (translated, low level of salt in blood serum). All of your cells swell up a bit. Some can’t take the pressure, and die. Others, like the brain, don’t have enough room for much swelling, and get damaged.
If you’re lucky, or didn’t drink way too much water, your kidneys will filter out the excess water before it becomes a serious issue. If you hold your urine for whatever reason, back pressure means the kidneys can’t get rid of the excess water as fast, and increase the risk of serious issues..
You can suffer from hyponatremia even if you get rid of all the excess water, since the kidneys aren’t always perfect at keeping in salt.
As toxicologists are fond of saying, the dose makes the poison.
I’m kind of new to oils, but all the classes I have been to were YL or doTerra and they all teach most of the same precautions you do. Maybe I just met some educated distributors, IDK. This seems a little sensationalist like you have something against the company. Nobody makes anyone ingest oils. The only one I have tried neat so far is lavender and it really helped my allergies. I dilute them on my kids, of course, because that is what I was taught.
I am thrilled to hear there are YL and DT people teaching dilution and not to consume. For months now I’ve been hearing from people the opposite. So this is good news.
If the point of this article was to spark debate and get traffic, then well done. However, a majority of what you are spewing in the article has no basis of fact whatsoever. You clearly do not know the difference between pure, unadulterated therapeutic grade essential oils and perfume/aromatherapy grade. You should be ashamed of your fear-mongering.
What I wrote in this article and my book was from reading, studying, continuing education and so forth from this list of people and organizations.
Alliance of International Aromatherapists, American Medical Association. Committee on Coetaneous Health, Glen O. Brechbill, Australian Tea Tree Oil Standards, Salvatore Battaglia, Robert Bike, Jane Buckle, Tony Burfield, Patricia Davis, Judith Fitzsimmons, European Commission Health and Consumers, FDA, Rene-Maurice Gattefossé, Nelly Grosjean, Health Canada, International Fragrance Association, International Organization for Standardization, W. Jager, G. Buchbauer, L. Jirovetz, M. Fritzer, Maria Lis-Balchin BSc, PhD., Mark Lees PhD, National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy, NPCS Board of Consultants and Engineers, Official Journal of the European Union, Dr. Robert S. Pappas, Personal Care Products Council, Len Price, Shirley Price, PubMed.gov., Lisa Rodgers, H. Rommelt, A. Zuber, K. Dirnagl, H. Drexel, Jeanne Rose, H. Schilcher, Kurt Schnaubelt Ph.D., Wanda Sellar, Sense of Smell Institute, Sylla Sheppard-Hanger, Smell and Taste, Sundale Research, The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), The International Organization for Standardization, Maggie Tisserand, Maggie, Robert Tisserand, Dr. Jean Valnet, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Martin Watt, Chrissie Wildwood, David G. Williams, Susan Worwood, Valerie Ann Worwood.
Essential oils are great and I am encouraging people to use them safely.
Hey there, Kyndra Holley… clearly you should be ashamed to come on here and criticize an expert in the field for trying to help people when, as an obvious full-time user of Young Living, you’ve failed to recognize that you’re spraying essential oils out of an ALUMINUM SPRAY BOTTLE! I bet you feel like a big fat know-it-all now! Keep your day job…
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152253798319856&set=a.37677114855.50841.581474855&type=1&theater
What exactly is wrong with her choice of bottle? It’s not like she’s ingesting it’s contents and it is heavily diluted.
I just wanted to say THANK-YOU for stepping out and teaching the correct ways to use EO’s! Everyday I see more and more people turning from these MLM companies because of damages or encouraging unsafe practices. Some you may feel like you’re talking to a wall, and others will have their eyes opened!
Keep up the good fight!!!
Thanks you!
Great article keep up the good work in speaking truth and don’t let people get you down. Remember that your article/book makes those using EO’s research. 🙂
Thank you!
Once I read your article, Kayla, I expected to see (and have not been disappointed by) the rabid MLMers attack you. As to you MLMers who say that the FDA has approved YL oils, here is the FDA’s response to a letter written asking them about just that subject: “”Thank you for contacting the FDA and we thank you for your question. Your understanding on the matter is partially accurate as the FDA does not certify or approve foods or cosmetics. This means any cosmetic, that is not considered a drug, cannot legally make therapeutic claims. Therefore to clarify, our center does not certify essential oils as therapeutic grade. If there are therapeutic claims being made, considering the fact these are synonymous with drug claims, the product would be regulated by the Center for Drugs Evaluation and Research. Please feel free to contact them at 301-796-3400 and inquire as to whether or not they can issue any specific grades to essential oils.” Where’s your answer to that, MLMers?
Sue,
Thank you so much for this information. I was thinking last night that I should look up the FDA phone number for the MLM members who insisted that their products are FDA approved. I had read this letter years ago – I am so glad you shared it. Thanks for spreading the truth.
I see there are no responses from reps here….
Well, here’s one 🙂 – I’m a rep and I have never been told at any event or by anyone in my upline that the FDA approved YL oils for anything. I don’t know why there have been so many comments on here saying otherwise. Granted, I haven’t read every single article every printed in the history of YL, but never once did I come across any claim that the FDA approved YL oils. I wish people would stop saying stuff like that. The more reps spread misinformation like that, the more I feel I can’t be taken seriously when I share about oils. And for the record, I do not ingest oils, I dilute, and I encourage people to do their research and not take any one person’s experience or opinion as the be all, end all of oil use. And thanks, Kayla, for the article and for being willing to share your expertise, in spite of the attacks made in the comment section.
They are deemed GRAS or generally regarded as safe for ingestion. No, they are not FDA “approved”. I am an “MLM’r” and very proud of what I do. I have taken on the responsibility to correct those who mistakenly called eos fda approved.
It’s my understanding that some EOs have the same properties as aspirin. That scares me from a business perspective. I use Tea Tree in a facial bar and that’s about it.
Thanks for the post! Sharing this with tons of folks.
Steffanie,
Yes from a business perspective teaching consumption and undiluted essential oils is very dangerous. Essential oils are very powerful.
What would you make of this list?
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=182.20
It is the GRAS list. I have that in my book references. I am very familiar with it. It does not mean that people should be taking all sorts of essential oils internally. It is for the food and flavoring industry.
That list is not company specific either.
Kayla – I applaud your efforts, your bravery in being so honest and forthright with this INFORMATION. You are a super star to be exposing the truth about YL and DT. It’s astonishing how their marketing has brainwashed hundreds/thousands of people. My hats off to you Kayla!
Thanks Susan. Reps are now threatening to turn me into the legal department at Young Living.
Well, this rep won’t be turning you in for anything. Sorry for all the knuckleheads out there. 🙂
Thanks!
This is a total falsehood, and the only exception I take, is that you are misleading a great deal of people. Since you are so profound in your belief however, Im sure you wont mind that I forward this to the YL Legal Department.
I am sure someone already has. And they are a very large company. They just might throw around their legal weight. Does that make them right? Or just a very wealthy company? I guess we will see if they decide to come after me. I’d be happy to collect up on the illegal claims that are all over the internet and turn them into the FDA. Since I am not a huge corporation I could only fight back with the truth and FDA regulations.
Kayla, thank you for the informative, well studied and presented article. I’m sorry you’ve been so attacked and maligned. The voice of reason is often, if not always, seen as threatening to the crazies out there. Keep up the good work.
Thank you.
I just wanted to sayi loved your article. Very sound. I love EO too and use them often. I see a very educated nutritionalist who prescribes oils when needed. She would not allow me to take EO during my pregnancy because she said they are unsafe during pregnancy.
Also, I’m aware they need to be diluted no matter what for safety. A friend just became a YL distributor and is taking a lot and she is pregnant. I was confused when I heard oils don’t need to be diluted.
I am very glad to be Educated by you-thank you!
Thanks Hilary. Your seeing a very wise nutritionist.
Thank you for your article. I was impressed by your lengthy list citing your sources for your knowledge on this topic. I wanted to do further research on this subject from your list and discovered many of the pages “no longer can be found”. Can you please give me an up to date resource that is reliable the supports your claims. Please do not overwhelm me with fifty links that lead no where. I genuinely am seeking to find the truth on this issue. I’m currently using Doterra products and feel like I get no solid answers when I ask people about these types of articles I run across. I just want to speak to someone who is knowledgeable and has a clearly supported and truthful answer.
Gail,
I fixed the links. I wrote the book in 2011 and it looks like several organizations updated. I will try to provide links to Amazon of the books at some point too. I highly recommend the books listed in the references. doTerra essential oils (and Young Living) are completely safe to use diluted on the skin or inhaled. This article is simply to warn people not to consume them or use them undiluted.
The FDA, nor any other government agency in the USA, regulates/approves essential oils. The “Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade” label that Doterra uses was created BY Doterra for marketing purposes. The “Therapeutic Grade” label used by YL was created BY Young Living for marketing purposes. No organization exists to certify EOs.
You are completely correct.
i received a doterra aromatouch treatment and felt dizzy for about 10 minutes afterwards. the rep said i was detoxing. detoxing how, from what?? my diet is super clean (plant based only) … oils used in the application are here: http://www.aromatouchtechnique.com/the-technique/the-oils/
thanks.
No matter what the reaction is (burn, allergic, dizzy or skin turning yellow) their answer is always, “you are just detoxing.”
and what’s the true reason?
Dr. Rob Pappas answers it well here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/essential-oil-university/essential-oil-myth-6/10152670686183083
He is talking about topical undiluted application causing a skin reaction. He says, “A rash or burn from an essential oil is basically your skin screaming at you “hey, stop that and stop it now!””
I think the dizzy reaction is your body communicating in another way.
Kayla, Judith Fitzsimmons was my first introduction to aromatherapy back when I was pregnant with my now 13 year old daughter. I wanted something to help knock out the end of a cold for my 2 year old son. She told me that before I could buy anything, I had to sit through a short (2 hour) class on learning what aromatherapy really is. Fascinating! She agreed to ‘sell’ me the blend for my son only if I PROMISED not to touch it myself at all and would PROMISE that my husband would put the cream blend on our son. She put the jar in a paper sack so that I wouldn’t even touch the jar. She gave me a healthy respect for EOs.
Since Young Living and doTerra has become so popular, I have seen friends rub exorbitant amounts of oil (undiluted) all over their feet, give their children capsules of oil (and pass out), be told (while pregnant) to take a capsule of lavender, lemon and peppermint for allergies (to which I said please don’t!). And on and on.
I always call Judith when I have questions about oils. She always errs on the side of caution. The chapter of your book that you asked people to read reminded so much of the class she made me take before she would let me buy anything from her. 🙂 I am pretty much against pharmaceutical drugs, with very rare exceptions. But I will always use EOs with caution while checking each oils safety first – and we don’t take internally, because Judi says no. 😉
THANK YOU for spreading the word!
Thanks for sharing! Judith Fitzsimmons is a very wise woman.
I’ve been a doTERRA Wellness Advocate (“WA”) for about 9 months. I don’t sell much and don’t really think of it as a business (I haven’t made a penny; in fact I’ve spent more than I’ve made). I became a WA mainly to take advantage of the wholesale prices. I enrolled as a WA without having first educated myself much about EOs. After a while, I started finding out more about the kinds of things you write about. So, I decided stop ingesting oils in water or in capsules until I found out more about the risks. I also stopped taking the oral supplements because I’m now using food-based supplements instead. I never personally suffered any adverse effects, but I wanted to learn more before deciding whether to ingest or not. On the other hand, I do use some undiluted EOs topically, and I’ve had good results without adverse effects. And I also use a diffuser every night.
One of my concerns is that I don’t want a friend (aka “customer”) to have an adverse reaction because of something that I’ve told them. So, I appreciate having access to information from a range of sources, not JUST from doTERRA. I think it is important to apply the principle of “checks and balances” when learning about a topic, and not just get all your info from one source.
I’ve been involved with MLMs before, years ago, and I swore “Never again!” But I was so impressed with EOs that I broke my own rule and signed up anyway. However, I’m disturbed to see some of the same disturbing behaviors demonstrated in the comments section of your article, that I saw in other MLM companies. The nastiness of the responses you’ve received here is shameful.
Here is another example of what I consider shameful behavior: I found out about your post because someone in a doTERRA Facebook group posted it there with a question to the effect of “What do you all think of this?” I clicked over to your page and read your article, as well as all the comments. That took a while, but when I was done, I went back to FB to read the comments that the other doTERRA WA’s posted there. But I found that the original FB post had been deleted by the FB page’s Administrators! Rather than encouraging a healthy discussion of your assertions, instead the administrators apparently decided to remove it from the FB page, presumably because it conflicts with the company’s position. Maybe that shouldn’t surprise me, but I don’t think that kind of squelching is healthy for any organization. It smacks of “drinking the Koolaid,” if you know what I mean.
Anyway, that was a long way of saying that it makes me sad to see you so relentlessly attacked over this blogpost, and that some of the attacks came from doTERRA people. I appreciate your efforts to educate and inform, and I believe that you are sincere in your wish to prevent injury or discomfort. I don’t think that it’s just a stunt to stir up controversy and drive traffic to your page, or sell more books. I got a lot out of your article, and so I thank you for sharing what you’ve learned.
Without negating what you’ve written, I do have one thought to share. I wonder sometimes if the body of knowledge about EOs might be expanding beyond what has traditionally been known up until now. Let me use an analogy to illustrate what I’m talking about. For decades, the body of knowledge around the subject of dietary fats/dietary cholesterol/serum cholesterol/coronary heart disease (CHD) led to these two major tenets of “healthy eating”: 1) Saturated fat and dietary cholesterol are bad because they lead directly to CHD; and 2) Unsaturated vegetable oils are healthier, as are low-cholesterol foods, because they do not lead to CHD. It is only recently that the science which spawned these tenets has been revealed to be spurious at worst, and misunderstood at best. New knowledge that has been acquired in recent years has led to a re-examination of these old studies and trials, and has revealed the flawed conclusions that were drawn years ago. The medical community is slowly beginning to adjust some of its old beliefs.
Of course, I understand that there are some oils that will never be appropriate for ingestion or topical use. But I wonder if new knowledge about EOs and how they behave in the body — much like our understanding of fats and the way they behave in the body – might lead to a relaxing of some of these warnings (about ingestion and undiluted topical use) regarding certain oils, at some time in the future. Any thoughts?
Thank you again for the info, and for having the patience of Job. You have handled the rudeness with grace.
Thank you so much for your kind words. Your message is very balanced. I appreciate it. I was once in a mulii-level as well. I totally hear what you are saying about that as well. I figured the post must have come down from some DT and YL pages recently due to the slowing down of angry comments.
I am very familiar with the French practice of aromamedicine. There is a time and a place for it with trained doctors. I do think with further research and growing understanding things could change here. What concerns me most is the use of internal essential oils by self-diagnosis or a friend diagnosing a friend/customer without the proper training, testing equipment and knowledge of the chemistry of essential oils.
I admire you for having an open mind to look at all the information out there.
I’m astonished by how mean the MLMers are on all the non “Kool-Aid” posts. Good job being in an MLM and posting a respectful message.
Terri, I’m a YL distributor and I agree with so many of the things you have said here. Particularly about being disheartened by fellow reps’ attacks in the comment section. I want people to enjoy the benefits of using EOs while being SAFE! And I feel like many of the comments from fellow distributors make the lot of us look like angry goobers who drank the KoolAid.
I honestly think there’s much research left to be done before we blast the internal use. Everything in moderation. Most bottles of the oil we use say to dilute 1 drop in 4oz of liquid. That’s definitely something I follow if I ever take internally and have never had any ill effects. As a DT rep, I’ve always been taught to follow all precautions on the bottle. If applying neat, then test a small area or always dilute to err on the side of caution. I’ve used most of the oils neat without one burn, rash, or any irritation. When it comes to my kids, we always dilute unless it’s the bottom of the feet and we’ve never had an issue. There’s even warnings on the bottles that warn against UV exposure for 12hrs after using anything containing citrus oils to avoid burns. Some people just don’t have common sense and they make it hard on everyone. I do appreciate your article as it makes everyone take a moment to review their common sense. You should check out Dr. Robert Pappas at Essentail Oil University sometime.
I have worked with and consulted Dr. Rob Pappas for many years. I also took continuing education classes from him as a Registered Aromatherapist. After reading your post I touched bases with him to see if he had changed his stance. He continues to never recommend the internal use of essential oils. In fact he doesn’t make any recommendations at all for the uses of essential oils. His expertise is in the chemistry. He is brilliant and an incredible resource.
Dr. Pappas is doing a series right now on Facebook that I highly recommend everyone reads.
MYTH: If you use a pure essential oil on your skin and it causes a rash or burn then its just your body detoxing.
https://www.facebook.com/notes/essential-oil-university/essential-oil-myth-6/10152670686183083
MYTH: Company X is the only company in the world who sells pure or therapeutic grade essential oils.
https://www.facebook.com/notes/essential-oil-university/essential-oil-myth-10/10152634004988083
My question to you would be have you read The Chemistry of Essential Oils Made Simple by Dr. David Stewart or the Essential Oils Desk Reference? Have you been taught the different schools of aromatherapy? Because the French not only ingest them or use them undiluted, but also take them intravenously. Yes, some oils are hot, and if a person has sensitive skin they would need to use a carrier oil. There is also a book specifically for use on children. There are a lot of great resources that teach us how to use our therapeutic grade oils essential oils properly. I was told about all of them or where to find resources when I joined YL. That is what we are supposed to do – empower people with the tools to take care of themselves. I have heard from many well-respected people in the aromatherapy field that understand and agree with the way we use oils. Your way of thinking falls in line with British and German schools of thought on aromatherapy, which are the primary thought processes here in the states. However, they are not the only ways of thinking.YL has been around for 20 years with people ingesting oils since the beginning who I have been privileged enough to learn from since joining myself a few years ago. I use oils in my water every day all day, and all I have experienced have been positive results like no more emergency room trips at 2am from painful UTIs. This happened several times a year. I haven’t even had one since I started the oils. I can’t imagine my life without my YL oils, and I know thousands of people who feel the same.
which oil(s) have stopped your UTIs? thanks!
I have studied all forms of aromatherapy. I have a high respect for what they practice in France. But that is a far cray from what YL and DT are doing. For example, in the French field of Aromamedicine an aromatogram is used to properly diagnose the patient. An aromatogram uses a specimen from an infected patient, a laboratory cultures the infectious agent, and multiple agar samples are impregnated with the culture. The center of each petri dish contains a disk of filter paper saturated with a different essential oil, chosen for effectiveness versus the pathogen. Each disk evaluated for effectiveness in repelling the proliferation of the cultured agent, it is measured by diameter of surrounding uninvaded substrate. Then, a combination/program of those essential oils most clinically antipathogenic is prescribed as treatment in that case.
That is completely unrelated to what YL and dT are teaching. They are using a half truth to tell people drink essential oils or put them in a capsule.
Before YL sued dT a simple google search would bring up lawsuit after lawsuit of people harmed via raindrop therapy, undiluted essential oils and consuming them. Those are buried right now, but as the news cycle changes over time they will come back up. Many people just quietly quit using them. Someone who emailed me quit drinking essential oils using exactly the label recommendation and upline advice because she turned yellow. When she went to the doctor she found out it was because her liver could not process the essential oils. She quit using them. She didn’t report it to the FDA or sue anyone. This happens all the time.
Thank you for the post. I agree with using some caution when approaching essential oils. I’m new to Young Living, and on some of the groups I’ve been floored by the recommendations. It’s hard because the education comes directly from your upline, and if your upline isn’t cautious or has misinformation, it just spreads.
I’m sorry you’ve been so attacked in the comments. It’s not becoming of any of the company representatives. Too bad people can’t read something for information and consider learning something rather than getting defensive if their company is mentioned.
It will be a real shame if someone gets hurt/sick/injured from essential oils due to mis-use/over-use, and they stop being readily available.
Jessica,
Thank you for your kind words. You hit the nail on the head. I don’t sell essential oils, but I use them every single day. I want them to always be available. The safe use of essential oils guarantees that.
I appreciate your open mind.
Jessica – this is me word for word! I, too, am a new YL distributor and I want everyone to SAFELY enjoy the benefits of their EOs and be open to LEARNING from multiple sources.
Total agreement from me!
Jessica, I have to say, this is me too! And I’m finding that trying to be a “voice of caution” in this realm does not seem to be received very well 🙁
Kayla, thank you for sharing a portion of your book with us. and I applaud your kind forebarance with so many of the commenters! I felt physically ill reading through the misinformation. And after reading MUCH about safe use of essential oils in the past 2 weeks, I have some correcting of information I’ve put out about proper dilution. I never tell anyone to ingest, but the dilution ratios we are given are WAY off!! I have even written the customer service to see if I can find out the dilution % in their prediluted blends as I have a feeling the need slightly more dilution to be safe for frequent use.
Good luck with your quest to find out the dilution rate. A friend got burned just last weekend with one of these MLM diluted products on their face. That peeked my interest in the dilution rate as well.
I am not certain why a voice of caution is so negatively responded to, but I am glad to hear your voice is being used within the organization. Good luck.
Thank you for sharing this information! I have never used essential oils, but have been debating it, as many friends have told me about all the great benefits they offer. Many of those friends indicated they allow their children to ingest them and I could do the same with my little ones (K and PreK aged). That just didn’t seem right to me. I feel much more informed on how to use them safely for my family. I intend to seek out additional education on EO and a trained aromatherapist in my area. Thank you for taking the heat from others to help educate those of us who are new to and uninformed about essential oils. I can promise you, there are at least two little guys who will not be ingesting EO or have undiluted oil put on their skin, because you put the safety of others ahead making a profit for yourself. May God’s blessings be upon you.
Thank you Jenn. Your message made all this worthwhile.
I am a YL rep and wanted to say I always teach people to do their own research, dilute heavily, and to be extra cautious around young, old, pregnant, etc. I also tell people that it’s important to test for allergies, and always know how to further dilute if they find they’re sensitive, and how to look for reactions. There are tons of good reps out there, but I understand how you hear mostly about the problems. EO’s aren’t something to fool around with! That can be very powerful, and always used with caution!
