The Pros Vs. Cons Of Essential Oils
For thousands of years, essential oils have been used for their therapeutic and medicinal properties. Evidence of their use dates back to Ancient Egyptians in 4500BC, making them mankind’s first medicine. Nowadays, essential oils are quite popular and easily accessible to the detriment of being misrepresented, misused, and misunderstood.
This article outlines the pros and cons of using essential oils. As a supportive clinical aromatherapist, I strongly advocate for the use of essential oils. However, it is my self-proclaimed fiduciary duty to give you the risks as well. Essential oils are highly concentrated and need to be used with caution. I hope this information helps you make a more informed decision on whether using essential oils is right for you based on your own needs. And provides a scientific understanding of how essential oils are much more than just scent.
Please note, this information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult a medical professional for any medical advice.
PROS
- Essential oils boost the immune system.
Essential oils produce immune-strengthening medicinal properties known as compounds or constituents to help fight against disease. Through coevolution, human beings are able to leverage these powerful, medicinal properties, in a secure and sensible manner, to help support the cardiovascular, digestive, hormonal, nervous, and respiratory systems.
- Essential oils easily penetrate the skin.
Essential oils are made up of tiny, oxygen-rich molecules that are biocompatible, minus a handful, within the body. Due to their micro molecular size, essential oils can quickly penetrate the skin to deliver valuable nutrients throughout the entire body through the “highway of life”, also known as the blood stream. Their molecular structure makes essential oils ideal for skincare, allowing for deep penetration below the skins surface for optimal repair, surpassing any other ingredient.
- Essential oils have therapeutic, aromatic scent.
Essential oils are a natural way to scent the air. When diffused in a water-based differ, essential oils can purity the air, increase atmospheric oxygen, and promote emotional wellbeing. We recommend a blend of rosemary, peppermint, and lemon for morning routines. And lavender, frankincense, and roman chamomile for evening routines.
- Essential oils can improve the quality of your life.
Essential oils can holistically support the mind-body connection, provide a safer, natural solution to conventional medicine, offer relief from physical or emotional stress, and regenerate skin cells to address a range of concerns, such as burns, scars, and aging to help restore and repair skin.
- Essential oils can increase energy levels.
Essential oils can raise biofrequency in humans. Based on the theory that everything from canned food to the human body emits an electrical frequency, scientists have found that essential oils can increase the body's frequency by as much as 52-320MHz. Comparatively, the body's frequency has been measured at 62MHz, while cold/flu and processed food have been measured at 57MHz and 0MHz respectively.
CONS
- Essential oils are expensive.
Essential oils are indeed the most expensive plant-based ingredient. The price of essential oils can vary significantly, ranging from $10USD to $200USD+ for a 5ml bottle. This is due to the time and effort required to cultivate, harvest, and then distill or extract the oil. As an example, it takes an incredible 30-50 roses to create a single drop of rose oil.
- Essential oils cause skin irritation.
Essential oils may cause burning, stinging, or topical inflammation of the skin when used improperly or of poor quality. To minimize the risk of irritation, only apply skin-friendly essential oils which have been GC/MS lab tested for purity, and appropriately diluted to a safe strength. It is important to use caution when using essential oils. Useful tip, always dilute a skin-friendly essential oil with soap or a botanical oil before adding it to a bath.
- Essential oils aren’t for everyone.
Essential oils are highly concentrated volatile compounds that should be used with extreme caution for young children, pregnant women, and for those taking certain medications or going through immune-weakening treatments. It is recommended to consult with a medical professional for further advice and guidance.
- Essential oils can be toxic when ingested in large amounts.
Essential oils should not be ingested without the strict guidance of an experienced, professional clinical aromatherapist. The effects of these highly concentrated oils when absorbed by the body can differ greatly from when they are absorbed through the skin.
- Essential oils should be kept away from heat and light.
Essential oils are susceptible to environmental conditions. The concentration of certain compounds determines their shelf life, which can range from 1 to 8 years. Highly volatile oils such as lemon and orange have the shortest lifespan. Prolonged exposure to heat and light accelerates the breakdown of these compounds, resulting in a shorter shelf life.