My Top 20 Educational Essential Oil Blogs

My Top 20 Educational Essential Oil Blogs

Essential oil safety is a hot topic, understandably so with its popularity. I have hit on many topics over the years and decided to share my top essential oil blogs of all time with you. Twenty topics that have been seen and shared thousands of times, in the ease of one place.

 

#20. Utilizing Essential Oils During Labor and Delivery

 

Essential Oil Safety…..There is often much debate about whether we can utilize aromatherapy in the birthing room, or during pregnancy at all. Is it safe? How do we do it? Let’s talk about what we need to consider- Utilizing Essential Oils During Labor and Delivery

 

#19. From Farm to Oil: Evolution of Plant Medicine-A Spotlight on Lemon

 

The essential oils that we know, and love are derived from plants, but this does not necessarily mean that the therapeutic benefits or uses from the plant to essential oil are the same. In many cases, this does not hold true. There are many recipes online utilizing essential oils that do not honor chemistry and do not focus on safe use. Sustainability is also a massive concern as more and more people are stepping into the essential oil community every day. It is not necessary to use oils every day, or in everything. When we see a recipe shared online, we must ask ourselves if it is necessary, shifting the way we currently see these beautiful resources.

 

#18. Postpartum Depression..The Importance of Asking for Help

 

As women, “most” of us are not prepared for motherhood in the way I am about to discuss. Other than books and articles preparing us for Baby, such as the best-seller, “What To Expect When Expecting,” there is not much at all by way of truly preparing us moms for this huge life shift. I am speaking emotionally, mentally and physically. We can find information in books regarding cracked nipples, perineum tears, how long to wait before sex, stretch marks and hemorrhoids, but ladies; we need so much more than that!

 

#17. Why Is It That Essential Oils Don’t Always Work

 

Why Is It That Essential Oils Don’t Always Work? Does this topic surprise you? It is true, there are times that essential oils do not work as we think they should, and many instances where what works amazingly well for one individual does not for another. There are a few points that I want to make today on this topic, so let’s get started!

 

#16. Essential Oils-Do They Contain Vitamins and Minerals?

 

It becomes very challenging to know whom to believe when there are individuals and ‘health gurus’ claiming this to be factual, so I think it is important that I pull this myth apart. I have spent a great deal of time researching this topic. I will be simplifying and summarizing it for you today. It is time to put this idea to rest.

 

#15. Moms, Let’s Talk About Holistic Treatment For Fevers

 

Drawing down a fever is not something that is recommended, as a fever is a sign that our immune system is working as it should be to help us get well. Rather than make my case for why you would or would not want to lower a fever, I want to cover the various ways in which we can work to make our kids a bit more comfortable while supporting their immune system to fight whatever germs are trying to take hold.

 

#14. Essential Oils for the Youngest in the Home

 

As someone that focuses on essential oil safety above all else, I tend to talk about why specific oils or methods of use are not safe. Today I want to shift focus to what essential oils are safe and look at them in a bit of detail. Empowering and helping are two words that are very important to me and my business…because if I do not support you to feel empowered to help your family, your children, and yourself..then what have I done? Fear is not where it’s at, so let us begin!

 

#13. Essential Oil Skeptics-Confirmation Bias

 

Confirmation bias is a propensity to search for or interpret information that we find in a way that confirms one’s preconceptions. In other words, when performing research online or at the library or other learning institutions, the individual doing the research has already made their decision about the topic before they have begun their search. Rather than looking to find “the truth” so to speak, they are looking for information that agrees with what they already think!

 

#12. No 1,8 cineole? Other Respiratory Essential Oils for Kids

 

Aromatherapists have written articles about the safety of the constituent 1,8 cineole, specifically Eucalyptus radiata, Eucalyptus globulus, and Eucalyptus smithii. You’ll read plenty of articles as to why this constituent is not safe for children and not to use it at all under the age of 10. This is not, however, an accurate statement.

 

#11. Do Epsom Salts Really Work?

 

There are times where we all fall suspect to confirmation bias when it comes to what we are told in regard to natural remedies. We may know that there are indeed specific benefits to a remedy, we may have even experienced a few of them firsthand, but those benefits can oftentimes be extrapolated beyond what is scientifically shown. Do Epsom salts really work?

