Ingesting essential Oils - Safe or Not?

Hi folks,

Well, after spending quite a bit of time to word what I thought was a non-inflammatory, and non-controversial response, including some questions (see highlights below) to clarify her position  to a post in The Barefoot Dragonfly blog about the horrors of ingesting essential oils, the blog owner up and deleted my post without even responding.  So, after putting so much time into writing it, I thought I'd post it here.

For your reference, the blog article is Friend Don't Let Friends Drink Essential Oils.  In this article Amy, a Board Certified Reflexologist and Clinically-trained Aromatherapist, points out what can happen when ingesting essential oils "goes wrong". She does point out though, that there is a safe way to take essential oils by mouth, which is by using a "digestible transport", and of course, consulting a "clinical aromatherapist" (such as herself, who only gives advice through consultations.. hmmm).

I happen to trust the company that supplies my EOs (doTERRA) and their guidance with respect to using the Oils, so I don't see a need for a paid therapist to second guess their instructions. BTW, "digestible transport" = gelcap, which doTERRA recommends and sells.

BTW, to cover both sides of the issue from a medical perspective, here's an article from a licensed Ear, Nose and Throat doctor indicating why it IS safe to ingest Essential Oils.  Is it safe to ingest Essential Oils? . I highly suggest you read this article, as it scientifically explains why consuming the right EOs properly is NOT harmful to our soft internal tissues.

That being said, here's my post, which was deleted.

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As someone who has been drinking EOs in water/juice twice a day for the last 16 months ( to address my Prostate Cancer, but that's another story, and a good one!), I'm curious as to the sample size, and percentage results (those irritated or "liver damaged" by ingestion vs those not)  of your research in determining that EOs taken internally are "unsafe".  You mention that some people's internal soft tissue might be irritated by the ingestion of EOs, but I propose that the same claim would apply, for some people, to certain sauces and foods that other people consume daily.  That doesn't warrant an across-the-board "unsafe" claim. You also make no mention of the fact that some oils are more "caustic" than others (aka "hot) which could also be a determining factor around which EOs to drink, and which not to. My Oil supplier, doTERRA, specifically points out which oils are safe to ingest, which are safe to apply "neat", and which would require a carrier for application (the "hot" oils).

I'm not disputing the fact that EOs are VERY concentrated (ie takes 50 roses to make a drop), but I'd love to see the research behind the sweeping statement that drinking EOs is unsafe for everyone. You stated that you've seen "  the tens of thousands of dollars in medical care when someone is harmed by using essential oils in just the way you’re describing [ingesting]". With surgical costs these days, especially the throat surgery and liver surgery you refer to, how many cases are you really referring to?  Also, are the patients in your cases using a reputable "pure" essential Oil (won't go into defining "reputable" here as that is another topic entirely) ? :-)  

I also totally agree that Aromatherapy use of EOs will/can deplete your supplies much slower than ingestion, but what basis are you using to determine the quantity of an ingested/applied EO necessary for it to have the desired effect? And how long would I have to sit in front of my diffuser, or bowl of steaming water, to get the same level of EO in my body as ingesting a drop, or rubbing it directly on my skin?

BTW, with respect to your comment to John [Consumers should seek out companies that abide by FDA guidelines for sales, ], when did the FDA start regulating vitamins, herbs, essential oils, and other "non-medicinal" treatments that we're discussing here? Maybe I just haven't been to the right ones, but all the medical doctors I've spoken to regarding my cancer didn't know squat about how food and eating affect health, much less essential oils or vitamins.  All they want to talk about are "medicines/drugs" which ARE regulated by the FDA.

One thing we agree on is that people should do their homework before following ANY treatment choice/path. I happen to know lots of people that ingest EOs and have seen amazing results from it, including myself and my family, so I hope everyone here hasn't written off the application/ingestion of EOs because of "research" that only seems to be based on negative results (without clearly defining whether the individual was using the oil appropriately, or even the appropriate oil). 

The benefit I see in essential oils is not that they "cure" anything (as medicine claims to do, along with all the possible side effects), but that they enable to body to do what God designed it to do, and that's to heal itself.

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So, that being said, I highly encourage everyone to do very thorough homework before engaging in ANY type of self-treatment and only use products from reputable companies with a good track record (again, you'll have to research this to figure it out).  The two articles I've mentioned cover 2 different sides of ingesting EOs.  My past almost-2 year's worth of EO usage (including daily ingestion both with and without using gelcaps), in my opinion, paints a very good picture of the benefits of ingesting and applying EOs as part of your healthy lifestyle.  The fact that EOs are usable by individuals without the aid of a "medical professional" is one of the great things about them.

I pray that you can also experience the healing that I have seen from my use of EOs.

Have a blessed day,

Tom