THE IMMEDIATE BENEFITS OF
Essential Oils By Natalie Jurado When you inhale an essential oil’s scent, ingest them or apply them to your skin, you’re putting them into your body. They get absorbed through the membranes in your nose, your intestinal lining and/or the pores of your skin. They then travel into the bloodstream and get processed by filtering organs such as the kidneys and liver. For this reason, it is vital that you take extreme caution when using essential oils. Ideally, if your oil is truly pure and you are using it safely, you’re getting access to amazing therapeutic compounds which can greatly benefit your health. Unfortunately, many people use oils without ever seeing purity reports such as certificates of analysis. This means they are using potentially toxic or adulterated oils. Even worse, countless people are using essential oils incorrectly which can be incredibly dangerous causing chemical burns, skin sensitivity, breathing problems and stomach ailments. But don’t lose hope! Not only are there great essential oil companies on the market, but there are easy steps you can take to ensure you are using those oils safely. First things first: how do you know you are using a pure and unadulterated oil? Don’t let marketing tactics fool you: just because on oil is labeled as “pure” or “therapeutic grade” does not mean that it is safe and contaminant-free. Unfortunately, there is no governing agency that provides quality standards for the authentication of essential oils. That being said, there are ways to determine if you’re getting the purest available oil; one of which is to simply ask for proof. Your oil supplier should be able to provide you with a certificate of analysis (or GC/MS report) showing you that the oil has been tested for purity and the results of their testing. Your 14
tle last longer and gives you more bang for your buck. When diluting, a good rule of thumb is to use 1 to 3 drops of essential oil per teaspoon of carrier oil. When diffusing essential oils, take great care around children. Always diffuse in a well ventilated room and when children are present, use less essential oils. Believe it or not, some oils can cause respiratory distress in children. Oils such as eucalyptus, rosemary and peppermint contain high levels of 1,8 cineole which may slow down breathing in young children.
supplier should also be able to provide you with lot numbers, date of bottling, origin of the oil and the plant’s botanical name. If your supplier does not track this information and willingly provide it, then you may need to find a more transparent essential oil company. Once you get your hands on a great bottle of oil, take caution, because they are extremely potent. It takes as much as 10,000 roses to make one 5 mL bottle of rose essential oil (a bottle about the size of your thumb)! However, if you follow these simple rules, you’ll be well prepared to reap all the amazing benefits of essential oils. First, always dilute essential oils before using them topically so that you avoid any sensitivity that oils may cause. Feel free to dilute in any carrier oil that you enjoy such as coconut, grapeseed or even olive oil. Essential oils are highly volatile, meaning that they evaporate quickly so diluting them makes essential oils stay on your skin longer providing long lasting therapeutic benefits. Additionally, diluting essential oils means you only have to use a little bit which makes your oil bot-
Lastly, ingesting essential oils is a hot topic in the aromatherapy world. If you ask 12 different people if essential oils are safe to eat, you’ll likely get 12 different answers. The safest answer however, is to only ingest if directed by a qualified medical practitioner or naturopath. Essential oils can interfere with medications and can exacerbate certain medical conditions. Furthermore, many oils are naturally antibacterial and studies suggest some oils can break down healthy gut bacteria causing an imbalance in the digestive system. Why risk ingesting if simply inhaling essential oils can provide amazing benefits? Essential oils are a wonderful and inexpensive way to promote healing, emotional balance and well-being without toxic side effects. Just like any potent substance, it is incredibly important to handle with care and implement safety and caution when using essential oils. Natalie Jurado Owner, Nu Natural 103 E. Church Ave, Longwood, FL www.nunaturalbeauty.com facebook.com/nunaturalbeauty