Brenda,
I am very please to hear from you. This is great news. You are right. I have only been contacted by people who were not taught to me cautious. Keep spreading your message to your customers and within YL.
When I wrote one of my herbal articles for a global trade magazine I made the informed decision through years of research to openly state I did NOT agree with the ingestion of essential oils or their use on skin undiluted. I did not receive one hate letter, surprisingly. But, it is read by folks who are well informed on the use of essential oils in the production of body products and in aromatherapy and they are familiar with the safety guild lines of each individual oil. I took my stand and after watching and personally knowing many of the people who become customers and reps of the two companies you are talking about, it dawned on me they are usually not educated previously or users of essential oils in massage or aromatherapy venues. It seems like they are marketing oriented companies and reps working on the traditional pyramid method. More sales-more commission? Even lavender which I feel is a great medicinal oil used sparingly and topically straight has burnt my face on a couple occasions . People have different constitutions and allergies making a broad brushed internal usage ludicrous.
Thank you Debra. I totally agree.
Thank you Kayla for your post. I took time to read through everything and the comments. I’m not just a doTERRA Wellness Advocate but an avid lover of essential oils and the field of aromatherapy. I plan to eventually become a Certified Aromatherapist. I’m currently a Spa Therapist who’s been using essential oils for about 5 years now. I just became a doTERRA rep a few months ago. One of the cardinal rules in the use of essential oils is dilution and safety which I feel is what you’ve been trying to emphasise but your message was taken the wrong way. As for taking oils internally, I can only do so with proper dilution, but of course not everyone is knowledgeable on the subject and I will never recommend internal use to an EO newbie, except under the supervision of a qualified personnel. When it comes to EO study and research, I go beyond the scope of doTERRA because we are just a part of a larger community and cannot say we are the custodians of the EO body of knowledge. I saw this link in our group and like I always do, I explored it. All the people you mentioned in one of your references are people whose works I study too. I might not agree with all your opinions but I’m glad you took time to share your thoughts. Would you mind recommending a few schools or institutes where I can do the aromatherapy training and certifications? I’ve been looking at Aromaweb and ACH but I would love together your recommendations if you don’t mind. Thank you for your time.
Both schools you mentioned are top notch. You can not go wrong with either one of them. You can find a list of great schools at both NAHA and AIA.
National Association of Holistic Aromatherapists approved schools
http://www.naha.org/education/approved-schools/
Alliance of International Aromatherapists recognized schools
https://www.alliance-aromatherapists.org/education/aromatherapy-schools/
You sound like you are taking a wise approach to aromatherapy. Good luck in your continuing education.
Ko
You really have thick skin! I couldn’t do it!! I knew very little about EO’s until recently. Once I found out about them I researched all I could. Yes, I signed up with a new company that sells EO’s after all my research on which companies were best. It is not one of those you mentioned. Even still, I am skeptical and am very careful. I do not ingest. The oil work great without it. I believe this company has great products and sound advice, but I always seek the advice of a certified aromatherapist. I found interesting reviews on the companies you listed from third party people. From the nasty comments you received, I’m glad I did not choose products from those companies. They don’t care about people, just their bottom line….I doubt I will ever sell EO’s but so far am very happy with the results I’ve seen in my family. People that believe in their MLM without doing outside research are taking a huge risk.
I don’t let the attacks bother me. These people do not know me. They don’t know my history, values, education and so forth. Some of the obviously haven’t read the blog post either.
You are very wise to do such thorough research before getting in and even getting advice from a certified aromatherapist. With such great research I’m sure you will enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy for years to come.
Well done, Kayla! It’s so important to the future of Aromatherapy to help people understand that there are guidelines to using essential oils, no matter the brand. I myself began with YL, but once I began looking beyond their (mis)information, learned so much, and could not go back. Hopefully, many more will follow after reading your post!
Mindy,
The first book I read about essential oils was from Young Living. Like you I kept reading.
I am so very glad you shared this information. Those who are truly looking for answers will see it and become wiser in their use of essential oils in their and their families lives.
After reading so many of the comments, I wonder what they read. Did I miss something? You have researched, associated with leading organizations AND used essential oils for many, many years. Where are people getting that you are against them??????
Sadly, from what I saw, the ones who are up in arms and who are posting in such a hateful, unprofessional way are those selling these oils. AND who it seems are promoting them in an unsafe manner. They have to try and justify their actions. So very sad.
Sending love to everyone!
Pamela,
I don’t know where some of the accusations are coming from? Some of them just seem to be reacting to the title of the post and not reading it. I think that they have been trained to believe that anyone who says something that does not support their position must by pro-pharmaceuticals and uneducated about essential oils. And others just take offense to my message.
My goal is to teach safe use of essential oils. Thanks for your support and kind words.
Aroma Therapy expertise does not make you an expert in all uses of essential oils. If they have supplement facts listed on the bottle (like food) they are safe to ingest.
While supplements are regulated by both the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that does not mean that they are automatically safe for everyone to ingest. That is like saying that all drugs are safe to ingest because they have their “active ingredients” label. Correct labeling does not make a product safe. Also with just a quick glance at one supplement I see a violation of the FTC and FDA regulations.
I just tried yl essential oils for the first time tonight on my children and now I am scared I did it wrong. I was told mix 4oz solid coconut oil, 25 drops melrose, and 25 drops of lavender. I then used the cream all over their one and 3 year old bodies for eczema. Was that okay or too much? Thank you
I don’t know what is in Melrose. It must be a blend because there is not essential oil with that name.
Here is a tip that is in my book. “It only takes four to five drops of essential oil per ounce of unscented product to scent at the common level of one percent.” I also talk about aromatherapy for children in my book and recommend 0.5% essential oil for children. That would be 8-12 drops total for what you listed.
Melrose is a blend containing rosemary, clove, tea tree and niaouli.
Kayla, I do appreciate your post here, excerpt, whichever we want to call it. 😉 I just wish you wouldn’t list just those two companies. They aren’t the only mlm eo companies and they aren’t the only ones that say it’s safe to ingest. I have been taking oregano internally since 2008 for allergies. Although not always the oil, the company also makes capsules that are the plant not oil. However I have only used it when well diluted, at least as recommended if not a bit more due to the strong flavor.
Anyways. That was just my long way off saying research is important and so is caution. Please consider maybe also listing some of the other companies as well?
From what it seems, she is on a witch-hunt against these 2 companies. Being a doTerra Wellness Advocate, I understand which oils are GRAS (generally regarded as safe) and do research as to drug interactions. Not all oils that doTerra sales are listed for ingestion. Prudent and defensive in oil use is my motto.
L,
I have never had another MLM company try to sell me on ingesting essential oils. I’ve also never had anyone tell me of their experiences with another MLM company telling them to do it. I was speaking from experience so I didn’t mention any other company.
My intention is not to be on a witch-hunt. Naming the companies came from people saying, “but my doTerra rep told me I could do. . .” or “my Young Living rep told me I could do that . . .”
When I owned a wholesale essential oil company I did not call out either company. The only time I broke that rule was when a doTerra rep told someone she could cure cancer with just dT oils and no treatment. That was too alarming not to respond to publicly. When I owned an essential oil company I didn’t want to say my oils are better because . . . and call out a company.
Right now I am not saying either company has bad oils or anything like that. I am pointing out two dangerous practices.
Isn’t peppermint oil in candy peppermints? So we ingest oils then. Also when we zest citrus, we ingest those oils as well! Everything I’ve ever read on essential oils says to dilute, dilute, dilute. I understand that many people’s comments are against what you believe and might be taken as being rude, but I’d have to say that some of your responses made me stop reading and not trust what you are saying. I’m sorry you feel the need to fight back as ugly as they came at you instead of extending grace. Good luck and blessing to you and yours.
Hi Carolynn,
Just wanted you to know when essential oils are used in food, they are technically being diluted to a safe level. I’m very sure peppermint EO is in the peppermint candy, but it isn’t the first ingredient either.
Have a great day. 🙂
I could not have said it better myself Ally.
I am sorry that my comments came across as rude. I am trying to keep it civil. I will be extra vigilant. I may have come across as snarky to the lady who knocked me for fixing an error. A better response would have been to quote Guy Kawasaki on how easy it is to miss little things when you are writing and editing a book. I will have to look up his quote.
The other area I may have came across as sarcastic is regarding people making claims for Young Living that they are FDA approved. I fought long and hard for small business owners to have the right to stay in business when legislation was written to over regulated the industry. I made repeated trips to D.C., wrote countless blogs breaking down the proposed laws and appealed to Congressmen/woman to stop the proposed over regulation that would have put many small businesses out of businesses. I am touchy when it comes to people breaking the laws that are in place because it gives Congress the green light to add new regulation. So when you combine safety (which I am passionate about) and breaking laws I may have gotten a bit over passionate.
It is not my intention to offend anyone. And Ally answered the other part of your comment already so I won’t touch on that.
It’s sad how close-minded people can be. I admire your strength in dealing with the negativity and your ability to stay positive. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and research. As someone who is new to essential oils, I appreciate the safety reminders. It only makes sense to DO research before using than to take blindly or put full trust in someone who is has no expertise. Thanks again. I’m excited to read your book!
Thanks Rikki. Essential oils can be absolutely amazing and used safely at the same time. I am trying to keep things positive and simply share the truth. That is my goal at least.
Thank you, thank you for this post!!!! There is sooo much misinformation out there now that EOs are becoming popular. I’m still new to the EO world and in the very beginning I looked into these two companies. I had a friend who was a DT rep and she started giving me all this info about ingesting in capsules and applying “neat”. My gut instinct told me to keep digging and I’m soooo glad I did. Have you see this awesome site: http://www.learningabouteos.com
I also am part of two EO FB groups that are about safely using EOs which include proper dilution, blends, warnings, etc. I even plan on taking a couple courses which in my mind all those reps who sell EOs should at least take a reputable safety course or even a basic course at that!
I’m happy to see you are not letting the hateful comments get to you! Keep it up!!!! The more people who spread the knowledge of EO safety the better!
Also I just want to point out to all the commenters who said cheaper EOs are bad: as long as there are no additives to the EO, the cheaper ones are just as good if not better as the over priced MLM ones. High price doesn’t always mean quality 😉 it took some digging of my own but I found 3 non-MLM companies that I rely on for my oils and they all promote safety as well as have complete data on all their batches which includes testing, MSDS sheets, etc. Oh and I forgot to mention they are cheaper then DT and YL 😉
Ok enough of my ranting lol. Thank you again for this post! You rock!
So many great points. I especially like that you brought up MSDS sheets and testing. Thank you so much.
Oh and just one more thing: inhalation of EOs is one of the best ways to get the therapeutic benefits hence the term aromatherapy 😉
If that works just as well, why the need to ingest? Just a thought for those who swear by ingestion.
Yes, yes and yes!
Here is a report from ABC news stating that essential oils are great at healing. It also states on the first page that they are NOT recognized by the FDA…
Thought you’d like to know.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/scents-power-heal/story?id=24109788&linkId=8529655
Thanks for the link.
This is so ridiculous. I hope people see through this BS!
I’m not sure if you are saying my article is ridiculous or the comments. The article is supported by countless legitimate aromatherapists and chemists. I started studying aromatherapy in 1998. I’ve had the privileged of being trained by some of the smartest people in the aromatherapy and chemistry of essential oil world. I feel confident in their training and the education that backs up this article.
You are completely whacked.
If by whacked you mean the adjective definition, “completely exhausted.” You are right!
If you mean the other adjective, “under the influence of drugs.” You are totally wrong. I’ve never taken a mind altering drug in my life.
I’m going to assume you don’t mean the verb definition of whacked, “strike forcefully with a sharp blow.” or “murder.” That would be a very forceful reaction to my blog post.
For those who take offense to me bringing a moment of levity into this discussion don’t worry. This comment was left anonymously so I am not actually attacking a person back. You have to admit. It is funny. Right?
Oh this cracked me up! and by cracked up I mean it was awesome and made me smile! Keep up the amazing work Kayla 🙂 Rock on sister <3
Hehehe… 🙂
Great article! I’m not sure why so many people are attacking you. You haven’t talked ill of anyone’s products, in fact, I think you’re doing them a service by giving them free publicity (I’ve been a publicity assistant for over 8 years 😉 ) Besides, you are only teaching the consumer HOW to properly use essential oils.
Thanks. You are so right. I am not saying their oils are bad. I am sharing safety warnings that nether company teaches. I am simply teaching how to safely use them.
As a member of the Young Living “cult” I want to say a few things, though I am sure I will be disregarded just for having the guts to identify myself.
First, I was a huge skeptic when it came to essential oils. When my friends first began buying oils I was really convinced they were being duped and wasting money. Then I did a lot of research. I don’t think that I need to tell you that essential oils work, but I am trying to create a baseline here so you understand that I am more science-minded than anything else.
Now, one huge issue I have here is that you accuse Young Living (I will not speak for Do’Terra) consultants of saying, “Ingest oils without dilution.” I even get the impression that you think we shout ingestion from the roof tops and would say to use it over everything else.
I am part of the biggest team of distributers that Young Living has, so I’m also not going to speak for individuals or other teams, but this is how I was taught, how I was “sold” (we don’t sell) to, and how I continue to educate people about oils when it comes to ingesting.
First, ingesting is not for everyone. You should check with your doctor before taking anything. Always start small and ensure that the oil you are using is safe for ingestion. When you first start ingesting dilute heavily, even more than listed on the bottle. If you ingest it is also important to make sure that before you mix oils you take them individually so you know how your body reacts to the individual oil.
Never, ever, ever, give your kids anything to ingest. This is because these oils are strong and what works as a dose for an adult is not the same for a child. They are strong. When using topically on children you should avoid some oils and always heavily dilute, even oils that do not normally need to be diluted.
Now why can I ingest Young Living and not say….my health food store oils?
1) Young Living makes their oils specifically for ingestion. Young Living follows the French school of Aromatherapy (which is huge on ingestion) and therefore makes their oils at a quality where they can be.
2) Young Living oils have nothing extra in them. The Seed to Seal process insures that.
3) Young Living distills their oils with steam, unlike other companies which use solvents that make be harmful to ingest. Even if an oil is 100% that oil you never know if it has been distilled with a harmful solvent or not.
I personally rarely ingest and ALL of us (those who I am speaking for) make sure to talk about the GRAS list a lot (Generally Recognized as Safe.) These are oils that are already used in our food/medicine/etc.
We also never, ever push ingestion as it is a deeply personal choice. We educate a lot about the possibility of detox and how you need to be careful. We also emphasize that speaking to a doctor is super, super important.
I understand that your experience as an aromatherapist has taught you one thing, but that doesn’t mean it applies to everyone. I’d also love to see the numbers (not the “anecdotes”) of the people who have been harmed specifically by Young Living’s oils. Obviously there are going to be people who react badly (which we warn about) and there are going to be people who do not take the oils seriously and ingest in dangerous ways, but that is not something YL teaches.
Maybe this makes me a brainwashed cult member. However, I am okay with that.
This is exactly what I was taught as well!
I will double check my wording. I am saying consultants recommend using essential oils undiluted on the skin. The ingestion of essential oils is a separate point.
1. The French method of Aromamedicine is night and day to YL teaching. But that is a far cray from what YL and DT are doing. For example, in the French field of Aromamedicine an aromatogram is used to properly diagnose the patient. An aromatogram uses a specimen from an infected patient, a laboratory cultures the infectious agent, and multiple agar samples are impregnated with the culture. The center of each petri dish contains a disk of filter paper saturated with a different essential oil, chosen for effectiveness versus the pathogen. Each disk evaluated for effectiveness in repelling the proliferation of the cultured agent, it is measured by diameter of surrounding uninvaded substrate. Then, a combination/program of those essential oils most clinically antipathogenic is prescribed as treatment in that case. That is completely unrelated to what YL and dT are teaching. They are using a half truth to tell people drink essential oils or put them in a capsule.
2. I know YL teaches that other people have additives in their essential oils, but the truth is that there are hundreds of companies selling pure unadulterated essential oils. That claim comes from the marketing department.
3. From my book, “According to the International Organization for Standardization, essential oils are a “product made by distillation with either water or steam, by mechanical processing of citrus rinds, or by dry distillation of natural materials. Following the distillation, the essential oil is physically separated from the water phase.””
Also from my book here are the ways essential oils are distilled.
“Essential Oil Types and Methods of Extraction
Distilled Essential Oil – Steam distillation is the most common method of essential oil production today. It involves the flow of steam into a chamber that is full of the raw plant material. The essential oil evaporates with the water. This evaporated oil is then carried by the steam out of the chamber and into a chilled condenser, where the steam once again becomes water. The oil and water are then separated. The oil is collected and sold as essential oil and the water, which is called a hydrosol or distillate, is often sold separately. The best essential oils are obtained by low pressure, low heat distillation.
Expressed Essential Oil – Cold pressing or expression from the peels of most citrus fruits creates expressed essential oils. Examples of this method include citrus oils from the peels of fruit; lemon, bergamot and sweet orange. This method involves the simple pressing of the rind at about 120 degrees Fahrenheit to extract the oil in the peel of the citrus fruit. This method of extraction creates essential oils that have little to no alteration from the oil’s original state in the plant.
Absolute – Some plants, and particularly delicate flowers, cannot survive steam distilling. Either the plant is too delicate, or water alone cannot fully release their fragrance. Instead these plants are solvent extracted in a two-step process that creates absolutes. They are not technically considered essential oils, but they can still have great therapeutic and aromatic value. Jasmine and rose are examples of absolutes.
The processing of an absolute first involves the hydrocarbon solvent extraction of a ‘concrete’ from the plant material, which is a semi-solid mixture of approximately 50% wax and 50% volatile oil. The concrete is then again processed using ethyl alcohol, in which the wax is only slightly soluble. The volatile plant oil then separates into the alcohol and this mixture is removed. Next the alcohol is evaporated, which leaves you with an incredibly aromatic absolute.
CO2 Extraction – Carbon Dioxide and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide extraction both involve the use of carbon dioxide as a solvent, which carries the essential oil away from the raw plant material. CO2 extraction involves chilling carbon dioxide to between 35 and 55 degrees F, and then pumping the carbon dioxide through the plant material at about 1000 pounds per square inch (psi). These conditions condense the carbon dioxide into a liquid. Supercritical CO2 extraction (SCO2) involves carbon dioxide that is heated to 87 degrees Fahrenheit and pumped through the plant material at around 8,000 psi. These conditions make the carbon dioxide like a dense fog or vapor. When the pressure is released in both the CO2 and SCO2 extractions, the carbon dioxide escapes in its gaseous form, which leaves the essential oil behind.
Folded Essential Oils – Many citrus essential oils, including orange, lemon, grapefruit, lime, tangerine, mandarin and bergamot are available in as 5 fold and 10 fold forms. A folded essential oil is one that has been further distilled and is made more concentrated. Folded essential oils tend to last longer because the terpenes, which are prone to oxidation, are removed. Another benefit is that the essential oils are no longer phototoxic due to the removal of the terpenes. Folded citrus oils are the perfect choice for making cold processed soap.
One look at Kaylas mug and I’m completely sickened. If one ends up looking constipated from her beliefs. NOT TRUE! Putting others down is not a reputable virtue.
“Putting others down is not a reputable virtue.” ???? Corrie, perhaps you wrote this without careful thought of the irony. Your comment is an extreme low blow and childish, too. Kayla is not putting anyone down. She is merely stating that EOs should be used safely at all times. I suspect that even you would agree if you could open your mind to see the facts and realize you are insulting a highly respected industry leader. I’m embarrassed for you.
Thanks Deb. I was taken back by the irony of the statement as well.
I am not certain how to respond to this comment. You can have the opinion that I am ugly. That is okay. I am not sure how calling me ugly makes you point, “Putting others down is not a reputable virtue.” Just for the record I am not constipated. That is a statement of fact.
Wow, stay strong. People are so crazy on this subject.
I think Kayla is just trying to drum up business for her “Aromatherapy Business”.
I sold my essential oil company in 2011. I do not profit from the sale of essential oils.
I just want to make a couple of points. I readily, and proudly say that I am a wholesale member of YL. I researched several companies and brands before making that choice and based on my beliefs I feel I made the best choice for myself. When I read so many people attacking you personally, or MLM companies generally, it upsets me. People are going to do what they feel is best for them. No one should blindly follow what anyone else tells them without doing some of their own research. I resent the comment above stating that people who are involved with YL are a cult. My point here is this, while people may not agree with you, you are entitled to your opinion based on your research, and beliefs. Just the same as others are entitled to the theirs. As with ALMOST anything you can find research to support either side of a debate. And generally speaking there is never a totally concrete answer to these types of debates. As a consumer of any product it is your right, and your duty to do your own research and be as informed as you can be.
I agree with you. Consumers have a duty to do your own research and be as informed as you can be. And I know that in any MLM there can be organizations or legs (I don’t know YL terminology for this) that can be cult-like and others that teach responsibly.
I won’t give this much time, frankly because you aren’t worth many words. You have done specific research and continue to contribute claims to particular people that work in your favor.
Bashing specific companies to try to promote your book is not only immature, but proves you’re one of the most ignorant people when it comes to these topics. I feel safe using only YL oils on my family including a 2 year old son. I’ve done my research, and guess what? I read the labels that properly identify the ways to use them. I am careful and I advise anyone else that uses them to read up on them and follow the label. Ingesting IS safe if it is the suggested oils and amounts. No one would drink an entire bottle at once.
However, it appears you got what you were searching for. Controversy. I hope that makes you happy. But realize that karma is also out there and it will come back to bite you.
I sell for YL, but i don’t sit here and bash any other company to make myself look better. It’s called being and adult. If people proactively contact me about other oils, i share my knowledge.
Grow up. Get a real job. Learn your manners.
