Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Understanding Essential Oils Differences and Cautions

"Before embarking on the Therapeutic Index, may I remind the reader that, like any form of
treatment, Aromatherapy does not claim to be effective, by itself, for every ailment, nor for every patient, nor in every circumstance.  It must often be used in conjunction with other medications."
This quote taken from "The Practice of Aromatherapy" by Jean Valnet, MD edited by Robert Tisserand.

Essential oils are powerful, even lower quality oils can have caution concerns.  They should never be in the hands of children.
You should be responsible if you're administering for yourself or your family, to have reference books such as listed here, not from a company promoting their sales. You get what you pay for, no oils should all be the same price.  Oils never should be in clear glass or plastic bottles.  And the more testing to prove their quality above a GCMS which is usually based on the companies standard, not clinical standards.
"Aromatherapy users make up a negligible part of the worldwide market for essential oils.  Perfume and FOOD (yes we do ingest essential oils, as flavoring in foods & drinks) manufacturers, together with the pharmaceutical industry, are the main consumers.  Sadly, neither of the first two is concerned primarily with purity, but rather require the oils they buy to conform to a set standard.  Without adulteration, this is IMPOSSIBLE, to achieve, since essential oils are like wine -- they have good and not so good years, and their aromas and flavors vary accordingly.  When an oil fails to meet a customer's requirement, steps may be taken to bring it up to the required standard by adding: poorer quality oil, a single aromatic constituent (natural or synthesized) or alcohol.  As a result, sources of PURE essential oils have diminished, and it is doubtful if supply will meet the increase in demand predicted." This quote taken from "Aromatherapy for Common Ailments" by Shirley Price.

Because companies want essential oils to please their customers, to smell nice, to be enticing, the broker will take measures to make the oils comply to customer (companies) standards.  With a true, clinical grade essential oil, these must pass a standard set by research institutions around the world, the standard used in clinical trials and studies.  They won't smell sweet like candy, or perfume, they'll be as they are true in nature.   They must pass more tests than any other companies are currently putting their oils through.  They do this so they can prove their purity.  No there is no government entity regulating essential oils at this time.  This is why all those companies can do as they please, without consequences.  However, the FDA has come down heavily upon a few companies, essential oils and nutrition's, for basically false claims and false marketing.  The only regulatory standard is the one set by the world research clinical studies institutions.  And this is the highest standard, and the only standard Ameo will always meet.  What they do with all batches of essential oils that do not meet that clinical standard (GCMS as well as additional testing), it's rejected to the broker who simply sells it to the next company on his list.  Think about this... what do you want?

Some of those FDA compliance problems companies have to deal with are mainly to do with Safety
Precautions and false claims.  Essential Oils are NOT cure-all's.  Your best option is to have true books from world renown aromatherapy and essential oil experts.  For example: those authors and books I've recommended in this Blog and several past Blogs.  When a book is from the company, the information is specific to the sales of their oils and their blends.  Cautions are not often listed or complete. 
"The Integrated Guide to  Essential Oils &Aromatherapy " quotes several of these world renown experts.  

Safety Data:  Always check with specific SAFETY DATA or CAUTIONS before using a new oil, especially with regard to toxicity levels, phototoxicity, dermal irritation and sensitization.

Contra-Indications: Take note of any contra-indications when using particular oils.  For example: Fennel, Hyssop and Sage should be avoided by Epileptics; Clary Sage should not be used while drinking alcohol; Hops should not be used by anyone suffering from depression.   
(There are many oils that should not be used by children under certain ages, people with certain medical conditions especially pregnancy, and persons taking certain medications.)

High Blood Pressure: Avoid the following oils in cases of high blood pressure: Hyssop, Rosemary, Sage (all types) and Thyme.

Homeopathy: Homeeopathic treatment is not compatible with the following oils: Black Pepper, Camphor, Eucalyptus', and the Mint oils.

Pregnancy: During pregnancy use essential oils in half the usual stated amount.  Take note of those oils which are contra-indicated in pregnancy.

Babies and Children: Use with care, in accordance with age. Do NOT let your children apply essential oils on themselves, not their feet, not from a roller ball blend with carrier oil.  Treat essential oils as medication, it's not candy, it's powerful.
Babies (0-12 months): use 1 drop of Lavender, Rose, Chamomile or Mandarin diluted in 1 teaspoon base (carrier) oil for massage or bathing.
Infants (1-5 yrs): Use 2-3 drops of "safe" essential oils (non-toxic and non irritant to the skin), diluted in 1 teaspoon base (carrier) oil for massage or bathing.
Children (6-12 yrs): Use as for adults but in half the stated amount.  Several oils are not recommended for children under age 12)
Teenagers (over 12 yrs): Use as directed for adults, consider cautions always.
These Safety Precautions are quoted from "The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils" by Julia Lawless

Important Note: Quotes taken from "The Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils" by Kurt Schnaubelt, PhD. 
Everything that is said about the potential physiological and therapeutic quantities of essential oils
pertains ONLY to authentic essential oils.
As a result, the customer may find that French and European essential oils are mentioned more frequently than those from other sources.  The reason for this is part historic and part economic.  Of course authentic essential oils can be produced all over the planet.  However, only in France and some regions around the Mediterranean can artisanal distillers make a modest living by producing essential oils exclusively for use in aromatherapy.  This is the reason that specialties such as the chemotypes of Thyme, the decumbens variety of Hyssop, or simply Helichrysum italicum mostly originate in France.
In the case of essential oils from the global, industrial "drive the price down" economy, the likelihood of becoming subject to the everyday deception inherent in almost all industrial products increases exponentially.

