Essential Oils: the toxic natural remedy?
Are essential oils toxic?
You might have heard this somewhere, someone saying that all essential oils are toxic and we should just avoid them. Maybe they had an impressive list of sources and posts that they have “debunked” proving that every single essential oil is toxic, therefore using essential oils is a detriment to our health.
The issue with this statement is that it is such a broad term, making assumptions based on small sample studies and a world that chronically overuses and abuses essential oils daily. To be able to make such a claim there would need to be substantial studies showing this to be the case, we would need to look and evaluate how people are using the essential oils and we would also need to understand the potency of essential oils as well as how to use them appropriately.
Let’s look at some popular claims with essential oils though, and why people think they are toxic and should be avoided:
Lavender essential oils cause breast growth in pre-pubescent boys/essential oils disrupt hormones
They aren’t even “essential” the marketing is wrong and misleading so they shouldn’t be called essential oils
They can have bad side affects, just like pharmaceuticals and therefore are bad
Essential oils cannot discern between good and bad bacteria in the body so it wipes it all out and creates an imbalance in the body
A single drop is created from pounds of plants and is equivalent to gallons of herbal tea, therefore it is unsafe to use
They are unsustainable
There is misinformation on the use of oils, especially from larger companies, therefore they are bad
You can just use the herb or a hydrosol instead so you do not need essential oils
So, there are a lot of reasons that people believe this about essential oils. With a mix of large companies pushing to sell more oils, misinformation on using them and a world that is constantly working towards demonizing anything that can be deemed as “natural” or “alternative” it’s not wonder there are a lot of opinions about essential oils. Here is the thing though, like most things in life, there is a time and a place. I am not saying that you have to love essential oils, or that you have to use them. However, there are benefits to using essential oils especially in a therapeutic setting. Just as there are benefits to using herbal medicines, and benefits to using pharmaceuticals. Simply having concerns on something, wanting to obtain more information or just not liking something is not a reason to demonize an entire practice and then encourage other people to also ditch said practice. If you have had someone tell you to toss your essential oils because they are toxic, let’s take a look at the facts before throwing something away that cost good money.
Let’s dive into these reasons, talk about them and bring to light the truth of the matter.
Essential oils influence hormones, caused breast growth in prepubescent boys and are highly dangerous because they are capable of disrupting hormones
The study referenced in question in this study where 3 girls and 1 boy grew breast tissue after using products with lavender containing fragrances. There might be other ones as well, however this claim has been circulating since around 2007 according to the Tisserand institute and the evidence to support this seems pretty limited considering the small sample sizes and even smaller size of reactions. There are many things to consider with a claim like this: was pure lavender essential oil used? What was the product used? Did this product contain pure essential oils or a fragrance oil? What other ingredients were present that can also cause a reaction like this? What is the family medical history like in the kids who showed this reaction? A lot of these questions seem to be missing in these studies.
We live in a world where just about everything is messing with hormones, from reports of puberty starting earlier due to the hormones pumped into every aspect of our foods which you can read about here. The same fact remains, the study did a poor job of showcasing the actual cause and has been debunked by renowned aromatherapists, such as Robert Tisserand with his response to the 2019 study which you can read here. As well as an Instagram post from the Tisserand institute that also talks about lavender essential oil and studies that show it does not cause hormone disruption-read here.
In short, there just doesn’t seem to be enough evidence to solidify the claim and it would seem as though synthetic fragrances and other aspects of store bought products might be the underlying cause here. Combined with environmental causes and genetic causes, it is more than likely not the lavender essential oil causing these issues. However, if you have concerns about this, just don’t use Lavender essential oil on young children. Although, it would seem more wise to avoid synthetic versions of the lavender fragrance instead and opt for more natural scents or even unscented products.
This doesn’t answer the question of essential oils and hormone disruption however, and many people still wonder if essential oils can possibly disrupt hormones. With claims that essential oils are balancing to the hormones, good for women’s health and even essential oils such as the famed Progessence Plus it’s really no wonder that this is a concern. However I would like to point out that with products such as progessence plus and other dupes, they contain a wild yam extract that naturally contains progesterone. Which is where the hormone balancing and progesterone claims actually comes from. Not the essential oils.
We also have to look at the claim of essential oils being an endocrine an disruption as a whole, because the endocrine system is an entire system in the body and goes well beyond the reproduction hormones that people tend to think of when talking about the endocrine system. Diabetes for example is a disease of the endocrine system. There is so much more to the endocrine system than people realize. The endocrine system is responsible for regulating growth, producing hormones, balancing metabolism, and reproduction. That is a large span of things that have to do with more than just progesterone.