I will give you my time because you are worth my time. I am not attacking the quality of the essential oils of either company. I am educating on safety standards. I was not looking for controversy and a verbal lashing from YL and dT consultants. This blog post was in response to one too many people coming to me after they were given dangerous advice. I kid you not.
Thanks for you advice. I will watch my words. I feel that I have been incredibly patient after countless personal attacks. I am sorry you don’t feel the same way.
@connie I certainly hope karma is real. Perhaps you may want to re-read you post? That is allot of negativity you are sending out into the world my dear.. Hmmmmm….
@Kayla. I love how eloquently you reply to such negative posts. A true show of wonderful character.
I had to stop reading this when you suggested that young living does not inform people to dilute their oils. Look in their essential oil desk reference. Sorry, but when they tell you to apply certain oils, they do inform you to dilute, especially for children and animals. I’m sure you have bashed them for other things as well…. Please get your facts straight before you decide to bash a company that works so hard to help make the world a better place.
The first book I ever read about aromatherapy was “Essential Oils Desk Reference” by G.Young. In it he teaches raindrop therapy Essential Oils Desk Reference by G.Young. Here is an excerpt, “Raindrop Technique is based on the theory that many types of scoliosis and spinal misalignments are caused by viruses or bacteria that lie dormant along the spine. These pathogens create inflammation, which, in turn, contorts and disfigures the spinal column.”
In the description of how to use Raindrop Therapy he goes on to tell you to essential oils. The directions have you using the actual bottle of essential oil to drop directly onto the skin. Later you can prevent discomfort with some “V-6 Mixing Oil.” He then goes on to claim, ” The greater the inflammation and viral infection along the spine, the hotter the area along the spine will become.”
Not only are these claims illegal, but they are dangerous.
Rain drop technique does way more good than harm… Dont you think that if it bothered that many people to have those oils applied with out dilution, then there would be a big fuss about it and Gary would change things up a bit? I have never heard of anyone complaining about RT. Just a thought. If you have any links about negative side affects from RT, I would like to read them. Also, one thing I would like to mention, is that doTERRA essential oils are NOT pure, in fact they have synthetic additives that are not labeled. Young Living’s are pure. There is a court case about this. It could be something for you to look into and write an article about it.
Gary Young has been sued several times for injury. He has been arrested for health fraud related charges. He was arrested in California in 1988 for charges related to the sale of ineffective and worthless medical treatments. In 1983 he was arrested in Spokane, WA for practicing medicine without a license. He was arrested on January 10, 1994 for assault with an axe. You can read more here: http://www.jonnsaromatherapy.com/pdf/Briggs_Real_Story_of_Gary_Young_2013.pdf
There are multiple posting on Quackwatch about him. The FDA has cited him on several occasions. Here is an example of a letter from the FDA to Young Living. http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dailys/01/Jan01/010501/let0436.pdf
There have been lawsuits for injury,
I am familiar with the lawsuit between the two companies. Each company has a different spin on the facts.
He is making bank. Nothing is going to stop him.
@ Quackwatch (really, you are citing him, lol), I personally know someone who confronted Barrett with his “research on Gary Young”. She noticed that on one of the arrest files, it was a different person…same name, wrong birth date. Barrett’s response…” I DON’T HAVE TIME TO VERIFY EVERYTHING ON MY WEBSITE” That’s a quote. YL has since WON a lawsuit against Quackwatch, in which he is supposed to take down his slander. Unfortunately, there are other websites that are just quoting Quackwatch’s slander, as though it is truth. Does Gary have a past? perhaps. Shall you cast the first stone. Do you suppose that if Gary is the man Quack watch is painting him to be, he would have an internationally successful company? Do you suppose CANADA (yes, Health Canada is quite strict) would allow him to open a corporate office, in which he has to pass strict legal requirements. What about Peru inviting YL to create a farm there? What about Oman…very, very picky with whom they allow to tap into their prize resource: the Frankincense tree…guess who: Gary Young and Young Living EXCLUSIVELY. Just think about it people…do criminals as Quackwatch describe go to jail, or experience world wide success or the acclamation of hundreds of professionals or the approval of governments world wide. Quackwatch…really?
I did not site Quackwatch in this comment stream or my actual article. Maybe it is one of many links given in one of the hundreds of comments.
In this comment stream I gave a link to the FDA letter to Mr. Young. That is very specific to the way the business is run. http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dailys/01/Jan01/010501/let0436.pdf
This from the EPA regarding YL offers some light on their farming. http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/enforce.NSF/eb301e061a412ae388256f6a0075f547/5de66ce4a8dccb3188257c2a006213fb!OpenDocument
Also check out this deposition: http://personalcaretruth.com/2014/08/truth-seekers-young-living-deposition/
And just to be clear let me restate that a pure essential oil should not be ingested either. It is not whether or not an essential oil is pure or not that makes it safe or dangerous to use undiluted or consume them. Essential oils are very concentrated.
These cases can be looked up in the Legal system where it not just some quack’s website or other persons opinion. Newspaper articles too. Open your eyes.
Though I disagree with several aspects of this excerpt. I will point out just one. I find your lack of professionalism in the comments disconcerting. I applaud your desire to educate. It is something I also do daily in my Young Living business. I personally aim to educate each and every one of my clients and I ensure I provide them with information so they are able to make their own decisions on how to best use these oils for their families. I often get backlash from competitors, but I have never dealt with them unpleasantly or been “snarky” in a public forum. You are an aromatherapist. You represent a large number of professionals: please act like it. I want to look at your research, I may look into your book. I am always interested in learning more about these oils, even if it means looking at an opposing viewpoint, but I will NOT support a “professional” who cannot be respectful to the public.
My desire is to educate. Please let me know what you find offensive in my comments. I will review them. I have been under constant attack. I continue to approve the opposing comments and try to take the time to answer them. Since you are saying I am being unprofessional I would appreciate examples so I can review them.
Oh dear, GiGi. I’ve followed this post, and each and every comment carefully, in the past few days. As Kayla states, she has been repeatedly attacked both personally and professionally, yet her replies remain professional, respectful, and kind. There are very few individuals on this planet who could/would take the time to reply to such attacks. I doubt you will take the time to go back through to pinpoint where exactly Kayla responded unprofessionally. Perhaps you accidentally read one of the rude comments TO her, confusing who was replying to whom.
PS: HER ENTIRE MESSAGE IS TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS SAFELY AND TO TEACH THE SAME. If you are one who does, I congratulate you.
Dear Kayla,
Let me start by saying that I think your article is very important. The use of essential oils can be risky without the proper precautions. I commend you for stepping forward when I’m sure you knew you would be attacked.
I am a former massage therapist who has studied aromatherapy in several different capacities. Not only did I take courses as part of my massage therapy curriculum, I also studied under Butch Owen of Appalachian Valley and ACHS. I mention this because it seems that people are looking for qualifications. That being said, I believe that my independent study has led me to the same conclusions as my formal schooling did. I would never call myself an expert, because I don’t want that kind of responsibility and because I feel I am always learning.
Aromatherapy and the use of essential oils is becoming a double edged sword. I do not feel that the FDA should regulate these substances, yet by not doing so, there is a risk of misinformation and injury. At the same time, when properly used, essential oils can be extremely beneficial. We are all caught in a situation in which well intended persons can be hurt, or scared away, and this confusion and separation may give essential oils a bad reputation.
Thank you for starting this discussion. You have inspired me to become more outspoken about the use of essential oils. I quit massage therapy altogether in part because I suffered similar personal attacks and I grew tired of the negativity. My hope is that people consider the intent behind your message, whether they agree with you or not. It is clear that you are trying to prevent harm and encourage learning, and I commend you for that. Well done.
Kristen,
You have a great resume of educational experience. Thank you for sharing your well balanced information. Thanks
Sorry, Kayla, but you’re just another self-appointed “expert”, confusing and disturbing a lot of people, kind of the like the other “expert”, Lea Harris of Learning About EO’s. Being an Aromatherapist doesn’t qualify either of you as a scientist, and you’re both in over your head. It’s just the fact.
I can see that nothing I could say about my knowledge of aromatherapy would change your mind about me. The references for my book can be found here: http://kaylafioravanti.com/references-for-the-art-science-and-business-of-aromatherapy/
You will find many brilliant chemists, aromatherapists, doctors and more listed among my research. I highly recommend that you pick up any of the books referenced to get an opinion of someone with an education level you deem acceptable.
Mr. Gardner, may I ask you, what are you credentials and where you studied the art or aromatherapy and the correct usage of essential oils?
Everything I do contradicts your entire blog posting. I ingest and apply oils Neat on myself and my kids. Works great for us. YLEO were the first product to relieve my SLE (Lupus) and fibromyalgia symptoms without causing harmful side effects. I understand blogging can be fun, I just hope this blog entry does not steer people away from a very valid, scientifically supported form of treatment that has proven to help so many lives. I suppose only naive people believe everything written in a blog on the internet is true instead of trying it for themselves, but unfortunately some people are. I just hope they analyze the information for themselves instead of relying on your blog entry with little personal research (if any), that’s sole intention is to discredit appropriate methods of use.
I have been reading this post since the beginning and I have to wonder if those of you who are questioning Kayla’s motives and/or background have actually read what is going on. She is not bashing the quality of YL or dT products. She is putting out generally accepted aromatherapeutic information, directly in response to being approached by dozens of people who’ve contacted her to a) seek her opinion about safe usage and b) to complain about being harmed by ingesting/neat usage. If you’ve done your due diligence and you feel comfortable ingesting and/or applying eo’s directly on your skin, then knock yourselves out. The thing is, the majority of folks don’t educate themselves first and they are the ones who should stick to inhaling and appropriate dilution.
I am by no means an expert. However I would love to share some links from people who’ve studied the history of aromatherapy, 3rd party testing results for many company’s EO’s and hopefully I’ll do it with out offending anyone.
http://aromatherapyunited.org/bible/
http://www.learningabouteos.com/index.php/2013/10/13/3rd-party-test-results-for-peppermint-essential-oil/
http://roberttisserand.com/2013/02/essential-oils-and-eye-safety/ <– this one quotes G. Young's approach to putting EO's in the eye.
http://aromaticwisdominstitute.com/essential-oil-sensitization/ <– this article is from Liz Fulcher who is just stating what a sensitization looks like and that it can happen from EO's. I trust her knowledge not just because she is certified and registered aromatherapist with NAHA and AIA, but also has taken classes above and beyond that including chemistry.
And while this last link is of an info-graph it does contain links you can type in your address bar to see where their research has been done.
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/48/e7/e2/48e7e2d058a897d9993ee86fe17431eb.jpg
Thanks for sharing.
Your blog post on essential oils is so untrue! There’s a lot of clinical research using oils, especially frankincense, which is inserted through the rectum.
I see that Connie and Alan Higley have written a book using this method. They a variety of Young Living brochures, products and business tools on their website too. I saw a reference to him Alan Higley speaking at a Young Living convention. When this is practiced and preached by the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapist, Alliance of International Aromatherapist and the Aromatherapy Registration Council let me know.
Kayla, you are an absolute class act. So impressed with both your post and your professional composure in the aftermath. I first began researching all this stuff after applying a YL oil to my 2 year old, which burned his skin, at the advice of a rep. Thankful to have trustworthy info out there to learn from so I can learn how to use oils safely and effectively.
Thank you. I have heard story after story of kids getting burned. In one case the child was fine when they applied it the first few days. Then one day she started screaming bloody murder when they applied the essential oils again. Within a week she had developed an allergic reaction. Thank you for your supportive comment.
I am wondering whether DigestZen , which has fennel and I think tarragon in it, is safe? It helps my digestion so much. Also, what is the verdict on geranium or frankincense ?
I never recommend consuming essential oils. Taking a capsule of herb supplements is completely different than taking a capsule with essential oils.
So Here it goes with no apologies.
Gary Young isn’t God.
Gary Young has money as his motive.
Gary Young is plain wrong, on many things.
Gary Young is wrong to advocate and tell people to take EO’s internally in anything other than trace amounts.
Gary Young is wrong to advocate using undiluted Essential oils on your skin, ESPECIALLY over a protracted amount of time
Young Living and DoTerra are Cults.
Young Living and DoTerra and all MLM schemes make money from OTHER people’s hard work, not from their own.
Robert Tisserand is the BOMB.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS “THERAPEUTIC GRADE”.
Essential oils sold by these two companies ARE NOT refined so much/so many times as to render them unharmful any longer.
ALL PEOPLE Defending Young Living and DoTerra need to get a life and get their minds right. They are WRONG.
How do I know this?
How Do I Know ALL THIS?
Because I am a Perfumer, and I know Chemistry.
Do you Young Living and DoTerra people have degrees in Chemistry?
WHEN you do have a degree in Chemistry, then you will know the real TRUTH, and not accept being spoon fed nonsense by these hucksters.
Have a nice day.
Kudos to you, sir! If more professionals such as yourself and Kayla would speak up and against these practices, perhaps fewer people would be delving into using these potent compounds on the word of the untrained and unknowledeable people who are popping up everywhere due to the heavy marketing campaigns these companies are currently stressing.
I don’t care about Gary Young or dT. I care about being able to move my body to 1. Feel better and 2. Help other lupus patients see there are other avenues to feel better (which may help get them off their daily Vicodin/Norco/Percocet/opiates). I cared enough to aggressively do my own research on the best treatments for me – YLEO neat, ingested and diffused – instead of depending on pharmaceuticals that lead to more symptoms than I had before I took them, or “professionals” who don’t know my body like I do. I have a degrees in human development and clinical psychology. It’s not chemistry, but I assure you a person who actively seeks to help themselves feel better has their “mind right.” Your chemistry degree and perfumery is great, but stay in your lane.
You may know your own body, but are you trained enough in aromatherapy and medicine to know the body of another lupus patient? There are so many contraindications that advice from a layman to a seriously sick person can be dangerous. Why not play it safe and have them inhale essential oils and use the undiluted. Here is in an interesting blog from Robert Tisserand on how much is absorbed and so forth.
http://roberttisserand.com/2014/05/essential-oil-dilution-important/
Yes I am. And for you to suggest I am doing harm by sharing options, is immature and tantrum-like. You may call me a layman all day, but 1. Your approach is not helping anyone; and 2. I believe someone with first-hand experience is more helpful than internet-trained self-proclaimed author who blogs about being an aromatherapist for attention. I know you revel in the attention your blog is getting but please go away and continue to troll other blogs and social media sites in silence.
Leah I didn’t see any doctor credentials with your name so I assume you are not qualified to give someone with Lupus a check up. Here is the thing. Sometimes people sick with one thing can have multiple medical issues. There are contraindications with medical issues and essential oils. I’m not trying to be a jerk or puff myself up. I am trying to say that essential oils are powerful and potent. What is wrong with being cautious? There is no harm in telling someone to use essential oils diluted and through inhalation. But many trained aromatherapists agree that there is danger in consuming essential oils. It isn’t only me.
If you have read any of the other comments you may already know this, but I am certified by a National Association of Holistic Aromatherapists approved school and I became a registered aromatherapist by the Aromatherapy Registration Council. I am not self proclaimed.
I find it strange that you are on my blog calling me a troll. I haven’t blogged about aromatherapy in years. I sold my company in 2011. I only spoke up because people were coming to me after being given dangerous information and I was hearing about countless injuries.
You sound just a bit jealous.
Kayla, I’m curious to know what brand of oils you use and/or recommend. In terms of good quality oils, what’s out there other than YL and DT? I’m a complete newbie when it comes to EOs.
I buy my essential oils from the company I sold in 2011. I know their buyers continue to hold high standards. I am only telling you because you asked that the company is called Essential Wholesale Labs. I don’t want anyone to get confused and think that I am selling essential oils or attempting to profit by telling you where I buy mine.
This is the company I buy from, always have, The info has always been accurate and errs on the side of caution. I started buying shortly after it was started “by two sisters in a garage” IIRC. Even after you sold it I still buy from it and recommend it to others.
There are other sites I would probably trust based on people I know ordering from them, but their prices offend me. *grin*
Keep up the good work and info sharing. People with no knowledge base should not be ingesting or using undiluted EOs on their skin. I think a big part of the problem is some reps calling themselves experts and imparting false information. Sales are sales are sales and have always included ethical and not ethical folks. Such a shame.
This is the company I buy from, always have, The info has always been accurate and errs on the side of caution. I started buying shortly after it was started “by two sisters in a garage” IIRC. Even after you sold it I still buy from it and recommend it to others.
There are other sites I would probably trust based on people I know ordering from them, but their prices offend me. *grin*
Keep up the good work and info sharing. People with no knowledge base should not be ingesting or using undiluted EOs on their skin. I think a big part of the problem is some reps calling themselves experts and imparting false information. Sales are sales are sales and have always included ethical and not ethical folks. Such a shame.
ETA – This PJ (me) is not the same person as the other one I just spotted! Arg! This is PJVJ, first comment here.
Thank you, Kayla. Thank you for being a voice of reasoning and sharing your vast knowledge and educated expertise on the subject of correct and proper usage of essential oils. Your training, expertise and integrity are well known and noted across several industries that utilize the benefits of essential oils and natural options for better health and beauty. I have sat back and followed this post for days. Now I feel compelled to comment. I apologize for the length but so much needs to be said here.
What I am seeing in the comments and what I have heard and read from many who support ill-advised practices ingestion and undiluted topical application of essential oils is scary and quite frankly, maddening in how inaccurate and dangerous it can be. I am an avid believer in the use of natural and alternative options for health and for beauty and the validity of holistic approaches to health and wellness. The use of essential oils and herbs is something that I’ve been doing myself and for my family since I was in my late teens or early 20’s. I have over 2 decades of personal independent study in this arena. I also have years of experience as a certified professional in the health care field and am a natural products formulator. So I have a working knowledge on several sides here. I am not uneducated or I have no motives here other than to educate and support safe usage as well as warn others that much of what is being advocated in some circles is not wise or advisable among the masses.
I wholeheartedly endorse the proper and safe use of these wonderful, God-given oils for aromatic uses to good health. As I have already stated, I turn to holistic approaches such as essential oils and herbs first for myself and my family when and if the need arises. But for those reading, please note that I said PROPER and SAFE USAGE. In my opinion based on my studies, this does not include ingestion/eating or undiluted topical applications of essential oils to treat or prevent medical conditions, injuries or diseases without the strict and properly trained direction of a clinical aromatherapist or licensed naturopathic professional. Doing so is not smart and most certainly not recommended by credible essential oil advocates or experts. I’ll go on to say that I would not even take the advice of a doctor in this area unless they have gone beyond their licensed medical training and taken the time to be appropriately educated, trained and certified/degreed in holistic approaches to medicine and/or the medicinal use of essential oils through reputable institutions and certified teachers. This is a must to give patients informed information on using essential oils internally and topically in a safe manner. FYI – The medicinal use of essential oils and herbs is not part of the medical school training and licensing. So just because they are a licensed medical physician does not make them more credible or knowledgeable in the medicinal applications of essential oils. Likewise, a chemist, while they may and should know or can easily test the chemical constituents, molecular structure and more with various compounds, including essential oils, they are not licensed medical doctors with training in diagnosis or treatment options much less the proper and safe ways to use essential oils for medicinal purposes. Therefore, I will not be taking medical advice from them any more than I will be taking it from a rep/consultant or user of Young Living or doTerra oils. But that is just me and my thoughts on the matter.
Giving uneducated recommendations for usage of such potent natural chemical compounds is as unwise as it is unsafe. Likewise, offering medical advice, making a medical diagnosis, giving recommendations for medical treatment or a treatment plan protocol and instruction to others for medical conditions (whether they include essential oils or any other substance or not) without medical training and a medical license or in the least, adequate training and certification in clinical aromatherapy or holistic medicine is irresponsible as well as illegal and criminal in action. This is practicing medicine without a license, a crime that is punishable by hefty fines and imprisonment in the United States and in pretty much every developed country in the world.
A liability clause stating that content or text is for informational purposes only and is not for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition, whether it is displayed on a website, in promotional marketing literature or repeated by mouth is not going to change the fact that usage for treatment of medical conditions is implied, which is against FDA’s regulations regarding drug claims and marketing a product for treatment of or healing of an medical condition, illness or disease. These “clauses” are not protection against federal intervention for making unsubstantiated and illegal drug claims. It also does not protect against lawsuits or absolve one from responsibility for implied uses or outright instructions for use in a medicinal way. Regardless of what is on the labels (as has been repeatedly mentioned), I can tell you that most people do not read labels. They will listen to others and they will skim read high points on websites, looking for solutions or advice for their needs and wants. This is a far cry from being well informed or sufficiently educated on the matter. As Kayla said, a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing. In my humble opinion, it can be even more dangerous than none at all. When you think you know something when in fact, you don’t know much of anything at all on the subject, this can be extremely dangerous. The responses we have all seen from those commenting and attacking here have sure proven that.
Those who own and/or work for these companies are far from respected or considered as authentic and reputable experts in the aromatherapy, herbalism, naturopathic or holistic medicine communities. The owners and employees of both companies, their credentials, recommendations and marketing claims are well known in these communities and more often than not, shunned due to the unproven claims, recommendations and the unethical and unprofessional manner in which they seem to do business.
I want to call into question the credibility and viable knowledge of the reps/consultants, followers and users of these companies’ products; are they credible or reliable sources for information or medical advice? In my opinion, NO they are not. Users and followers are typically just lay-persons who use the product and follow the company. They often know only what they have been told or read through the company literature. By the same token, in my research and experience as well as through countless conversations with Young Living and doTERRA reps and resellers (and reps for other similar companies that sell essential oils for profit), most are NOT properly trained and they are not unbiased sources for information. Reps and product users certainly are not qualified to make diagnosis, give recommendations on how to use essential oils to treat various health concerns or medical conditions. To look to any of these for relevant and critical information is about the same as going to a used car salesman or hair dresser down the street for legal advice and representation. Or as one wise person once told me regarding seeking advice or expertise on any subject, “You don’t go to a banker for heart surgery.” To these reps, users and followers credit, what many of them do have is training in how to market and promote that company’s oils and regurgitated the claims that by all evidence has no documented proof or references from reputable and respected sources.
