Considering the Pros, Cons & Alternatives to Essential Oils
Okay, if you read the title and you are ready to come at me… Just wait :)
I love a good essential oil… I have a huge collection, and I have used them on my healing journey for years. I am not here to tell you to go ‘essential oil’ free…
I am here to:
Share what I have learned to consider before using essential oils
Offer suggestions to integrate ‘whole-plant’ healing
Perspectives on Essential Oils
“Essential oils are the essence of a plant, a gift from the earth, distilled and prepared for you to bring the power of nature into your home. Inside many plants — hidden in roots, seeds, flowers, bark — are concentrated, highly potent chemical compounds. These natural compounds are essential oils.”-sourced from Doterra’s website
Herbalist, April Graham, has a different description of essential oils. She refers to these little bottles as “volatile compounds that are found in minuscule amounts of every plant in existence”.
Personally, I started my herbal healing journey with essential oils. I learned so much about physical and emotional healing through these little bottles. I view this as a gift. However, over the years, mentors and teachers have warned me that there could be potential side effects to extracting parts of a plant in this way.
Over 80% of pharmaceutical drugs are derived from plants, in a similar way that essential oils are. Most side effects from medications are a result of separating the constituents from the plant in the first place (DeMartinez). So if essential oils are extracted from plants in a similar way as pharmaceuticals, we must ask the question: are we opening ourselves up to similar potential side effects?
The Power of Oils
Essential Oils are powerful. This is not a fact I am denying. In fact, I am giving this much recognition as truth. The question that arises in our minds is: are they too powerful?
Essential oils are antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial, which leads many of us to use them as general wellness and household items rather than toxic commercialized products (which I think is a plus!). Most of us are aware that over-exposure to antibiotics can lead to a damaged microbiome and gut flora, and lead to resistances and immune dysfunction. If essential oils are ‘nature’s antibiotic’, do we believe it is truly wise to use these (aromatically, topically or internally) on a daily basis? What effect is this having on our microbiome and gut flora?
Even when diffusing essential oils in our home, we are taking in the antimicrobial properties via our skin and breath, which is directly affecting our bloodstream. If we are killing all of the ‘good’ bacteria that our body is naturally creating, we lower our natural ability to fight off bacteria and germs.
Potency & Sustainability
Another fact to consider is the potency of essential oils, and the effect that has on you and your planet. Are essential oils sustainable? It takes approximately 45 lemons to make one drop of lemon essential oil. The potency of this is not a natural amount that you would consume, even if consuming a LOT of lemons with every meal. This is a less than ‘natural’ way to harvest or consume the plant.
Endocrine Disruption
New studies have been done, specifically on lavender and tea tree oil. These studies have shown that the plant compounds found in these oils can affect estrogen and testosterone levels, which makes them endocrine disruptors. Further studies will need to be done, but these compounds are found in many, many essential oils. Consistent use over a long period of time could be contributing to hormone dysfunction and adding to adrenal stress. (sourced from DeMartinez)
Honoring the Whole Plant
If you have been using essential oils as a staple in your life, don’t panic! You are on a good path, and the next step of your healing journey awaits you. Herbs and plants truly do supply us with medicine. We can explore using whole plants and herbs as medicine, the way they were possibly intended to be used by a source or power greater than us?
Suggestions:
Lots of essential oils in your skincare routine? Try creating hydrosols and/or salves with whole plants as alternatives.
Using oils as medicine? Learn more about herbal infusions.
Love to use oils in your home for air purifying and scent? Try adding 2-4 live plants in every room, and simmer some herbs on the stove!
Clean with oils? Try making a herbal infused vinegar cleaner, or use witch hazel!
Book Recommendation:
Learn how to work with herbs from Rosemary Gladstar in her book Herbal Healing for Women: Simple Home Remedies for Women of All Ages
Sources:
DeMartinez, Arielle. EO Free Resource Guide. PDF. July 2022. Accessed 2.8.23
Graham, April. Why I’m Essential Oil Free. https://www.wildwoodapothecary.org/essentialoilfree. May 2016. Accessed 2.8.23.
Xo, MM
Comments