Looking at these facts, and some of the constituents of essential oils, it actually isn’t that far off to claim that essential oils can have an effect on the endocrine system. However this doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. Mandarin essential oil for example is a common essential oils used for digestive issues, which could fall under the endocrine system since metabolism is in that category. I think it’s a fair assessment that essential oils can have an effect on hormones, but we also have to remember that we have hormones for just about everything in our body. Hormones help contribute to our moods, and many essential oils can be used therapeutically to improve many emotional issues.
As with most things in life, when it comes to essential oils, dosage matters. So we might see these kinds of reactions with someone who is ingesting, applying essential oils neat and diffusing at every chance they can possibly get. So when the control group in the study used products that also contained other chemicals, such as potential synthetic fragrances, and produces such a small reaction group that just isn’t a large enough sample to determine that lavender is bad. I would also say the same thing if someone came out with a study in favor of essential oils doing something great. We need appropriate studies to be able to determine these effects.
Essential oils aren’t essential, it’s bad marketing to call them that
Essential oils aren’t called essential oils because they are essential. Despite what some companies market them as, that is not the reason they were dubbed essential oils. The reason that they are named as such is because they are the essence of the plant. As fun as it might be to joke around about how “essential” they are, this is just a marketing ploy from large companies so you will buy more. Don’t fall for marketing. So I agree, it is bad marketing in the sense it tricks people. But, you aren’t making any great claims or debunking anything by telling people they aren’t essential. We already know.
They can have bad side effects, and just like pharmaceuticals that means they are not bad
I mean yes, just like everything people have allergies and reactions. But we aren’t calling peanuts bad because some people can’t have them. Why are we calling essential oils bad because of this? Why are medicines bad because of this? It' seems silly to write off something just because there are reactions. People have reactions to herbs, but we universally recognize that many herbs are still medicinal.
Know your allergies, always test new essential oils and follow the appropriate dilution/usage guidelines to reduce the risk of a reaction. Often times, someone has a reaction due to overuse/not diluting. Essential oils are potent, knowing how and when to use them is key. You can read about such reactions with someone who was taught to use essential oils excessively and got these reactions here. This is a tragic story that highlights the dangers of MLM type oil companies, which I do think is important to talk about and combat. Someone who is untrained should not be giving out advice, and instead we should seek the information and advice from someone who is trained appropriately. Just because someone sells something, doesn’t mean they are an expert.
Since essential oils can’t discern between the good and bad bacteria this causes a body imbalance
I will be honest, this is a new one for me. While there is a fair amount of studies on essential oils and their antibacterial properties there is less information on essential oils somehow combing through the body and killing off everything including good bacteria. In my research and studies on this though, it’s important to look at why essential oils exist. It is believed that plants produce these oils as a defense mechanism. This explains why certain oils contain certain properties. Such as anti-fungal properties of several oils. Whether this is for the plants benefit or for our benefit, these properties exist, and have been studied to be effective for certain bacteria or fungal issues.
While I can not say 100% at this time that they will not do any harm to good bacteria, it is important to note that with anything that will help fight off certain strains, there is a risk. Such as with antibiotics, it is important to remember that as great as they are they can cause wreck on the gut system. Eat a lot of probiotic foods or take a supplement after taking antibiotics. Does the risk outweigh the benefit? That’s really up the individual to decide. To avoid a huge wipe out of good bacteria though, even if it seems unlikely, do not take essential oils internally unless under the care of a clinical aromatherapist or appropriate professional in the area. If you do have a concern in this area, respect dilutions of essential oils or avoid oils that are noted as anti-bacterial in general.
I wish I could say more on this, but it’s just something that I will have to devote time to researching. For now, I can share what I do know and insights on the matter. However, a more detailed post will be coming in the future. Also check out what healthline has to say on anti-bacterial essential oils as well with their article here. It’s worth a read and gives some insight as well.
A single drop is equal to gallons of herbal tea/they are unsustainable
I feel like this is something just taken out of context. It is true, they are highly concentrated but it doesn’t add up to that much. 1 drop of peppermint is about 30 cups of peppermint tea. So yes, it’s a lot but it is definitely not gallons. Another important thing to remember with essential oils is that we are not actually using that much, as we are meant to dilute the essential oils and (at least in america) ingestion/internal use is not encouraged without the help of a professional.
Yes, you an overdo it with dosing and essential oils. However there are plenty of resources out there that help someone dilute their essential oils properly. My fave is Plant Therapy’s Dilution Chart. I also have a Dilution Chart free for download in my shop as well as a chart on The Topical Max of Essential Oils-also free to download.
