10 Sneaky Essential Oil Myths: Make Sure They Don’t Fool You

Do you know how to tell essential oil fact from fiction? Uncover 10 surprisingly common essential oil myths with a certified aromatherapist and trained herbalist so you’re not fooled.

Though I’m a certified herbalist and aromatherapist now, I didn’t always know how to safely use essential oils. In fact, I believed all sorts of aromatherapy half-truths when I first became interested in natural health.

Some were harmless. Others, not so much.

Unfortunately, I’m not the only person who’s been fooled by an essential oil myth. You can find this bad information almost anywhere essential oils are sold or used.

But after years of study, I know better information is out there, too. You just have to know where to look.

You can start here with these 10 surprisingly common myths and we’ll debunk them together.

A Wart & A Wake-Up Call

My young son was crying, holding onto his arm right where I had applied a single drop of essential oil and bandaid just minutes before.

I pulled his hand back and was horrified to see the bandage shriveling up against his skin like melted plastic.

He had a wart there. A well-meaning friend gave me some oregano essential oil, telling me it would kill the virus and remove the wart. So I did what she suggested without knowing what I was doing or asking more questions.

The pain on his face and the melting bandage on his skin gave me the biggest essential oil safety lesson I’ve ever had.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, your cost is the same but I can earn a commission. Thanks!

Why Essential Oil Myths Matter

Essential oil myths matter because bad information usually gives you bad (and sometimes harmful) results. If you fall for an aromatherapy urban legend, you can end up with unpleasant consequences, like

  • Spending too much money by buying oils you don’t really need,
  • Wasting the oils you have by using more than what’s necessary,
  • Not getting the results you want because the advice you followed was full of hype or fear,
  • Suffering an adverse reaction after short-term or long-term use, like my son experienced.

With better information at your side, you can confidently use and enjoy essential oils in your home. You can add them to skincare, topical remedies, and cleaning sprays; use them for physical discomforts and emotional support; and even enjoy aromatherapy baths, all while knowing you’re using them safely and effectively.

Have you been fooled by any of these 10 common essential oil myths?

Where You’ll Find Essential Oil Myths

One of the reasons essential oil myths are so tricky is that they’re so widespread. You can find them

  • On websites from natural health gurus, essential oil sales representatives, and wellness enthusiasts,
  • In person at health food stores, essential oil “classes” and sales presentations, and in casual conversations,
  • On social media posts, comments, and memes.

It’s hard enough getting started with natural remedies when it’s all new to you; much more so when bad information is lurking around every online click!

This doesn’t mean you should be scared to use essential oils or suspicious of everyone who talks about using them, though.

It just means you have to be careful with what essential oil advice you follow, cross-reference any information you’re given, and never be afraid to ask more questions. Those are all the things I should have done with my son’s wart treatment, but didn’t know to do.

To help you sort out aromatherapy fact from fiction, I’ve compiled 10 of the sneakiest, most common essential oil myths in the natural health world. You might be surprised to see what made my list!

10 Widespread Myths about Essential Oils

Myth 1: There is only one pure essential oil brand.

You can find many quality essential oil brands at a variety of price points. Brand name and price tag don’t necessarily mean you’re getting a product that’s better than all others. (But clearly, avoid the cheapo “essential oils” sold at discount stores for prices too good to be true.)

As an herbalist and aromatherapist, one of the most common questions I’m asked is how to know which essential oil brands are best. I like to look for brands that

  • Offer batch-specific GC/MS reports (these detail the chemical profile of every batch of essential oil),
  • List the source plant’s botanical name clearly on the bottle, along with the common name,
  • Share where the plant material was grown,
  • Distill organic or sustainably wild-harvested plant material (to ensure it’s free of pesticide residue),
  • Share appropriate safety and usage suggestions, like diluting in carrier oils and avoiding internal use without consulting professionals. Safety guidelines apply to all essential oil brands.

Since you don’t have to worry about choosing the only pure essential oil brand, you can sample different brands to see which you like best. You could even purchase small bottles of one useful essential oil, like lavender, to compare the brands and get a feel for their prices, selection, and customer support.

