Ingestion and Oils Used as a Dietary Supplement

Essential Oils as Dietary Supplements

Essential oils that are certified food additives or generally regarded as safe by the food and drug administration may be safely taken internally and used as dietary supplements.  Ingesting essential oils should only be done under the care of a knowledgeable health care professional.

In many cases oils are more effective when taken orally and using very small amounts.  Essential oils should always be diluted in vegetable oil, blue agave nectar or rice milk prior to taking.  Dilution ratios may be altered depending on the strength of the oil being used.  For example oils like oregano, thyme and cinnamon are considered strong and will require a much higher dilution than relatively mild oils like lemon which may not require any dilution.

Usually, diluting one drop of oil in 1 teaspoon of blue agave nectar or a minimum of four ounces of the beverage of your choice may be required.

As a rule of thumb, one should not consume more than two to three drops of any essential oil over a four to eight our period of time.  Essential oils hare highly concentrated so one to two drops of oil are usually all that is required to receive the desired results.

Because of essential oils high concentration, they should be kept out of the reach of children and infants.  If more than five drops of oil are ingested at one time please contact your local poison control center or doctor immediately.

Essential oils should not be used as a dietary supplement to kids under the age of six.  Parents, we encourage you to exercise caution before giving any child essential oils orally, and oils should always be diluted prior to ingesting.

Visit us next week for information about cooking with essential oils.

Essential Oil Topical Application Overview

Bath Salt:  Place ten to fifteen drops of essential into two tablespoons of Epsom salts or baking soda and mix thoroughly.  Dissolve mixture in warm bathwater as the tub is filling.  For maximum benefits, soak for at least twenty minutes before using soap or shampoo.  the mixture can also be placed in a special shower head which is designed to hold essential oil and body salt mixtures.  Remain beneath the water stream for 10 minutes when using shower application.

Body Massage:  Use oils in a 20:80 ration of one part essential oils to four parts V6 Oil Complex or other carrier oil in conjunction with a full or partial body massage.

Compress:  Dilute one part essential oil with four parts V6 Oil Complex and apply eight to ten drops of mixture to the affected area.  Compresses can be either warm or cool in nature.  For a warm or hot compress, cover the treated area with a warm moist towel, covering immediately with a dry towel.  To create a cold compress, simply use a cool moist towel in place of a warm moist towel.

Dilute 50:50: As one would suspect you dilute one part essential oil to one part V6 Oil Complex or other carrier oil.

Dilute 20:80:  Similar to previous dilution methods but using one part essential oil to 4 parts V6 Oil Complex or other carrier oil.

Neat:  Neat means undiluted.  When applying essential oils neat use as directed on the afflicted area.  It is good practice to test for skin sensitivity when using essential oils neat.

Raindrop Technique:  Raindrop Therapy Technique is a process which was developed by D. Gary Young based on his research using essential oils as antimicrobial agents, his knowledge of the Vita Flex technique and the reflexology trigger points found on the feet and information on effleurage (or finger stroking, learned from the Lakota people of South Dakota) and its effects on the nervous system and muscles. Click here for the full instructions for performing Raindrop Technique.

Vita Flex:  Vita Flex is most commonly known as reflexology.Apply one to three drops of oil neat to the Vita Flex points on the feet as directed.  Click hear for Vita Flex chart.

Check back often for more information on essential oils and their uses.