Just because something is a concentrate does not mean it is bad. Many things come in a concentrated form to make it easier to use. Flavors in baking, such as vanilla, are concentrated. Even herbs can be made into a concentrate by making tinctures and then taken orally in smaller doses then just eating a bunch of the herb. Concentration is not bad, it’s just something to be mindful of. We should use essential oils in an appropriate dilution and be cautious so as not to overdo it.
As for the unsustainable claim, this is true. This is also why we should limit what we are purchasing and buy oils responsibly. Buy from shops that source their essential oils ethically and are open about where they come from. Only buy what you need, I usually recommend a base 5 oils, which you can read about here. The important part about buying oils is to purchase sustainably and not as if they are collectors items. Sustainability also comes down on the consumer, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t use essential oils. Also be aware of rare or endangered plants (such as rock-rose) and avoid purchasing those essential oils. There are many ways we can help oils be more sustainable and not have to stop using them. Purchasing pre-made products can help with sustainability, especially from shops who source sustainably as well. Using herbs whenever possible can help, especially if we would like to use something internally. Using lower dilutions of the essential oil can help as well, so as not to waste so much product. And make sure to take note of when you purchased your oil and write down the shelf life, as well as store them away from the sunlight, to preserve the oil and get the most use out of them.
There is too much misinformation on oils
This one is also true, sadly. I work daily to try and share accurate information and combat the bad advice that is circling around essential oils. However, there isn’t much we can do besides educate on this matter. It’s a sad reality, but just like other things misinformation doesn’t make something automatically bad. After-all there is misinformation on herbs, homeopathy and even modern medicines. We don’t discredit all of these things however because some people feel the need to share bad information.
We can combat this by sharing what we know, backing it up with sources and making sure we help educate people in the correct use of aromatherapy. Do your due diligence before using essential oils, find trusted sources and make sure you are following trustworthy advice and not just taking any random persons word for it.
I personally love Robert Tisserand for the best information. You can find him on Instagram as well as online since there is an entire institute run by the Tisserand family/friends. I find they have the most down to earth and logical advice that really benefits everyone-from new comers to experts.
There is no need for essential oils-use the herb or hydrosol instead
I agree herbs are wonderful, and they have their time and place. Just as essential oils do. Essential oils are great for adding a natural fragrance, whether you agree or not some people enjoy good smelling things and essential oils can help with that. Aromatherapy is an acknowledged therapy, and essential oils help you get the best aromatherapy. I know some people recommend a simmer pot but personally I have never gotten any kind of attainable scent with a simmer pot. When I diffuse though, I can definitely smell it and I can definitely feel the affects.
Hydrosols, I really hate to break the news, are actually a by product of essential oils. So if you purchase them you are only encouraging the distillation of essentials oils. I do love hydrosols though, and I love using these as a base for DIYs and with my young kids. They are much gentler and honestly a great choice for anyone looking for mild scented things or great skincare.
Basically, everything has a time and place. I might take herbs internally to help with sickness, and then diffuse oils to help clear congestion. I often pair the two to help create a balanced and powerful DIY. If you prefer one or the other, that is also fine. But let’s not sit here and judge the other side just because we prefer to use one or the other. Herbs, hydrosols and essential oils all have their own purposes; the key is knowing when and where to use each one.
Conclusion:
A large part of the distaste for essential oils really stems from skewed studies that, for whatever reason, seem bent on discrediting essential oils. There are lot of things that try and discredit natural remedies however, as modernism progresses society urges people to use the newest thing. Often coming out with “studies” that try and prove that natural remedies aren’t safe or that they are ineffective. However you feel about aromatherapy, agree or disagree, I think we can all agree that bad studies do not make a point. Misinformation, however annoying, does not make something bad.
They key to aromatherapy and essential oils is to have a basic understanding on how to use them, and when to use them. I know some people like to use essential oils all day long, but this can lead to issues. Moderate and appropriate use will yield the best results. Overuse will yield some of that toxicity that people claim comes from all essential oil use. If you enjoy essential oils by all means, keep using them safely. If you don’t like them, by all means don’t use them. But we need to be sure that what we are sharing is true and accurate, and that we have looked at both sides of the issue before making broad claims.
Essential oils come with a risk, most things come with a risk, and we can alleviate those risks by following safety and usage. By seeking professional help and advice as well as following trustworthy sources. There isn’t a need to panic though, if we see someone saying essential oils are toxic. We just need to realize how and when to use them.