If you’re not sure where to start, you can see some of my personal favorites here.

Myth 2: Make sure the essential oils you use are therapeutic grade.

In the United States, no independent organization grades essential oils by quality. For the most part, therapeutic grade is a marketing term and not a guarantee of quality.

All true essential oils are therapeutic by nature. In order for an essential oil to not be therapeutic, it would have to be a synthetic fragrance oil, a reconstructed oil, or a highly adulterated oil. But if it’s a true essential oil, distilled from plant material, it will offer therapeutic support.

Some companies use the term therapeutic grade to mean genuine, unadulterated, pure essential oil with nothing added or taken away. This also distinguishes the oils from fragrance oils, flavoring oils, or other scented products.

So don’t worry if you see a brand that seems to offer a quality product but doesn’t say that their oils are therapeutic grade. And if you see the term therapeutic grade used, try to find out exactly what the brand or salesperson means.

Myth 3: You need a big collection of essential oils to get started.

Most essential oil starter kits include six to ten essential oils and cost around $100. If you want to go bigger with more oils or add proprietary blends to your starter kit, your cost only increases.

If you’re a beginner, you might find the price tag and learning curve for a multi-bottle starter set too steep to dive in.

But you actually don’t need an extensive set to get started. With a small collection of the most important essential oils, you can meet many of your family’s needs without going over budget or getting overwhelmed.

Begin with a small number oils and give yourself an easier and more economical start.

Have you been fooled by any of these 10 common essential oil myths?

Myth 4: Essential oils don’t have side effects.

Essential oils are extremely concentrated substances that demand careful use. It’s important to always follow safety guidelines and watch for possible sensitivities or reactions when you use essential oils.

You can experience side effects when you use essential oils, especially if you use them incorrectly.

  • Using them on your skin can result in irritation or pain, especially if the oil is “hot” (meaning it’s prone to irritating skin and mucus membranes) or not diluted enough.
  • Some citrus essential oils, like lemon and lime, can cause phototoxicity. This is a reaction where your skin burns severely in sunlight.
  • Too much skin exposure can result in sensitization, leaving you unable to be around a particular essential oil, similar essential oils, or all essential oils.
  • Inhaling too much can cause nausea, headaches, and dizziness.
  • Babies, young children, pregnant women, elders, people with chemical sensitivities, and pets are all more susceptible to side effects. It’s vital to use extra caution if you use essential oils around these people and animals so no one is hurt (or worse).
  • Extreme exposure has caused seizures, loss of consciousness, and even death.

You can read actual essential oil injury reports here.

Usually, if you follow safety guidelines, you can enjoy essential oils without worrying about unpleasant or harmful side effects. But it’s still important to be aware that, like anything else, essential oils absolutely can have side effects.

Myth 5: You can apply essential oils straight to your skin.

A friend once told me that after his wife attended an essential oils sales presentation, she applied neat (undiluted) peppermint essential oil across his forehead when he had a headache. It didn’t take long for his face to have a bright red streak of fiery, irritated skin! He never wanted to go near essential oils again, and I couldn’t really blame him.

As I mentioned earlier, essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts. Since they’re so potent, you should always dilute them when you put them on your skin. That goes for every brand, no matter how pure and “therapeutic” it is.

If you don’t dilute your essential oils, you can eventually become overly sensitive to them. This is aptly called sensitization and can manifest as itching, swelling, or redness anytime your skin is exposed to essential oils. Once you experience a sensitization reaction, you may never be able to use certain, or any, essential oils on your skin again.

Different essential oils require different dilution rates, and some people (like babies) need milder dilutions than other people. If you want to make it easy to safely dilute essential oils, be sure to check out my printable resource The Essential Oils Quick Reference Guide. It takes the guesswork out for you.

Myth #6: Essential oils are a powerful remedy to take internally.

