Morning Brew: A publication by R.I.S.E. April 2020

A Legacy of Health & Wealth

WELLNESS THE NATURAL WAY

B Y R I C K M A K O W S K I

This is the third in a series on Wellness, the Natural Way and extends the topic of safety in addressing dosage and application/use of Essential Oils. As a refresh, some of the important aspects of safety are: Quality and Testing of the product, Dosage/Dilution, and Application.

Quality and Testing: Not all EOs are created equal and the adage “caveat emptor” – “Let the buyer beware” applies, especially with the explosion of these type of products in the marketplace. The message is; Do your homework! Understand how the company manages the process from where and how it is sourced, to how it is harvested, processed into an EO or natural product, tested for pureness and quality, then bottled and offered to market. A high quality EO will have a thorough history trail of that entire process and explain it to the public.

Let’s take sourcing as an example; a plant grown in the southeast US will have different chemical characteristics than the same plant grown in the northwest or in Brazil or India. Not only are the soil characteristics different but also the water and environment it grows in impacts the look, smell, and even taste of the plant, but especially its chemical composition. This equates to its effectiveness when processed as an EO. Maintaining consistency of the EO requires extensive background testing, planning, and management to ensure quality and effectiveness of the product.

Dosage/Dilution: From the previous article, “less is better”. Age and sensitivity are key factors, especially with young children and older adults. Using low-quality, altered, or synthetic essential oils dramatically increases the possibility of sensitivity or negative reactions and decreases the effectiveness of the oil. With a high quality EO that is pure oil and potent, only a small dose is needed to provide a benefit. How it is applied also factors into the dosage and dilution.

Some EOs are very potent and require special precautions for use with children or older adults. They may need to be diluted with a quality carrier oil (benign, nonreactive oil) to increase the surface area of application, reduce skin sensitivities or slow down the absorption of the EO. A reference guide to dosage can be found at: www.doterra.com/US/en/blog/healthy-living-essential-oils-guide-safety, courtesy of DoTerra. It is only for general guidelines as amounts also depend upon the type of EO.

Application: Methods include aromatic, topical and internal.Aromatic: An effective and the simplest way to experience EOs is by smelling them. Taking a whiff of an EO noted for calming effects can help to reduce anxiety in a stressful situation. Others noted for purifying the air are good in a diffuser especially during cold and flu season. A diffuser vibrates the water and EO at a very high frequency, outputting a very fine mist into the air.

It is important to use a diffuser designed for EOs. Since the oils are very potent, they may react with softer plastics and chemicals in the plastics could be released; do not put EOs in the traditional humidifiers many of us grew up with. It’s puzzling why many people are comfortable using the readily available artificial air fresheners and sprays but are unsure of using a quality EO in a diffuser. The topic of aromatherapy is a subject for another time.

Topical: Many EOs can be placed directly on the skin/body (with or without a carrier oil for dilution). Some require dilution as they are very potent. Its important to do your homework to understand the EO you are using, it’s properties and impacts. For instance, citrus EOs (to include blends of EOs with citrus) are photo-sensitive and react to sunlight. So, if applying one of these citrus based EOs topically, especially in the summer, put it where “the sun doesn’t shine”, or it can accelerate a sunburn.

General locations to apply EOs are the wrists or bottom of the feet (arch) as it is readily absorbed into the body. Other locations are more specific to the need and EO used. Combining topical with standard reflex points can increase the effect of the EO. A simple diagram of the hand reflexology points shows the respective points of major organs and body systems, Figure 1. There is a wealth of more specific information on reflex points of the feet, ears, etc. through a variety of sources.

Internal: Taken internally in a glass of water or a vegetable gel capsule is the most direct way to experience the benefit of EOs. It is important to understand the specifics of each EO as not all EOs are recommended for internal use. Additionally, quality is a factor since not all products are processed with the purity to be taken internally. It is recommended that one should proceed with caution on the use of EOs internally and consult with a health care professional well versed in the use of EOs.

The importance of Wellness is reaffirmed with the current anxiety over COVID-19. The state of being well, with a healthy immune system, gives one a much better chance at being able to weather thestorm. We will continue to learn of some of the natural tools in Mother Nature’s wellness “tool kit”.

This article is intended for your personal use and informational purposes only. You should consult with a physician before beginning any exercise, fitness, diet, or nutrition routine, especially if pregnant or have pre-existing health conditions. Nothing contained in this article should be considered as medical advice or diagnosis.

Rick & Betty Makowski are Wellness Advocates and use natural methods extensively.