Whether you’re a long-time essential oil lover or you’re just trying them out for the first time, there’s one point I cannot drive home enough: many essential oils are safe for internal use.
Interestingly, as more people begin using essential oils, it’s not surprising that the safety of ingesting essential oils (taking them internally) has come under scrutiny. Somewhere along the lines, however, that scrutiny got off track. Some misguided people are trying to instill fear into essential oil users, claiming these precious compounds are somehow unsafe for internal use. But it’s just not true.
In fact, there are no scientific, evidence-based, anatomical, physiological, or even logical reasons to say that essentials oils are unsafe for human consumption. With proper use, the benefits of essential oils far outweigh any potential side effects.
Misguided Concern over Ingesting Essential Oils
It’s important to remember that, although essential oils are natural, they are still manmade, and things can go wrong. I get questions and inquiries regularly into the internal use of essential oils, and it is obvious to me there is a lot of confusion surrounding the topic. Since myths breed myths and uncertainties breed uncertainties, this vicious cycle will continue unless I speak up.
For some reason, aromatherapists appear to be at odds with themselves regarding the internal use of essential oils. This makes no sense to me and continues to confuse the casual essential oil user even further. Even large organizations, such as the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA), have come out in support of safe, internal use of essential oils.
Essential oils may be applied on the skin (dermal application), inhaled, diffused or taken internally. Each of these methods have safety issues which need to be considered,” NAHA said.1
Makes sense to me.
Like all things, we can overdo it on our use of essential oils in any way – orally, topically or otherwise. It’s important to remember that a little goes a long way, especially with ingesting essential oils. Many aromatherapist schools, both locally and online, train and certify students in the safe practice of internal essential oil use.
Here’s what really throws me for a loop: People continue to speak out against internal use of essential oils despite scientific studies to the contrary and in direct opposition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). That’s right, the FDA says that many essential oils are safe for human consumption. In fact, the FDA has clearly delineated which oils are safe and which are not. For the exhaustive FDA-approved list of Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) oils that you can check out here.2
Essential Oils: Dos and Don’ts of Internal Use
Before you dive in and start consuming essential oils, you need to know some basic dos and don’ts.
Daily Dos:
- DO use essential oils aromatically in a diffusor, inhaler, spritzer, and other fun ways.
- DO add essential oils in your daily body care regimen.
- DO be careful – and learn the basics.
Daily Don’ts:
- Don’t consume essential oils for “prevention”
- Don’t think you can approach all health conditions the same way
- Don’t believe “There’s an essential oil for that”
I have studied essential oils and their impact on our overall health and wellbeing for years. However, much of what I know about essential oils I learned through trial and error. And the more I learn about essential oils, the less I consume them.
In fact, unless I am sick and am trying to combat a specific health condition, I limit my essential oil consumption to my makeshift 7-Up recipe that you can find below.
Why I Limit Essential Oils for Internal Use
For years, I regularly consumed essential oils in my food and drink. I adhered to the common, “take several drops of essential oils under your tongue (or in water) daily,” myth. It turns out the internal use of the essential oils was irritating my esophagus and caused me to develop acid reflux.
Now, I want to reiterate that I still consume essential oils, especially when treating specific health-related issues − just far less than I used to. And, no, it doesn’t matter how “pure” or “therapeutic” they are. Daily consumption is NOT the most effective (and medicinal) way to use them. This “revelation” has taken me years and literally hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of research. You can learn a lot from my mistakes.
Aromatherapy: How to Use Essential Oils Properly
Essential oils have been in use for centuries; however, the aromatherapy profession has helped bring them back into mainstream thinking. Of course, the essential oils of centuries ago were nothing like what we have today. Today’s distillation techniques are relatively new.
A Greek physician and poet by the name of Nicander (183BC —135BC), “Spoke of the extraction of perfumes from plants by what we should now call a process of distillation.”3 The words aroma and therapy combined to form aromatherapy, indicating therapeutic benefits using fragrance. While this remains at the heart of aromatherapy, it has been expanded for many uses and, yes, internal consumption is one of them.