As an aromatherapist, I’m extremely concerned with the trend of freely ingesting essential oils. I’ve seen people demonstrate this by adding them to their water, placing them in homemade capsules (calling them insert-health-need-here “bombs”), or even dropping them directly under or on their tongue.

This is terribly dangerous advice and an immediate red flag. Anytime you see someone share this kind of guidance, you can know immediately that the person isn’t a trusted source for essential oil information.

Improperly ingesting essential oils can lead to serious digestive tract and liver damage. (Remember what the single drop of essential oil did to my son’s bandage?) Additionally, you’re at much greater risk for neurological adverse events like seizures, dizziness, and loss of consciousness when ingesting oils.

Finally, remember that water and oil don’t mix. When you drop some essential oil into water, it doesn’t freely disperse so it’s diluted. It floats on top in its full strength. If you decide to drink that essential oil and water combination, the oil hits the sensitive tissue in your throat and mouth, increasing your risks for tissue irritation, injury, and even long-term damage.

Myth 7: The best place to apply essential oils is the bottoms of your feet.

Check out the skin on the bottoms of your feet. Unless you get daily pedicures, it’s probably quite thick and tough. That’s just what you need for walking, but not for absorbing essential oils.

I’ve heard people reference all the pores on the bottoms of our feet, suggesting they make our feet “like sponges.” But pores don’t help our bodies absorb anything. They’re used to push out sweat and sebum.

While this myth isn’t dangerous, it’s a tricky one for a few reasons. First, it’s been repeated for so long that many essential oil enthusiasts don’t even question it. Second, it’s inefficient, but not dangerous. You can put essential oils on the bottoms of your feet and occasionally get some benefits.

Finally, it’s usually connected to reflexology points with detailed foot diagrams, so it looks really convincing. These points are used in acupuncture and acupressure, but there’s no basis for using them with essential oils.

If you want to apply essential oils to your skin so your body can absorb them, choose thin skin. And, of course, dilute them first.

Myth 8: Essential oils are in the Bible.

Have you been fooled by any of these 10 common essential oil myths?

Since I’m an open Christian, many people are surprised to hear me say that essential oils aren’t in the Bible. But it’s true.

Most historians and aromatherapists agree that steam distillation, the process used to create most essential oils, wasn’t advanced enough to produce essential oils until the 10th century. The Bible was finished hundreds of years prior to that.

Yes, the Bible speaks of plants and natural materials like myrrh, frankincense, and cinnamon. It also alludes to herb-infused olive oil which can be quite fragrant and healing.

But there’s absolutely no evidence that essential oils are in the Bible or were used during those time periods. It’s an illogical stretch to assume that just because the Bible mentions plants and plant products, it’s referring to the essential oils produced from those natural materials. Rather, Scripture is simply referencing the plant itself.

This myth, unfortunately, seems to be another marketing ploy.

Myth 9: Essential oils help you detox and balance your hormones.

Your body naturally detoxifies through a number of processes including digestion, breathing, sweating, and others. Essential oils rarely do anything to accelerate those processes. Dietary changes, herbal remedies, exercise, and other approaches are much more effective at encouraging normal detoxification.

Similarly, hormonal balance relies on sensitive feedback loops throughout the body. And while many herbs can help restore hormonal balance when there is actual imbalance, there’s much less evidence that essential oils can do the same thing. Essential oils might ease some symptoms of hormonal imbalances, like insomnia or acne, but they don’t address the root causes.

Sometimes people claim that rashes and other legitimate adverse reactions are just “detox reactions,” but that’s also untrue. If you develop a rash while using essential oils, something is wrong and you should stop immediately.

Myth 10: There’s an oil for that.

Essential oils are one tool to keep in your natural medicine cabinet, but they’re not always the best tool to use. In fact, as much as I enjoy my oils, they’re rarely the first remedy I reach for in my own home or my top choice for my clients. That’s because they don’t often address root causes.

Think of it this way.

Imagine someone has high blood pressure.

He drinks at least a full pot of coffee throughout the day at his stressful job, where he regularly puts in 12-hour shifts. He loves fast food, sleeps around 5 hours a night, and smokes in the evening to relax.

