Using Essential Oils

Our Herb Group (Lakeside) today heard a Lakesider, Karen Glassford, speak about “What’s in the bottle” this morning, about discerning the quality and efficacy of the essential oils that are now all the rage for a variety of health conditions from sleep, to changes in hormones, to skin problems.
Karen said her life was made better once she discovered essential oils

• better sleep,
• emotional support,
• more energy,
• better mood,
• better digestion,
• limited seasonal allergies,
• immune support
• non-toxic cleaning, youth renewal

She encouraged us to READ THE LABEL.  Many oils are diluted with synthetics, plasticizers, solvents, and may contain heavy metals, pesticide residue and a variety of impurities.  That didn’t shock me as much as this: the FDA regulations allow the manufacturer/bottler to claim 100% essential oil if it contains just 5% actual oil.

She encouraged us to buy “farm to table” if possible, knowing the grower and methods.  The grower really needs to be in control of the agricultural practice (such as soil, seeds, harvesting at peak), and be the owner, the distilling, quality control and testing, the use of fillers, and rejection standards. Always look for the amber glass—never buy from Amazon or a large distributor who is a long way from the grower.

I didn’t get a bibliography, but she often referred to Dr. Doug Corrigan, https://revolutionoilspodcast.com/revolution-podcast/essential-oils-vs-pharmaceuticals  and Dr. David Stewarthttp://www.thewholedog.org/WhyEssentialOilsHealandDrugsDont.pdf .  When I looked them up, one reviewer said Stewart’s book had a lot of errors, but I would not be able to judge.