You might be used to reaching for an oil to calm your mood, ease your mind, soothe your coughs, or even help you sleep.
After all, essential oils carry the lifeblood of the beneficial plants on earth.
Now, you might be thinking:
If they’re great for my skin, how much of a more potent benefit can I get when using essential oils internally?
Here’s the thing…
Oils possess many phytochemicals that can help your body’s natural healing process.
But when ingesting essential oils, there are numerous precautions you must take. If you’re blindly taking the advice from friends, family members, or online gurus, you need to think twice.
In this article, we are going to delve into the internal use of a plant’s volatile oils.
There is an abundance of controversy surrounding this topic, and much misinformation to be found.
Rather than telling you to go one direction or the other, we’ll let the research help you make an informed decision.
Is it safe to ingest essential oils?
First, please understand that I am not a physician. No part of this should be interpreted as us saying that if you have this ailment, you should ingest this oil.
I’m not giving medical advice. I am merely arming you with the information you need to make an informed decision and guide you where you need to go if you wish to take your essential oil use beyond inhalation and topical methods.
Always consult a physician before embarking on any exercise, nutritional, or medicinal regimen, natural or otherwise. Just because someone sells essential oils does not mean he or she is qualified to instruct anyone to ingest oils.
Back to the question:
the short answer to this question is yes and no. Probably not the answer you were looking for.
But some oils are safe to ingest in small quantities, while others can cause much damage.
Generally Recognized as Safe List (GRAS)
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a comprehensive list of what they believe is safe for human consumption. This is called the Generally Recognized as Safe list, or GRAS.
The items on this list have to meet precise specifications to qualify. For instance, any food item that was consumed prior to 1958 is recognized based on empirical evidence. Any other item must be approved through scientific study.
Section 182.20 of Part 182 is dedicated to the safety of essential oils, oleoresins, and natural extractives like distillates.
Many people, seeing that an item is on this list, do not investigate any further and think this means the oils listed are safe for internal use.
This is not the case.
These guidelines mean the substances are safe for their intended use. For instance, approximately 10 million pounds of spearmint and peppermint are produced annually for use in the food and beverage industry in the United States.
Over half of that is used for toothpaste, with a significant portion going to gum, candy, and personal care items like soap. These are those element’s intended uses, and what the FDA has concluded they are safe for.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) can calm many stomach ailments. This is why peppermint tea is so popular. Should you put a couple of drops of peppermint oil in some water and drink it the next time you have an upset stomach?
Not on your own without professional guidance.
There are side effects of ingesting essential oils.
With every substance comes side effects, no matter if it comes from nature or is synthetically made in a lab. I firmly believe that some essential oils are inherently safer than pharmaceuticals. Hundreds of thousands die each year because of pharmaceuticals and traditional medicine.
However, people have died from ingesting essential oils incorrectly as well.
For instance, a 7-year-old boy lost his life when his mother refused conventional treatment, choosing to give him oregano oil in dandelion tea instead of antibiotics.
Some individuals believe that if something is “natural,” “therapeutic grade,” or “organic,” then it is safe.
But that’s far from the truth.
Only unadulterated, pure essential oils should be used in aromatherapy and any clinical setting. This is not to say they are safe to ingest. Moreover, there are no regulations surrounding the “grades” of oils, which can make choosing them confusing to unsuspecting consumers.
Nature is full of plants that are 100% pure that will kill you.
Belladonna, for instance, is quite deadly, and it does not have to be reduced to a highly concentrated oil to do so.
Oils are chemical compounds.
Volatile oils, at their core, are chemicals. Their building blocks include things like aldehyde, ethers, ketones, various types of terpenes, oxides, phenols, and more.
Let’s use terpenes as an example. They can be antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, immunostimulant and a wealth of other benefits.
They are also the main constituents in turpentine. The primary use of which is thinning oil-based paints and for wood varnishes.
You aren’t going to run out and buy turpentine to pour over a cut or drink the next time you get the flu, right?
To be fair, it was once used internally to fight intestinal parasites and as an antiseptic. That was until people realized that it caused a host of issues, including renal failure and even death.
The National Capital Poison Center points out numerous dangers of ingesting oils, as well:
- Sage (Salvia officinalis) oil is beneficial in many ways. The Latin word ‘salvia’ translates as “save,” “alive,” or “in good health.” But it can also cause seizures in children. Hyssop (Hyssop officinalis var. decumbens) may as well.
- Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) oil is often used in head lice treatments and is often recommended for at-home treatment. Even if applied dermally as directed, it can cause seizures.
- Nutmeg is used in food but can cause hallucinations and even coma in large amounts.