Speaking of which, I have yet to see any references, either here or anywhere else for that matter, that substantiate the claims and practices advised by these companies and their representatives to have been tested and proven through scientific means by anyone who is not connected in some way to Young Living and/or doTERRA. If this is not the case, then please, by all means share your non-YL and non-doT representative or employee generated documentation and references that back up any of G. Young’s claims or the claims that have been made in the comments, including the one that Young Living’s oils are FDA approved on any level. Can anyone provide those please? While you’re at it, can you please provide your credentials and tell us where you received your certification or training in essential oils or holistic medicine?
To those who have been quite disrespectful and accusatory. Why anyone gets so offended, rationalizes to the point of incoherency, tries to discredit the writer and react in such nasty ways when someone who does have credibility and expertise or they provide facts that are supported by so many highly credible resources is beyond my understanding. Yet you will take the word of those who are not trained, do not have a vast working knowledge in this area beyond hearsay and “read it on the internet” and you will listen to a man who has absolutely no traceable or verifiable reputable training from reputable teachers and institutions who specialize in the area of medicine (either conventional or holistic) or essential oils. A man, might I add, that has also been the subject of countless investigations and criminal charges worldwide including for practicing medicine without a license. That just baffles me. These facts are all well document and easy enough to check out if anyone just wants to look a little deeper.
Quite a few here have accused Kayla of what it seems like they themselves are guilty of….voicing their personal opinion, taking advantage of hype or the “success” of others for profit or personal gain and validation, being mean spirited, unprofessional and rude. Kind of the pot and the kettle scenario there, don’t you think? The vile spewings I’ve seen here are reflective of the person who is spewing. How someone who has NO training at all in the use of essential oils or aromatherapy or even the medical field can possible call her untrained or ignorant on the subject is disturbing and amazing. To call someone ignorant when that someone has more training, experience and expertise in their little finger than the accuser themselves have ever seen or cared to invest time, money and energy into is, by every sense and definitions of the words, ignorant and idiotic. To attack someone on a personal level, such as questioning their faith and personal beliefs and their appearance is so representative of someone who has no factual or justifiable argument to contribute to the debate. All of these tactics are the highest levels of ignorance and stupidity not to mention childish behavior and in no way is it commendable to ones character nor does it make your words noteworthy. I will refrain from pointing out that this is the common and first response behavior of online trolls.
Kayla has kept her responses civil, informative and factual while being spewed on with toxic words from many of you. She has been very professional and exhibited as much grace as any one person could possibly be expected to under the attacks that most have thrown at her. Sadly, that cannot be said about many of you or your comments.
It seems the reason many are getting so angry, in my opinion, is that Kayla is well-respected, well-educated and well-versed in every level of the subject of essential oils. She has repeatedly supplied substantiated factual documentation that supports the warnings about improper EO use, the usage of such potent chemicals without caution and the potential for adverse reactions which so many seem to find offensive. There’s that “the truth offends” thing again. Therefore, the only assumption here that one can make about those who are being so derogatory and vicious is that they obviously fear that Kayla will influence people to become more informed and educated on the subject. And when they do, they will NOT buy into the scientifically unsubstantiated claims and ill-advised hype that is being used to sell the oils. They will understand that caution is warranted and some practices are better left to those trained in those particular areas of expertise.
As for those saying they have had no adverse reactions from ingestion or undiluted usage….well, the future will tell the tale on how this practice may lead to future problems that could be a serious and even more troubling, were not necessary to deal with ever. Ingestion may be causing minor or major internal ulcerations and the toxicity that can build up within the body due to the potency of essential oils is not to be played with. They are, by nature, solvents and have been known to strip shellac, polyurethane and paint from surfaces. The “redness” that has or may be experienced when applying EO’s undiluted or “neat” that is said to be “detoxing”…sorry, but that was a chemical burn and the damage to the skin has already been done. Good thing our bodies are self-rejuvenating and God was wise enough to make our body in such a way that it replaces our entire skin cell structure and layer system every 28 days. Even with this built in regeneration, a deep chemical burn and scarring that cannot be reversed is a very real possibility. Also, the over-usage may very well cause sensitivities to the oils over time, rendering the user unable to tolerate even a hint of them any longer. That would just be a shame and such a sad waste when proper and appropriate usage could insure many long years of enjoying the benefits of the oil(s) in question.
Ultimately it is each person’s individual responsibility to get the facts and to educate themselves about any product but especially as it relates to essential oils. It is your personal choice whether you use them wisely and with caution just as you would any other substance that is highly potent and volatile or you choose to follow these practices that are in question. But, if you choose to go against the wisdom, expertise and science that has been presented in this article and through the references Kayla has graciously provided, do not be surprised if it doesn’t work out so well. When you or a member of your family have adverse reactions, health issues or injury from these practices or someone you have advised or recommended these practices to have adverse reactions or injury, or the Good Lord forbid, something much worse occurs with any of the persons mentioned after the uneducated and improper use of essential oils, just remember you were warned by someone who knew what they were talking about and had the credentials to back it up.
Excellent information Ginger! Your point about taking advice from a doctor about essential oils is brilliant. I could not have said it better. Thank you so much for you kind words about me.
Very nice and complete reply Ginger. My sentiments exactly.. Thank you
Hello and thank you for writing this article and thoroughly sharing your resources. Personally, I do use young living oils and I am embarrassed by the ignorant hostility of other young living users on here. While I have had literally dozens of continued successes with these oils, I continue to learn and keep an open mind about the safeties of their use. I want to continue to use them safely and welcome all educated and well-researched information. I apologize that so many YL users are quite literally behaving as defensive and unquestioning cult-members. YL oils are truly amazing and healing, but that is all the more reason to not become hatefully defensive when responding to someone who is passionate about the art of healing with aromatherapy. Thank you for your extensive research and your class in handling their low-class remarks. Some people just need to believe undoubtedly in something and their hostility is their defense. Such a shame. Thank you again. 🙂
Well said. I use YL too. I agree. I don’t like the hostility.
Thank you for your support.
Wow. You make some pretty bold statements that just don’t add up. If the oils are so dangerous than why aren’t they hurting me or my family or the hundreds of thousands of people buying them every day. Companies that succeed for decades do so because they have products that work not because they know how to trick people. The industry is growing not shrinking. I’m not a rep in just a mom with common sense. What your saying just doesn’t make any sense. I think you are just hoping to make a name for yourself.
Did you read the post? I am not condemning the use of essential oils. I am giving the industry standard safety warnings. If you want to double check my safety warnings I suggest any of this sampling of my resources.
Alliance of International Aromatherapists, American Medical Association. Committee on Coetaneous Health, Glen O. Brechbill, Australian Tea Tree Oil Standards, Salvatore Battaglia, Robert Bike, Jane Buckle, Tony Burfield, Patricia Davis, Judith Fitzsimmons, European Commission Health and Consumers, FDA, Rene-Maurice Gattefossé, Nelly Grosjean, Health Canada, International Fragrance Association, International Organization for Standardization, W. Jager, G. Buchbauer, L. Jirovetz, M. Fritzer, Maria Lis-Balchin BSc, PhD., Mark Lees PhD, National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy, NPCS Board of Consultants and Engineers, Official Journal of the European Union, Dr. Robert S. Pappas, Personal Care Products Council, Len Price, Shirley Price, PubMed.gov., Lisa Rodgers, H. Rommelt, A. Zuber, K. Dirnagl, H. Drexel, Jeanne Rose, H. Schilcher, Kurt Schnaubelt Ph.D., Wanda Sellar, Sense of Smell Institute, Sylla Sheppard-Hanger, Smell and Taste, Sundale Research, The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), The International Organization for Standardization, Maggie Tisserand, Maggie, Robert Tisserand, Dr. Jean Valnet, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Martin Watt, Chrissie Wildwood, David G. Williams, Susan Worwood, Valerie Ann Worwood.
Thank you for taking the time to research and compile the information you presented. I use YL oils on myself and my family and will continue to do so but will be more cautious in how I use them. In no way shape or form did I take your blog post as a push to sell your book, nor did I misconstrue your intentions for your post. I am absolutely disgusted by the hateful and childish attacks by so many who clearly did not read it with an unbiased view. In fact, it seems as though many failed to read it at all. If someone chooses to take this as an attack against a specific essential oils company, then they are at fault and have completely failed to comprehend your purpose. Those looking for a fight are always quite confident in their ignorance as they sit behind a keyboard and computer screen. Even more so when fueled by the comfort of a group attack effort; much like sharks to blood. Again, I appreciate your post and can only encourage you to continue to do what you have been called to do. (Isaiah 54:17)
Thank you!
Just want to share my viewpoint.
Have you thought, that maybe it all comes down to money, and that aromatherapist are up in arms because they are no longer needed by essential oil users? Maybe they are feeling their profession is being threatened? Just a thought. I can see where someone that has studied aromatherapy and gone through all the time and effort and expense of earning their certification in this area could possibly feel threatened by companies that promote self diagnoses and treatment. This could possibly make the profession of the aromatherapist obsolete.
As far as non professionals recommending EO’s, how do you think people in the old days used remedies? Well I suggest they used a lot of word of mouth and what worked for them to help their friends and family that were ill. Nothing wrong with that.
I respect what you are saying. Safe usage is important, for sure but you can’t lump all in the same category. I have used oils topically and internally for hashimotos disease and whole list of other things. I successfully avoided removal of my thyroid and discontinued thyroid medications with oil use. I am not currently selling oils, just someone that has benefitted greatly from them and is passionate about helping others break free from the “put a bandaid over the issue and avoid the root cause” syndrome that our current healthcare system has. My mother in law was diagnosed witht macular degeneration. She also used oils topically around her eye socket and guess what? To her dr.’s amazaent , it is completely gone now! She had a pretty bad case of it. My best friend’s grandmother had spots on her lungs , after topical use of EO’s all the spots have disappeared. Dr.’s again can’t explain that. So many people are being helped and I think this article may steer people away from getting the healing they need.
Sure you have a long list of references , but it seems like you are referencing ones that are all of the same belief system as yourself.
The one thing that I thought may discredit you a little is the reference to quackwatch. Now I have read up on mr. Young, and his record isn’t so clean. I do not use his products. But I would take the very biased quackwatch with a grain of salt. Again that is all about the bottom line for pharmaceutical companies, government and medical professionals not wanting to lose out on money. Anything against mainstream western medicine is going to get a bad reputation, because it cuts out the middle man (physicians, drug companies etc) and anything that makes these folks lose money , you bet it is going to become a target. Just like these oil companies mentioned. As far as I’m concerned they are probably the same in quality. I am glad they are getting the word out about taking responsibility for your own healing and not always relying on the medical profession to do so with chemical laden medications. This is coming from a registered nurse! Yes , caution should absolutely be taught. Oils are powerful! As seen with the healing that took place in those close to me, they do work. But they can also be misused. Just like any other medication.
The bottom line is, we need to all be supportive of each other , as it seems we are all trying to accomplish the same thing here, which is natural healing with less chemicals and invasive procedures. We are all on a path to natural healing. It does no one any good to tear down someone else’s methods of how they do that. Let’s face it, NONE of us really know Asian as we would like to think we do. We are all in the “figuring it out” stage. There many many differing viewpoints from many different well interning and highly educated sources on all sides of the fence. And I say ALL sides because there isn’t just two sides. I have had dr.’s that think EO’s in general just cause placebo affects and aren’t worth anything. So you can get sources for all different options on this. It doesn’t matter. To that person that was sick for 10 years, when they use oils and are able to function again, that’s all the proof they need! And that is what has people jumping on the band wagon.
As far as people attacking you, I think that is totally wrong and irresponsible. I noticed a lot of YL reps getting pretty rude. I think we should all be able to share our options and views without getting snarky wih each other. Not everyone is going to think and believe the same things. But we don’t have to cut each other down just because we don’t see eye to eye.
Respectfully
I appreciate your respectful questions and opinions. I approach all things with a great deal of research. I have read more books than I have listed in my references. I didn’t write about the ones I read but did not agree with. And I believe the French method of aromatherapy should only be done within their system. It is a much more complex program than what we have here. So I didn’t reference them in my book.
Aromatherapy has been around long before YL and dT. The safety precautions have been in practice long before them as well. The world is much too large for aromatherapists to be threatened by another aromatherapy company. I believe that aromatherapist want to protect the practice of aromatherapy. What you might not be aware is the threat of over-regulation that could end the practice in America. Many of us were part of the battle to stop those bills that came through Congress. I traveled to D.C. on several occasions to protect small businesses from being over-regulated out of business. There was a financial gain obviously involved in the fight to stay in business. But now that I am out of the industry I still want to be able to personally use essential oils. I don’t want regulation to make them unavailable to consumers.
Regarding using essential oils in the eye let me recommend reading this article: http://roberttisserand.com/2013/02/essential-oils-and-eye-safety/
While doing your research, did you contact all 150 hospitals in the US that are using Young Living oils in their NICU unit and other areas of the hospital??
The use of essential oils in hospitals is wide spread. The fact that some hospitals were sold one brand and some other does not change the fact that essential oils should be diluted when applied to the skin and should not be consumed.
I absolutely agree with what you have said .. I am very new to oils but have been reading books some bias some not i have called several oil companies and asked them about there oils and one company rocky mtn said almost exactly what you said they seemed to be very honest and told me oil is oil your never gonna get the same batch because of weather and soil conditions they only oils that I should steer away from are the essential oils from stores… I love the oils and have seen improvement ..thanks for posting
Thanks Lisa.
Kayla, I use some essential oils, but I am not a huge user of them. My sister is doTerra rep and some of the stuff she tells me I wonder about. I was so glad to read this article and get some additional information. I don’t know that I will ever be a major essential oil user, but at least now I have a little bit more insight and I would feel a little bit more comfortable using them now. I find it extremely sad how many people are brutally attacking you. After reading your article and the comments, it is clear you are very educated, and I think you have handled yourself rather well in responding to these attacks.
Thanks Tisha!
Don’t you think this statement, “All essential oils including YL essential oils are not safe to ingest” is just as ignorant as saying “ingest daily”? I don’t generally ingest oils, but when I feel a migrain coming on, I drink hot water with a drop or 2 of peppermint oil in it. It helps tremdously most of the time. Of course I am inhaling the “tea” as well.
Also, where do you get your information on “don’t ever use oils on cats.” Yes, I do know that there are several oils that aren’t safe for cats. However, there are several oils that ARE safe for cats, and I use them frequently, highly diluted, to prevent ticks and fleas. I think this is MUCH safer than using a highly toxic product like Frontline.
I am not trying to start an argument here. The bottom line is that we all, as consumers, need to pay more attention to what we are putting on and in our body. As far as the FDA is concerned, who really cares? I mean, they approve highly toxic drugs, they allow things like MSG and other food attitives to go into food under disguised names, as well as other things. The FDA is looking out for Monsanto, and their high dollar lobbys. My point it, making definite statements about almost ANYTHING is almost always wrong.
Just my humble opinion. I hate that YL and DT are constantly taking the brunt of unsafe practices in general. There are far more corporations, as well as our own government, encouraging unsafe practices.
I have five cats. I know that is getting into crazy cat lady numbers. Cats are missing the enzyme glucuronyl transferase which is important in the metabolism of many essential oil constituents.
An example is menthol which is primarily metabolized in humans and rats through glucuronidation. A study by Opdyke (1976) has shown that menthol is 3 to 4 times more toxic to a cat than a rat. I would rather err on the side of safety especially considering the size difference between a cat and a rat.
I have read several cases of cats having toxic reactions. Unfortunately my books are all in boxes from my last move. I would refer you to a great book that is full of animal aromatherapy information.
Kayla you are whack – I’d have torn my computer down screaming & running if I had to deal with the hateful comments on here. 🙂 No sane person could keep taking blows with such grace! So, yes you must be whack ha!
I know so very little about EO’s, I have a client that get’s caught up in all these MLM’s and used to have me putting all this stuff on her site, that’s the only reason I have heard of YL. I get headaches and she used to go on about putting drops of stuff in my water and rubbing on my temples etc. I would roll my eyes over the phone, I never actually took the advice. Lord knows I probably ingest much worse, known junk that IS approved by the FDA, but this just sounded “whack” to me.
I trust NOTHING that comes from the mouth of an MLM rep, their goals are numbers & sign ups NOT your safety. They are constantly clawing their way up to reach a goal and would tell you a pile of rat poison donkey crap was safe to use on your skin if it got them on the next cruise.
They don’t see people as people, they see them as a sale and you speaking the truth, and the chance of anyone reading it and believing it makes their next sale a little harder.
Hang in there, I hope these people get bored and stop attacking soon.
Jsmith::
You are totally wrong with your opinion of MLM reps. I am assuming you mean people who run direct marketing business such as Young Living and doTerra. I can only speak for myself but I currently have a home business and have sold within a couple of others and I would never tell someone something about a product that was incorrect just to “get ahead and make more money”. I am sorry that you have this opinion and you have dealt with people like this.
Jsmith – please don’t paint all MLM reps with the same brush (though I imagine it’s hard not to with some of the craziness going on in this comment section). Some of us do our research and promote safe use, rather than just blindly accepting what an upline says as truth. I am a rep but have not made a penny because I got into this for two reasons – personal use, and so that my purchases can help my upline (a missionary in Africa) use her commissions to purchase more oils for her ministry’s clinic, which has very limited access to nurses, doctors and Western medicine.
Not all of us our out for our own gain, trying to line our pockets with money by whatever means necessary. Some of us care about people and care about their safety. Unfortunately, we aren’t as loud about it as the people who are getting the most attention.
Gee, I could’ve sworn my gastric issues were healed once I started ingesting my YL oils. What in the world, then, healed my gut? That’s all I was taking! And I’ve never felt better in my life.
Glad you are feeling great. If you recommend the same regime to someone else you could be putting them in danger. Your body has responded positively. The person who wrote me last week because they turned yellow after ingesting essential oils would disagree.
Kayla, may I just say: you have written a wonderful and informative article that impressed me greatly. I feel you did a wonderful job advocating for the use of essential oils, but using them SAFELY.
I also want to tell you how impressed I am with the way you have handled the blatant attacks here. You exemplified, to me, how a class-act, educated *professional* can and should act, even in the face of scrutiny. You are a much bigger person than I would have been. I will remember your example in the future.
You have been objective, honest, and transparent. You have been kind and willing to share resources to help others. I applaud you, and have tremendous respect for you–both as a person and a professional!
Keep up the great work, and please don’t let any of the negativity here bring you down. It is obvious who has agendas, and who doesn’t (and it isn’t you).
Thank you Heather. My goal is to be objective, honest and transparent. I have had a few moments when I have regretted my transparency, but your comment helps significantly. I’ve been at my computer for a couple of hours now catching up on comments.
It’s sad that you come down on the 2 companies that say some oils are sage for ingestion. I am a doTerra Wellness Advocate and not all of our oils ate suggested for ingestion, but the ones that are suggested are already used as food grade such as lemon, peppermint, ginger, etc…
This blog post was inspired when a friend of mine was told my a dT rep to have their 6 year old drink vetiver essential oil. That is not on the GRAS list.
I appreciate the information as someone starting the EO journey. I suffer CFS and neuropathy as well as heart problems. I also intend to use with family and will use this as a point of reference. Regarding wintergreen, is your recommendation unsafe for pregnant women or all people as this is one of the first I had in mind to use personally.
Wintergreen should not be used at all. It is listed by IFRA as Methyl Salicylate Toxicity Causing. This article talks about it from ingestion: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1009987-overview
And this one talks about a death caused from topical application: http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/06/09/teen-dies-from-muscle-cream-overdose/
Kayla, You need to do more research. What essential oil companies are you comparing these to? You pay for what you get in essential oils as well as with anything else in this life. Quality costs. I would not even use or ingest any essential oils from any other company because I do my research. Anyone can put their own spin on anything and you can dig up whatever information you want to believe. You sound like all the proponents who say its not safe to drink raw milk and we should only drink pasteurized milk. You can find a lot of research that says raw milk isn’t safe. Hopefully smart people will do there own research and even go so far as talk to Gary Young himself who establish a company that is the world leader in essential oils. I would love to see you go head to head with him. There are thousands of people who have been ingesting Young Living oils daily for years as long as the company has been around. I myself and family take young living oils and have been for 15 years. We are healthy than most families.
I know you have been taught that all other companies essential oils are not safe. That is straight from the marketing department.
Dr. Rob Pappas does a good job dispelling that myth here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/essential-oil-university/essential-oil-myth-10/10152634004988083
Another good article here on that: http://www.aromaweb.com/articles/therapeuticgradeessentialoils.asp
The Therapeutic Grade’ Essential Oils Disinformation Campaign – http://www.quadrivium-supplies.com/cropwatchtgescorrected.pdf
I also wrote about this topic in my book “The Art, Science and Business of Aromatherapy.”
“Testing is an essential part of the aromatherapy industry. It keeps everyone honest by revealing whether an essential oil has been extended or adulterated. There are many common marketing terms for “grade” of essential oils including therapeutic grade, aroma therapeutic grade, perfume grade, massage grade, pure grades 1,2,3, and so forth. This is where the marketing department comes in, because most of these “grades” or “standards” are trademarked by the company selling that particular grade of essential oil.
This marketing ploy creates a dependence on that supplier for the “grade” that is perceived to only be available from them. The perception is true, because the grade was randomly set by the supplier and cannot be followed by another supplier. There is no regulatory agency that defines, monitors, or enforces these marketing “grades” and “standards.” There is little to no difference in
the chemical make-up of essential oils sold with these various marketing ploys.
A true standard that can be followed all the way back to the crop of plant material is the term certified organic. If an essential oil is listed as certified organic then it means that the plant material used was cultivated and processed according to the National Organic Program (NOP) standards as defined by the USDA. You should be able to trace the certifying agency back an agency, like the Oregon Tilth which works directly with growers and manufacturers to assure that the NOP standards are being met by all parties using the USDA label. Agencies like Oregon Tilth monitor the farm production and address issues when guidelines are being overlooked or ignored.