This man could bathe in lavender essential oil and he’d still have high blood pressure because of his diet and lifestyle.

So before you try to find the perfect essential oil to help you with a health need, first find out if aromatherapy is the best way to address it. If you’re not sure how to decide, check in with an herbalist or seasoned aromatherapist.

Where to Find the Truth About Essential Oils

I’ve heard people end up so frustrated with the conflicting essential oil information they read online, they throw up their hands and declare it’s impossible to know who to trust. It’s just one person’s opinion against another’s.

Thankfully, that’s not the case.

There are many sources for reliable, trusted information on essential oils, including books, digital resources, and free online articles.

The Lasting Lesson of My Son’s Arm

Despite the scare my son and I experienced with oregano oil, he didn’t have any lasting injury or skin damage on his arm.

After removing the bandage, rubbing down his skin with coconut oil, and washing it thoroughly, his arm quickly felt better. I was grateful that the pain and irritation left once we washed off the oil.

But the safety lesson never left me. It made me committed to using essential oil wisely and helping others do the same.

Essential oils don’t have to be a confusing mess of half-truths and potentially dangerous myths. There is better information out there when you know where to look and what to ignore.

Your Turn to Talk

Have you ever believed one of these essential oil myths?

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    41 Comments

      1. Hi Ilona. There truly are many to consider. Generally, you want to avoid essential oils sold in large stores and drug stores that don’t specialize in natural products or are all priced the same, regardless of the plant type. Some you can look at are Aura Cacia, available in most health food stores (or Amazon) and with a growing organic line, Plant Therapy, Rocky Mountain Oils, and Florihana. There are certainly others, but these favorites come to mind quickly or are easily available. My book also gives extra guidance on choosing a brand. Best wishes as you get started!

    1. It’s posible to use essential oil nardos of Immalaya 2 drops in the woter with happy
      for 15days ,after stop the oil for 15days it’s not toxic

      1. Hi Eleni,
        I think you’re referring to spikenard essential oil (Nardostachys jatamansi), which is a really lovely oil! Used correctly, it is a relatively safe and nontoxic essential oil. However, drinking in water is an unsafe way to use any essential oil, no matter the individual oil used. The water will never dilute the essential oil. Anytime someone is interested in using essential oils internally for therapeutic benefit, they need to work with a well-trained aromatherapist or aromatologist and consult their physician, then dilute correctly.

      1. Hi Gina! The oil or butter you use to make a skin moisturizer will depend on the overall goals. Some oils are lighter and not heavy enough for dry skin, while others might be too heavy for oily skin. For just all purpose, general moisturizers, coconut and grapeseed are quite light, apricot kernel and sweet almond a little heavier, and olive oil is rather heavy. I will often blend them together. For years I used a blend of coconut and olive oil, though. Worked well! Does that help?

    2. Finally…someone with some common sense. Thank you! I have been a nurse for 30 years and have such concern about the rampant thoughts that EOs are perfectly safe on every level…because the rep said so. I use oils intermittently. I am a medical person, but I do believe there is a use for oils in conjunction with medicine, not in place of it. I have been ” spoken” to on occasion for my responses on a particular EO page because of warnings I have posted…..such simple things like do not use oils on the face and around the nose of someone on oxygen– it’s dangerous. i was asked to not place things like that on the page , despite the fact that I had printed information from NIH to show them what I was talking about . I truly believe that with many if these MLM programs , the information is spotty at best. When I was told that ” they can’t hurt you when ingesting” I used the scenario that years ago no one thought cigarettes were a big deal either…it took years and years for people to develop lung cancer and for the association to be understood. But people are like lemmings…they just follow along and don’t ask questions. So sorry for the rant. It makes me sad that people who clearly want to do natural things to make themselves healthier may actually be doing more harm than they realize. ( Deep breath ) so, it was very refreshing to read your page and realize that this is some place I can come for reading, information , etc and feel like it’s real. Thank you!

