The essential oils market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.6 percent over the next few years according to Grand View Research, partially because these oils are now being used to enhance foods, beverages, cosmetics, and more.
To learn more about what causes these oils to be in such high demand—and how you can use them effectively if you are looking to enhance your health and wellness naturally—we reached out to Heather Easton, owner of Easton Essentials. This is what she told us.
Why Do People Come to You Seeking Essential Oils?
Many people come to me seeking a solution to an issue they’re having like digestive upsets, pain, or some sort of imbalance in their body’s health. Some may be “naturally-minded” from the beginning, while others may have tried traditional medicine with no success or experience negative side effects and then decide to try the holistic approach.
What are Some Reasons to Choose Oils Over Other Health and Wellness Options?
Overall, essential oils are safe for all ages, inexpensive per dose, and are very effective! There is also no concern for addiction. As a matter of fact, there are essential oils that can help support a healthy full-body response from addictions like smoking! I will make one disclaimer though: you may become addicted to growing your essential oil collection once you experience their powerful effects!
How Quickly Can Consumers Expect to See Results When Using Essential Oils? Do These Results Vary by Oil or Method of Use?
In many cases, results with essential oil usage – whether topically, aromatically, or internally – are almost immediate! Applying a drop of lavender essential oil to a minor burn can provide soothing relief from pain immediately and minimize swelling and blistering. Inhaling an essential oil through the nose is the quickest path to the olfactory system, which directly affects the limbic system, the system that controls our emotions. Inhaling an oil like wild orange will uplift your mood and stimulate a positive emotion almost immediately.
Many essential oils can also be used internally as a preventative measure! Using an oil blend like dōTERRA’s On Guard Protective blend internally on a daily basis can boost the immune system and prevent seasonal threats.
What are Some of the Biggest Mistakes You See People Make When Using Essential Oils?
One of the biggest mistakes I see people doing when using essential oils is choosing price over quality. Just because a label says it is 100% pure does not mean that it is. Unless the company is providing scientific proof, not just “lip service” or written claims, we really don’t know what is in their bottle or how pure and potent it is. This proof should also be confirmed by a third-party company, not just in-house testing which is something we often see in this industry. Adulteration in the essential oil world is huge, sadly!
Everyone wants a piece of the pie in this rapidly growing market and many will sacrifice purity and potency to obtain it. This is why you can buy frankincense essential oil at the grocery store for $9.99. This is an IMPOSSIBLE price for pure, high quality frankincense essential oil. Unfortunately, people will buy these oils and not get the results they’ve been promised, or worse yet, ingest them and get injured, and then base opinions of essential oil effectiveness and safety on that experience. Most essential oil injuries I have seen either happen from improper use or use of poor quality/adulterated essential oils.
Are Essential Oils Safe to Take Orally?
Absolutely! There are many essential oils that are considered GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) for consumption by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Do not be fooled by claims from companies that say they are the only company to have FDA approved essential oils. GRAS is a blanket statement for any essential oil that is on the FDA’s GRAS list; brand is irrelevant. Instead, concern yourself with the purity and potency of the essential oil you are choosing to ingest or use orally.
What Are a Few Best Practice Tips for Using Essential Oils?
One, do not sacrifice quality for price. Choose a high-quality essential oil like dōTERRA essential oils. Make sure the company is transparent about their quality and you have easy access to GCMS reports. If they don’t freely publish them or won’t provide them, I would not use them.
Two, I recommend diluting each essential oil when you first try it topically until you learn what strength is best for you and your family. Everybody is different, so essential oils will affect each person differently. Some people need more dilution than others. An adult will need less dilution than an infant or most animals.
Three, educate yourself! Be your own personal health and wellness advocate. Have resources on hand like The Essential Life book or Modern Essentials book to find usage suggestions for your specific ailments. Having these resources and doing your due diligence in educating yourself can truly empower you to take control of your own healthcare and that of your family’s.
What Sets dōTERRA Apart from Other Essential Oil Brands?
I will only use dōTERRA essential oils when it comes to internal or oral usage, or any usage for that matter! What I put ON my body is as important to me as what I put IN my body and dōTERRA focuses on purity and potency. You can verify this through their transparent website: www.SourceToYou.com. There, you can find GCMS reports on any batch of their essential oil singles. When considering internal or oral use specifically, purity must be one of the utmost important factors. You need to be able to verify that with scientific reports, not just claims made on the bottle’s label or an ad you see on the internet.
Many people that choose dōTERRA essential oils experience such profound, life changing results that they cannot help but share these beautiful gifts of the earth with others. When referrals purchase dōTERRA essential oils, dōTERRA compensates you for the referral’s purchase. Over time, many people are compensated enough to pay for their personal oil usage. We call this “Free Natural Health Care.” Many go on to share so much that they supplement or even replace their income with this compensation! Not only does dōTERRA empower us to take control of our health care but through this model, many become financially free with time freedom to pursue the things most important to them.