No matter what you hear about grades and standards, the reality is that there are only two legitimate standards that are certified in aromatherapy: Food Chemical Codex (FCC) and certified organic. You will see other terms such as “non-sprayed,” “cultivated without chemicals,” or “wild-crafted” as well, but these are not certified terms. And then you see the purely marketing term “therapeutic” grade and various scales of “grades” of essential oils both from the marketing department. Essential oil chemical make-up is related more about where a plant grew, and the climate of a given year, than a random and uncertified grade placed on it by a supplier.
There are also terms used in the food and drug industry that, when also seen in the world of essential oils, are often misused. For example, an essential oil should never be labeled United States Pharmacopeia (USP) grade or National Formulary (NF). These standards are regulated by The United States Pharmacopeia, which is a non-governmental, not-for-profit public health organization that sets standards for all prescriptions, Over-the-Counter (OTC) medicines, and other health care products manufactured or sold in the United States.
By Federal law, all prescription and OTC medicines available in the United States must meet USP “pharmaceutical grade” standards. However, essential oils are not allowed to be sold as OTC drugs. If a company makes claims that put essential oils into the category of healing, curing or remedying, by definition, that company is creating an OTC drug.
In my early years as an aromatherapist, I longed for the day when essential oils would become part of traditional medicine, or at least be considered as over the counter drugs. After years in the cosmetic industry, I am grateful that aromatherapy remains an alternative treatment available to everyone. I have been through the process of manufacturing an OTC sunscreen and learned that the cost, paperwork, and regulation of making essential oils into OTC drugs would put the majority of aromatherapists out of work.
FCC is one of the few US Pharmacopeia terms that can be used in essential oils. The Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) is an internationally recognized standard for testing the purity and identity of food, food ingredients, food additives and food processing aids. The FCC standard is more commonly found as a standard in aromatherapy because many essential oils are used by the food and flavor industry. Once an essential oil is given the FCC rating it tends to remain with the product even when it leaves the food industry and enters the aromatherapy market.” page 149-150 of The Art, Science and Business of Aromatherapy
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience and always erring on the side of caution.
Ginger, well said on all points –
Kudos to you Kayla for such professional and thorough responses and standing your ground – this is HER blog after all and she could have deleted any comments what a class-act!
Thanks Sheri. I believe allowing all sides speak their mind. Some days I think I must be crazy for approving some of the comments.
So I’m Joe Schmo Consumer who has heard much about the benefits of essential oils, encountered the debate over ingestion and undiluted topical application, and tried my best to listen to both sides. I respect science and rigorous research, and I still can’t get heads or tails out of this back and forth. I’m walking away from reading this article and every single comment by concluding that essential oils are not worth the headache of trying to figure out this fight.
It’s too bad that after reading this post/other data out there that you have concluded that there is no clear consenus on how best to use eo’s. Pretty much everyone agrees, that in “general”, it’s safe to inhale a fair number/variety of eo’s and to use them topically, once properly diluted. The disagreement centers on the handful of people/organizations who actively advocate/feel it’s okay to apply oils “neat” (straight out of the bottle/no carrier to dilute) and/or to ingest them without first consulting a certified practioner. As stated previously, there are countries/folks who have gone to great lengths via education and training in using oils neat and how to ingest oils to best effect, but the average person does not have this skill which is why Kayla recommended internationally accepted aromatherapy standards of how to use eo’s. which recommend avoiding both practices.
Thanks Shari. You answered Molly perfectly.
Kayla, I would appreciate knowing your thoughts and recommendations about using essential oils in homemade housecleaning products. I am just about to begin doing that, and many of the “recipes” I’ve found use EOs. In your view, is it safe to do that? Also, I may make some personal care products, as well (deoderant, lotion bars, etc). What do you think of using EOs in those? Thanks.
I clean my home with essential oils and all of my personal care products contain them. Both uses are great examples of using diluted essential oils. I wrote a book called, “DIY Kitchen Chemistry” that is filled with recipes you can follow to use essential oils in your home and personal care products.
There are some posts out there on the web about essential oil companies that are tripping people up. I’d like to share my perspective.
I come at essential oils from a technical background. I have a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a master’s degree in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering. For three years, I worked for the government in microelectronics research and development at a National Laboratory and for another three years, I worked for a government contractor that maintains our nation’s stockpile. So, needless to say, I haven’t been versed in the nuances of essential oil chemistry, but I follow it easily. I am familiar with the equipment used and some of the science behind discovering the most therapeutic oils.
My search for the best essential oil started November 2012. I was making homemade chapstick and lotion for my friends and family. I read the label on a bottle of store-bought lavender, before I added it to the mixture, and it said EXTERNAL USE ONLY. That’s when I froze. EXTERNAL USE? The skin is the largest organ. You can’t put ANYTHING on your skin and expect it to stay external. If you put it on your skin, it gets absorbed. Your liver has to process what ever oil, water, or toxins you just introduced. The whole point of making beauty products in my kitchen was to make them safe enough to eat.
My two criteria when looking at essential oils were 1) is there enough proof that ingestion is safe and 2) will it contribute to physical and mental well being?
I’m going to dig deep into a company here that has not received enough credit on the web. Other essential oil companies may do parts of what this company does, but no other company does everything.
This company owns and operates nine global farms and distilleries all over the world. Growing healthy plants starts with the soil, chemistry, and nutritional needs of the plants. If a company doesn’t understand that, they will produce a subpar plant and thus, a subpar essential oil. Geographic location, soil type, climate, elevation, humidity, temperature, sunlight, frost-free days, rainfall, and many other elements determine the health and growth of plants. In other words, what you should take from this is that even before you plant the seed, you must evaluate a location and it’s soil.
Seed evaluation is key too. What seed species produce the most therapeutic oil? Remember, I don’t want just any oil. I want one that will not only be safe to ingest but contribute to health. What is the origin of the seed? Did it come from commercially grown plants that were babied and kept in a controlled environment or did it come from a seed produced by a plant that experienced the harshness of nature? A plant that thrived in the elements has a strong immune system whose qualities are passed on to the oil molecules (1). This company nourishes the soil and uses seeds from plants that have been grown outside.
Composting is a key element to organic farming. It is practiced on this company’s farms. It’s nice to know that the plants that supply my oils are treated with the same love and respect that I treat my homegrown food. They utilize millions of California red worms that provide liquid fertilizer and castings for the soil. Now that’s good nutrition!
What I find totally amazing is that this company uses essential oils for weed control. All fields are sprayed with natural herbicide made with essential oils, neem, and castile. Let’s face it folks! That’s BEYOND organic!
There are weather stations in the middle of the growing fields that monitor weather patterns, UV hours per day, temperatures, humidity, barometric pressure, rainfall, daylight hours, and sun exposure hours per day (1). This data is verified with tests to determine daily the best harvest time and maximum growing conditions. Can you believe that? They have day by day sampling of best harvest time. Yes. They take their mission THAT seriously!
To determine the perfect time for harvesting the crops they:
1) test the sugars (Brix), the oil levels, the compound (constituent) percentages in the plants (As a chemist, this part gives me warm fuzzies.)
2) watch the behavior of the plants to determine their needs in order to produce the best oil
3) sample DURING distillation (sometimes every 30 minutes) to determine the correct distillation time (Again, warm fuzzies.)
4) test dried plants (sometimes every 2 hours) to determine when they have the highest level of oil for distillation (Again, warm fuzzies)
The rigor that is built into this process is impressive. Some plants are distilled immediately after harvest, some are shade dried for 48 hrs, others for 62 hrs, some are cut at mid-bloom, others are cut before going to seed, some trees need to mature for 125 days, others for 5 years (1). Lavender is harvested at 3am. Melissa herb has to be talked to gently and cannot touch the ground. It has to be walked across the road to the distillery 20 feet away or she will not produce certain therapeutic constituents. The workers are banned from cursing around her. Each plant gets its own special treatment, because the therapeutic oil qualities present themselves at a very specific time in the life cycle.
This company is one of the last in the world to use horses to harvest trees. The horses drag the felled trees out of the forest which prevents contamination of the trees and the farm.
For plants that require distillation immediately, it is of utmost importance to be able to distill on the farm. This company has that capability. Loading the extraction chambers correctly with plant material is critical to extract all the oil molecules. Knowledge of the correct temperatures for the extraction chamber, condenser, and separator for each unique plant are critical to producing a therapeutic product. Water temperature in the condenser, flow rate of the steam, and liquid/gas volumes must be monitored closely, so that the oil is not lost or damaged (1). If the distillation chamber gets too hot or the oil coming off isn’t cooled properly, it can fry the therapeutic constituents. It takes 5 years to train as distiller with this company. The distiller goes by sight, touch, and sound of the distillation process to ensure a quality product. It is not only a science, but an artform.
Are you catching on here? I know this is a lot to digest. I’ve probably made my point already, but lets get into the analysis and research part of what this company does.
Adulteration, dilution, and mislabeling are a concern when trying to produce therapeutic grade essential oils. Peppermint is the most commonly adulterated oil. It is usually adulterated with cornmint, which even at 85%, it is difficult to detect (1). Through testing is the only safety net to avoid adulteration.
This company uses 7 tests to verify the purity of their oils (1). Hold on to your hats! Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) provides separation of marker compounds and molecular weight information which aids in component identification. However, this test is not sufficient, within itself, to identify adulteration. Many other essential oil companies use GC/MS. On top of GS/MS, this company performs optical rotation, refractive index, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, specific gravity, viscosity, and microbiology testing. They have a full time in-house laboratory staff for performing all these tests. All incoming oils must pass testing in this lab. If a particular oil fails to meet this company’s standard, the oil is rejected. They also send samples out for third party testing. These standards have been developed over the course of 24 years.
In addition to having their own farms, this company has worldwide partners that must pass very specific requirements to produce oils that this company will accept. All partner operations are monitored and audited. Oils from these partners and oils from this company’s own farms are held to the same stringent requirements. It is a simple as that! If an oil passes testing, it then gets bottled and shipped off to the happy customers. If a lot is rejected, it is not used.
This company has 28 years in the development and discovery of essential oils for natural remedies and supplementation (1). It has 24 years in the farming, distillation, and analytical evaluation and study of essential oils. This company has oils, university tested and proven, to digest cancerous tumor cells (2,3,4). They have published research papers on their oils’ effectiveness against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureaus (MRSA) (5,6). No single essential oil company has brought more research, education, and discovery; published more papers or more books; and created more formulas and supplements with essential oils.
Let me say that again. This company produces therapeutic grade essential oils that have been university tested and proven to digest cancerous tumor cells! Research continues at a feverish pace. Can any other essential oil company lay claim to such a feat? No. Does this fit my criteria for safe ingestion and overall well being? You bet! There are also countless testimonies on http://www.oils-testimonials.com that illustrate their effectiveness. I don’t consider any other company’s oils to be safe enough for my family. The choice is clear! The best essential oils company is Young Living. Their Seed to Seal™ process is unsurpassed!
One last thought….do I think these oils are expensive? In light of all the work listed above, NO. I think these oils are an incredible value and I’m delighted that Young Living can provide them to us at the cost that they do.
Melissa Robinson
Thank you to Gary Young, Christa Smith, Heather Zettlemoyer Portwood.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.
(1) Young G, The Power of Genuine (Power Point presentation), 2013 Young Living International Grand Convention
(2) Ni et al., Frankincense essential oil prepared from hydrodistillation of Boswellia sacra gum resins induces human pancreatic cancer cell death in cultures and in a xenograft murine model, BMC Complementary and Altern Med, 2012 ,12:253
(3) Suhail et al., Boswellia sacra essential oil induces tumor cell-specific apoptosis and supresses tumor aggressiveness in cultured human breast cancer cells, BMC Complementary and Altern Med, 2011, 11:129.
(4) Frank et al., Frankincense oil derived from boswellia carteri induces tumor cell specific cytotoxicity, BMC Complementary and Altern Med 2009, 9:6
(5) Chao et al., Effect of a Diffused Essential Oil Bland on Bacterial Bioaerosols, Journal of Essential Oil Research 10, 517523 (Sept/Oct 1998)
(6) Chao et al., Inhibition of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureaus (MRSA) by essential oils, Flavor and Fragrance Journal, Vol. 23, Is. 6, pg 444-449.
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Sheila,
Why are you writing word for word written something written by Melissa Robinson? You are writing this as if you are the one who wrote it. However Melissa Robinson wrote it on her blog. Either she is plagiarizing you or you are plagiarizing her. There are many things brought up in this comment, but since I am not actually conversing with the author of it I am not going to take the time to answer them. Most of these topics are already asked and answered throughout the comment section.
No Kayla, I am sharing the testimony of someone who wrote it who has given her permission to share as we see fit. I cut and pasted her words. Not sure why you got the impression that I was writing as though it was myself. I just assumed that it would be obvious that I didn’t write it because it is not my name written at the bottom of the post. Sorry about any confusion it may have caused. It was not intentional.
There are 1601 words before the authors name shows up. While I was reading your comment I thought that this did not sound like a typical comment. I grabbed some text and found the original link via a Google search. I stopped reading at that point because the name of the commenter and the name of the blogger didn’t match. Looked like plagiarism. I did a quick search for “used by permission” and didn’t find it either.
The authors name was buried deep in the text that started out with “I’d like to share my perspective. I come at essential oils from a technical background. I have a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a master’s degree in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering.” All that made it sound like the commenter and the author were the same person.
That is how I got that impression.
I’ve been considering diffusing some EO’s at night to help with stuffy nighttime breathing but we have 3 cats and a dog. This is the first I’ve heard about EO’s being harmful to cats and I DEFINITELY don’t want to do anything to make them ill. Are there any EO’s that I might be able to diffuse that would help me but not be harmful to my pets or should I just avoid diffusing altogether with pets in the house?
Thanks for the info!!
I have five cats. You should not apply essential oils directly on cats. But my eighteen year old cat has been exposed (since 1998) to diffused essential oils and my use of essential oils in my personal care products with no problem. But if I have to give her a bath I use an unscented shampoo.
Kayla,
I am not sure why you oppose the use of eos neat. There are oils that I use without ever diluting them. There are those I use and have to dilute such as clove and oregano (on sensitive skin, that is). I never put citrus oils on my skin, but in my hair.
I use oregano internally but not for extended periods bc I realize that it can harm good bacteria in the gut. There are people who have studied this for years and still disagree.
I will continue to use them as I have for the last several years and continue to teach new users how to be prudent and safe in their usage as well.
Robert Tisserand explains it really well right here: http://roberttisserand.com/2014/05/essential-oil-dilution-important/
Kayla, you put yourself as the expert and as the one with the TRUTH about how to use oils. I find that odd when there are experts on both sides of the issue. I have studied and understand oils (not fully, yet). You are overbearing in your adamant stance against how some people use oils…I find that very taxing.
I totally understand that you don’t know me at all. Some of the top aromatherapy experts in the world are part of NAHA. Please check out their stance on both applications.
Please read the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapist Safety Statement: https://www.naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/safety/naha-safety-statements/
And their General Safety Guidelines: https://www.naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/safety/general-safety-guidelines/
I have been using essential oils neat on my skin and ingesting them for eight years and have had no harmful side effects. The difference, I believe, is in the purity of doTERRA’s oils. Certainly there are “hot” oils I don’t put on my skin without a carrier, however – our oils are so pure and clean that I have no hesitation using them as directed in the “Modern Essentials” book.
I seem to have a not-so-wise motto; “a little is good, a lot is better”. In my early years with oils, I used them profusely … a lot is better!!! A couple of years ago I discovered a little goes a long, long way and a lot is a waste. Now I use the oils more sparingly, not because they are dangerous, but because using more is a waste.
I don’t know about the purity of Young Living essential oils, but I am convinced and absolutely trust the purity and safety of doTERRA’s essential oils.
Although some of your rules and suggestions are absolutely valid, others, in my opinion, are not. For instance, I never use gloves when handling oils. Why would I miss the opportunity for that luxurious liquid entering my body doing the good that it does? So, with that, I am taking what I like of your suggestions and leaving the rest.
I appreciate your balanced motto. I agree that it is a waste to use more. Robert Tisserand talks about how much your skin absorbs here: http://roberttisserand.com/2014/05/essential-oil-dilution-important/
I wrote my book “The Art, Science and Business of Aromatherapy” to share my knowledge from working in the aromatherapy world as a business woman. I was speaking to business owners, formulators, perfumers, and others who work no less than an 8 hour day using essential oils. These business owners are exposed to essential oils for hours on end. It is a standard to wear protective gear and gloves with that kind of exposure. The gloves are for your good and the integrity of the product you are blending.
I completely disagree with everything you have stated. I have done a ton of research (outside sources – not just YL) as has my brother in-law and we were both bio-chem majors – For you to say there is danger in using the oils on your skin or ingesting is ignorance – especially if they are 100% pure unadulterated like YL oils are…. I can go grab leaves from any of these plants – peppermint, spearmint, etc – and ingest so why couldn’t I use the oils? I can’t think of what your motives are unless it is just to sell books –
IF you are an actual Bio-chem anything, you know for a simple fact that chewing the leaf from a mint plant is far different chemically than using the highly concentrated oil! There are thousands of leaves used to procure one ounce of essential oil. Surely, you can see the absurdity of your comparison…if you are what you say you are. I am, in fact, a biology major and a user of essential oils. I get the point of the original post that some people are spouting that the oils are safe to ingest or use directly and that is not right.
Why are so many against a simple warning of how to use the oils safely? She did not say any oils were bad, only that using improperly could be quite harmful…especially when ingested.
DoTerra oils are therapeutic grade oils. This means they are pure and contain no binders of fillers. The cases of death that have been recorded are from the metal or other fillers not from the actual oil… hence not from DoTerra. The company tells you very clearly to dilute certain oils and not to use a full dose on babies. This article is about aromatherapy and I would never ingest an oil designated solely for aromatherapy. (they are the ones that contain filler). DoTerra specifies which oils are ok to ingest, and which ones are only for diffusion and topical.
There is NO SUCH THING as Therapeutic Grade. It is strictly a made up term for the sake of marketing purposes.
Binders and fillers are not the issue. The reason that essential oils should be diluted is because they are so potent.
It is not whether or not an essential oil is pure or not that makes it safe or dangerous to use undiluted or consume them. Essential oils are very concentrated.
From my book, “Essential oils are the most concentrated form of any botanical. Essential oils are the purest form of the plant’s living structure. It takes an estimated one pound of any given plant to create one drop of essential oil, however some essential oils require much more than a pound of product per drop. For example, it takes about 1.3 lbs. or 125 rose buds, to produce one drop of rose absolute.” Another example, “Two hundred pounds of bergamot yields one pound of essential oil.”
DoTerra oils are therapeutic grade oils. This means they are pure and contain no binders or fillers. The cases of death that have been recorded are from the metal or other fillers not from the actual oil… hence not from DoTerra. The company tells you very clearly to dilute certain oils and to always use a carrier oils when applying to young children or babies. This article is about aromatherapy and I would never ingest an oil designated solely to aromatherapy. (they may contain fillers)
This sounds like “talking points” were handed out. Jean just said almost the same thing above. I will share the same answer here:
Binders and fillers are not the issue. The reason that essential oils should be diluted is because they are so potent.
It is not whether or not an essential oil is pure or not that makes it safe or dangerous to use undiluted or consume them. Essential oils are very concentrated.
From my book, “Essential oils are the most concentrated form of any botanical. Essential oils are the purest form of the plant’s living structure. It takes an estimated one pound of any given plant to create one drop of essential oil, however some essential oils require much more than a pound of product per drop. For example, it takes about 1.3 lbs. or 125 rose buds, to produce one drop of rose absolute.” Another example, “Two hundred pounds of bergamot yields one pound of essential oil.”
Most “injury” from EO use is from IMPROPER use, not from using the oils “neat” or ingesting them. Additionally, your blog post may have had more credibility if you had cited some direct correlating and proven research to back your claims. I know people who use all different brands of oils and all of them are taught from the very beginning that “some” oils should not be used neat, and that only a few oils are safe for ingestion. To blanket the entire industry with your claims and specifically target two companies lends you less credibility than if you had named no companies specifically. Not taking away from your “credentials” or your “research”, but how you present your case is as important to a lot of people as the point you attempt to make. Just food for thought.
“Most “injury” from EO use is from IMPROPER use, not from using the oils “neat” or ingesting them.”
Wrong again.
Eugenol sensitization, is cumulative, and can occur rather quickly, and be a rash that irritates and itches. This reaction of redness is NOT your body purging, or cleansing. It is in fact a body reaction BECAUSE of the constituent Eugenol being applied directly and in high concentration, (aka, Neat or undiluted).