      1. I understand the rant, Stacey! Sometimes I get really concerned with things I see online regarding essential oils and my hubby has to listen to me vent for a bit. I’m glad this post was helpful and hope you’ll come back again!

    3. Thank you very much for your blog and information. I have been bothered for quite some time about the “free” uses of EO’s and the claims behind them. I make lotions and healing balms and have used different sources for the herbs and oils, but always try to be careful in how I address an issue with someone. I have a friend that is respected by me, has a background of nutrition and Holistic health who has now started with YL oils. It seems they can do no wrong…. and this bothers me about how people can blindly even if they do research and are informed (such as this friend) believe all the claims behind EO’s. She is a Christian (bible believing born again) like I am and can not seem to grasp that there is A LOT of New Age thought to the uses and descriptions of the oils. This bothers me too, because she wants to help me make an income like her, but I hesitate because of the New Age spiritual claims. I love EO’s and the I would love to study more on herbs themselves since I grow many. I even use them in the care of my goats and horses. Thank you for sharing that I can use the glory to our God for his provisions and can find a good, safe place to study about herb uses. I will try to get her to look at more that I find in my own research, but I too don’t want to upstage her in knowledge.

      1. Hi Jennifer! You are very wise to use oils with some caution, especially when formulating products for other people.

        Depending on the source, there can certainly be a New Age theme running through claims on essential oils. Thankfully there’s good factual info out there, too! And I know of some excellent YL representatives who are Christian and promoting best safe practices, so that can be done as well. Taking additional eduction from outside sources is a great way to do that.

        One excellent Facebook group that I’m a part of and is in conjunction with Vintage Remedies is Evidence Based Aromatherapy. You and your friend might both like it!

    4. I really like your article on oils however I disagree with oils not being mentioned in the Bible. Oftentimes they are referred to by plant name with the oil reference coming later. One example is when spikeNard was poured on Jesus. I love archeology and I learned that oils were found in Egyptian tombs because they were so valuable. The process of extraction may have been different but steam distillation isnt all that complicated so maybe it was the same. I was also surprised that you referenced Robert Tisserand. I certainly respect his experience but he is very New Age. There are other sources of information out there which I prefer simply because I tired of his personal theology. I also wanted to tell you that it always comforts me to read about Christians like yourself who are open to the healing power of God’s creation and share it with others. Keep up the good work.

      1. Thanks, Amelia. Yes, I stand by my belief that essential oils, as we know them today, are not mentioned in the Bible. Oils infused with plant material is a much more likely use and better lines up with current archeological understanding and also with how we see the oil used in context. For example, spikenard poured on Jesus’ feet was not likely undiluted spikenard essential oil as that wouldn’t be a beneficial use of the substance. Rather, a very fragrant spikenard infused oil seems more plausible and still would have been highly prized because of the expense of spices at the time.

        Regarding Robert Tisserand, he was one of the experts I was familiar with at the writing of this post, and I value his insight due to his experience. I think Christians can pull from the understanding and experience of anyone, even with differing views, though I’ve personally not read extensively enough from him to say he is very New Age. That’s interesting you say that, since I hadn’t heard it before.

        Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts! And yes, I think Christians of all people should be able to use and enjoy the beneficial plants and plant materials that God blessed us with for health and wellness!

    5. Hello,
      There is some wonderful information in your beautifully written blog! Alot I have been looking into myself. As a Pagan natural healing,herbs, tinctures and the like have been a part of my life since diapers lol. For ancestors well in the past. Taught at a young age to respect nature and all it gives and make my own oils. Certain oils can be taken internally for most, its like eating the peel of a orange which is where your oils come from. The key to all is MODERATION and you can’t / shouldn’t mix all sorts of modern pills with herbal. They were never ment to to mix in high volumes. Once again thank you. .your information and time was incredible.