- High doses of peppermint (Mentha piperita) oil can cause hepatotoxicity. A study shows that it almost killed a 40-year-old woman.
- Everyone knows that aspirin can be harmful to children. But are you aware that oil of Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) also has methyl salicylate and can cause the same problems?
- A small boy presented with the inability to walk and confusion after ingesting less than 10 milliliters of Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil, which is a commonly distributed bottle size.
- Essential oils are listed in the top 25 causes of poison center cases for 2015 in the 33rd Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Center’s National Poison Data System.
This is just a small list of what can happen when oils are misused. In some cases, this is what can happen even when they are used correctly!
The Mayo Clinic has it right when they say to consult a trained Aromatherapist as well as your doctor when considering ingestion of essential oils.
There are laws surrounding the controversy.
The FDA has some pretty stringent laws about what can and cannot be recommended in the industry. Essential oils usually fall under the category of cosmetics, meant to enhance a person’s looks or as cleansers.
Once this turns into recommending a product to “treat” or “cure” an ailment, the oil falls under the category of a “drug” which requires FDA approval.
Here’s a prime example:
In 2014, the FDA sent letters to both doTERRA and Young Living which blew up on the internet as the MLM lawsuit. Many members of these groups made unlawful claims. Here’s a direct quote from the FDA warnings.
The therapeutic claims establish that these products are drugs because they are intended for use in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.
While I do not believe these were done maliciously by the individual sellers, the law is the law. And uneducated persons encouraging ingestion of “topical dietary supplements” is in violation of section 201(ff)(2)(A)(i) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 321(ff)](2)(A)(i)].
You can read more about Young Living’s Lawsuit here and doTERRA’s here.
We used to depend on friends and family to give us recommendations for what ailed us. We didn’t have neighborhood pharmacies to go to pick up pills and creams to heal us.
Now that we do have this luxury, we also have regulations in place to keep us safe. Many people balk at the pharmaceutical industry and want natural solutions. This is completely understandable.
Today, just like in the days of our ancestors, there are snake oil salesman promising cures that are not backed up by science. The regulations are there to protect us from these unscrupulous individuals.
Because of this, there are a lot of people in the industry getting in hot water over what they say about the products they sell.
Science is catching up, albeit slowly.
You have likely grabbed a cup of chamomile tea to unwind from a stressful day or to try and get some restful sleep. Perhaps you have used peppermint tea to calm your child’s upset stomach.
But you probably haven’t researched why these teas worked in the first place.
With increasingly more people wanting natural cures, science is starting to pay attention. At the time of this writing, there were 17,300 resources on PubMed that are returned when searching “essential oils.”
Many of these are showing the promise of oils in many scientific and healing facets, from having antioxidant qualities that can aid in the preservation of food to suppressing cell proliferation in breast cancer.
There is no doubt that the volatile oils hold amazing capabilities. But with great capabilities come great risks. It is imperative to be wary of these.
I still want to take oils internally. Do you have any advice?
It is completely natural to want to aid your body’s healing ability through natural means. Here are some tips on using essential oils internally:
Do not take essential oils by placing drops directly on your tongue.
Your mouth is a big mucous membrane. It can easily burn. Many oils are irritants, and you can incur chemical burns on your skin and your mucosa if you do not adequately dilute them.
More preferable methods would be mixing a drop in honey or putting the recommended drops in a capsule. Stirring in a glass of water will not work, either. Oil and water do not mix.
Volatile oils are highly condensed.
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking more is better. With oils, less is better. More can be harmful.
When you consider it takes approximately 10,000 pounds of rose petals to make a pound of oil, you start to get an idea.
One drop of peppermint oil equals almost 30 cups of tea! Respect the oils you are using.
Always, always, always check the botanical name of the oil when purchasing for any use.
There is a big difference between even similar-sounding oils.
For example, there is considerable variance between Bitter Orange and Sweet Orange, Bitter Fennel and Sweet Fennel, or Cinnamon Leaf and Cinnamon Bark.
Keep in mind that this is not a foolproof method of determining safety. The orange tree Citrus aurantium produces three different oils that are all used for different things. This is yet another reason to consult a trained Aromatherapist.
Above all, never take any oils internally under the advice of someone not trained to give it. You would not take a prescription drug under the guidance of an accountant, right?
Think of oils the same careful way you think of drugs, and keep this in mind for yourself, family, and friends.
Conclusion
Some oils can be taken internally. Others can’t.
The essential oils from plants carry within them a host of benefits for our wellbeing. They are extremely concentrated, however. Less is more.
While it is natural to want to get as much as you can out of your little vials of plant nectar, you must be careful.
If you want to take oils internally, consult an aromatherapist that can guide you to do so safely.
