Is it really safe to TAKE ESSENTIAL OILS INTERNALLY?

*This article has been updated 2/21/19

If you google this topic today, you’ll find that it’s SUPER controversial. Some certified aromatherapists claim that essential oils should never be ingested. On the other hand, other aromatherapists and many medical professionals say taking essential oils internally is safe.

Who do we believe?

It is my belief that we can safely take essential oils internally if they are a pure therapeutic grade and the label states it’s safe to do so. Read on to find out why I have come to this conclusion.

It’s important to note that the FDA has recognized some essential oils to be safe for consuming. You can find these oils labeled with with the GRAS standard (Generally Recognized as Safe) along with instructions on how to take them. 

Furthermore, Jade Shutes, founder and educator of the New York Institute of Aromatic Studies, states “based upon the growing interest and indeed the growing use of essential oils internally, I believe it is becoming imperative that we in the aromatherapy industry develop a better understanding and richer knowledge base regarding the internal use of essential oils.” 

Jade goes on to say,

“We all take a certain amount of essential oils internally each day through our food and drinks. Essential oils and numerous components derived from them are widely used in many foods and beverages for flavoring and food preservation.”

“Although I am not a strong advocate of taking essential oils internally without just cause, I have used essential oils for myself and friends in vaginal and rectal suppositories for specific conditions (e.g. in the treatment of respiratory infections and hemorrhoids), cough syrups, teas and sometimes in a spoonful of honey.  Each year I make up a supply of cough syrup containing herbal and aromatic ingredients. I always use my own essential oil based mouth wash and drink a fair amount of herbal teas (thereby taking essential oils internally as well) including fennel and other aromatic plant teas.” -Jade Shutes

Dr. Eric Zielinski drives home a big point that essential oils are safe for internal use. Period. He says “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.

It’s crazy to me that some people are so worried about the safety of taking essential oils internally, yet we take all kinds of medications that do way more harm to our bodies than EO’s would ever do. 

I’ve been taking essential oils internally for various health issues for over 5 years now. I’ve never experienced undesired side effects from it. Only POSITIVE.

It seams to me that there are just not enough studies done and the “unknown” is what makes those leery about taking EO’s internally claim that they are not safe. This isn’t right and I agree with Jade that we need to develop a deeper understanding when it comes to this topic. 

In the meantime, I’ll continue to use my therapeutic grade essential oils internally because I have seen the positive outcome in doing so. I know that this is the right for my family. I feel very empowered that I can use EO’s safely from the brand I trust.

If you’re among the “Oil Ingestors”, here are some tips to taking them internally:

Drinking them in water

EO’s don’t mix with water so you’ll want to give your water glass a good shake before taking a drink. You can also use a dispersant to help mix the oils into your water better. 

Here are some ideas to disperse your oils

• Sea salt or Himalayan salt – for larger water bottles, mix just a pinch of salt with your drops of essential oils first, then add your water. This will disperse the oils into the water and you will hardly notice the salt. It will also give you some electrolytes, an added bonus!
• Aloe Vera juice – you can find a pure aloe juice in most health food stores. Aloe Vera is wonderful for digestive health. Mix the Aloe with your oils then add your water. Aloe Vera does have an astringent taste so you may want to test this out first before you make a big jug of water.
• Mashed fruit – fruit-infused water is delightfully delicious! Mash up some berries, citrus fruits or even cucumber and mix with your oil before adding to your water.
• Raw local honey – I often use raw honey in hot tea and oils mix very well with it. Honey will add just a touch of sweetness to your water and help to disperse your oils. Make sure to use RAW honey. Conventional honey sold in the markets is highly processed, has no health benefits and is just sugar disguised as honey.
• Add oils to your smoothies or protein shakes!

Many essential oils, especially the citrus oils, can breakdown plastic containers causing chemicals to leach into your water. This means you will end up drinking harmful toxins, and that’s never a good idea. Always use a glass or stainless steel water bottle when using EO’s. 

Taking them in an empty veggi capsule

For those that don’t like the taste of EO’s or for EO’s that are “hot”, veggi capsules are a great option.

Simply drop 1-2 drops of EO in the capsule, and take with water. For the hot oils like oregano, cinnamon, clove & thyme, it’s best to add a carrier oil to the capsule to dilute the EO’s a bit so they won’t burn your internal organs. I find that if I take these oils with food, I have no discomfort at all. Again, use your best judgment. 

Finally, the biggest rule with taking EO’s internally, in my opinion, is to take only small doses at a time. ONE to TWO drops is the most you’ll need in most cases! Also, I try to take EO’s internally only when I need it, not daily as a “preventative”. 

Let me know what you think! Do you take EO’s internally?

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