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Essential Oils
Replies
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ForecasterJason wrote: »
Yes, the skin down there is much more sensitive compared to other body parts. *facepalm*
Source: I learned the hard way.4 -
I use a lemongrass eo spray I make to deter mosquitoes and fleas on myself and my pets...tea tree oil is great for fungal infections and a lot of others just smell nice. Most of health cures are pseudoscience and hype in my opinion, though.
Also, keep in mind that a lot of the oils are toxic to pets, especially cats. Don't put anything on a cat with researching it first.1 -
Lots of anecdotes here. I did a quick search to get some facts and here's what I found:
fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/2014/ucm416023.htm
https://skeptoid.com/blog/2014/04/05/essential-oil-claims-the-dangers-keep-on-coming//
https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/doterra-multilevel-marketing-of-essential-oils
ETA: Found another one
fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/2014/ucm415809.htm2 -
WeepingAngel81 wrote: »paulgads82 wrote: »EvgeniZyntx wrote: »paulgads82 wrote: »Anecdotal, I've always found peppermint tea good for cramps, but I'd rather not have it up my rear.
Coffee enema or GTFO!
You don't want to know how many people have advised this to cure my chronic illness. Ok its 3 but that's 3 too many.
No way
And they meant it for real?!?!? Holy buckets!
No approved treatments. Everything currently still in trial. A charlatan's wet dream.1 -
I've used them and felt that they helped.0
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There are some that beneficial like Eucalyptus.
Evidently Eucalyptus is supposed to be beneficial in reducing the quantity of dust mites in our environment ... or at least slowing them down and confusing them or something.
I have a dust mite allergy for which I am being treated by an allergist, but in the interest of helping myself as well, I wash things in a high heat and use Eucalyptus products in my wash. I also spray the bedroom with Eucalyptus spray now and then. I figure at the very least it smells nice ...
I have also picked up a Lavender spray because it is supposed to be a relaxing scent which might help a person get a better night's sleep. Who knows. But again, it smells nice.
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I don't feel like going back and finding the specific post that mentioned it, but your skin can definitely be a delivery method for certain drugs. We know without debate that some chemicals can and do enter your bloodstream through topical application. This is how we can use nicotine patches, birth control/other hormone patches, pain relief patches. Skin is an organ. This is why everybody on earth has triclosan in their bodies. Phthalates, parabens, nanoparticles, hormone disruptors...When you apply personal care products to your skin, many of their constituents appear in your bloodstream. http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/
That being said, many modern medicines come from plants. I am sure that some holistic remedies may have some beneficial use.0 -
CorneliusPhoton wrote: »I don't feel like going back and finding the specific post that mentioned it, but your skin can definitely be a delivery method for certain drugs.
We know without debate that some chemicals can and do enter your bloodstream through topical application. This is how we can use nicotine patches, birth control/other hormone patches, pain relief patches. Skin is an organ. This is why everybody on earth has triclosan in their bodies. Phthalates, parabens, nanoparticles, hormone disruptors...When you apply personal care products to your skin, many of their constituents appear in your bloodstream. http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/
That being said, many modern medicines come from plants. I am sure that some holistic remedies may have some beneficial use.
Yep, please go back and see my post, I did not state that transdermal drug delivery doesn't exist or isn't effective - however, effective transdermal dosage is generally higher than oral and doesn't target specific organs without systemic bioavailability.
And while many medicines do come from plants and some holistic remedies do have some beneficial use we have here in this thread confusion between oral delivery of a drug and some selective transport mechanism to the colon due to ... either what appears to be a magical method of transport or assumed, but incorrect proximity.
If someone is going to claim that rubbing a few drops of product x on your skin targets specific organs, I'd expect some strong proof.
Wouldn't you?4 -
singingflutelady wrote: »Yeah, I have never been told that putting peppermint oil on my stomach will help with my Crohn's (though people who have no clue about this disease have given me lots of wacky "cure" speeches). Rubbing oil on my stomach isn't going to make the pain go away. Peppermint tea helps minimally but that actually gets in your digestive system
peppermint and ginger can help with indigestion and nausea. i used a tea with those for my ulcers and it helped except for when i had autoimmune flares. but i would never tell someone with chron's or any other disease to use it unless they talked to their dr.0 -
EvgeniZyntx wrote: »CorneliusPhoton wrote: »I don't feel like going back and finding the specific post that mentioned it, but your skin can definitely be a delivery method for certain drugs.
We know without debate that some chemicals can and do enter your bloodstream through topical application. This is how we can use nicotine patches, birth control/other hormone patches, pain relief patches. Skin is an organ. This is why everybody on earth has triclosan in their bodies. Phthalates, parabens, nanoparticles, hormone disruptors...When you apply personal care products to your skin, many of their constituents appear in your bloodstream. http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/
That being said, many modern medicines come from plants. I am sure that some holistic remedies may have some beneficial use.
Yep, please go back and see my post, I did not state that transdermal drug delivery doesn't exist or isn't effective - however, effective transdermal dosage is generally higher than oral and doesn't target specific organs without systemic bioavailability.