The main categories of use for essential oil are:
- Inhalation
- Topical
- Internal
Essential Oil Use #1 – Inhalation
Inhalation is not only the oldest form of essential oil use, some argue it is the safest, especially when diffused in water. The higher the diffusion, the safer the oil is to inhale. You can also inhale essential oils straight from the bottle, or by placing a few drops on a cloth and breathing in. This carries the volatile oil directly into your respiratory system and mucous membranes, dispersed throughout the steam or air molecules.
Essential Oil Use #2 – Topical Application
Massage therapy, for example, uses topical essential oils in a similar way as aromatherapy. Topical use is much more direct because you can focus on specific areas of the body. Inhalation uses a more broad distribution through air droplets. However, topical oils must work their way through the protective layers on our bodies known as our skin. Inhalation can move quickly through thinner mucous membranes. Knowing your oil and the goal you have in mind can help you determine which application is more appropriate. While you can use some essential oils on the skin undiluted, dilution is still the safer application.
Essential Oil Use #3 – Ingestion
Internal use of essential oils remains the most controversial method, but many oils are completely safe for ingestion. Culinary use is the most basic form. Cinnamon oil, for example, can be used in cake batter, but only a small drop is needed. Compare that to a tablespoon or more of cinnamon bark powder. Or, if you’re like me, you might want to use essential oils in your drinks. I use a drop of lemon oil in sparkling water to create my own “soda.”
Keep in mind, however, that oil and water do not mix. Simply adding a drop to water will leave that drop undiluted. Some oils are irritants and all oils are strong. It is always best to dilute your essential oils. Let common sense be your guide.
Tips for Safely Ingesting Essential Oils
It is important to realize that people consume essential oils all day without even realizing it. Where do you think your processed foods get their flavor from! Virtually anything that is naturally flavored most likely contains essential oils.
If you follow these practical tips for safe internal oil use, you should be fine:
- Most people can tolerate gentle oils like frankincense, lemon, and orange essential oil taken directly under the tongue for quick access into the bloodstream, but this is not a long-term strategy. Limit use to a few days at a time and always discontinue use if irritation or reflux occurs.
- Hotter oils like oregano oil and clove oil should ALWAYS be diluted with a carrier oil. One (1) drop per teaspoon of coconut oil and a little bit of raw honey is not only usually safe for most people, but super tasty!
- Putting 1-2 drops in a capsule will help you avoid esophageal irritation. Again, this is not supposed to be a daily habit. This strategy can be enjoyed up to twice a day if you’re trying to fight a specific health condition, but no more than 3-4 weeks at a time. Long term use is never advised as it can potentially cause liver damage and your body may develop resistance.
How to Make a Healthy Alternative to Sodas Such as 7-Up or Sprite
Put 1-2 drops of a citrus oil like lemon, orange, or lime in a 32-ounce glass of sparkling water and add some liquid organic stevia extract. The stevia acts as an emulsifier, and it sweetens up this make-shift soda nicely. I used to be a 7-Up fan before I was converted to the natural health lifestyle. My lemon, lime, and orange oils are a nice substitute! Play around with different combinations to find your favorite blend.
Cooking With Essential Oils
Cooking with quality essential oils is an extremely effective way to enjoy the health benefits as well as the aromatic experience through your taste buds. Here are 4 ways to cook with essential oils:
- 1-2 drops of cilantro or coriander with 1-2 drops of lime goes wonderfully with your homemade guacamole
- Try 1 drop of cumin in your curry next time
- Or 2 drops of black pepper in virtually anything savory
- And don’t forget 1 drop of peppermint essential oil in your homemade, naturally sweetened peppermint patties!
Article Summary
Some people claim that essential oils are somehow unsafe for internal use. But there are no scientific, evidence-based, anatomical, physiological, or even logical reasons to say that essentials oils are unsafe for human consumption. With proper use, the benefits of essential oils far outweigh any potential side effects.
Even large organizations, such as the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA), have come out in support of safe, internal use of essential oils.
The FDA has clearly delineated which oils are safe and which are not. You can find the FDA-approved list of Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) oils here.
The main categories of use for essential oil are:
- Inhalation
- Topical
- Internal (ingestion)
Even though essential oils in general are safe, you still need to follow some basic safety precautions and Do’s & Don’ts when it comes to ingesting essential oils − See article for details
Thank you, very helpful. I will be looking more at your material dr Zielinski.