Do you use essential oils internally? Or maybe you’re considering trying it? I’d love to hear about your own usage below.
Mel-
What I use essential oils for the most is in my bath. I put Pink Himalayan Sea Salt, & 1/2 dropper each of Lavender, Lemon & Peppermint oils diluted in a full bathtub. This is the easiest way to get relief for me & it helps with my skin, scalp, Fibromyalgia & Psoriatic Arthritis. I have been studying herbs for years. Essential oils are a natural progression of my studies but as you said you must respect the oils & use them in the same way you would a Tisane made from herbs. Start simple so that you can find out what you are sensitive/allergic to. Only then combining them for their desired effect. For most things I use the herbs made into a Ti-sane but every so often (at least once a week) I take a “healing” bath & feel much better. I can do that by making a 20QT pot of a strong Ti-sane to pour in my bath or use essential oils that have the same effect. Especially since I recently moved into a townhouse with the kitchen downstairs and the bathtub upstairs it is more practical to use the essential oils. I don’t have many yet as they are expensive and I am on a fixed income, The good thing about herbs at least if you have a good herbal store or co-op that takes SNAP is, that where essential oils come out of your pocket, you can usually find a farmers market or co-op that will let you buy herbs for SNAP benefits not just cash. People need to remember that even using natural means there are many ways to go about the same thing. The control of diet should come first and herbs can be included in that.
However, if you read the bottles before using essential oils, almost every essential oil says do not take internally. One way to get around that technically is a bath. The skin absorbs the oils & spreads them trough the body via the integumentary system. This passes the stomach by but still gets absorbed by the skin, scalp & muscles. Being diluted a LOT probably helps but there is more than one way for your body to absorb the benefits of essential oils. Instead of having to combine them with a carrier oil you can add a few drops of oil to a bathtub & get the benefits to all your skin not just the little bit you can reach via lotion or bath/massage oils with essential oil in them. It is more cost and time effective especially if you have limited resources. I’m not sure why but when I add the mineral salt the oils seem to disperse & combine with the water better. Maybe the temperature of the water helps too. I usually have the water fairly hot – just under where it would burn. It seems to get deeper into my muscles that way. I will say that anyone who wants to use natural treatments should study which herbs are used for what and know what substances they are sensitive or allergic to. Without that knowledge you don’t know enough to be safe in your use. If someone is interested in using common herbs to treat illness there are many books they can read but one of the best herbals I ever came across is The 20,000 Secrets of Tea by Victoria Zak. She cross references by herb and by illness. You have to determine which herb listed under a heading is best for your purpose. And of course you should always talk to your doctor so they can integrate the herbs (tea) or essential oil treatment with your other medications or treatments so they don’t conflict or cause bad side effects.
Hi Catie,
Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to comment! You are absolutely correct that essential oils are a natural progression from herbs. I’ve studied herbs a bit and dabbled in them personally. I hope to be adding ‘Master Herbalist’ to my holistic repertoire within a year or so – just can’t get enough :)
Did you consult an aromatherapist about your condition? I’m concerned with the amount of oils you are using, which is why I ask. Droppers vary widely but depending on the size of the dropper and viscosity of the oil they can hold anywhere from 25-50 drops.
For therapeutic use in a bath, you generally need only up to a max of 10 drops of oil or a blend. Unless I’m misreading what you’re saying, it sounds like you may be using at least three times that amount.
I think you could save yourself a lot of money by mixing your oils together in a bottle first. Whenever you want to take a bath, add 5-10 drops of your blend to a carrier oil then add that to your bath. It will stretch your oils and you will still be getting the therapeutic effect you are looking for.
You could even try different carriers other than oil. You could make a body scrub with the sea salt, or add the oils to baking soda or an herbal powder before adding them to the bath water. Other options like dried/ground seaweed or milk powders can be nourishing for the skin and for joint conditions as well.
Remember, with essential oils, less is more. Especially with using lemon, which can cause skin irritation and is phototoxic, I definitely would not recommend using that much.
You can also switch up the oils you use for your bath blends. Chamomile (Roman or German), Eucalyptus (lemon or radiata) and Carrot Seed (as long as you’re not pregnant) could be good choices for your condition. Jojoba, Almond, Hemp seed, or even Calendula could be beneficial to your skin as the carrier, too.
You’re definitely correct in that the EOs can pass into your system well with that method. Baths are an excellent topical method for applying essential oils. The hot water opens your pores and lets all of that goodness in.
Just be careful with the amounts you use and remember that less is more. Sensitization can happen with too much of a good thing. So, switch it up, be wary of how much you use at one time, and don’t overdo it.