      Bless be

      1. Hello Fae! I’m glad you enjoyed this post. Yes, some oils can be taken internally and even used in recipes, like sweet orange essential oil as you mentioned. I feel it’s always important to have some solid education and information on hand before using them that way, though, just to ensure they’re being used appropriately and safely. 🙂

      2. if ur making ur own oils, ur making infused oils, which of course, can be ingested with no problem. i dont know of anyone capable of making essential oils at home.

        1. Great addition, Helene. Infused oils and essential oils are completely different substances! Like you said, infused oils can be ingested with no problem, so long as the herb you infused is safe for internal use. The vast majority are. Some people do distill their own oils at home, but it takes some expensive equipment and experience. Not something most of us are going to get into!

    6. Thank you for offering such a well-written balanced, post! I am sharing it with my own readers in hopes it will get them thinking, and looking for educated answers themselves. I have used EO’s for about two years, with caution, and overall good success. After having spent 15+ years studying nutrition and nutritional supplements, I felt I needed to find out what the fad was all about. I was often disheartened at the number of people who promoted taking them internally. I think this provides too much risk for the home apothecary and should only be done under direct supervision of a Naturopath or similarly trained professional. EO’s can be beneficial, but, like you said so well in your post, are not a magic cure-all and are only a part of the total health puzzle.Thank you again for this post!

    7. Hello! Just found your great post tonight. I’m very interested in learning all I can before jumping in head first to THE EO field. I really appreciate the time you invested in writing such a great myth breaking post. I really appreciate not only the info, but also your candor and graciousness in all of your replies and your
      “on point” reasoning … thanks so much and May God bless you. (Have signed up for your newsletters and will definitely be reading your blogs thoroughly )

      1. Hi Dannie! Glad you’re joining the newsletter list and that you found my blog this evening. It’s so wise to take some time to learn about essential oils before you start buying and using them! (I actually neglected to do that myself years ago). There are a few more posts here that might interest you on the topic, so be sure to check out the Essential Oils category from the menu, under Natural Living & Wellness. Happy learning to you!

    8. This is a great article. One of the things that concerns me is the importance of keeping in mind how the oils interact with medications the person is currently taking. For example, if a person is on a blood thinner, there are several of the oils that have the same action and can cause a very serious result. I love the oils, but we must be so careful to use them wisely.

      1. Excellent point, Ed! It’s definitely wise to consult a health care provider if you want to use a particular oil extensively while on medications. Same for herbs.

    9. Hi Kristen, This post is timely for me….I am going to be sending it on to some friends that are “getting into essential oils” and/or attending parties from distributors. I think it is great that they are interested in EO’s but am concerned about a lot of misinformation out there. Sometimes I want to speak up when they are discussing things(and I do sometimes) but it is hard because then I feel like I’m saying “Hey, I know the answers.” It is so helpful to send along info from others that is concise and well written! So again, thank you.

      1. Hi Sherri!

        I missed your comment when you posted it a couple of weeks ago! So sorry.

        I also never want to come across as knowing all the answers, especially when it comes to essential oils! In fact, the more I learn, the more I truly realize that I don’t know in this area of natural health. But from what I have studied and learned, I continue to become convinced that with essential oils, less is more, and caution never hurts.

    10. Wow thanx for the info! I have been makin capsules for hubby for a couple years now & I had done quite a bit of research before hand, but I think I need to check up! I wasn’t aware of long term use issues. He takes one daily! I dilute with coconut oil, but seems like it’s not much. Great & informative! I always love reading your blog!

      1. If you are able to check with an aromatherapy professional on what he’s been taking, that might be really helpful, Shonna. I know for myself that I don’t have the knowledge that would be required to really understand how to take oils internally, so right now, I don’t.

        Do be sure to check out the essential oils course that’s offered in the bundle sale! I’m so excited that it’s part of the ecourses and it will probably help you decide if the capsules you’re making are a good choice or not.

    11. Very good statements and gracious answers! I have also been concerned by people thinking that because it is natural, it’s okay. Arsenic is natural and we have other poisons that are natural. We have some natural substances that are fine in small amounts, but dangerous in bigger quantities. That said, I do use oils. I have for years, but I do want to learn more about safer ways to use my oils.