Thank you I know all the controversy about ingesting essential oils must be to discourage using holistic healing to cure yourself versus prescriptions to help anxiety, stress, focus and pain. It’s sad that we can’t trust the information shared with us by other sources.. What is thier angle? Money Power and Population Control that’s all I’m saying.
I would just be concerned about ingesting essential oils that don’t have every single ingredient listed on the bottle. Actually, I would NOT ingest essential oils that are not treated like supplements and required to list ingredients on the bottle. Just as an “organic” label can mean that the product is allowed to be up to 5% not organic, an essential oil labeled “natural” or “pure” without ingredients listed… I just wouldn’t trust. Is that unreasonable?
not a medical expert, however, the 82 yr old lady across the street has ingested EO’s
in her smoothies daily for a majority of her life plus has used
oils in homemade topicals.
she has never been in a hospital for any illness or ailment.
never has had heart problems or vascular blockage never gets colds
or flu’s never taken any traditional meds.
BTW it has been her choice and NO power players have ever tried to force
her into traditional medicine.
she did her research and lived her healthy life.
so who can say…
Good point! Thank you!
I think this is about common sense. If you take it internally and your body is telling you to stop, then do so. Essential oils are plant medicines. I
will take the oils internally as needed before resorting to synthetics.
I know not all essential oils are created equal so I would love to have some trusted resources to go to to purchase these oils. Could you share that with me??
This article was excellent!! Thank you.
Hi Lillian,
We don’t have a specific brand of essential oils that we recommend at this time. We would suggest doing your research to find reputable companies.
Lillian, dōTERRA essential oils are one of the companies you can trust and find a lot of information on their website, and purchase from a rep.
i needed that guidance. thank you !!!!
We are so glad that you found this article helpful Rhonda!
I am new to EO’s and was feeling calmer and more sense of well-being after topical applications of various organic oils, and I dilute them 1 drop per tsp. as recommended for chronically ill people. Three days ago, I put 1 drop if peppermint oil in a cup of filtered water to treat fibromyalgia back pain and inflammation. Within minutes, I could feel the pain melting away, but within a half hour or 45 min. I started to feel funny, anxious, a little weak and shaky, breathing faster, then a headache started ( I only get headaches from chemical sensitivity). I have felt ill ever since for the last 3 days. I am wondering if maybe my liver is not able to process the oil. Then I researched a little on the net and found how potent peppermint oil is: 1 drop of peppermint is equal to drinking 24 cups if peppermint tea. This all tells me that it is indeed true that we should be cautious when ingesting oils, especially if we are chronically ill, for children, elderly, and those with smaller body types who theoretically cannot physically process as much as a larger, more healthy individual.
None of my sources mentioned diluting that 1 drop of oil in a carrier before putting it into water. After reading your article, I’m wondering if maybe that’s what they meant, but it sounded like they meant just a drop straight from the bottle. I wanted to share my experience so that people do use caution.
Thank you!
Well written Jonna,
Thank you for sharing your experience.
what should we look for to find good companies to get our oils from? I think any company can make a good case for their oils. So what things do we need to be aware of when looking at the labels? Thanks Jenny
Thoughts on using Tea Tree oil internally?
Please, never ingest tea tree oil. It is one that is not safe for ingestion, ever. Please, feel free to research that on your own to verify, but I’m a trained aromatherapist and agree ingestion is a viable option of use in certain instances, but there are some oils that should never ever be ingested at all.
Hi Leigh
What brand would you suggest for ingestion? Thanks.
Your research is confusing. You also contradict yourself on saying you can ingest them but you can’t.
Essential oils are tricky and people need to be much better trained than they are. Your article is a little to general for me. I’d want more specifics, not opinion.
Thanks for the feedback Ria! We have lots of other articles about essential oils on our website that may interest you.
I’ve used peppermint oil for freshening my breath. About 4 times a day. Is this safe?
Hi, you mentioned that “It turns out the internal use of the essential oils was irritating my esophagus and caused me to develop acid reflux.”.
I believe this is why I have developed acid reflux- a little too much of a good thing.