I’ll have to check out that book, it sounds interesting! What is your favorite herbal infusion blend for baths?
you said to be especially careful with Lemon oil. I put a couple of drops of lemon in my water bottles every day. Is there a problem with that?
I’m using the DoTerra lemon oil and they encourage diluting it in drinking water.
As stated in the article, oil and water don’t mix! You are essentially swallowing undiluted essential oil. Why not just add real lemon to your water bottle?
Mixing essential oils in honey, as the article states, does not make them less hot. Only fatty substances like vegetable oils or fats.
Was just wondering if anyone who’s used plant therapy or now foods essential oils have ever ingested them?
Excellent article! Keep in mind that “oil of oregano” and “oregano essential oil” are not the same thing. This, even, is further evidence, that things that seem the same, and perhaps even sound the same, may not be the same, which is one of the points you make in the article.
I have to comment also on the comment about baths. Mineral salts do NOT emulsify essential oils – they do NOT dissolve in water when used with mineral salts. Another situation where “common knowledge” is not necessarily “safe” knowledge.
Really good advice! I am a clinical aromatherapist, and one who has trained under experts in internal use. I agree with the premises in this article. It’s a great one to consider when evaluating whether or not internal use is appropriate for any given situation.
Thank you for commenting, Sheri! You are correct about the oil of oregano, I should have been more clear in my writing.
I try to steer people clear of using undiluted oils in a bath. Many think that if they can’t see them, they dissipated into the water, which isn’t the case. You could still have oil globules floating around and hitting your skin ‘neat.’
It’s much better to add the essential oils to another ‘fat’ like a carrier oil or a full-fat milk or milk powder. Even with salt scrubs, a carrier oil should be added to help the EOs disperse.
It’s downright frightening what information is out there about ingesting oils. I hope to clear up some of that misinformation and guide people to the correct way of going about it.
So what is the difference in the two oregano oils?
Great article on the topic of the much-needed safety considerations of using essential oils internally. There is a lot to think about and understand before ingesting essential oils, especially thinking about their potency.. I was so surprised to hear that 1 15mL bottle of lemon essential oil is equal to nearly 50 lemons! I have a cooking blog and share about using essential oils in the kitchen and highlight the importance of researching, asking a doctors opinion and considering the safety risks prior to using essential oils. I also refer to the Aromatic Science website in case anyone wants to read scientific articles (pros and cons) of ingesting essential oils. I always suggest using a carrier oil as a method of dilution and also encourage using very small amounts (generally 1 drop is all you need). I would love to share a link to your article on my blog, if possible. Thanks!
Heather
I wish I had read this blog earlier. I found out I was pregnant, but came down sick and with a sore throat only a few days later. Friends had claimed they used thieves without incident while they were pregnant, so I started using it for my cold, since there was so little else I could take. I had taken a drop or two of thieves internally for a sore throat before I had become pregnant, so I did it this time too. I was also using it pretty liberally on my feet for days. The day after I ingested it for my sore throat, I miscarried. It wasn’t until reading your blog that I found out that cinnamon bark and clove (two main oils in thieves) were dangerous during pregnancy. I’ll never know for sure if it was the thieves, but I am very suspicious. That had been my fourth pregnancy. I had never miscarried before then, and I did so after ingesting what I later found out were dangerous oils. I had done some casual internet research about the safety of thieves and thought it was ok, and I trusted the advice of my oily friends. Thank you for finally being someone to bridge the gap between the oils & science. I feel it’s sorely lacking.
Carm, I’m so sorry to hear about your loss :( It truly breaks my heart to hear of stories like this. We’re doing our best to bridge that gap, but the unfortunate truth is that we won’t be able to reach everyone.
Thank you for sharing your story. I’m confident that it will speak to others who read it.
The company I work for carries 100% grade essential oils, just like Young Living & DoTerra. But our company does not encourage using oils internally. Just the opposite, we discourage it. We have several aromatherapist on our team as well as a couple of pharmacist and all agree using essential oils internally is simply not safe. Mixing with a carrier oil or lotion, to prevent burn, gets into the body faster and safer. Our skin is, after all, our largest organ. We get cut down and accused of “apparently not being 100% grade” since we don’t recommend using the oils internally but we know our oils are top of the line, we simply care about the safety of our customers. That is more important than a sell. We are a Christian based company out of MO. & I’m very proud to be a part of it for their integrity. Jordan Essentials – look them up.
What about the On Guard Beadlets?
thank you so much for your information, as well as comments and follow up. I’ve just started using Lavender on skin instead of the steroid cream prescribed for eczema. Also, I take Lemongrass in capsules for Cholesterol levels. Cypress on legs for veins. I’m open for suggestions ;)
I will for forward with caution….Less is more!