For Instance, the occurrence of Eugenol in EO’s runs like this:
(I only included down to a 20% in Eo’s)
Clove leaf (Indonesia) 1 95.00
Clove stem 92.50
Cinnamomum impressinervium 88.30
Pimento (Allspice) (Cuba) 1 (berry) 87.00
Cinnamon leaf 1 87.00
Cinnamon leaf (India) 1a 84.50
Clove bud 1 84.40
Cinnamon leaf (China) 1 82.80
Cinnamon leaf (India) 1b 81.43
Clove stem (Madagascar) 80.62
Pimento (Allspice) 2 80.12
Pimento (Allspice) 3 80.00
Pimento (Allspice) (Grenada) 79.06
Tejpat leaf 78.00
Cinnamon leaf 2 77.50
Clove bud (Madagascar) 1 76.62
Pimento (Allspice) (Jamaica) 1 73.50
Clove bud 2 73.05
Pimento (Allspice) (Jamaica) 3 72.80
Clove bud (Madagascar) 2 71.00
Clove leaf (Indonesia) 2 71.00
Clove bud (Malagasy) 70.00
Ocimum gratissimum (China) 69.94
Cinnamon leaf (Madagascar) 69.75
Cinnamon leaf (China) 2 68.60
Pimento (Allspice) 1 68.60
Cinnamon leaf (Sri Lanka) 68.50
Hyptis suaveolens (Vietnam) 68.20
Pimento (Allspice) (Jamaica) 2 68.15
Pimento (Allspice) (Guatamala) 67.94
Allspice oil, (Pimenta Berry), Jamaica 64.29
Betel leaf Bangla (India) 63.56
Pimenta jamaicensis 2 61.79
Pimento (Allspice) (Honduras) 57.10
Bay, West Indian 3 57.00
Bay, West Indian 2 56.20
Bay, West Indian (Guadeloupe) 56.10
Pimento (Allspice) (Cuba) 2 (leaf) 54.26
Bay, West Indian (Benin) 52.70
Pimento (Allspice) (Mexico) 49.12
Ocimum gratissimum (Madagascar) 43.20
Couroupita guaianensis flower (Malaysia) 41.60
Cinnamomum albiflorum (Kampuchea) 37.00
Betel leaf Kapoori (India) 2 33.22
Artemisia scoparia (India) 30.00
Cinnamon bark 5 (China) 28.96
Basil (Italy), oleoresin frozen leaves 27.00
Basil, sweet (Egypt) 2 26.49
Betel leaf Desawari (India) 20.47
Bay, West Indian 1 20.00
And with Rose Oil at 2.6%
*THEN*, there is also Methyl Eugenol, which is also in the same category of sensitization, in these EO’s.
Melaleuca bracteata leaf (Egypt) 97.70
Melaleuca leucadendra (Australia) 1 97.40
Empleurum fragrans 67.80
Cinnamomum parthenoxylum (China) 1d 46.10
Hyssop (Montenegro) 38.30
Snakeroot, Canadian 36.05
Artemisia waltonii (China) 32.06
Estragon 28.87
Pimento (Allspice) (Mexico) 27.50
Basil (Fiji) 2 23.60
Pimento (Allspice) (Honduras) 21.50
Basil (Italy), CO2-extract 2 21.50
Allspice oil, (Pimenta Berry), Jamaica 20.55
I mention this because the safety recommended % for Eugenol occurrence in Perfumes, is less than 1%, actually at 0.5% IN THE FINISHED PRODUCT. What goes ON YOUR SKIN.
So for these oils to be used safely, ON YOUR SKIN, the dilution rate would be very low. Certainly NOT NEAT.
This Eugenol situation is simply *ONE* of the single constituential molecule issues with using EO’s neat on your skin.
WHEN YOU SKIN IS RED, it’s an IRRITATION, *NOT* Cleansing.
And if you use Eugenol on your skin inn high doses, the sensitization can occur in your body that raises your sensitivity to Eugnol, and you can tolerate even LESS than before the sensitization occurred.
If one is not careful, they can ruin their body because of this type of sensitization.
And no amount of hype about “How Pure Our Oils Are” will correct the issue.
Damage has occurred which could be lifelong.
This isn’t opinion. This isn’t marketing hyperbole.
This isn’t the hope and dreams of the Democratic Party.
This is Real, and the Facts.
Thanks Paul for answering this so thoroughly!
I’d much rather take ONE drop (yeah, I don’t recommend 10 drops) of Frankincense than a 20mg Prozac daily! Let me tell you what THAT has done to my body! I highly disagree with your article. Sounds more like a plug to your book.
Scent is a powerful thing. For instance, the scent of fresh baked cookies can bring up mental and physical memories from our childhood or other happy times and invoke feelings of comfort, love, joy, well-being, etc. The same goes for a scent that may bring up bad memories and invoke negative emotions and bodily reactions.
EO’s are aromatics or what some refer to as aroma chems. The full benefits of essential oils on the emotional and physical body to varying levels are best obtained through the olfactory receptors and aroma centers in the brain. By triggering these receptors and centers in the brain, which I think is closely related to cell memory, it encourages our endocrine system to release hormones and biological chemicals within our body through various glands and organs. This basically goes through our central nervous system, which tells our cells and tissue to line up and function correctly as the body is designed to. This in turn stimulates renewal, regeneration and restoration within the physiological and psychological body. This is why people “feel better” and experience healing effects from using EO’s. Ingesting them does not cause this same process of restoration and regeneration.
You see, your entire body is a walking, talking bag of chemicals. When someone is ingesting EO’s, it’s the fact that they are smelling the aromatics first that causes the effect and the chemical releases that heals the body in whatever ways. It’s not eating the oils, which only serves to wreak havoc on the delicate and complicated balance of chemicals that God designed. The same goes for applying to the skin undiluted. It’s the aroma that does the most good within the body and emotions, not the skin contact. But the direct skin contact can and often does cause the skin to rebel and scream out in protest because it’s being attacked by heavy concentrations of strong chemicals.
Wouldn’t it be better to utilize the fullest of all the benefits of essential oils through this wonderful built in system that only comes through the use of scent?
“EO’s are aromatics or what some refer to as aroma chems. ”
I might correct you on these definitions:
EO is an essential oil, a steam distilled oil from a plant.
Aroma Chem(ical)s are single molecules used for flavoring and fragrance applications, at proper dilutions and dosages.
EO’s might have HUNDREDS of constituential molecules, while an aroma chemical is one single molecule.
Thank you for the clarification on aroma chems. As I said, SOME people refer to them in that manner, and I will assume it it because they are aromatic and chemical by composition. I don’t refer to them that way but I have heard people who do. I understand that EO’s are much more complex molecular structure with so many nuances and constituents. Thank you again for your expert clarification. It’s nice to see someone with some valid knowledge present in the comments feed here.
I like that only those people who agree with you have ‘valid knowledge’. I have a background in plant science and I study each day to know and learn more about essential oils and their benefits.
Rob, my comment was to Mr. Kiler as a direct reply to his comment to me and was respectful of him, his education and his profession. I may not agree with you or your practices that you have repeatedly made known here, I have not disrespected you or your comments and opinions on this post. Nor have I said or indicated that only those who agree with me have “valid knowledge”. On the contrary, I have repeatedly said that people should study and learn for themselves. I have, on the other hand, pointed out that many who give recommendations on how to use essential oils do not have any training, very much knowledge or understanding about essential oils whatsoever and are not “valid sources” to seek information from. I’ve also stated that reps and followers of EO companies are not qualified to diagnose or treat the health issues of others. That is a dangerous thing to do not to mention illegal. And yes, I do know for a fact that this is happening and it’s happening often.
While your passive aggressive comment to me may have been a dig and was meant to offend me, it hasn’t. Honestly, your opinion of me or my comments is really of no concern to me at all.
I was amused that you said I was passive-aggressive. I think my comments have been fairly forthcoming. In a post you had earlier to which I replied, there was the statement that it was good that someone else on this blog has ‘valid knowledge’. I responded to that bc that does infer that other people have invalid knowledge.
If not using oils topically or internally works for you, fine. For you to claim that is the best thing for everyone is wrong. Although, I disagree on the use of oils, I agree with your assertion that one should take due diligence in using oils.
You didn’t respond to the link I posted showing that the presence of certain proteins in the skin allows different skin-types to react differently to different compounds such as eugenol. It’s akin to the irritating oils in poison ivy (I have had PI twice and it presented as a few irritated spots on my forearm and never spread. My sister, on the other hand will be covered in it),
I responded to that bc that does infer that other people have invalid knowledge.
Are you stating that everyone possesses valid knowledge about EOs? If not, then yes, there are others who do not have valid knowledge. Everyone may have UPG about EOs, but that is not the same as everyone having valid knowledge.
Why is it a problem to acknowledge that some people have valid knowledge and others do not? Nobody gets upsets when a plumber says not everyone has the knowledge to plumb a house, but boy, say it about alternative therapies and suddenly everybody who likes alternative therapies has to be treated as an equal expert.
Rob,
Why are you jumping in on a conversation between Ginger and Paul Kiler to attack them for being respectful to each other? It feels like you are trying to pick a fight here when there is nothing in this thread between them to fight about. Why is there a problem with two people respectfully agreeing with each other.
I just responded to the link you gave above as well. I will share the same information here for anyone just joining the comment thread.
Regarding the link: This only goes to an abstract and I am not willing to pay to continue reading. And yes I am rigid about neat application of essential oils. Read a few examples of people injured by being taught to apply neat essential oils and consume them here: http://www.learningabouteos.com/index.php/2014/02/26/essential-oil-ingestion-and-adverse-reactions-proof/
I hear these stories all the time from people directly injured and mothers who feel terrible when their child started screaming when they followed the direction of an MLM rep. I’ve accidentally burned myself. My safety recommendations are from getting in the industry in 1998. I don’t know why people find it hard to believe that in 16 years I have heard a few stories, helped a few people and learned a few things.
I got on here a few days ago I was so shocked at the hostility and rudeness toward Kayla Fioravanti I had to pray about this. Well, Ginger M. said many things I would have said. I am a Massage Therapist & Esthetician I am next yr. going to get certified in Aromatherapy. I tell people I have books, I know aromatherapists that I can contact for help with different skincare or health issues.
There is no way on God’s green earth just by the ignorance and hostile attacks would I ever use YL or DT. The owners are always being investigated of both companies.
People that sell it have NO clue about the proper use or safety of essential oils. I would never ingest essential oils. I have accidentally dropped the oils on my hand from the dropper to the carrier oil set my hand on fire. Yes, I still use and will always use essential oils.
I would love to see these hostile & rude people come out from behind their computers talk face to face. Like Ginger M & Kayla said I too would love to see your credentials.
I have a friend that sells YL and before I knew she sold it. We were talking about rose essential oil and how much I want to buy it that I can’t afford it. Then she told me she could sell me some. I immediately knew she was with one or the other. When she told me the price, I was NO WAY would I buy REO from anyone it costs $100. A true rose essential oil is about $1,000 & up an ounce.
Kayla Fioravanti you are a true & real Godly woman to have the patience you do with all this. Also, you are a true, honest Aromatherapist. I am behind you 1000%.
Thank you Linda.
The bottom line is when people misuse oils they can be injured. If you have half a brain and common sense you should be fine. I personally think some people just don’t like mlms. So it’s fun for them to bash them…. or maybe it’s jealousy because they have a unhappy unsuccessful life…. This is the most ridiculous stuff I’ve heard in a long time…. I challenge anyone go to http://www.seadtoseal.com if you do not understand this process then you do not belong using essential oils PERIOD!
Angela,
I would hope that you are looking at all the information out there about yl Seal to seed and not just what yl is saying about their oils or business practices. Hence, Mr. Young’s Criminal charges against him.. Why would one believe only what comes from yl’s mouth. You need a third party validation. Blind followers of anything drive me nuts.. I love that this blog is giving us something to think about and do our own research… Open up your eyes instead of following the heart.
I have a pretty happy and successful life so your theory about jealousy is off base.
You said, “If you have half a brain and common sense you should be fine.” The problem is that some upline don’t have half a brain and they are teaching dangerous practices to their downline. It can spread like wildfire.
Wow- sometimes I wonder why people post things that they have little knowlege about and don’t have the educational background to discuss, and then I realize YOU are also trying to Run a Business and get viewers to your site.
It is very clear by your posts and comments that you do not have the technical experise nor did you actually review MEDICAL journals nor speak with the medical and technical staff of any of these companies or other companies/experts In France to obtain the correct information.
I might suggest you do more research with the FACTS… Which include understanding biology and chemistry and physics. I agree that a no il with synthetics in them – yes can harm. But if you look back at historical documentation for Centuries and at the current medically published data – you will CLEARLY see that 100% pure unadulterated essential oils are ingestible and are able to be applied neat and have been applied and ingested for- forever with little to no issues if done so in an appropriate manner.
Interesting how you have offended most of your clients! Remember who your market is!
We have done the research and actually read the reports also! I would love to see your sources!
Posts with little to know value – are just that! Of no value – but good for you to scare people away from truly natural healing oils – to what? Big pharma?
I am a scientist and have done extensive research on this entire issue. I request that you either remove this post and/or qualify your statements with medical journal findings.
If you do neither, it will be clear to the readers (that you have left) – that this was just a ploy to drive people to your site – and that you do not care to seek the truth at all.
I am not in the essential oil business. I sold my company in 2011. If you read through the comments you will find that YL and dT reps have offended their clients. Many YL and dT reps are embarrassed by comments like this one.
You are kidding about the references right? They are clearly linked to at the end of the blog post. They are also referenced to several times in comments.
So Cristina, tell me all about using Eugenol rich oils on your skin, neat.
Tell me about the skin sensitization that occurs when doing so. tell me about how you’ve researched these issues with all molecular constituents in essential oils and their safety in use on the skin.
Why has even the small constituential percentage of eugenol found in Rose oils caused them to be heavily restricted in dilutional percentage when used directly on skin in a non rinsed off cosmetic application, such as perfume or other applications? and Rose is only at about 2.5% eugenol.
Scientist you may be, but are you a Cosmetic Scientist? If you were, then you’d be aware of these constituential issues for skin sensitization.
I always encourage people to dilute oils that can cause skin sensitivity and irritations. I have had some minor sensation due to clove oil, but only in feeling. I never have redness from it. I use oregano neat, as well with no problem.
You are pretty rigid that using oils neat is a one-size-fits-all. However, research states differently. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0887233394900140
The problem with simply encouraging them to dilute, is that this is not definitive information, this is subjective “do as you feel so led” information.
Unfortunately I can’t read your proof study text without spending $36. But just able to read the abstract, I didn’t see what you are thinking of to dispute my statements.
This only goes to an abstract and I am not willing to pay to continue reading. And yes I am rigid about neat application of essential oils. Read a few examples of people injured by being taught to apply neat essential oils and consume them here: http://www.learningabouteos.com/index.php/2014/02/26/essential-oil-ingestion-and-adverse-reactions-proof/
I hear these stories all the time from people directly injured and mothers who feel terrible when their child started screaming when they followed the direction of an MLM rep. I’ve accidentally burned myself. My safety recommendations are from getting in the industry in 1998. I don’t know why people find it hard to believe that in 16 years I have heard a few stories, helped a few people and learned a few things.
Rob,
I shared the below information on a few other comments. But I found it because I wanted to share it with you to explain why I am so rigid in my stance:
“For over 30 years, the American Association of Poison Control Centers has issued an annual report which publishes data collected by the National Poison Data System (NPDS). Basically, if an event was called into a poison control center, it is documented in this annual report.
The reports can be found published in their entirety online and are available for public review. Each year, the report includes a table called “Demographic profile of SINGLE SUBSTANCE Nonpharmaceuticals exposure cases by generic category”, in which “Essential Oils” is one of the catagories listed in the table. Essential oils included in the report year after year include cinnamon, eucalyptus, tea tree, pennyroyal and clove, with the additional category “miscellaneous oils” accounting for the bulk of injuries reported.
In 2010, over 10,000 cases of essential oil poisoning were called in to poison control centers, over 8,000 of those cases involving children age 5 or younger. Over 2,000 cases reported undesirable effects, with over 130 being moderate or major outcomes, and 1 death from eucalyptus oil.
In 2011, 168 moderate-to-major outcomes were reported, up 38 from the previous year. In 2012, 180 moderate-to-major outcomes, up 12 more. This is proof that not only does poisoning occur from essential oil ingestion, but the number of major poisonings is rising each year.
This information was derived from the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ Annual Reports of National Poison Data Systems (NPDS). The 2012 report can be viewed here: https://aapcc.s3.amazonaws.com/pdfs/annual_reports/2012_NPDS_Annual_Report.pdf. Reports for previous years can also be located online through search engine searches.”
FROM: http://leetea.hubpages.com/hub/Essential-Oil-Safety-Documented-Side-Effects-Injuries-and-Deaths-from-Essential-Oil-Ingestion
Christina – I’m curious. In your research, have you been able to see any of the test results on your companies oils?
*company’s” …of course.
Kayla – do you know what RADIATION does to your body when it gets in your eye? jsut asking because you seem to know about the mucus membranes – thanks but no thanks – i will tell you i will take my chances with oils. i know that the LUMIGAN (RX) i put in my eye everyday burns too! plus YL does say that you can use oils neat or blend with a carrier oil. AS FAR AS I KNOW NO ONE HAS EVER DIED FROM OREGANO OIL. if they did they must have taken more – you look like you might be a pharmacuetical rep
tm,
If there is anything I know it is what radiation does to the human body. My mother was among the patients who went through experimental doses of radiation when she was given 4-10 years to live after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease. She lived 44 years but eventually died from the radiation damage. It is because of people like my mom that we know what radiation does to the human body. It is because people like her and her doctor that there is now a cure for Hodgkin’s Disease. I held her hand as she died. I know exactly what radiation does to the human body. You are so far off base with you accusations it isn’t even funny.
After sleeping on this comment I feel bad for how strongly I responded. Last night I spent hours defending myself while people blindly took shots at me. Your shot, “look like you might be a pharmacuetical rep” was cheap and had no research behind it. Tie in the radiation portion of your comment along with my personal experience and you hit low. Really low. It would be great if people did an ounce of research about me while on my site before attacking me. If you even put the word “radiation” in the search box on my site you would know how low your blow was.
No. I am not a pharmaceutical rep.
I have seen what radiation does to the human body. I haven’t seen what it does when it gets in the eye. I have seen what essential oil in the eye can do. You can see an article about it here: http://roberttisserand.com/2013/02/essential-oils-and-eye-safety/
I just feel I have to leave a comment. First of all, I have never used these oils, I have read and heard only a little tiny bit about them, and that is all. I know nothing about either of these companies or any other company that sells them. I only came across this post because a friend of mine posted it in facebook, and I was curious. But as a clueless consumer, why would I NOT want to know about possible dangerous side effects of ingesting or using them topically???? All you people who swear by them and have never had a single bad side effect, well yay for you, however, just because you didn’t doesn’t mean I or my family wouldn’t!!! How dare you treat this woman like she is some sort of terrible person for offering safety warnings, etc. Yes, it would ultimately be my decision in how I would use them, but I CERTAINLY would want to know the possible outcomes if and when I do!!!! She isn’t your mother, if you don’t want to take her advice don’t! But don’t condemn her for trying to protect and give wise advice to people like me who would walk into all this with no information at all, and could be susceptible and trusting enough to possibly follow bad/dangerous advice!!!
Thank you Heidi.
I have never taken Young Living Oils and have only taken DoTerra Oils for a week but I have watched one of my best friends able to live with lupus symptom free since she has taken these oils. If people do their research and even go to the DoTerra website it has a page dedicated just to the safety of these oils and in no way claims it will cure anything.
I don’t feel like writing my whole feelings here as I’m sure it will be rebutted in a manner that will just upset me but if you want to read them check out my blog about it.
http://thequeenofhisdoublewidetrailer.wordpress.com/2014/08/09/76/
Disagree if you must but please don’t slam a company without checking out their website just because a rep says it’s true doesn’t mean it is true of the company. Just as if you read it on the internet in a blog or website it must be true.
I am not slamming dT essential oils. I am saying that the practice of undiluted essential oils and ingesting essential oils should be avoided. Have you ever considered trying inhalation aromatherapy and diluted essential oils. You may find that you get the same and possibly even better results.
Oh btw, I myself emailed yl and asked if they were NAHA Certified and Corporate said they were not.
I am sure NAHA Safety Statement is why YL is not associated with them:
“1. NAHA does not support the use or application of Raindrop Therapy (RDT).
2. Internal Use
Do not take essential oils internally without appropriate advanced aromatherapy education and understanding of the safety issues involved in doing so. To learn more, we recommend you receive education from a NAHA approved school. Please visit here to explore schools. Many individuals throughout the United States and the world are utilizing essential oils internally. Most are doing so without appropriate knowledge or understanding of how, when, how much, what essential oils, for what purpose, safety concerns, etc. Whilst NAHA does not support the uneducated use of essential oils internally (as widely done in the US), we are dedicated to providing education in this area so that internal use is better understood and if done, is performed safely and effectively. NAHA will be offering two talks at the World of Aromatherapy VII in Seattle WA (Septembr 12 -15, 2014) on the internal use of essential oils. We hope this sparks the understanding that essential oils are not inherently dangerous, but rather, there is a need to understand the full scope of taking essential oils internally including the safety issues in doing so. Be sure to mark your calenders and attend this inspiring and empowering conference in 2014!
3. Undiluted Application
NAHA does not support the practice of undiluted application as it is performed in RDT therapy or other similar therapies. NAHA recommends diluting essential oils down in a suitable carrier (e.g. vegetable oils, full fat milk, etc.). To learn more, we recommend you receive education from a NAHA approved school. Please visit here to explore schools.
4. Multi-level Marketing Companies
NAHA is aware of several Multi-level marketing companies who disseminate irresponsible and misinformation into the aromatherapy market place. Although it is not NAHA’s role to dictate the practices or policies of any aromatherapy or essential oil based company, we do offer education and support to those who are seeking to understand more about holistic / clinical aromatherapy. NAHA has an extensive network of regional and district directors who are available to provide aromatherapy education and talks to clarify misperceptions and incorrect information as well as to answer questions and concerns.” from NAHA Safety Statement http://www.naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/safety/naha-safety-statements/
This clip says it all about why all oils are not safe, especially to ingest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGB1mCMBQpY&feature=youtu.be
Sandy,
Thank you! Wow this Young Living Deposition of Dr. Robert Pappas is revealing.
I am completely indifferent to the essential oils industry but I have seen the booming of Young Living, etc on social media…I found your article to be a nice source of other information besides what’s being put out there by the company who has a vested interest in making money.
I would like to make a suggestion, you have been kind to answer those who have questioned your research and ethics…but I say to let it go. You’ve stated your case, given your sources and your criteria….in many different ways. Arguing with those who are only trying to prove you wrong and have no real interest in learning anything, will only zap your energy.
Just keep giving us the good information. 🙂
Aren’t you exhausted explaining the exact same thing again and again? Lol
I do not sell, nor is anyone I am close with affiliated with any EO company- and I understood your point.
Now. Based on the comments I read by DT and YL reps in your comments, I’m less likely to purchase from them in the future. Yowza!
