Do not ingest essential oils. Just as they are too potent to apply to bare skin, ingesting essential oils can burn the mouth, esophagus, and other parts of the digestive system. Oral intake may also lead to poisoning and liver toxicity.
What are the risks?
Due to its wide range of applications, essential oils have long been studied for their potential to treat:
However, faulty study methodology and mixed results make for a poor case for aromatherapy as a reliable alternative to conventional or evidence-based medicine. More high-quality studies are needed.
One of the more promising studies focused on the use of essential oils to aid users with mild sleep disturbances. The results of 11 controlled trials showed that inhaling lavender essential oil had a positive effect on sleep. It showed that there were no adverse effects on the users. However, a larger sample size is required to better establish this finding.
Part of the challenge in establishing the viability of aromatherapy lies in how essential oils are created: as a natural product, plant extracts can result in some variation in its chemical composition as influenced by the plant’s growing conditions and the method of extraction used. This variable can create differences in user reactions. This makes it difficult to obtain replicable results that are necessary for establishing findings.
Though the efficacy of essential oils as treatment is still in question, essential oil products that make claims relating to the improvement of human health and well-being are required to meet safety standards and be registered with the Philippine Food and Drug Administration. Products with therapeutic indications are classified as drugs.
Key Takeaways
If you would like to use essential oils, it is best to first check with your doctor. Your physical can give your the clearance to safely use these extracts. It is important to check whether essential oils will not interact with any medication that you are taking. Remember, the use of these oils should be complementary to conventional medical therapy rather than its substitute.
Only purchase products that are approved by the Philippine FDA. Also, ensure that you use essential oils correctly to avoid harm.
Learn more about Herbals & Alternatives here.