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There is plenty of controversy about ingesting essential oils in the world of essential oils. Should you do it? Should you avoid it? Why would you want to ingest oils?
Let’s look at the facts and what you need to know about ingesting essential oils safely.
Should I ingest essential oils?
Disclaimer: The information presented is intended for educational purposes only and is not meant as a substitute for medical care or to prescribe treatment for any specific health condition. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult individual product labels for safety information.
Essential oils are found in many food products already, so why isn’t it safe to ingest oils for particular ailments? After all, the big essential oil companies proclaim that it’s safe. So it has to be, right?
Not really.
The essential oils found in food are used as a flavoring or they are a natural part of the food — but it is in tiny, tiny amounts (and just because a few companies say it’s safe also doesn’t make it so).
A 15ml bottle of essential oil holds much, much more than you will find in a piece of fruit.
Our bodies were designed to add a slice of lemon to our water. They weren’t designed for the highly-concentrated nature of adding a drop of lemon essential oil to our water every single day.
Continually ingesting something so powerful (like any drug) will have an impact on your liver, kidneys, and intestines.
A side note: adding essential oils to your water just is not a good idea for a second reason: oil and water don’t mix. That essential oil you’ve been adding to your water just floats along the surface – shaking the bottle doesn’t disperse the oil.
You are ingesting undiluted essential oils — and that’s not safe.
Essential oils are great – they can make a huge difference in the right situations.
But there just isn’t enough long-term data or studies to know the effects they have on your body when you are continually ingesting them at unsafe amounts.
Another note: Do not have your children ingest essential oils!
Related Articles:
How to Properly Store Essential Oils
When is it safe to ingest essential oils?
Even given their highly potent nature, essential oils can be ingested – for short-term use, in specific situations (not every day for the rest of your life). But there are some things you need to consider first:
(And don’t forget — this isn’t for children, stick to aromatic and highly-diluted topical use with children.)
Are you taking medications?
If you’re taking any medications don’t ingest oils. Talk to your doctor and make sure it’s safe before you add essential oils to your health regimen (even topically or aromatically – especially if you have a heart condition, high blood pressure, epilepsy or asthma).
Are you using high-quality essential oils?
Look for a very high-quality, reputable resource for your essential oils.
Dilute them by using a gel cap and vegetable oil or mixing them with honey. Don’t just add a few drops to your glass of water.
You should stop immediately if you have an adverse reaction (reflux, bloating, swelling, irritation, etc).
Are you using them as preventative medicine?
Essential oils should only be ingested for specific health concerns and for short periods of time.
While you can certainly diffuse essential oils to rid your home of airborne allergens or make a DIY cleaning spray, that’s as much as you need for preventative measures with essential oils. Don’t ingest them as a way to prevent illness.
Are you under the care of a certified aromatherapist?
If you want to make ingestion a regular part of your routine (especially if you are already taking any medications) – you need to find a certified aromatherapist or a doctor who has some training in this area. They have been trained in the proper use of essential oils, they understand the chemical constituencies and how the oils will interact with the body’s systems.
If you do not want to look for a certified aromatherapist, there is one other instance where it’s okay to ingest essential oils:
The one way it’s safe to ingest essential oils – in a high-quality supplement.
Related Articles:
A Beginner’s Guide to Essential Oils [Book]
When You Shouldn’t use Essential Oils
High-Quality Supplements from Rocky Mountain Oils
Affiliate referral links below – if you’re looking for a trustworthy brand, I highly recommend the essential oils and products from Rocky Mountain Oils.
“Our Tohi supplement line combines powerful, all-natural ingredients from around the world with Rocky Mountain Oils’ 100% pure essential oil blends. We developed these supplements to solve your day-to-day health needs, whether you’re looking to boost your energy or defend yourself from environmental threats.”
The Tohi supplement line is a great source for those who want to ingest essential oils safely.
Their products include:
Burst (a natural energy supplement) – Feel renewed energy and vitality without the crash and burn. Essential oils, vitamins, and plant extracts provide sustained energy throughout the day. My husband loves taking this supplement on long work days – it works great for that mid-afternoon slump!
Enhance (optimum omega supplement) – Even a well-balanced diet can leave your body with deficiencies. Give your body the essential fatty acids it needs every day with Enhance.
Nourish (multivitamin supplement) – Packed with essential oils, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants, NOURISH infuses your body with the nutrients it needs to thrive. My favorite multivitamin!
Replenish (probiotic supplement) – Contains 9 probiotic strains to promote an optimal digestive system. Tohi’s Probiotic Supplement introduces gut-friendly bacteria to your digestive system to keep things running smoothly.
Defend (immunity supplement) – When a bug is going around or you need a little boost, empower your immune system with Defend. This is one of my favorites, especially during the winter.
Rocky Mountain Oils has carefully created the Tohi line with your health and safety in mind.
The essential oils in these supplements are in trace amounts — like you would find in many commercial food and beverages. Combined with other natural ingredients, they work to enhance the effectiveness of the vitamins and minerals in the supplement line.
Best of all, each of the products in the Tohi line is GMO-free, gluten-free, not tested on animals, and made in the USA. If you want to include essential oils in healthy amounts to your daily health regimen – this is the way to do it. Get yours now!