Are Essential Oils Really Essential?

All information in this post is from Nutrition Action Health letter

Essential Oils are plant material that has been cold-pressed or steam-distilled. Essential oils are said to help with anxiety, stress, sleep, and thinking ability. Some people even have recommended you to swallow or rub the oil on your skin. Essential oils are usually inhaled as part of aromatherapy. Aromatherapy has been increasingly popular throughout the years. So why do so many people love essential oils? It might just be the word of mouth. Some studies show the oils just have subtle effects on anxiety, stress, or thinking ability. Not only does it not have the effects people think it does, but the National Capital Poison Control Center also cautions that essential oils may not be harmless. Essential oils need to be diluted for topical use and some oils may be dangerous to ingest. One teaspoon of wintergreen oil has as much as it’s an active ingredient (salicylate) as roughly 20 aspirins. Eucalyptus oil has caused seizures when inhaled, swallowed, applied to the skin, or used as nasal drops. Essential oils may not be all that they are cracked up to be. Essential oils need to be used with caution and in small doses.