Jacquelyn A Close, RA

Essential Oil Toxicity – Three Schools of Thought
By Vicki Opfer
March 2009

When single molecules are extracted out of an oil and are used by themselves, or they are created synthetically in a lab, they can be toxic.  Phenols are one of those.  So does that mean that oils containing phenols need to be used cautiously?

When those same molecules are left in the oil, and the pure, whole, unadulterated essential oil is used, we don’t see the same toxicity. This is because there are other molecules that seem to buffer those molecules in the body.

I’d like to remind you that there are 3 models of aromatherapy today:

1. the English – oils are usually diluted, and the English trained aromatherapists seem to be afraid to use the oils.   I wonder whether this model was created because someone used synthetic or low quality oils and observed a bad response.

2. the German model – essential oils are used primarily through smell, often for emotional balancing or mood enhancement.

3. the French model – the oils are used undiluted, often in fairly large quantities.  They use them topically, internally, vaginally, rectally, etc.   They do not seem to be afraid of toxicity, as French medical doctors have told me that they simply don’t observe toxicity when using pure, therapeutic grade oils.  They told me that essential oils are very different than fatty oils which can be hard on the liver.  Pure essential oils are light, volatile, and do not affect the liver.   Scientists can see them in the bloodstream within a few minutes of application, and within 2.5 hours, all traces of them are gone.   However, the effects have been known to last indefinitely.

When I hear someone who is concerned about essential oil toxicity, or seem to be afraid to use oils, I realize that they have been trained in the English model.

With that said, yes, some oils like oregano and cinnamon can be warm on the skin.   If an oil heats up on the skin, we rub a little pure vegetable oil over the area and it cools down within a few minutes.

If someone is very sick, pregnant, very young, or very old, we’re respectful and use small quantities of oils, and we often choose oils which are extremely gentle on the body such as lavender and chamomile.  It’s not that we think that the oils can cause harm.   We just choose to always err on the side of caution, and we’re respectful.

I’ve been in Young Living for 15 years now, and I have trained and observed thousands of people, and I have never seen anyone hurt, in any way, by any of our essential oils.

On a very rare occasion, someone will break out in a rash after using an oil, and when I ask, “Is this the first time you’ve ever had a rash response?”   Their answer is always the same – “No, I’ve had rashes before.”   The oils seem to be trying to get rid of toxins in the body, and since the skin is an eliminative organ, sometimes if other eliminative organs are compromised, the body will use the skin. When in doubt, use a small amount, and see what happens.

When someone is on chemotherapy, it’s a choice they’ve made consciously, and we need to respect their choice.  They are having chemicals put into their body to purposely lower the immune system or kill cells – some healthy, and some not healthy.   I just don’t think it’s a good idea to bombard the body with a lot of essential oils during that time, as it might be confusing.   If someone I loved was on chemotherapy, I might offer them simple oils like lavender to help them sleep, or a little PanAway for the pain, but I would wait until they were finished with their chemotherapy and wanted to rebuild their body before using larger amounts of essential oils.

We have a lot to offer just to help improve the quality of life for our loved ones – help ease their pain and depression, and help them get a better night’s sleep.  It’s a gift we can give them.