🍓Why you should not be drinking or putting essential oils directly on your skin and what you should drink instead.

In this issue:

🍋What are essential oils?

🍊Why you should not be drinking essential oils.

🥥Why you should use a carrier oil when putting essential oils on your skin.

🍎What you should drink instead.

What are Essential Oils?

Photo by CRYSTALWEED cannabis on Unsplash

🍋What are essential oils? 

An essential oil is an extract from a plant that is collected by using distillation or mechanical pressing.  The oils exist in different parts of different plants.  In some plants, they are in hairs on the leaves. For some it is in the flower petals.  Essential oils can also be found in wood and roots. A huge amount of plant material is needed to produce a bottle of essential oil.

An essential oil is a natural oil typically obtained by distillation and having the characteristic fragrance of the plant or other source from which it is extracted.  When you purchase them, it is very important to buy them from a reputable source and know where they come from.  There are many “essential oils” for sale that are adulterated, diluted, or just plain junk.  A reputable company will sell pure oils and will give you information about their testing process.

Keep your essential oils in a dark glass bottle in a dark cool place.  I keep mine in the basement.

Essential oils should be given the same respect you give to medicine given by your doctor. Keep a dilution chart handy when you are using essential oils.  The dilution chart shows the safe and effective amount of drops to use per amount of carrier oil.  Never use essential oils “neat” or directly on your skin to avoid irritation or sensitization, with exception of lavender and tea tree.   If you do have a reaction, wash the area with a soap with no fragrance and then apply a plain oil.

Don’t swallow oils or use them near the eyes, ears or nose.  Don’t use near heat.  Don’t use essential oils undiluted in the bath.  Do ask a doctor or other expert if you have any questions.  The safest way to use oils is through an inhaler or aromastick.

From my book Skincare for Relaxation

🍊Drinking Essential Oils

I’ve seen blog post after blog post in which the writer tells the world how they should flavor their water with essential oils. Not only is this expensive, but it can be dangerous.

Photo by Julia Zolotova on Unsplash

Drinking essential oils can be harmful for several reasons:

Highly Concentrated

Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts from plants, containing potent compounds. Ingesting them in their undiluted form can overwhelm your body and lead to toxicity.

Toxic

Since essential oils are highly concentrated and strong, they can become toxic if used incorrectly. Check out this article from poison control. Here is an article about using them safely and how much you should use.

Irritation

Essential oils can be irritating to the digestive tract, leading to discomfort, inflammation, and potential damage to the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach.

No Regulation

Unlike pharmaceuticals or food additives, essential oils are not regulated by any governing body for internal use. This means there are no standardized guidelines for dosing, purity, or safety when ingesting them. This also means that someone can label a bottle essential oil when it’s really not.

Interactions

Essential oils can interact with medications or other supplements you may be taking, leading to adverse reactions or reduced effectiveness of the medications.

Allergic Reactions

You can be allergic to anything. Some people might be allergic to certain compounds found in essential oils. Ingesting these oils can trigger allergic reactions ranging from mild to severe.

🥥The Reasons We Use Carrier Oils:

Dilution

Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts from plants. They can be too potent to apply directly to the skin. Diluting them in a carrier oil helps reduce their concentration, making them safer for topical use.

Skin protection

Carrier oils help protect the skin from potential irritation or sensitivity that can be caused by applying undiluted essential oils directly. They act as a buffer, reducing the risk of adverse reactions.

Even distribution

Carrier oils help spread the essential oils evenly over the skin, ensuring that the oils are applied smoothly and effectively.

Extended application

Carrier oils can increase the surface area over which essential oils are applied, allowing for a larger area of coverage with just a small amount of essential oil.

Moisturization

Many carrier oils have moisturizing properties that can benefit the skin, providing hydration and nourishment alongside the therapeutic effects of the essential oils.

🌹Better Ways to Flavor Your Water🍉

🌿Herbal Tea

There are many refreshing herbal teas you can try this spring. Here are a few ideas:

So of course I’m going to say dandelion tea, wild violet tea, rose tea and mint tea. You could mix them in any way you’d like.

It’s very important to properly identify wildflowers before using them for tea, as some flowers can be toxic. If you’re not sure if you’ve found the right flower, it’s best to consult a field guide or expert.

