8 Myths about Essential Oils You Need to Know
1) Essential oils are safe because they are natural
This is NOT true. Essential oils are highly concentrated botanical extracts. They need to be used with a medicinal mindset. They are on average about 75 to 100 times more concentrated and potent than the whole plant from which they are extracted. This means they can do harm if not used properly.
Due to the growth of companies and interest in them, there has been a lot of unreliable information on the internet over the past few years. This in turn has led to a rise in health problems as a result of their misuse. Our advice is to only trust established aromatherapy professionals and sources.
2) If a brand has labeled "Not Suitable for Internal Use" or "For External Use Only" it is because their essential oils are not pure or organic
This is NOT true. These warnings do not determine the purity or quality of the oil. It is customary that their oral use be recommended only by a medical professional, as overall health as well as the use of other medications must be analyzed. This is why companies label their products in this way to avoid legal liability.
3) Essential oils contain vitamins, minerals and hormones
This is NOT true. Essential oils are inactive plant molecules. Their molecules are mainly mono- and sesquiterpenes and their oxygenated derivatives.
4) When purchasing be sure they are "therapeutic grade"
And here also the answer is NO. “Therapeutic grade” is a marketing strategy by companies. There is no organization that certifies products against a “therapeutic grade”. Therefore the quality of the oils does not depend on it. All natural essential oils are therapeutic grade.
5) All non-synthetic essential oils do not freeze because they do not contain water
This is NOT true. All liquids freeze, even oils. Each essential oil has a different freezing point.
6) If you use pure essential oil on your skin and redness or burning occurs, it means your body is detoxifying
NO. If your skin becomes red and you feel burning, STOP immediately. Wash the area with cool water, pat dry and apply a soothing cream that does not contain essential oils in it.
Before using an essential oils, do an allergy test by diluting it in a base oil and applying it to a small area on your wrist. It is necessary to wait at least an hour before more extensive use. Remember, they should always be diluted before use!
7) If they lose their aroma quickly it means they are not real
This is NOT true. The compounds they contain are volatile – they oxidize quickly. Depending on their type, culturing and extraction method, the concentration of the compounds varies and so does the overall appearance and flavor of the essential oil. Essential oils that have a very strong and lingering aroma are NOT pure and natural.
It should be kept in mind that citrus essential oils (e.g. orange, lemon, grapefruit) oxidize much faster than other types. So it is recommended to store them in the refrigerator.
8) Herbs and essential oils from the same plant have the same effect
This is NOT true. Although it is derived from the same plant, the concentrated essence of a plant should not be confused with the actual plant material. Essential oils can be separated from the plant material by extraction by steam distillation or in some cases by pressing. They contain highly concentrated levels of the ingredients, whereas traditional herbs contain only a fraction of the same ingredients. That is why the herbs produce milder results.
When distilling plant material, however, there are many molecules that cannot be distilled out. This means that there may be beneficial ingredients in the herb that cannot be found in the oil. Both essential oils and herbs play an important role in our health.
8 myths about essential oils you need to know