As someone not remotely affiliated with this industry, I have seen people (affiliated with these companies- and not affiliated with them), recommend ingesting EOs openly on fb. Some with their EO affiliate link as their cover photo. When I say this, I mean “add a few drops of X, Y, or Z to your [beverage of choice]…”
No in-depth knowledge of that person’s current medications or complete medical conditions.
I understood reading this post, that pure undiluted EOs are rarely-if-ever safe. I didn’t think ill of either company until I read the comments, which were *mostly unprofessional and *mostly made by people who hadn’t read the entire post (I said mostly- not all).
Most consumers think the person who is a distributor/seller/whichever name you’d like – for these products has a very extensive knowledge of the items they’re selling. The fact that they might be operating off of misinformation from someone else doesn’t occur to them. I don’t think it’s intentional at all- but intent doesn’t change the facts.
At any rate, thank you for the post. 🙂
As someone who likes to be an informed consumer, I try to research anything I put in or on my or my child’s body. It was recommended to my by a friend in the soaping industry, in fact.
Very well written and the research shows – I’ve visited the two MLM company sites most mentioned above and after being floored by the prices, was intrigued by the therapeutic grade claim only to find that it was indeed a term of their own creation. Fox & hen house comes to mind. MLM is just what it says and, I believe it is the worst form of marketing.
Keep up the good work!
Thank you Belinda!
Thank you for giving me pause to think about what I’ve only stumbled upon and decided to try!! I clearly haven’t put enough thought into what I’ve been putting on my body (Progessence Plus Serum – was recommended to me because I “must be high in estrogen or low in progestersone to have had 4 miscarriages”). I was ready to try anything and wasn’t getting answers from endocrinologists or obgyns or PCPs so I thought let me try something. I appreciate your research- and I appreciate you aren’t bashing, just asking others to be educated in an unbiased open way. THANK YOU! I will do better for myself by not blindly trusting and doing my own research going forward!
I know several friends who have gone through miscarriages. My heart breaks for you.
I find it beyond pathetic that you sit on your a** at a computer and waste energy on blasting the use of essential oils when there’s way worse things to worry about like DRUGS, ALCOHOL, SEX TRAFFICING, RAPE AND KIDNAPPING. You lady are a f****** idiot. Please go get a lobotomy.
(*curse words edited by blog owner)
Dear Annoyed,
I don’t think you actually read my post. If you did you would know I didn’t blast the use of essential oils. I talked about 2 methods of application. I suppose you don’t consider the over 10,000 reported poisonings in 2012 alarming. Or that about 8000 of those were kids.
I didn’t write about the topics you suggest because those are not the topics of study I have any expertise in. However drugs, alcohol, and murder are discussed in my book 360 Degrees of Grief by people who experienced the painful impact of those topics and more.
Your choice of an anonymous name and expletives is cowardly. But thanks for you opinion expressed while you sat at your computer. Have a nice day. I did edit your curse words for the sake of my readers.
Hi Kayla,
Thanks for this post. This should really enlighten essential oil users out there who doesn’t have any idea about safety precautions when using essential oils.
Thanks Kirk!
Kayla,
You compared the seriousness of rape/murder/drugs to EO poisoning in a response to another commenter. You said that 8000 poisonings were serious. When I read through a list of ‘poisonings’ and see ‘runny nose, itching, sneezing, headache, rash…’, I do not consider those serious. Those are not even necessarily casued by EO’s (there is no actual proof for some of them bc there is no scientific study…much of it is hear-say). I do know that some of the oils can burn (i.e. Oregano oil). Ask my gf if she would rather have a oregano burn that goes away in a few minutes or the pain of her rheumatoid arthritis and she will go with applying the oil to her joints all day long. (Oregano EO as a topical application is actually peer-reviewed in the JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association)
I did not compare the seriousness of one thing or another. I was trying to nicely let someone who cursed me out, called me names and told me to get a lobotomy that I was not an expert in the field that he/she suggested I should have been writing about instead of the safe use of essential oils.
Regarding poisonings I was referring to the 2012 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers ’ National Poison Data System (NPDS):
30th Annual Report. In it you will find that there 10,729 reported poisonings from essential oils. Of those cases 8332 were people under the age of 19. And it is true that only 8 of those were considered major. I’d love for there to be zero calls to Poison Control Centers.
Kayla, in your comment to me (I just saw it in my email) from a coupld of days ago, you said
“Why are you jumping in on a conversation between Ginger and Paul Kiler to attack them for being respectful to each other? It feels like you are trying to pick a fight here when there is nothing in this thread between them to fight about. Why is there a problem with two people respectfully agreeing with each other. ”
First, you are fairly condescending. Second, please let me know if there are blog comment rules I missed that don’t allow me to make a comment regarding another post (yes, that was condescending). Third, I didn’t realize it was not you, but Ginger, responding to Paul. Fourth, I wasn’t trying to pick a fight. I did take offense to the inference that those who disagree with you do not have valid knowledge. Fifth, and last, there is no problem with them respectfully agreeing with each other.
Do you not get tired of this? I spend a few minutes a day reading email responses from you and responding to them and it is tiring to me.
I
First of all let me apologize for coming across as condescending. It sounds like a case of mistaken identity caused you to take your frustration with me out on Ginger. I hated to see Ginger under attack so that was where I was coming from in my response.
Yes! I am getting tired of this. My goal is to keep comments open. I believe it is important for people to express their opinion whether they agree or disagree with me. I also think it is my right as the blog owner to answer those comments.
At some point I may have to close comments on this blog post. As I have said before I am not in the business of selling essential oils. I am in the process of writing other non-related books, raising a family, am the managing editor of a digital magazine, busy doing radio/TV/print interviews, speaking at events and so forth. Continuing to belabor the same points and being called names are not something I care to continue much longer. (I am not accusing you of calling me names . . . just still shocked by comments from others.)
Kayla, here is a post you will not have to pay to read (I didn’t realize that last one was a pay-per-read bc I was able to access it): http://www.agoraindex.org/Frag_Dem/toxicitymyths.html
Rob,
I am familiar with Ron Guba and have read his work. I have read this article in the past as well. I am well rounded in my education. I always read both sides of the story. His own product line is “specifically for use by trained complementary therapists and health care professionals.”
Even in this article he points out that aromatherapy should have a high level of practitioner training. “As with the standards that have developed relative to the training and practice of medical herbalism, Aromatherapy demands a level of practitioner training that is comprehensive in it’s scope and knowledgeable in all the effects of essential oils – both positive and potentially negative.” from the article on AGORA.
Read here for a different opinion of Ron Guba’s paper “Toxicity Myths – The Actual Risks of Essential Oil Use” from Tony Burfield: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~nodice/new/bollocks/bollocksarticle10.htm
“Yet, we have the strange contradiction of many methyl salicylate-containing topical products (containing from 10% to 30% methyl salicylate) being readily available to the untrained public – with very few negative side-effects reported (methyl salicylate, even used topically, is contraindicated in people taking the anti-coagulant drug, warfarin).” from the article on AGORA.
Read contradicting information about methyl salicylate here: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002683.htm and here http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/06/09/teen-dies-from-muscle-cream-overdose/
“I personally see no problem in authors and trainers suggesting cautious levels of use.” from the article on AGORA.
Well yea! But then he goes onto say, “Such statements and recommendations would then be given, not as an “absolute” or as a “forbidden”, but based on personal preference and philosophy. ”
This is what Tony Burfield says about the referenced article, “It’s a very different prospect to expound one’s person philosophy at length (and the article contains the first person singular rather too much for my taste) but it’s a different prospect to submit treated subjects to unfair health risks, or to try and influence other people to similarly follow inadvisable practices. My opinion is that this section of the paper (I haven’t studied the rest of it) was thoroughly ill-advised at the time, and looks increasing like folly now. Its best to tear it up and move on perhaps.”
So, you encourage me to read the article that you have suggested (and I will), but you think I should just ‘tear up and move on’ the other information. So, actual scientific studies showing the full metabolism of some EOs, research showing the small % of actual EO reaching the system even on topical application, among other research stated in that article would be worthy just to ignore? (honest question for you).
“Tear it up and move on” was from the Tony Burfield quote. Not my words. I am not trying to say to disregard topical application or research regarding it. My goal is to encourage topical diluted application. You might be surprised to find it works as good or even better with none of the negatives of undiluted application.
I’m sorry Kayla for all of this. While I agree with the points you have made from the beginning and consistently – don’t ingest oils and don’t use them neat, I have used some of the oils internally and neat. I am very cautious with the hot oils. I only use a few drops at a time and most of the time it is diluted. I know people who have taken a slew of drops internally in a veggie capsule and have had bad stomach pain from it. They didn’t know they shouldn’t have done that because they didn’t have the knowledge. Always use caution if you do decide to ingest the oils and use them neat. And, please be extra careful when using oils on children. This just saddens me when children are hurt because an adult tried something on them who wasn’t fully knowledgeable in what they tried to do. I think you should end your comments and call it a day. So many hateful people. Truth be known that I am a YL distributor. But, I always caution people on the use of the oils and I try to educate them as best as I know how. I don’t push sales.
I always use the oils neat and internally…consistently for 7 years…so have my 6 children…only side effect: health! I know this to be true for countless others who have been using the oils longer than I have. So, to advise to use caution…sure. That’s one thing to say. To say NEVER apply neat or ingest…when sooooo many people are doing just that and are experiencing the incredible health benefits of doing so, is not a reasonable claim. Would you say never drive a car because some people have accidents? You have noted that some experts don’t agree with those applications. Well, that just means they don’t agree. Because they don’t agree isn’t proof that they are correct. Guess what, experts don’t agree with each other in the real world. In my thinking, I would say that ONE proof of the safety of ingesting and neat application of many of Young Living’s essential oils is the fact that hundreds of thousands of people around world are doing exactly that and have been for over 20 years, and are experiencing incredible and inspiring health benefits. Otherwise, we’d be dropping like flies and the company would have gone bankrupt.
Kayla, I respect the research you have put into this post and it very important to make people aware of the potential safety issues when using EOs. However, I do want to say that doTerra (and YL as well) are VERY careful with their distillation process and also are diligent about making sure that people are educated when it comes to essential oils safety. Dilution is always recommended for children, those with sensitive skin and for hot oils such as oregano. No where do we say go for it, put it on no matter what! I just feel that I should point this out. Essential oils have been around for centuries. There should not be a spirit of competitiveness or negativity surrounding their use. Unfortunately there is, as you have seen with the negativity you have seen as a result of this post. Education is the KEY. That’s my goal with all of my clients and followers. Good luck to you, your blog is great and if you would like to share information, just email me! Best! 🙂
I myself ingest a drop every single day. I am still alive. I know more people than not that consume and frolic in the oils and they are still alive. In fact I think I have met more people that are allergic to wheat and gmo foods. And after reading this article I think you should be more concerned about what you are truly consuming food wise and get your temple straight?!
As I have said many times in the comments when people feel I should have written about a topic they feel is more important: I am not an expert in that field. I did not write about wheat and GMO food because they are not my expertise. I did write about essential oils because that was my field of study.
Still baffled by the “get your temple straight” comment. Temple definition: a building devoted to the worship, or regarded as the dwelling place, of a god or gods or other objects of religious reverence.
synonyms: house of God, house of worship, shrine, sanctuary.
This blog post and aromatherapy have nothing to do with a temple.
Actually, I totally see where Code is coming from. In the Bible it states nourish your temple.
1 Corinthians 6:19
Or do you not know that your body is a temple……
Our bodies are a temple we are blessed to have and therefore should nourish them.
I took a moment after reading your article and checked out your website. I was shocked to see that you have recipes that use things like “YORK Peppermint Patties”. You talk about people needing to educate themselves and read labels, but here corn syrup is the 2nd ingredient in York patties. I know you’ve stated numerous times that you are not an expert in this area but my goodness how can you do one thing and not another? How can you expect others to educate themselves when you have proven you do not do the same? If you are so concerned about what others put on and in their bodies, you may want to take a good long look at yourself. The corn syrup is GMO and the internal reactions of corn syrup is horrible on the body. There is also soy lecithin which again is GMO and soy is high in estrogen which wrecks havoc on young girls and boys. YORK is also topped off by artificial flavoring. I am only letting you know because when someone trys to tell others what to or not to put on or in their bodies, your doorstep needs to be mighty clean or it leaves you open to scrutiny. Namaste’
Thanks for your explanation Valerie.
I studied aromatherapy. I am not making claims to be a food expert. It is the chemistry of essential oils that makes them too potent to consume.
I appreciate your lesson on food, but again I do not claim to be an expert on diet. It is not a dietary recommendation I am making in this post or any other.
I shared that recipe at request of many of my friends on Facebook. You don’t have to make it. And many of my friends are good substituting what they don’t want to use for things that they do want to use.
I am sure you could find countless things on my blog that you don’t agree with if you are looking for something to scrutinize.
First off I hope someone reads this comment and it makes them think about this concept even for a second. I get that taking an essential oil internally is helping you and using undiluted is working and maybe your not even seeing any adverse side effects. That’s great and I’m glad ml one has been hurt here! However lets say that taking 6 Tylenol will get rid of my headache. Why would I take 6 when 2 will also get rid of the headache? Or maybe I would have to take 6 Tylenol but only 2 Advil that means less drugs and money saved! Woohoo. Ok so the article here wasn’t about essential oil and if it worked. If your on this blog your probably already experiencing essential oil working. Beyond the safe not safe argument there is something else to consider. Why would you use essential oil in a unconventional (at least to most peoples standards) way when the other way will work just as well and possibly better and cost you less money? Why would you argue with someone trying to tell you how to get more use out of your essential oil and buy it less often? Sure you can use it undiluted but why would anyone in their right mind use it like that when they could use it at 1-3% dilution and get the same results? That’s making the oil last you 300x longer possibly? So were you buying it once a month? Now buy it once a year or 10!! It’s just insane to me why people start out using essential oil in such ways when it’s been proven to be more effective other ways! Like for allergies. Why wait 20-30 minutes for an internal allergy mix to work when you can have relief in a couple minutes from 2-5 drops ( vs the 16 often recommended) diffused? Not only quicker but less of it is needed for results. I often find people using essential oils internally or undiluted just don’t know better. If you would have studied you wouldn’t have to waste your money. You would have more effective results. If something diluted isn’t working for you it might be because something else works better at a smaller amount. Study for yourself and see. While your all headache free with straight undiluted oil I’ll be headache free with more money in my pocket and more oil to use! Essential oil is a powerful tool but for your sake learn how to actually use it. I get that you don’t want to think your doing something wrong or that your teaching something wrong but you could be saving yourself and your friends a ton of money and time!! Heck my oil lasts so long I am blessed to be able to gift it to others! It’s really not a matter of if it works it’s a matter of how you can educate yourself and others to use it not only safer but more effectively at the same time. I have amazing results with my essential oil but I don’t have to use it like that to get them! I don’t use young living or doterra so I don’t know maybe my brand is just more pure and stronger but I don’t have to use undiluted and internally for it to work. If you do maybe consider changing brands to something better!! Good luck!
Great explanation Christina.
Thanks! I don’t get why people are defensive when your trying to help them save money haha.
I am an amateur herbalist that wildcrafts and forages for plant materials for my balms and elixirs. Despite my lack of formal education – my daddy did NOT raise a fool! I research extensively before using a single plant. Then I research where the research came from *(just because you “read it on the internet” doesn’t make it true) I also teach the use of the safe native plants where I live. I made it a point at my last 2 classes to speak on the new interest in the MLM world in essential oils. I cautioned everyone to find out the source of the information these “sellers” gave. And bemoaned the fact that many of them are diagnosing AND treating SERIOUS health issues! Just today, I was asking on a group about their use of Helichrysum and was told by a rep from one of the two most common MLM groups – that it can actually HEAL broken bones!!! I shudder to think of someone delaying proper treatment while waiting for this “magic” oil to knit their bones!!! This does not mean I will not continue researching Helichrysum, but it does mean that my opinion of the training given to these representatives has become one of great concern for the wellbeing of those they sell to.
I am NOT a supporter of government intrusion on our right to make choices in foods – or drugs, but SOMETHING has to stop these people! Or perhaps natural selection will eliminate them one by one as they misuse the oils they sell.
PLEASE don’t let the ignorance of the masses (or the individuals) dissuade you from continuing to speak the truth and present the facts!
The info on broken bones and Helichrysum oil doesn’t necessarily originate from MLMs. There are reputable aromatherapists who will tell you that it can speed recovery from a broken bone. I sure hope the rising popularity of MLMs doesn’t keep people from seeking medical advice for serious issues, but, in my experience, they have. I know many people who are practicing the use of oils over doctors, especially with their children. I think it has to do with our expensive health care system and fear. I know that every time I take my daughter to the pediatrician the visit costs me $150. I rarely take her, as she doesn’t get sick often, but we practice good nutrition, hand washing, take probiotics and use oils, sparingly, to help boost our immune systems. We do not use oils for everything under the sun. Lately, I have been hearing from people who want to use an oil instead of reducing stress in their lives, losing weight or getting proper exercise. I suppose wrapping yourself in an oil is easier. No oil in the world is going to teach your kids discipline, make you a more productive person or address the serious issues in your life.
I would just like to add that I have read stories recently of women trying to start labor with clary sage by rubbing the EO on the abdomen and causing placenta abruption, a very serious emergency that could kill both mother and baby. I am a Certified Professional Midwife, so this explosion of EO use has been of particular interest and causes concern.
Oh my! This is terrible news. Please encourage people to report their injuries to the FDA, Poison Control and/or The Atlantic Institute. I hear about so many major medical problems being caused by the dangerous practice of consuming and over exposure from undiluted essential oils.
Kayla thank you for this article. I am a user of YL and have experienced the benefits of using EOs. I have also been told how certain EOs can be injested or applied to the skin without diluting it. I will continue to use EOs, as you do, but will use a carrier oil all the time and stop injesting any EOs.
Though I do have to ask, how is it that there have been some amazing results from people injesting EOs, and also no known fatalities of people injesting specifically YL EOs? You would think by now if it was so dangerous, that there would be more cases (sorry if you replied this question already).
And lastly, Gary Young with all his experience, must know what he is talking about. He couldn’t be so irresponsible in his practice…or could he?
Great! The point of my blog post was to encourage safe use of essential oils.
There have been lots of lawsuits against Gary Young and Young Living over the years. They are harder to find in a Google search now due to the YL and dT lawsuits against each other. You can find a few here: http://dockets.justia.com/search?query=Young+Living+Essential+Oils
But for the most part people get injured and quit essential oils all together. That is unfortunate. Most people never report injury or illness. Also when someone does call into Poison Control they rarely give brand names. The information below comes from: http://leetea.hubpages.com/hub/Essential-Oil-Safety-Documented-Side-Effects-Injuries-and-Deaths-from-Essential-Oil-Ingestion
“In 2010, over 10,000 cases of essential oil poisoning were called in to poison control centers, over 8,000 of those cases involving children age 5 or younger. Over 2,000 cases reported undesirable effects, with over 130 being moderate or major outcomes, and 1 death from eucalyptus oil.
In 2011, 168 moderate-to-major outcomes were reported, up 38 from the previous year. In 2012, 180 moderate-to-major outcomes, up 12 more. This is proof that not only does poisoning occur from essential oil ingestion, but the number of major poisonings is rising each year.”
And lastly I couldn’t even guess what is going on with Gary Young. What my research has found is that he has been arrested for health fraud related charges. He was arrested in California in 1988 for charges related to the sale of ineffective and worthless medical treatments. In 1983 he was arrested in Spokane, WA for practicing medicine without a license. He was arrested on January 10, 1994 for assault with an axe. You can read more here: http://www.jonnsaromatherapy.com/pdf/Briggs_Real_Story_of_Gary_Young_2013.pdf
The FDA has cited him on several occasions. Here is an example of a letter from the FDA to Young Living. http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dailys/01/Jan01/010501/let0436.pdf
I was reading your condescending response about a poster not having any medical experience. You continue to talk about your reason for this blog is bc of the ‘countless injuries’ of which you kept hearing. I have looked at your list of ‘injuries’ and, from what I have seen, they ‘injuries’ are stuff like ‘I took lavender and had a headache’. The injuries are spurious at best.
Rob,
Read a few comments up from Carie Means, “I would just like to add that I have read stories recently of women trying to start labor with clary sage by rubbing the EO on the abdomen and causing placenta abruption, a very serious emergency that could kill both mother and baby. I am a Certified Professional Midwife, so this explosion of EO use has been of particular interest and causes concern.”
Elsewhere in comments this information from American Association of Poison Control Centers’ Annual Reports of National Poison Data Systems (NPDS), “In 2010, over 10,000 cases of essential oil poisoning were called in to poison control centers, over 8,000 of those cases involving children age 5 or younger. Over 2,000 cases reported undesirable effects, with over 130 being moderate or major outcomes, and 1 death from eucalyptus oil.”
Read in the actual blog post, “Aromatherapists all warn their clients away from pennyroyal essential oil due to a case in the USA in which a woman drank a large dose of pennyroyal in order to induce an abortion that proved fatal to her (Gold and Cates, 1980). One out of four cases in which pregnant women accidently drank camphor oil instead of castor oil resulted in the death of the baby (Weiss and Catalano, 1976). Another reported case in which pennyroyal and parsley seed were taken in large doses caused hepatotoxicity which resulted in the death of the baby.”
Read from another comment, “And this one talks about a death caused from topical application: http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/06/09/teen-dies-from-muscle-cream-overdose/
From another comment I left, “Here is a section of an email I got yesterday. “Well, I started taking their vit PAC and started to turn yellow. I had to go have it checked out and was getting too much of something and my body could not dispose of it fast enough. That has me scared. I am very healthy and don’t want anything to mess my insides up. I stopped for awhile. The”experts” said it is defiantly safe to use full strength.”
I am waiting for permission from Martin Watt to share his links on here. In the meantime I highly recommend spending some time on his website aromamedical.org looking around.
