It’s true. We used to have such a vibrant relationship, the essential oil blogs and I, but all of that has changed now. We used to spend hours {and hours, and hours} together, I was so eager to learn and try everything so clearly spelled out for me . . . and then one day, it all got so complicated. That fateful day, my little boy got sick. It was the flu, and a bad strain of it too {shoot, now I feel like Dr. Seuss}. I turned to those oily blogs I loved for help, advice on how to relieve his symptoms. Where I was looking for direction, I found only confusion. This blog said use this essential oil, that blog said never use that essential oil; her blog said use an essential oil blend, that blog said don’t ever use that blend. Do this, make that; don’t do that, don’t make that. I spun around and around and around; meanwhile, my little boy just needed a little relief!
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Here’s the deal: I prefer natural options for my family, but I need to know that
#1. It works–and not just because so & so’s mother’s friend says so. Give me the evidence.
#2. It’s safe–I don’t mess around where my kids are concerned. Give me the evidence.
#3. The dose–ya’ll, I don’t like to overdose, or underdose for that matter. Give me the evidence.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love my essential oils! In fact, my stash has out grown my current storage container as of this week thanks to the addition of organic bergamot and Roman chamomile. I use them frequently and I highly recommend them! However, my family is not a family of guinea pigs {granted, they do make enough of a mess to be . . . }. When I pull out an essential oil, I need to know that it is safe to use, that it is effective for what I’m treating or cleaning, and how much I actually need.
After not being able to find the answers to my questions, I was rather frustrated. I want to be able to use natural remedies confidently . . . and if I can’t, I’m better off turning to a conventional treatment.
It was then that I stumbled upon Vintage Remedies. I clicked through the site and read the following description:
Tired of getting conflicting information on essential oil safety and appropriate uses?
And I wanted to scream “YES!!!!!!!!!!!!“
And then I read that the course would cover “which popular essential oil claims are simply sensationalism and which uses are rooted in modern scientific evidence” and I was hooked. So, I excitedly purchased the courseand started right away. Let me tell you, I learned SO MUCH from this class!
So here is why I’m not reading essential oil blogs anymore:
#1. Since taking this class through Vintage Remedies, I am confident in my use of essential oils because it equipped me with the evidence and knowledge I need. I now know which essential oil will be effective for what I am treating, that it is a safe oil for my intended purpose, and how much I need to use–I don’t need to turn to anecdotal advice anymore.
#2. Essential oil safety guidelines on the internet ranges from too safe & cautious, to not safe enough. I’ve used certain essential oils in ways I shouldn’t have at the advice of well meaning and/or well respected blogs, and I’ve forgone using an effective essential oil in ways I could have used it at the advice of well meaning and/or well respected blogs. There is a middle ground between overly cautious and not cautious enough, and it lies in an evidence based approach.
#3. Essential oil ingestion. Some blogs are a little ingestion-crazy {if you ask me} and others insist that any and all ingestion is completely dangerous. The evidence based approach Vintage Remedies employs on this topic is refreshing. Not only that, when ingesting an essential oil is appropriate, I have safe, and effective recipes from my coursework to utilize! This was immensely helpful when a stomach bug swept through the house recently–I had the tools to make an anti-nausea syrup for my hubby when he needed it. Better yet, I knew the dosage and that it was a safe and effective treatment–no guesswork!
#4. Since completing this course, I am astounded at how much essential oil misinformation there is. Yes, there are good resources and great information to be found over the internet, but many of the sources I thought were good, simply aren’t. I don’t want to play a guessing game when my family is involved.
#5. Cleaning. I admit, I’m a bit of a germaphobe. I’ve been making the switch to natural cleaners over the last year, and I’ve used many recipes from blogs I follow. Many have used essential oils in the formulas for their various anti-microbial and anti-viral properties, but now I know the formulations are lacking in the minimum inhibitory concentration needed to reap any of those benefits. If my natural cleaner isn’t doing what I need it to do, I might as well revert to using the chemicals!
#6. Essential oils are great, but they do have their limitations. Sometimes the whole plant or herb may be an effective treatment when the oil is not. When that is the case, I want to know! The Herbalism course is on my list of courses I want to take. Yes, the courses will cost a little, but it is an investment. Besides, knowledge and confidence when it comes to my family’s health is priceless!
Investing in natural health and essential oils doesn’t benefit my family or I if we don’t know how to use them safely and effectively. I am SOO glad I invested a little in taking classes through Vintage Remedies and I seriously cannot recommend them enough if you are just getting into essential oils, have used them for awhile, or are looking for an evidence based approach to natural health and essential oils.
(Note: this post contains affiliate links. You can read my full disclosure policy here.)
Post linked at A Mama’s Story, A Little R & R, Mom’s Morning Coffee, The Deliberate Mom
Ahh, yes! So much conflicting information. I think a lot of people operate under the assumption that they are natural so they can’t hurt you. I would love to take the course from Vintage Remedies…someday. =)
Right! I’ve assumed that as well at times. Thanks for reading!
I really want to take this class and learn everything I need of how to use essential oils and not to play guessing game! THank you so much for sharing, pinning it for my pinterest followers!
Thank you for reading and sharing!
I do agree that there is a lot of conflicting information out there. I think that is because what works for one family may not work for another. Everyone reacts to oils (and other medicines for that matter) differently. I would highly recommend you invest in an essential oils book if you haven’t. They are written by aromatherapists and the true experts, and are always my #1 go to resource for oil related questions.
I agree as well that everyone reacts differently and we all have different preferences (I may not like the smell of an oil you love), but we still need a way of knowing the safety information. I’ve found conflicting information even among trained aromatherapists because not all recommendations are actually evidence based (e.g. is eucalyptus safe to use on a 3 year old? Some trained aromatherapists would say yes, some would say until until 10+ years old). This is what makes an evidence based approach so important to me. I don’t want to experiment on my kids, but I also don’t want to forgo an effective remedy because an ultra-safe approach did not take the safety evidence into account. Thanks for reading and commenting Tiffany!
Hi Carrie, you are right to be cautious, I used to be well into essential oils. Loving the fact that they were all natural little miracle bottles, but the more I learned the wary I became…And I once used too many drops of peppermint oil in a bath (not advisable), although the water was hot my skin felt horrible and cold.
I now use a few to help keep mosquitoes at bay and rub a drop or two citronella and lavender oil over the dogs coats to help deter the sandflies during the summer.
I love using them in burners at least then they are safe and make the house smell nice.
Yes, there can be a lot of conflicting information when it comes to oils.
Good for you that you found the help you needed and now you have the confidence to do what you can to help your family.
Thanks for sharing and for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop.
Wishing you a lovely weekend.
xoxo
OMG I am so glad I stopped by the SHINE blog hop to read this post! I, too am a NYR Organic consultant and I also took courses at Vintage Remedies! I just completed (in December) the Food Pharmacology course (no longer being offered) and the Family Herbalist course! I am the same way – show me the evidence!!!!! Nice to “meet” such a like minded individual!!
Thanks for sharing this info here. Sifting through conflicting information to separate the wheat from the chaff and help people understand the true benefits of essential oils and the right ways to use them is indeed a tough job.