 

#10. My Holistic “First Aid” Kit-Essential Oils Herbs & Homeopathy

 

The variety of choices for a holistic first aid kit is quite exciting for the DIY’er in you and goes well beyond essential oils. Just about anything can be handled well with holistic remedies, and there are a plethora of options. I will be going over a few of those options today. If we have the choice of handling things at home and not have to travel to a doctor’s office where there is oftentimes a myriad of germs, let’s give it a go, right? I think it is important to understand when getting medical care is needed, but it is not always needed.

 

#9. Essential Oils and Our Microbiome (AKA…Our Gut Bugs)

 

There have been many blogs stating that essential oils are great for our gut health and that they provide us with a healthy microbiome. The issue with statements like these is that people walk away from reading these articles thinking that essential oils work much like a prebiotic or probiotic….when that has yet to be proven. With an education in Aromatic Medicine, I can see how these statements or claims are somewhat like a telephone game. My goal is to help you see what I mean by that. Let’s take a look at our gut health…one of my favorite topics, and how essential oils can play a role. It’s not what you think!

 

#8. Essential Oils During Pregnancy and Lactation…What’s Safe?

 

This article will be speaking to aromatherapy use during pregnancy and beyond into the nursing years. I decided to write about this because there are a lot of misconceptions out there. Pregnancy is a delicate time, especially during the first trimester, and as we know that chemical constituents in essential oils pass the placenta, even though only in minute amounts, so safety needs to be addressed.

 

#7. Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)-Uses and Limitations

 

Is witch hazel an emulsifier? Is witch hazel a preservative? Discover its uses and limitations.

 

#6. Are Essential Oils Safe for your Children?

 

Children are much more sensitive to essential oils and aromas in general, but they can also benefit greatly from their therapeutic uses. There are a number of things that parents need to know before using them to ensure the safety of their children. Looking up a blend or recipe online is not the best way to use your oils. Let’s cover a few things that you may or may not already know in order to keep your little ones safe.

 

#5. Fennel Essential Oil Safety…Does it Increase Mothers Milk?

 

I felt that it was important to address this topic in more detail as it is shared so easily without much understanding of the safety issues involved. It is recommended to avoid fennel essential oil during pregnancy and lactation, and utilize caution with the herb in levels more than what would typically be consumed in food. Congratulations to all mom’s out there embarking on a beautiful time with your new little bundle of joy.

 

#4. What is an Adverse Reaction to an Essential Oil?

 

What is an adverse reaction to an essential oil? Would you know what to do if you or your child had an adverse reaction to an essential oil or oil blend? Do you know what an adverse reaction looks like? I will be covering a few of those here in hopes to make you more aware of what that might look like, and what to do if it happens. When we use essential oils, safety has to be the first thing we keep in mind.

 

#3. Essential Oil Basics-Uncovering Myths Versus Facts

 

Just as you would (or should) exercise caution and research when using pharmaceuticals, you should practice the same careful research when using essential oils. Essential oils are profoundly powerful, which makes them capable of powerful healing, but also injury when used improperly. Overuse and misuse can and do lead to injury.

 

#2. Proper Use of Essential Oils in the Bath

 

Proper use of essential oils in the bath. Not only are the specific oils used in the bath of great importance, but safety also needs to be considered in how you add them as well. For example, use peppermint with great caution as it can be a very “eye-opening” experience, and bergamot is a very strong photosensitizing oil, the bath is simply not the “best” place for its use.

 

#1. The Risks of Diffusing Essential Oils in the Classroom

 

The risks of diffusing essential oils in the classroom. If we take into consideration the number of germs that are passed back and forth at school, it is not a surprise that some teachers have considered diffusing essential oils in the classroom. For those with minimal education, this may seem like a great solution to keeping sickness at bay and to keep attendance up, but it comes with a significant amount of risk. Many are told that essential oils are completely natural and safe for everyone, but this is not always the case. There are many things that need to be considered when diffusing in a classroom full of children with a variety of different health constitutions. The liability in this type of situation needs to be looked at closely.

 

I hope you enjoy my top essential oil blogs of all time. Stay tuned as I share the latest findings and most recent research with you!

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Like so many practices in life, I encourage you to become educated on the proper use of essential oils. When using them, please do so cautiously, understanding that there is often misinformation on the internet. You can be assured that I support only educated and proven resources. While essential oils should not be feared they should be respected and used properly to ensure the safety of the individuals using them.

