Hi,
Prior to starting the discussion and information on the various essential oils and absolutes, I wanted to address the issue of people like me, who have MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivities). This is the reason or one of them, that I became interested in aromatherapy and herbalism and decided to pursue certifications in them. I too, have MCS's, and using natural things, making them myself and keeping my own recipes, especially combined with an indepth knowledge of the essential/absolute oils, as well as various herbs, makes this so much easier than the hit or miss, usually miss, things that I have gotten disgusted with trying that are available in stores today.
I've been in this field for about 20 years and have found only two essential oils that I'm sensitive to at all. This is from using well over 100+ oils. Mine will probably be different than any you might run into, if indeed, you run into any at all.
I will tell you this, if you're allergic to oranges, stay away from Sweet Orange oil. Same with anything that you know you're allergic to in the first place, the oil is the strongest part of that plant that you'll ever find.
How to test for a sensitivity.
Take 2 drops of the selected essential oil and a teaspoon of your choice of a carrier oil that YOU KNOW you're not allergic or sensitive to -- even if it's plain old corn oil out of your cupboard, it's something to mix the essential oil in. Take those two drops and mix them into the teaspoonful of the carrier and carefully dab a teeny bit on the inside of your arm, with a cotton swab, halfway between the wrist and the elbow. Wait a few minutes. If you see any redness, or feel any burning or itching - wash it right off. Don't use that oil.
I'm actually not expecting this to happen, but it is always better to be safe than sorry, like after you've spent time and effort to mix up a blend that you love.
In aromatherapy and herbalism, first -- do no harm. Second, do your skin tests if you're one that has many other allergies and always remember, these are very strong oils.
What Kind of Oils Do You Want?
You want oils that have been tested, therapeutic grade oils, tested with a GC/MS testing - gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) system. What does that do? It a company to go beyond gas chromatography (GC) testing in determining the exact chemical makeup of oils. It is especially useful in being able to detect and specifically identify commonly used essential oil adulterants. Meaning this - do you want pure, therapeutic grade oils? Oils that you can trust as not to have any added to put it this way, junk or things to stretch the oils so as to make more of a profit in them? Things that you or one you care for, just might have a reaction to? Do you want oils that you'll always know contain no other elements than what they're supposed to, oils that are pure, contain no pesticides -- oils that you can trust? Then you want oils that are GC/MS tested ONLY. Feel free to ask any company that you wish to purchase oils from. If they tell you, as one did to me (and they did not get my business), that they check off and on, not every batch or distillation that came in, then they're not doing it.
Don't be afraid if buying online to email or call a company first and ask them. Don't be afraid also to ask if they'll be willing to send a copy of their tests with your order, for any oil you buy. A good company will do this, or at least be able to assure you that they do, indeed test it all.
If you're buying in a health food store, or an herbal/aromatherapy shop, I can tell you that Frontier Brand oils are tested as well as Aura Cacia. Aura Cacia has just added their Mass Spectrum testing along with the G/C testing that they've already been doing, and Frontier does both. So, there are some available that are not on the 'net. Hope this helps some of you a little bit.
The other thing that I just remembered is, don't purchase an oil that you don't like, or don't like the scent of -- just because someone told you it's great. They're your recipes, feel free to use mine with your own choices of essentials and keep them to the ones you truly like. You'll find plenty!
Marilyn
mn - 2007
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Comments: 9
I would suggest keeping a list of things you have tried for reaction, scents you really enjoyed, and things that you showed sensitvities to.
Stetson? Cough, choke, wheeze, sneeze, etc's. If Mark's going to wear a mens cologne, I make it. Same with me.
I like lemongrass too, but I'm rather picky about where I get it, and it does tend to work on mosquitoes as well as citronella does, both fragrant grasses, but nothing works like catnip oils does---there've been actual tests that back that one up :)
Shawnee - I also have MCS, so everyone of my cleaners is natural. I don't know why the cleaner companies think that things have to STINK before people will buy them! Hives are not good :)
Vis - What's Applelinks? I don't know.
I thought it would be better to start off with this article being that everyone is sensitive to something, some of us, a lot, like me!
Hugs,
Marilyn - better safe than sorry!
Can anyone explain to me why I am allergic to the plant, Lavender, but I can use the essential oil without a problem???? It doen't really make sense to me, but it is so! I can't have the plant around my house, can't trim it or touch it, but I can use lavender e. oil in the bath. go figure!