(As of Sept 25, 2014 through Zija International, Dr Joshua Plant PhD, combined the information for GCMS among several other tests, to a MIT super computer of information.  Then Ameo was launched, after they could prove they meet all standards set by clinical studies and research institutions, to be the first and only true clinical grade essential oil available to the general public.)
http://ClinicalGradeEssentialOils.myameo.com 

Essential Oils vs Herbal Extracts Quote continued same book...
Research into pharmacological properties of medicinal plants often concentrates on components found in the alcoholl (or water) extract.  A recurrent issue in aromatherapy is the attribution of those results to the essential oil of the same plant.  This is problematic, as many of the extracted molecules are different from those found in the essential oil.  Frankincense essential oil is an example.  The properties of Boswallic Acid, isolated from Frankincense RESIN, by extraction, are often attributed to Frankincense essential oil, even though there is NO boswellic acid in the essential oil.
Critics have discredited such claims as aromatherapy exuberance.  From a pharmacological standpoint, there is no reason to expect the properties of the eextractedd, large water-soluble molecules to be identical to those found in the essential oil.  Except that occasionally there is the odd observation that essential oils reflect the properties of extracts of the same plant, even thought the active components of the extract are not present.
An evolutionary perspective might shed some light on this.  As plants have evolved to master their challenges, their secondary metabolites, water soluble, and lipophilic, all work toward the same goal.  It is conceivable that lipophilic components of the plant ultimately have similar effects as the polar ones.  While there is no boswellic acid in Frankincense essential oil, it is not impossible that components of the essential oil do have identical or similar properties as boswellic acid. 

(Boswellic acid usually comes in capsule form, and is often used in therapeutic properties for treatment of cancer.  Frankincense essential oil is not used in treatment of cancer, but can be used in support of the body healing or comfort.)

The Myth of Objective Consciousness Continued quote from same book...
The old and patently wrong contention that essential oils are random waste products of the plant metabolism arises from what is now an out-dated scientific mindset.  Chemists did, of course, recognize that plants had essential oils.  HOwever, since knowledge of molecules alone did nothing to explain their purpose in nature, they were declared random and useless at least until such time that rational science could lift the veil of random uselessness by proving some pharmacological properties.  The fundamental irrationality of this attitude within rational science itself is never admitted.  It shows, however, that the rigid insistence on a rational explanation for everything can itself turn into a deep cultural myth.  Theodore Raszak has aptly called this phenomenon the "Myth of Objective Consciousness."

Practical Applications of Essential Oils Continued quoting from same book...
In China essential oils are generally applied either externally as ointments or creams or internally, added to herbal preparations shortly before consumption.  Such applications are aimed at nourishing the "blood" and the endocrine system.  Another classic application of essential oils in Chinese medicine, mainly from the yuan qi perspective, is to "glue wounds", which is directed at chronic and non-healing ulcers.

Considerations for the Practicing Therapist Continued quoting from same book... (My quote)


Essential oils offer opportunities for patient care on several levels: acute care, relief in chronic cases, and relief for mental-emotional distress.  Their volatile nature and low molecular weight allow them to disperse through the body quickly, generally in less than 2 minutes.  They can be applied in the office for acute and chronic conditions, and after a brief period of observation, both the clinician and the patient can determine whether or not the protocol will have a positive effect.  Quality is clinically relevant and improved results have been obvious with moving to higher quality essential oils.
(This is where Naturopathic physicians may not be aware of Ameo as a first
and only true clinical grade essential oil.  A "good" physician will be open minded to research for themselves.  And a "good" physician or health store, will also provide the quality of Ameo clinical grade oils even if they also offer a lesser quality oil (for cost, or project uses).  Any Naturopathic or Health Store that is not open minded to even research Ameo, and learn about the quality difference of a true clinical grade, is not one with Integrity to be trusting your health with.)Naturopathic physicians are well positioned to understand and make effective clinical use of essential oils.  Side effects are rare, generally minimal, and self-limiting, making essential oils a prime illustration of primum non nocere "First do no harm".  Essential oils work quickly, safely, and reliably, and they add the benefit of increasing the confidence of both doctor and patient.

(Here again, trust only a Certified Clinical Specialist, Elite Specialist, or Clinical Master in essential oils when you're taking advice from a lay-person.  Taking a basic certified aromatherapy course, does not make them qualified to suggest therapeutic treatments.)

Essential oils are cost-effective, portable in a multiple-size practice, lend themselves to custom formulation and dispensing, and take up little office space.  Protocols are easy to learn and apply -- leading to increased patient compliance and therefore better clinical results.  While effective on their own, they also combine well with other protocols, including botanical medicine, diet and nutritional counseling, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, and bodywork.

(iEO certification is equivalent to a 19 course or Elite Clinical Master of Aromatherapy & Essential oils.  I'll also post a photo of a book for Physicians) Books mentioned in this Blog available on Amazon.com 

 
 

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