Essential oil is all the rage lately, with good reason. It is considered as a natural remedy with incredible power. Mostly, an essential oil is safe and free of adverse side effects when used properly. It is wise to use it in the right dose just like the prescription in the bottle said. For any good medicine can easily turn into poison with the wrong dose. Be wise and be intelligent!
Is it okay to ingest essential oil?
Did you know that it takes about 256 pounds of peppermint leaf to make one pound of peppermint essential oil? What does that fact trying to tell you? A very small amount of essential oil often has the qualities of many cups of herbal tea from the same plant. For instance, a drop of peppermint essential oil is equivalent to 26-28 cups of peppermint tea. Interesting fact, isn’t it? Will you ingest that many cups of herbal tea in one day? Of course, you wouldn’t, right? That is the reason why you should think twice before consuming the equivalent amount of essential oil. So it’s a big No No to drinking it. Remember, with great power comes great responsibility. This isn’t about forbidden people to use essential oil but, they should use it carefully, with proper knowledge and in safe dose.
How about applying essential oil on the skin?
That depends on your type of skin. Some, who applied on their skin, doesn’t have any effect but another has a skin allergic reaction. The truth is, essential oil mostly doesn’t work or suitable for those who have sensitive skin.
What factors should I notice before using essential oil?
It is good to check how to use the essential oil from the prescription written on the label before using it for different kinds of essential oil might differ in the utilization. There are actually three things that you can pay attention to as written below:
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Dosage
Just like potion can turn into poison with a lethal dose, it is an important factor for you to use essential oil in its safety dosage. Researches and Studies reported that some essential oils used in the wrong amount of dose have been found to contribute to tumor development and other harmful changes in the body. It can also damage the skin, liver, and other organs if used improperly.
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Purity
It’s not uncommon for essential oil to be diluted with other chemicals, with similar smelling, like vegetable oil. This has a bad side and good side. The bad side is you might be disappointed if you want to buy the pure one but later found out that what you bought is not pure. The good side is it makes the expensive essential oil like rose, affordable and safer. (FYI, rose essential oil can cause you $100 equal to IDR 1.300.000 per teaspoon when pure)
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Application method
An essential oil that is safe when applied in one way may not be safe when used in another way. Some might be safe if inhaled, yet may cause irritation if applied to the skin. Several essential oils can even cause phototoxicity (severe bumps or skin cancer) if there is exposure to natural sunlight.
If possible, try to ask advice from profession before purchase one and never ever try to ingest this oil because it’s highly concentrated, therefore; it might bring harmful effects to your body and overall health.
What are the consequences for applying essential oil improperly for the skin?
Well, it can affect your inner health if you ingest or inhale it and give you a skin problem if you apply it to sensitive skin. The dermal or skin reactions that may occur with essential oil areas includes:
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Irritation
A dermal irritant usually will produce an immediate effect of irritation on the skin. The reaction will be represented as blotchy or redness, which may be painful to some people. If you happened to experience this after using an essential oil, directly stop the application at once.
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Sensitization
Dermal sensitization is a type of allergic reaction that occurs on first exposure to a substance. Prolonged use will mostly result in severe inflammatory and will be represented on the skin as blotchy or redness. The best way to prevent the sensitization is to avoid applying the same essential oil every day for a lengthy period of time. This medical condition may occur to one person but not the other, depending on their sensitivity towards allergen.
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Phototoxicity/photosensitization
An essential oil that has this quality will cause burning or skin pigmentation changes, such as tanning, on exposure to the sun. Reactions can be varied from mild color to deep weeping burn. If you use one that has the effect of photosensitizing, do not ever go sunbathing at least twenty-four hours after treatment. It will only increase the harmful effects of photosensitizing essential oil.
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Mucous membrane irritant
This medical condition will produce a heating or drying effect on the mucous membranes of the mouth, eyes, nose and reproductive organs. It’s not recommended to use this kind of essential oil in full body bath.
Bottom line
This little oil truly has a powerful effects a remedy but when to apply improperly can cause many damages to body organs such as eyes, nose, mouth and even skin. It is forbidden to ingest this oil because it will put you at a high risk for cancer. If you decide to purchase and use one, make sure you have the proper knowledge and education for using it properly. Seriously, you don’t want to play along with this oil. Never ever underestimated what an essential oil can do to you. Those who have experienced the damages caused by it can only regret.
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