Just last weekend my daughter’s friend got her face burned by a doTerra undiluted essential oil. That might not upset you, but I’m a mamma bear and would not find that amusing at all.
And did you read the Poison Control reports? “In 2010, over 10,000 cases of essential oil poisoning were called in to poison control centers, over 8,000 of those cases involving children age 5 or younger. Over 2,000 cases reported undesirable effects, with over 130 being moderate or major outcomes, and 1 death from eucalyptus oil. In 2011, 168 moderate-to-major outcomes were reported, up 38 from the previous year. In 2012, 180 moderate-to-major outcomes, up 12 more. This is proof that not only does poisoning occur from essential oil ingestion, but the number of major poisonings is rising each year.” FROM: http://leetea.hubpages.com/hub/Essential-Oil-Safety-Documented-Side-Effects-Injuries-and-Deaths-from-Essential-Oil-Ingestion
130 being moderate-to-major outcomes in 2010 and 180 moderate-to-major outcomes 2011 is alarming when it could all have been avoided by using essential oils diluted on the skin and through inhalation therapy.
I don’t have a ton of time at the present, but I am aware of the teen death. It was from a student who used Ben Gay for months in a way in which it is not intended. Ben Gay, btw, does not use natural sources of oils but synthetics. Natural mst is very readily metabolized whereas synthetic is not.
There are also ‘essential oils’ which shouldn’t be ingested due to the fact that they are not pure.
If you call getting a headache from what may or may not have been from an essential oil as poisoning, you got me there.
Rob,
You asked a question and I answered it in depth. Somehow you still just see a headache as the only negative side effect of over exposure to essential oils.
You seem to have skimmed over all the other incidents. And methyl salicylate is naturally occurring in wintergreen essential oil. Anyone being told to use it straight or consume it would be putting themselves at the same risk of misusing it as the teen that died from an overdose of BenGay.
Kayla, you are COMPLETELY WRONG. Someone using naturally-occurring methyl salycilate would not be at the same risk of the teen who died from using ben-gay due to the way our body metabolizes the NON-SYNTHETIC compound. I am extremely allergic to aspirin and NSAIDs but can use essential oils with naturally-occurring ms.
I do not only see headaches as the only problem, but calling having a headache a poisoning is overkill especially when many of the ‘side-effects’ listed could be attributed to something totally unrelated to essential oil use.
The argument of natural vs synthetic just doesn’t hold up. Many people have allergies to naturally occurring materials. Hay fever, peanuts, roses, seafood… If only synthetic materials caused a problem, none of these allergies would exist.
Actually, the argument holds up very well. In the case of the death of the teen, it was in relation to a toxic buildup of synthetic ms. Our body metabolizes natural ms and does not allow for toxic buildup.
btw, Tina, I did not say that ALL allergies are from synthetic ONLY; that would be asinine. I do understand that there are some rare individuals who have allergic reactions to naturally-occurring salicylates, but they would only have reactions (which can prove detrimental) but not toxic buildup.
Rob,
I have no idea where you think I said a headache was the worst result. In this comment thread alone I have pointed out:
1. A comment by Carie means saying, “women trying to start labor with clary sage by rubbing the EO on the abdomen and causing placenta abruption, a very serious emergency that could kill both mother and baby.”
2. In 2010 “1 death from eucalyptus oil.”
3. Pennyroyal causing the death of a pregnant woman and her baby.
I am sure nothing I say will change your mind. As a doTerra rep are financially married to the idea that what you have been taught is correct. There is nothing I can say to convince you to use essential oils safely. But I continue to converse with you on my blog post because this is my website. I am not going to leave your incorrect information as the last word for others who later read these comments.
The truth is things that are toxic remain toxic even in their natural form. Think about arsenic. It is natural and it is still poisonous.
It is the dose that matters with methyl salycilate. Wintergreen is 98% methyl salicylate. If you use Wintergreen undiluted or consume it you are overdosing. What if you convinced someone to use Wintergreen essential oil via your methods and they were taking blood thinning medicine? Do you ask a complete medical history before you sell someone Wintergreen and teach them to apply it undiluted? Do you know the contraindications of Wintergreen and blood thinning medications? Wintergreen must absolutely be avoided by anyone taking blood-thinning drugs, since it increases the action of the drugs. My mother had a heart value replaced and spent her last years on blood thinning medications. It takes constant monitoring and can be thrown off easily. Thank God she was well educated and never fell for the sales tactics of a MLM rep.
Here is some information from experts on Wintergreen.
From Tony Burfield “Opinion Document to the IFA: A Brief Safety Guidance to Essential Oils, “The following oils are recommended by the author not to be used in aromatherapy on toxicity grounds. The substances in brackets represent particular items of toxicological concern:
Almond oil bitter* (hydrocyanic acid) Prunus amygdalus CAS No. 90320-35-7
Armoise oil (thujones) Artemisia herba-alba CAS No. 84775-45-1
Boldo leaf (ascaridole) Peumus boldus CAS No. 84649-96-7
Calamus oil (b-asarone type) Acorus calamus CAS No. 84775-39-3
Chenopodium oil aka Wormseed (ascaridole) Chenopodium ambrosioides CAS No. 89997-48-8
Croton oils with known toxicological properties, such as C. tiglium & C. oblongifolius
Horseradish oil (allyl & phenylethyl isocyanates) Amoracia rusticana CAS No. 84775-62-2
Lanyana oil (thujones) Artemisia afra
Mustard oil (allyl isocyanate) Brassica spp. esp. B. nigra & B. juncea CAS No 90064-15-6
Parsley herb oil (dill apiole) Petroselenium crispum CAS No. (USA) 8000-68-8
Pennyroyal oil (pulegone) Mentha pulegium CAS No. 90064-00-9
Perilla oil (perilla ketone – lung toxin) Perilla frutescens CAS No. 90082-61-9
Savin oil (sabinyl acetate) Juniperus sabina CAS No. 68916-94-9 – see below
Sassafras oil (safrole) Sassafras albidum CAS No. 84787-72-4 – see below
[Savoury oil, summer Satureja hortensis is classified T- toxic in many inventories]
Tansy oil (thujones) Tanacetum vulgare CAS No. 84961-64-8
Wintergreen oil (methyl salicylate) Gaultheria procumbens CAS No 90045-28-6
Wormwood oil (thujones) Artemisia absinthium CAS No. 84929-19-1
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~nodice/new/magazine/opinionifa/safetyifa.htm
“Sweet birch (Betula lenta) and wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) are far nastier essential oils, and are not even recommended for use by professional aromatherapists, much less those who dabble in home remedies. Both oils are composed of roughly 98-99% methyl salicylate. Transdermal absorption of methyl salicylate is quite high and rapidly occurring, and the body can absorb toxic levels very easily. Methyl salicylate poisoning is fatal in 50-60% of cases (Tisserand and Balacs, 1998), and this should be of particular concern for children and elderly users. Not to mention that anyone with an aspirin sensitivity or allergy will also react negatively to birch and wintergreen oils (Harris, 2008).
Worst of all, most people who insist on using these oils don’t even realize that they are almost always purchasing a synthetic product. Distilling birch or wintergreen oil takes time, effort and expense, and it is far easier to concoct an artificial product out of readily available synthetic methyl salicylate (Tisserand and Balacs, 1998; Watt, 1996).
Why use these potentially dangerous essential oils when a more effective remedy can be blended from other oils which are commonly available from named botanical sources, safe and relatively inexpensive?” From Aromaceuticals https://www.aromaceuticals.com/blog/turpentine-sweet-birch-and-wintergreen
I have been following this blog since the beginning and I just do not understand how so many are so miffed over what should be a common sense warning about the safe use of essential oils. I also immediately thought of as Arsenic as a natural element that will kill with use.
I also applaud your questionning of so many who claim they know it all because of the items they sell but do not ask about medical histories. How many of these reps are actually trained chemists or some type of medical field to even know what background information to request and advise?
This example is on wintergreen oil. Does this rep know to ask if a person is epileptic before advising the use of Rosemary or Grapefruit oils? Rosemary can be a seizure trigger for some and grapefruit inhibits the effectiveness of anti-seizure medication.
I have done a lot of research on essential oils and I am not an aromatherapist and my medical training is as a student of biology at the moment. I am not equipped to recommend the use of any oil undiluted or to be ingested. If anyone asks, I have to refer them to a different source because I will not pretend to be an expert. And, I am not selling anything! But, these reps are becoming dangerous to the publice with their little piece of knowledge. Self diagnosis and practice is one thing, but to advise others is a serious hazzard.
Keep up the good work, Kayla! I still do not get why some of these people are so threatened over a warning they themselves should already be following!
Patty,
I find it troublesome as well that people react so viciously to safety warnings. I was so bothered by the rants of some of the comments that I wrote a follow up blog post, Twelve Signs of a Cult.
You are so right to say, “Self diagnosis and practice is one thing, but to advise others is a serious hazard.”
“Self diagnosis and practice is one thing, but to advise others is a serious hazard.
Keep up the good work, Kayla! I still do not get why some of these people are so threatened over a warning they themselves should already be following!”
Quote from commenter, Patty S. above (because it deserves repeating). Agree, agree, agree.
I totally agree Deb!
Wow first off thank you for the article..it is an important point it is obvious you struck a nerve..reading through the posts is like watching a game of ping pong..as a woman in the natural beauty space I have has my fair of nay Sayers.. Some times it’s enough to make you want to give up completely reading your responses they are all well thought out professional and backed by research..if this were a debate I would say you win but in this world there are no winners…just those who stick to our beliefs and keep strong and back with research..well done
Thank you Amy!
I have added an update to the blog post above. I am including it in comments for those following the comments.
FDA ACTION UPDATE: Many commenters from Young Living and dōTERRA made claims that were against the law and linked to sites that clearly were actively breaking the law. On 9/24/2014 the FDA sent Young Living a Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations Warning Letter and dōTERRA a Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations Warning Letter. Ingestion, undiluted usage, claims of medical cures and medical treatment given by a layperson is not only dangerous, but can warrant legal action. To quote the FDA in the Young Living letter, “. . . , in light of their toxicity or other potentiality for harmful effect, the method of their use, or the collateral measures necessary to their use, they are not safe for use except under the supervision of a practitioner licensed by law to administer it.”
You can read the letters here:
Young Living http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/2014/ucm416023.htm
doTerra http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/2014/ucm415809.htm
Thank you for the follow up! I still cannot understand the blind faith in what any lay person will tell them and then pass along as gospel! You take heed on the side of caution where so many just consume any oil they think is a miracle cure. I have to wonder if these are the same people who will also buy every diet pill, hair growth pill, sexual enhancement pill as their instant fixes, too?
Doubters, just heed the warnings of the strengths of essential oils, do not ingest them, do not use them undiluted, do not use them on your children, and certainly do not use them to replace your physician’s diagnosis! I will read and follow the advice of aromatherapists who stress these same things and never trust those who say they are too cautious.
I love my life and I love using my essential oils. They are very beneficial when used properly!
Kayla,
I am astounded at the venom that has been spewed at you for an intelligent, informed, well-intentioned article- AND I am amazed that anyone would read what you said (Use Essential Oils Safely!) and ARGUE with that.
Thanks for keeping your cool throughout. It illustrated that you are not only SMART that you are also Wise.
Kayla, thank you for this article. I have a friend who is a Young Living & doTerra fanatic. She introduced me to the wonders of essential oils (of which I only had dabbled in very little previously). However, I like to know the how’s and why’s and I don’t like to just take the word of what anyone says. I’ve already come across Robert Tisserand’s blog and one day soon I will be buying his Essential Oil Safety book. In the near future, I plan on taking courses to become a registered aromatherapist in order to dig down deep into the world of essential oils. I also came across this article today. Don’t let the naysayers get you down. I find it amusing to read, but also disheartening that they don’t question. Always question and learn! Education is a nonstop endeavor, and when the uneducated start teaching others what they “know” we end up in a world of sheeple!
Kayla,
I just finished up an aromatherapy course taught by Jimm Harrison. Based on this blog post alone, I’m buying your book. Really looking forward to diving into it. Keep up the good work. <3
Thanks Kim. Jimm is an amazing educator. He wrote a review for my book.
“In this book, The Art, Science and Business of Aromatherapy, Your Guide for Personal Aromatherapy and Entrepreneurship, that rightly brings aromatherapy to its next evolutionary step as a business, Kayla Fioravanti tells a story – well, two stories. One is a personal story that provides an inspirational foundation of what is possible in the business of aromatherapy. The second story provides an in-depth study necessary to develop an aromatherapy business of your own.
Kayla makes the most of her background and experience as a product formulator and manufacturer by introducing uncommon essential oil details. They include information similar to and beyond that found on an MSDS (Manufacturers Safety Data Sheet) like CAS numbers, flash point, appearance, INCI names and other aspects of ingredient classification. This vital information will help the novice, as well as seasoned aromatherapists, to become more tuned into the nuances and the vast array of detail required to become proficient at the use of essential oils. This is also valued information when purchasing your essential oils.
If you are interested in creating essential oil products for yourself or as a serious business venture, this is your learning and reference manual. What you get in The Art, Science and Business of Aromatherapy are ingredients, recipes, the facts, the myths, the cautions, the ins and outs of naturals and synthetics, brand building, marketing, sensible business practice and a vast array of aromatherapy manufacturing how-to. And if all you’re interested in is keeping your kids from getting the “sickies and ickies,” well, that’s in here too. In her breezy, yet direct and solid style, Kayla lays down the laws of aromatherapy – and you know she means business.” ~ Jimm Harrison, educator and founder Jimm Harrison Phytotherapy Institute and author of Aromatherapy: Therapeutic Use of Essential Oils for Esthetics
Dear Rob Etheridge the doTerra rep,
I responded to at least 17 of your comments on this thread. When comments #18 and #19 came in I chose to stop allowing your comments on my blog. These two comments were aggressive and uncalled for. They were filled with sections of all caps that implied you were yelling at me. You changed from addressing people by name to saying, “look lady.” I no longer believe you want to carry on a civil debate. I have patiently supplied you with an abundance of research and answers. I have also blocked comment #20 on another post and comment #21 on this one.
The FDA has stepped in and also pointed out the dangerous and illegal practices of doTerra and Young Living this month. You are no longer welcome to comment on my website. I respectfully request that you unfollow this comment thread.
Thank you!
I am late to the party but want to say THANK YOU for this post! The use of
EOs is increasing where I live and people do not take the time to research outside of what their rep tells them. And the companies themselves are teaching dangerous practices. This came up on my FB feed yesterday: a video from the official DoTerra training site recommending internal use!!!! http://www.youtube.com/embed/5KNjWl1Zm4w?autoplay=1&rel=0
Thanks for the link Chelsea. I keep being told by dT reps that it is just a few rogue distributors, but this video and others made by the corporations show otherwise. Thanks for sharing it here.
Dear Kayla,
I just wanted to say a few things. Firstly, thank you so much for your work in promoting the safe use of EOs. Yes, it is the purity and potency of EOs that *create* the necessity of dilutions. Personally I would *never* recommend an EO for child use – I go for herbal teas and none you wouldn’t find in a kitchen! ANY other use requires specialised training; to do otherwise is risking someone else’s health for one’s own ego.
Secondly, I am amazed (and frothing at the mouth) at these ingestion/neat recommendations. Well done on maintaining your calm, your professionalism, and your vocabulary. I was ranting for a full ten minutes after; I do not know how you maintained your composure.
Thirdly, I would just like to point out (respectively) to detractors that pure EOs are also chemical weapons. As seen in WWI (mustard gas), tear gas, to name the casual first two thought of. I once saw a third degree chemical burn caused by mustard POWDER – someone decided that if a natural remedy (poultice) is effective, it would be more effective applied longer… and I just deleted an entire rant again. I’ll stop here by simply repeating “thank you”
I admire the character you showed in these comment threads, and it’s one of the most inspiring role-modelling I’ve seen online. Thank you.
Thank you Tessa! You are too kind. I used the delete button heavily to keep my cool on some occasions. Thank God for backspace!
Thank you for your article. I am basically new to this. I used oils a while back but just for putting in homemade cleaners so it didn’t smell like vinegar and to make bug spray and sugar scrubs and candles.
I learned about yl through my sister in law and a friend of the family. I was surprised when they commented they were using it in there water and Appling it on neat on kids and themselves for different reasons.
Anyway my question is if it is a blended oil would it be safe to use it neat.Yl has a blended oil that my 8 year old likes and I was told I could use it neat and not mix with a carrier oil. It has cedarwood, sandalwood, frankincense, melissa, blue cypress, lavender, and helichrysum in it would or should I be using it in a carrier oil on her? She says it helps her when she needs to focus on things, and it smells good.
Plus I will always check with our family doctor to be sure that anything I use is safe.
Thank you for the information in your article it really has helped me in deciding if oils are safe for me to use as long as they are used corretly.
Thank you
Dawn
Blended essential oils and single note essential oils should all be diluted. Aromatherapy works best when using synergetic blends of two or more essentials oils. BUT they should always be diluted.
Thank you so much for writing this article. I run a non-profit parenting support organization in Omaha, NE and we have had countless reps come and tell people to do things. In fact, I had a pregnant woman call me in a panic because she was told at a sales party to ingest basil. From what I’ve read you’re not supposed to take basil while pregnant. After we heard about that we banned any and all EO sales parties from being advertised on our site. It’s been difficult to police all their comments. You’re article will be so helpful in educating our community about safe EO usage. Thank you again!
Katie,
It sounds like you made a wise move. A pregnant woman should not be ingesting any essential oil. Someone recently sent me this link of adverse reactions from non-pregnant people ingesting essential oils. https://static.squarespace.com/static/530513e0e4b0d9ec3c47969f/t/535d4bd8e4b06295cb12a4c7/1398623192340/Adverse_side_affectsApr27-2014-2.pdf
Thank you for writing this article! I really like essential oils and am happy to read about the dangerous and safe ways to use them! Don’t get discouraged by MLM reps, KEEP WRITING THE TRUTH!!! =)))
Thanks Mia!
Hi there. Stumbled upon your site and really appreciate this post.
I am a doTERRA consultant/business owner, and CA state cert massage therapist. I need to come back to read all of your post to thoroughly vet, but immediately I’d like to defend those of us who happen to have legitimate business operations that just happens to be in the form of a MLM business model. The model itself is perfectly legitimate and legal but it is the frequent short-sighted, and unprofessional representative who can operative their MLM business in a poor manner. I am sorry to all if this is there only type of encounter. We are here to serve and meet customers at their needs and still be professional and open to those who feel differently or do not want/need our products or services. Just like any other legitimate business.
There are plenty of us that support another’s health goals regardless of the form that that may take. In short, we are selling the destination and not the airline!
Secondly, since dT is a legitimate business there is a wealth of education and tools at hand made available. It is of course the business owner’s responsibility to seek that out. Not all do unfortunately.
Lastly, I’ve had the opportunity to receive aromatherapy and essential oil education in massage school – while this does offer me perhaps a little more credibility and knowledge, the things I have learned have been thoroughly taught by dT founders and qualified leaders. So far I have not found any contraindication for oil use outside of typical allergies or sensitivities within my practice. Whether topically, aromatically, or internally. (note. all dT oils indicate which are safe for ingestion with a “supplement” label vs. ingredient label) This is in direct conflict with some of your assertions but I am open to seeing if that changes.
I will admit too that I am in complete ignorance as to the status of other EO business’s and their particular brand’s inventory. I simply have never tried any others.
Thank you for the platform here to speak on behalf of my oil business and again, I will be reading the many articles you referenced. I want to strive to always be open to “being wrong”; it will only help all of us!
I am glad to hear you are open to learning.
Dr. Rob Pappas has done a fabulous job debunking many myths in the aromatherapy world over the past few months. A big one is that one company makes a more pure or therapeutic grade of essential oil that is safe for consumption. A pure essential oil can still be poor quality and a pure essential oil will still have all the chemical compounds of the essential oil that make it unsafe for internal consumption.
In myth number one Dr. P points out, “there is no independent body that certifies essential oils as therapeutic grade.” This means that the grade placed upon the essential oil is purely from within the company. They set it, labeled it and are marketing it quite successfully. https://www.facebook.com/notes/essential-oil-university/essential-oil-myth-1/10152759991813083
I highly recommend the entire series he has done: https://www.facebook.com/EssentialOilUniversity/notes
Also he is offering The Chemistry of Essential Oils C390 as taught by Dr. Robert S. Pappas at Indiana University for free on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW8zVD5h7caIGtY-EPIpm_cHKCcTrtuKz
Thank you for the information.
I bough YL product. I’m a member, just because I want to get discounted price. I’m also bought another oil from different brand. Shortly, I’m just in love with essential oil , but clearly not a cult to certain product. I dig all the knowledge I have to know from respectable institution like AIA, NAHA, I event bought Robert Tisserand’s book. I came to conclusion that Essential oil comes with responsibility. Thus, I am ow very careful of posting picture of essential oil I have, because I don’t want to mislead people.
How YL seller promotes the benefit of each oil is rather scary, even though I’m a member just because I want to get discount. ha!
. When you swing to Instagram or Pinterest, it’s scary how they claim it can cures every health problem by ingesting, or topically applied undiluted and so on and so forth.
I love this post. And I will share the link to this site for my post. Thank you
Thanks so much for sharing. You know there are plenty of place you can buy essential oils at wholesale without being a member? I don’t get paid to promote any company but I highly recommend cutting your costs by going wholesale. I buy my essential oils from Essentialwholesale.com. (And I promise I do not make a commission or kick back for sending you there)
Thank you, Kayla, for lending your voice to the conversation on the safe and proper use of essential oils. I came to your page shortly after watching David Crow’s video that is also a response to the claims of these companies and the FDA response.
I am interested in your response to his talk, Essential Oils For Contagion – Facts & Fantasies With David Crow, L.Ac.. It is a lengthy, and well rounded, talk about the misunderstandings and misrepresentations of studies on essential oils, and he speaks to the trend of ‘internet medicine’ from which so many get poor, incorrect, and harmful advice on the subject.