Please note that I am not a medical practitioner. The content of this website is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor should it be considered a substitute for, professional medical advice. Do not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating any medical or health condition. If you have or suspect you have a medical problem, promptly contact your professional healthcare provider. By using this website, you assume full responsibility and liability for your own actions.

 

3 Common Yet Risky Essential Oil Mistakes

3 Common Yet Risky Essential Oil Mistakes

3 Common Yet Risky Essential Oil Mistakes

You will be able to find a plethora of articles on the internet regarding essential oils, consequently, there are many myths surrounding them. There are many opinions regarding essential oil safety as well. Some have even become fanatical about the advice (which does not feel authentic to me), shaming others online as a means to teach them. Anyone that has followed me over the years knows that safety is in fact very important to me, but I will never shame you for the choices you have made in the past, ones you are making today, or if you choose not to take the advice you have read today. My job is to help guide you, and you choose to take on whatever resonates with you. This is how we learn. 3 Common Yet Risky Essential Oil Mistakes…..

The widespread marketing of two popular brands of essential oils has introduced many people to these powerful tools for health which is a real blessing. With it comes a few concerns. The first being the unsafe recommendations for use that is seen on blogs, Pinterest, as well as Facebook pages. Essential oils are not to be used carelessly, and misuse can lead to injury. The second is sustainability. So many are of the vein of ‘buy all of the oils’, and that can be really problematic for the future of our precious oils.

Just as you would (or should) exercise caution and research when using pharmaceuticals, you should practice the same careful research when using essential oils. Essential oils are profoundly powerful, which makes them capable of powerful healing, but also injury when used improperly. Overuse and misuse can and does lead to injury.

1. Diluting Essential Oils

Essential oils are very concentrated extracts, much more concentrated than the plant material that it is derived from. Since they are so concentrated, they need to be diluted before they are safe to apply to the skin.

When used undiluted or what some call “neat” there are two risks involved:

1-Irritation which is a direct result of contact with a material and is localized. Healing occurs once the material is removed. Removal is best with a carrier oil (almond, jojoba, etc.) or milk. Follow up with warm soapy water, then add more carrier oil if needed. Healing may not occur immediately, but you should see and feel improvement after proper removal.

2-Sensitization which is a systemic response involving the immune system. According to Dorene Petersen, president of the American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS):

“Sensitization occurs once the offending substance has penetrated the skin, been picked up by proteins in the skin, and mediated by the IgE response that produces histamine and other irritants” [1].

This is an allergic reaction. Some oils are more likely than others to elicit this sensitization response, such as lemongrass and cinnamon bark….but it can happen even with oils that some consider gentler oils such as lavender and peppermint. Once this immune system response is triggered, that may mean you can never use that oil again. Never! Compare this to a nut allergy. Not worth the risk!

Please do not subscribe to the “detoxing” explanation where skin irritation is concerned, this is simply not true. If you get a rash or a burn from putting something on your skin is it because it is irritating your skin. Unfortunately, the detox reaction is still being shared as a viable explanation for a rash, and innocent people are being injured. Sometimes by applying more essential oils to the irritated area. Please hear me when I say, skin irritation that can result from essential oils is NOT a detox reaction at all. There is good news in all of this though, and that is when you properly dilute your essential oils, the risk of any irritation is greatly reduced. 

Check here for a detailed explanation on this topic from my friend and colleague Liz Fulcher, owner of the Aromatic Wisdom Institute.

2. Internal Use

Essential oils are not water soluble. Oil and water do not mix/blend. They need a dispersant before adding to your bath water (carrier oil); Epsom salts alone is not enough.

Please do not add essential oils to a glass of water and drink it.

 

3 Common Yet Risky Essential Oil Mistakes

 

When you add a drop of oil to a glass of water it doesn’t mix with the water. The risks are not worth the practice. Oral dosing may interfere with medication or aggravate other medical conditions. Please refer to the 2014 book, Essential Oil Safety 2e by Robert Tisserand and Robert Young to learn which essential oils carry the most risk internally when taking daily medication.