      Thank you for warning your readers!

      1. I’ve used a very similar analogy, Mama2eight! It’s really easy to get in the mindset that natural means no side effects, but that can mindset can have disastrous results.

        Thank you for reading and commenting!

    12. This is such great info, for beginners and seasoned oil users alike. I was just recently introduced to your blog through a Facebook post by The Humbled Homemaker and I’m so glad. I look forward to seeing more of what you have to share!!

    13. Great tips! Thanks! You may want to revise your thoughts on EOs in the Bible….. I am reading David Stewart PhD’s book Healing Oils of the Bible. You may be surprised at what our ancestors were able to do years ago and he explains all the terminology and why the actual term “essential oil” doesn’t appear in the Bible. Great info to read!

      1. Hi Allison!

        Thank you for such a kindly worded alternate viewpoint. I genuinely appreciate that!

        Based on my research and the viewpoints of others in the aromatherapy field, I still would have to stick with my statement on essential oils and the Bible. I have no doubt that aromatic oils (oils infused with aromatic plant material) were used in ancient times, but I believe that those would have been much different from the essential oils that we have today. The natural living experts I contacted to double-check agreed with me.

        Robert Tisserand, who I quoted in this post, offered a book review on another of Dr. Stewart’s essential oil books. Because I respect Mr. Tisserand’s vast experience, I would have to keep the critique in mind if I checked out the Healing Oils of the Bible. I still might take a look sometime, anyhow.

        Thanks again for reading and adding to the discussion!

      2. “Healing Oils of the Bible” also contains some “interesting” theology such as ““The Word is a vibration, a frequency, a consciousness, an expression of energy. When God created plants by His speaking voice, He imbued them with His Word and His intelligence” and that oils, containing God’s intelligence, KNOW how to benefit us.

          1. I *think* Lynn is making the same point, Rachel, that those ideas aren’t very Scriptural but rather very New Age. And I agree completely, we have to be so careful when those ideas are crossed with Christian teaching! The two can’t and shouldn’t mix.

    14. I agree with you on just about everything. But I’m confused on the point about freely ingesting oils… (which I don’t do). Specifically how you talk about how oil and water don’t mix… because I’ve never been told to dilute an EO with water – only with a carrier oil, which would mix with the EO. I do hear of people dropping lemon oil into their water at times, but I don’t think that’s for dilution purposes, I think it’s for flavoring… anyway, I just was curious if many people are thinking they can dilute with WATER instead of another OIL??

      1. Hi JulieK! Thanks for reading and commenting today.

        I’m not sure how many people might think they are properly diluting essential oils when mixing them in water, but I fear that it’s far too many. As you said, I think many people do it for flavor and some for assumed health benefits.

        I made the point about oil and water not mixing in that section because I want us all to be aware that drinking essential oils like that allows them to be in contact with very sensitive tissue at full strength. Also, it is not uncommon for some essential oil users to regularly add citrus essential oils to their water, and that really concerns me.

        Does this help? I wanted to try to keep this post as concise as possible, but sometimes that leaves room for confusion. 🙂

      2. I am one of those people who add lemon oil to my water daily for taste and for added health benefits. I use young living and follow the directions on the bottle regarding ingesting. I also shake my glass water bottle before each drink.

        1. Hi Allison! Thanks for chiming in.

          I don’t have any YL lemon oil, so I’m curious as to what the bottle says on ingesting.

          I do feel that it is safer to put organic lemon juice and slices in water rather than the oil. I’m familiar with too many stories of damaged tissues from this practice to be comfortable with it. Oils that are ingested should be diluted in another oil or a fat, and I think it’s very important to work with someone who has advanced training with essential oils.

          As I mentioned in the comment and through this post, my main concern is that years down the road, people will have suffered some organ damage from freely ingesting oils without guidance from a professional. So I just encourage you to do your own research and perhaps look into some of the potential risks with daily ingesting oils so that you are fully informed, in case you haven’t already done so.