Were you able to heal the acid reflux by discontinuing or by some other method? Thanks!
Hi Sharon,
Thanks for reaching out to us about this.
The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors we interviewed in the Global series so they can work with you in understanding your individual body and what it needs.
Please note that we are not able to select an expert for you.
We’ve created a page with the experts’ contact info as it was available to us.
Here’s the link to the actual webpage:
http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
We do have one more resource you may be interested in. During our Live Event 2017 series, Dr. Patrick Quillin suggested contacting The Institute of Functional Medicine to locate a practitioner in your area.
If you are interested, here is the link to search for a Functional Medicine Practitioner in your area: https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
Hope this helps! xo
In my experience working with family and friends that have acid reflux, its usually because the have too little salt in their diet. Yes the docs are trained wrong about this. Salt is a main component of stomach acid. Weak stomach acid is the problem . I tell them to start using the pink salt. They all got better but one…and that one wont drink water. GERD is not the same issue.
I enjoy reading through an article that can make people think.
Also, thank you for allowing me to comment!
Thanks so much for sharing your support with us!
Thank-you for this informative piece of information, but I disagree with your statement “daily consumption is NOT the most effective (and medicinal) way to use them” especially when it come to cancer, and if you were just adding the oils to water or putting a drop or two under the tongue then I am not surprised these oils irritated you and gave you acid reflux. If one is going to use them internally, they must be ingested with a carrier oil like coconut oil or yes, they will burn. If they burn the outer skin without a carrier oil, imagine what they will do to the delicate internal tissues, so always use a carrier oil to ingest.
Given this is a cancer blog, I am surprised you feel consumption is not the most effective means for someone with cancer. I have breast cancer and these oils did NOTHING topically whatsoever. However, when the cancer spread to the liver, my oncologist said I had a year to live and that was three years ago. I disagreed with her too, and started juicing and using about 8 essential oils internally for a maximum of 33 drops a day. The liver cancer went away, but the essential oils did nothing for the breast, so I eventually had the surgery.
II have been treating my cancer now for 7 years without chemo and my experience is that once a tumour is more than 3 cms it needs to be surgically removed as very little else will get rid of it. I also use these oils all over the body to prevent recurrence, but I am not convinced they are effective topically for cancer, maybe for prevention, but once you have it, I don’t believe so. They worked on the liver because essential oils go straight to the liver, but trying to get them into the milk duct of the breast and penetrate the hard protein covering of a tumour is not possible.
Being a Medical Herbalist, I tried every known herb that kills cancer cells, but these herbs did nothing except improve my health and slow the tumour growth. I had the surgery 5 years after the diagnosis and the tumour had only grown 2 more cms. Herbal medicine is simply not strong enough and one would have to take pounds and pounds of the herb to have any effect, which is where essential oils come in. One drop of peppermint oil is equivalent to 30 cups of peppermint tea. So internal use is definitely the way to go for cancer. I have never had any digestive upsets using these oils internally but I always use them with a carrier oil.
Hi Celeste –
Thank you for sharing this with us. We’re so happy to hear that the use of essential oils worked wonders for you.
We definitely appreciate your shared feedback. We always suggest that it’s best to have the second opinion of a holistic doctor so they can best guide the person based on their body type and specific health conditions.
Unfortunately, we are unable to give any kind of medical advice. The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors we interviewed in the Global series.
Please note that we are not able to select an expert for you.
We’ve created a page with the experts’ contact info as it was available to us.
Here’s the link to the actual webpage:
http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
We do have one more resource you may be interested in. During our Live Event 2017 series, Dr. Patrick Quillin suggested contacting The Institute of Functional Medicine to locate a practitioner in your area.
If you are interested, here is the link to search for a Functional Medicine Practitioner in your area: https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
Hope this is helpful.
Blessings and love!
Celeste, being herbalist you may heard of Dr. Robert Morse, ND. If not, please, look into his teachings. He helped enormous amount of people with cancer and other debilitating conditions. He is a very good herbalist too and makes her al formulas. But I would look into his approach. I cured myself with his clinic’s help of a very bad hyper thyroid that was scheduled for radiation therapy to burn it. I have perfectly healthy thyroid now.