You may hear something like “our oils are pure therapeutic grade and are safe for internal use” or “certain oils are GRAS” (generally recognized as safe for consumption), but this applies to consuming in food (food additives); not in water. Follow the link here for an informative article by my friend and colleague, The English Aromatherapist about what GRAS really means.

 

3 Common Yet Risky Essential Oil Mistakes

 

Essential oils can be safe for internal use under certain circumstances when under the care of a professional; someone who has been trained, ultimately much more than the basic 200 hour foundation training, and has to understand how these oils react inside the body, if it is necessary for your condition, and most of all if it is safe and indicated for you and your situation (medication, medical conditions, allergies, etc.). Look for someone such as myself who has been trained in aromatic medicine. Not all aromatherapists have this level of training.

More on Internal Use…

Internal use is not meant to be an everyday practice. It is not to lose weight, ease indigestion, or to be used as a preventative measure to maintain health. That is where healthy eating, exercise, sleep, vitamins, and minerals come into play when you are deficient. Essential oils have no “nutritional value”; another myth. Read more on these topics here and here.

Just to reiterate so that my stance is clear, I am NOT against internal use of essential oils. I am against the methods that are recommended online that are risky, such as oils in water, directly under the tongue, and in a capsule without a carrier oil. Not safe.

3. Over Diffusing of Essential Oils

If a little bit works, more is not necessary. This applies with topical use, and diffusion as well.

Essential oil diffusers disperse the essential oil into the air in tiny droplets. Robert Tisserand recommends diffusing times of 30-60 minutes, or 30 minutes on and 60 minutes off [2]. If you are diffusing in a small room, make sure to have proper ventilation. I think Tisserand’s recommendations may be generous when looking at small children, therefore, I will go one step further to say that if you are diffusing for a small child, 15-20 minutes on and 60 minutes off will be more than sufficient for them. If you decide to diffuse for a baby, six months or older, 10 minutes will likely be just enough.

When we inhale too much of a good thing, we can have adverse effects. Tisserand stated in his book, Essential Oil Safety 2e, “prolonged inhalation (more than about 30 minutes) of concentrated essential oil vapors (e.g., steam inhalation or direct from a bottle) can lead to headaches, vertigo, nausea and lethargy” [3].

You can also experience an overall feeling of being unwell marked by malaise or disorientation, or even heartburn. I get heartburn from diffusing cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum).

 

 

3 Common Yet Risky Essential Oil Mistakes

 

The good news is that when we follow basic safety advice, any risk of utilizing essential oils is greatly reduced. If you have any questions about essential oil safety, please reach out to me @ Lifeholistically@gmail.com.

 

 

References

[1] American College of Healthcare Sciences, (2012) Aroma 101

[2] [3]  Tisserand, R., Young, R. (2014) Essential Oil Safety (2nd Ed)

 

 

Like so many practices in life, I encourage you to become educated on the proper use of essential oils. When using them, please do so cautiously, understanding that there is often misinformation on the internet. You can be assured that I support only educated and proven resources. While essential oils should not be feared they should be respected and used properly to ensure the safety of the individuals using them.

Please note that I am not a medical practitioner. The content of this website is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor should it be considered a substitute for, professional medical advice. Do not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating any medical or health condition. If you have or suspect you have a medical problem, promptly contact your professional healthcare provider. By using this website, you assume full responsibility and liability for your own actions.

 

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How to Diffuse Essential Oils Safely

How to Diffuse Essential Oils Safely

I am really excited to announce that I have begun to engage on my YouTube channel. The need for education is vast, and with Facebook posts coming and going in news feeds so incredibly fast, I needed to really think about how to be able to reach more people with consistent, quality safety information…and have it be seen!! I will be covering a wide variety of safety topics but will also begin to teach more about essential oil use, live how to’s, experiments, DIY projects, Q&A’s, gift ideas, with plenty of surprises along the ways. How to Diffuse Essential Oils Safely.

Within this video I cover:

Habituation or olfactory adaption
Stages of our sense of smell
Olfactory bulb saturation
Safe Diffusion Times
Possible risk of overuse
Public diffusion

Be sure to hit that thumbs up and subscribe to my channel so that you can receive a simple and easy notification when I post a new video. And please, if there is anything that needs clarification, be sure to ask!

How to Diffuse Essential Oils Safely

Aromatic blessings to you and your family,

 

The risks of diffusing essential oils in the classroom

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