To make herbal tea from wildflowers, follow these simple steps:

1. Harvesting: Pick your wildflowers from clean, pesticide-free areas. Choose flowers that are fully bloomed and in good condition.
2. Drying: Spread the flowers out on a clean surface and allow them to air dry in a warm, dark place for about a week. I put mine on a paper towel lined baking sheet.
3. Preparing the Tea: Once the flowers are fully dried, you can use them to make tea. Simply place a handful of dried flowers in a teapot or heatproof container.
4. Boiling Water: Heat water to just below boiling (about 180-190°F or 82-88°C).
5. Steeping: Pour the hot water over the dried flowers and let them steep for about 5-10 minutes, or until the tea reaches your desired strength.
6. Straining: Strain the tea to remove the flowers. You can use a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth for this step.

Photo by Neven Krcmarek on Unsplash

🍓Strawberry Rose Tea

This is one of my favorites, I get it from Red Rose Tea.

“A delicious new take on wellness teas, Red Rose balances delicate blossoms with wonderfully natural flavors for these uniquely tasty, caffeine-free herbal blends.

We start with delicate red rose petals and blend them with fragrant hibiscus and rose hips to deliver a deep rich brew, power-packed with vitamin C for immunity support. A touch of naturally sweet strawberry flavor finishes this wonderfully delicious cup of tea.“

🍋Lemon Ginger Tea🫚

Lemon ginger tea is good to drink for nausea and immunity and it tastes great. If you’d like to learn more, here is a WebMD article about its benefits.

🦋Magical Butterfly Tea🦋

This is one I’ve always wanted to try:

“Fruit and florals are blended with blue butterfly pea flowers to create a magical harmony of flavor and color. Add citrus and watch the color change! Pairs wonderfully with moments of joy: creating art, birthday parties, gathering with people you love.“

If you are interested, here’s an article about ayurvedic teas for spring.

🍊Water Infusions

Infusing drinking water with herbs, flowers, and fruit is a refreshing way to add flavor and nutrients to your water and keep you hydrated. Here are ideas to start with. Have fun experimenting to find your own favorites. You might like to try an infuser water bottle which has a separate compartment for the fruits, herbs, or flowers with which you want to infuse your water.

🌿Just Herbs

Add a few sprigs of fresh herbs like mint, basil, or rosemary to a pitcher of water. Let it sit for a few hours in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to infuse.

🥝Fruity Infusion

Add slices of your favorite fruits like strawberries, oranges, lemons, limes, or berries to a pitcher of water. You can also stir the fruit slightly to release more flavor.

Photo by Robert Stump on Unsplash

🍋Citrus Herb🍊

Mix citrus fruits like lemons, limes, and oranges with herbs like mint or basil for a refreshing and flavorful infusion.

🥒Cucumber Herb

Add slices of cucumber and a few sprigs of fresh herbs like mint or basil to water for a refreshing and hydrating drink.

🌹Floral Infusion

This is my favorite. I love roses and mint!

Use edible flowers like lavender, chamomile, or rose petals to infuse water. Make sure the flowers are pesticide-free and edible.

🍊Fruity Herb🌿

Combine fruits and herbs for unique flavor combinations. For example, try strawberry and basil, lemon and thyme, or orange and rosemary.

Sparkling Water

Flavored sparkling water is one of my favorite drinks. I love the bubbles. My favorite brand is spindrift because it’s not 0 calories and there is no sweetener. I recently found 2 new flavors and I love them.

🥝Refreshers

Refreshers are another great option if you have the time. You get the benefits of a fresh fruit and water with no added junk or caffeine. If you love them as much as I do, you might like to take a look at this article from Taste of Home on copycat recipes. Otherwise, here is how I make my own refresher. My favorite is mint and lime, but I also love strawberries.

Photo by Ohmky on Unsplash

To make a strawberry mint refresher at home with spearmint, you’ll need:

• 1/2 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon (or lime) juice
• 2 tablespoons honey or sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1/4 cup fresh spearmint leaves
• 1 cup cold water
• Ice cubes

Directions:

1. In a blender, combine the strawberries, lemon juice, honey or sugar, spearmint leaves, and cold water.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any strawberry seeds and mint leaves (optional).
4. Pour the strawberry mint mixture over a glass filled with ice cubes.
5. Garnish with a sprig of fresh spearmint and a strawberry, if desired.
6. Stir well before drinking.