Can You Ingest Essential Oils?

Can You Ingest Essential Oils?

Many people have asked if you can ingest essential oils. The answers are some you can ingest and some you cannot ingest. If you do ingest or use it in cooking, use the appropriate amount. For culinary use it is 1-2 drops, for therapeutic use it is 3-6 drops. With essential oils a little bit goes a long way. 

For culinary use, I personally love to add wild orange or lemon to club soda or smoothies, cinnamon in baking, oatmeal, yogurt, jams, or use herbs such as basil in cooking if I am lacking them in my cupboard. I suggest to NEVER take them directly ie. under your tongue and always dilute them. 

For therapeutic use, you can dilute them with 1 tbsp of an edible carrier oil like olive oil or coconut oil and take them by the spoonful or in a gel capsule. Certain oils such as clove, thyme, and black pepper are more potent than others such as spearmint so always start with a lesser amount.

Large professional organizations like National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) support safe, internal use. NAHA says, “Essential oils may be applied on the skin (dermal application), inhaled, diffused or taken internally. Each of these methods have safety issues which need to be considered.”

Additionally, many essential oils are found in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) list, which permits the use of certain essential oils for use in food products. Every substance found on this list has a well-documented history of safe use. Although essential oils have applications that extend far beyond these narrow parameters, this list sets general safety guidelines that can be applied to their internal use. We  recognize that some essential oils have traditional usage models that may lie outside of the normal evaluation or review as a food additive, but are a good base to reference.

 

Essential Oils Found on the GRAS List:

• Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

• Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)

• Black Pepper (Piper nigrum)

• Cassia (Cinnamomum cassia)

• Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)

• Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)

• Clove (Eugenia caryophyllata)

• Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) 

• Cumin (Cuminum cyminum)

• Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

• Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)

• Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

• Grapefruit (Citrus X paradisi)

• Juniper Berry (Juniperus communis)

• Lemon (Citrus limon)

• Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus)

• Lime (Citrus aurantifolia)

• Marjoram (Origanum majorana)

• Melissa (Melissa officinalis)

• Oregano (Origanum vulgare)

• Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

• Petitgrain (Citrus aurantium)

• Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis)

• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

• Spearmint (Mentha spicata)

• Tangerine (Citrus reticulate)

• Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

• Wild Orange (Citrus sinensis)

• Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata)

Most essential oils are very safe when used internally, but it is important to be aware of proper dosage protocols. The effective internal dose and frequency is dependent on many factors that vary widely from person to person. The necessary dose may change based on the age, size, and health status of the person, as well as their desired health benefit. When using essential oils internally, it is important to regard them with as much precaution as any other supplement. It is best to start with the lowest possible dose (1–2 drops) and then increase the dose as needed. The recommended internal dose of essential oils is 1–5 drops, depending on the oil or blend. After a certain point, taking a higher dose no longer adds benefit. If you take too much, it can even become harmful. It is better to take a smaller dose, which can be repeated every 4–6 hours as needed. In total, typically no more than 20 drops, divided into doses, should be consumed in a 24-hour period. The maximum dose may be lower or higher for some oils. If you consume near the maximum dose, you should not continue with that dose for an extended period of time. A lower daily dose is recommended for extended internal use. If a higher dose is desired, it should be taken only under the observation of a physician to ensure that no harm is occurring.

Essential Oils are very strong and they can interact with pharmaceuticals so consult with a physician before doing so. 

Overall, each individual is unique and each individual essential oil is unique. Ingesting essential oils should be consumed with precaution and are safe when used appropriately.