Probably the most controversial topic in Essential Oil circles is that of INTERNAL USE.
Some people caution against using oils internally, but as long as you educate yourself and take some precautions, many oils are safe and beneficial to use this way.
The most common way to use Essential Oils internally is by putting one or two drops in your water, juice, coffee, tea, or smoothie. Essential Oils enhance the flavor of many drinks and offer wellness benefits at the same time.
Other ways to use Essential Oils internally include cooking with oils, placing a drop under your tongue, or putting a few drops in a Veggie Capsule and swallowing.
For many issues, aromatic or topical application can do the trick just great. However, INTERNAL USE of Essential Oils has its own benefits for various systems and issues. This method is especially effective for:
• Cleansing the body and its systems*.
• Promoting healthy cell function*.
• Supporting gastrointestinal health*.
• Maintaining healthy immune function*.
• Maintaining healthy metabolism*.
• Alleviating occasional feelings of stomach discomfort, gas, and bloating*.
• Promoting healthy cardiovascular system function*.
• Helping calm the nervous system.
Even if you’ve never purposely placed drops of Essential Oil in your water or food, you most likely HAVE used them internally without realizing it. Citrus Essential Oils are found in the rinds of their fruits. When you eat an orange or put a lemon in your water, you are probably ingesting trace amounts of Essential Oils. Practicing INTERNAL USE of oils is simply getting a larger, more concentrated dose.
Once the oil is in the body, its components are transported throughout the body, just as when it’s used aromatically or topically. The difference is that the oil’s components get into the bloodstream via the gastrointestinal tract rather than the respiratory system. Essential Oils are processed, metabolized, and excreted just as other things we eat and drink are.
You now know WHY you may want to use Essential Oils internally, but what do you need to know to do so SAFELY? Here are a few safety precautions explained:
• ONLY use high quality, third-party tested Essential Oils. If your bottle says “for aromatic use only” that’s a clue that you shouldn’t use that oil internally. Many oils out there are NOT food-grade oils. They are lower-quality oils meant to be used as air fresheners. You want to make sure any oil you ingest is free of contaminants, pesticides, and fillers. More on that later!
• Many oils are approved by the FDA as GRAS (generally recognized as safe to consume). However, NOT all Essential Oils are suitable for internal use, even if they are of the highest quality. Check your bottle. If it has nutrition and supplement facts on it, the oil may be used internally. If not, stick to aromatic or topical use.
• Be mindful and extra cautious of “hot oils.” These are oils that are more likely to cause irritation to the skin or mucus membranes, such as Cinnamon, Cassia, Clove, Oregano, and Thyme. When ingesting these, or other, hot oils, heavily dilute with an appropriate carrier oil and/or use a Veggie Cap to protect your mouth, throat, and stomach lining from irritation.
• Practice proper dosage. This is beyond the scope of this class, as it varies, depending on age, weight, and other personal issues, so talk with an aromatherapist or wellness advocate about how many drops to use and how often.
SOURCE: doTERRA eBook, Internal Use of Essential Oils https://media.doterra.com/us/en/ebooks/internal-use.pdf
QUESTION – HAVE YOU EVER USED ESSENTIAL OILS INTERNALLY?