And while many medicines do come from plants and some holistic remedies do have some beneficial use we have here in this thread confusion between oral delivery of a drug and some selective transport mechanism to the colon due to ... either what appears to be a magical method of transport or assumed, but incorrect proximity.
If someone is going to claim that rubbing a few drops of product x on your skin targets specific organs, I'd expect some strong proof.
Wouldn't you?
Of course. It was somebody else back there who said that the skin only functions as a barrier. I was too lazy to go back and quote them specifically.0 -
Ok Bit the bullet...
Anything applied topically has a difficult time getting into the blood stream. That's actually the purpose of skin; it acts as a barrier for all the things we are exposed to in daily life. Evolution works wonders on that.
Absorbing deep into the skin means it goes "deep" into a thin layer; it does not enter the blood stream.
And claims that essential oils or carrier oils can is just hype to sell their products.
We know without debate that some chemicals can and do enter your bloodstream through topical application. This is how we can use nicotine patches, birth control/other hormone patches, pain relief patches. Skin is an organ. This is why everybody on earth has triclosan in their bodies. Phthalates, parabens, nanoparticles, hormone disruptors...When you apply personal care products to your skin, many of their constituents appear in your bloodstream. http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/0 -
I myself use EOs, but there are always going to be things that require modern medicine. For muscle aches I use a muscle cream made from Valor, Panaway Oil, Peppermint and Coconut Oil and it works just as well if not better than Biofreeze. The same for headaches, I can manage my headaches with EO's but for migraines, I do still rely on my prescription. I do diffuse EOs in my house rather than using air fresheners which are nothing but chemicals. I also have replaced my dryer sheets by making my own dryer balls, replaced my household cleaners by making my own cleaning wipe and cleaning sprays.
So yes, EOs are very beneficial, but there are still lots of things that I rely on Modern Medicine or Science for.1 -
CorneliusPhoton wrote: »Ok Bit the bullet...
Anything applied topically has a difficult time getting into the blood stream. That's actually the purpose of skin; it acts as a barrier for all the things we are exposed to in daily life. Evolution works wonders on that.
Absorbing deep into the skin means it goes "deep" into a thin layer; it does not enter the blood stream.
And claims that essential oils or carrier oils can is just hype to sell their products.
We know without debate that some chemicals can and do enter your bloodstream through topical application. This is how we can use nicotine patches, birth control/other hormone patches, pain relief patches. Skin is an organ. This is why everybody on earth has triclosan in their bodies. Phthalates, parabens, nanoparticles, hormone disruptors...When you apply personal care products to your skin, many of their constituents appear in your bloodstream. http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/
But those drugs are not suspended in oil, and are often combined with carrier compounds specifically designed to pass through the skin.
Are you suggesting that essential oils are also designed as such?0 -
MandaB9780 wrote: »I myself use EOs, but there are always going to be things that require modern medicine. For muscle aches I use a muscle cream made from Valor, Panaway Oil, Peppermint and Coconut Oil and it works just as well if not better than Biofreeze. The same for headaches, I can manage my headaches with EO's but for migraines, I do still rely on my prescription. I do diffuse EOs in my house rather than using air fresheners which are nothing but chemicals. I also have replaced my dryer sheets by making my own dryer balls, replaced my household cleaners by making my own cleaning wipe and cleaning sprays.
So yes, EOs are very beneficial, but there are still lots of things that I rely on Modern Medicine or Science for.
This is pretty much where I am at as well. I am not a total believer, but not a complete skeptic either. I have a blend that is similar to vapor rub that I like to use when my allergies are crazy, but I wouldn't toss out my inhaler either. I don't think they are going to cure diseases, but I'm not opposed to using them as a first step for things like headaches, ear aches, etc. My doctor won't see anyone until they have had their minor symptoms for a few days anyway, so I have no problem trying to go another route, and if it doesn't work, I'm not really out anything since I will be seeing the doc anyway. If it does work, then I have saved myself a copay.0 -
Speaking about transdermal absorption, I was once prescribed hormones via shooting (thank you _Waffle_) them into my coochie because they were more effectively delivered to the bloodstream than going through the whole digestive system. I think that using any of the... "insertable" drug bullets (enemas?) are the same as trans-dermal delivery, just a faster route to the bloodstream than the external skin.0
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I skeptical because of potency. There's a reason drugs are monitored by the FDA. The essential oils are only allowed or can only be so potent. Not nearly the potency of drugs.
Am I thinking correctly about it?0 -
CorneliusPhoton wrote: »Speaking about transdermal absorption, I was once prescribed hormones via shooting (thank you _Waffle_) them into my coochie because they were more effectively delivered to the bloodstream than going through the whole digestive system. I think that using any of the... "insertable" drug bullets (enemas?) are the same as trans-dermal delivery, just a faster route to the bloodstream than the external skin.
Well, you also put nitro tabs under your tongue because it's one of the fastest ways to get it into the blood stream.
And when a dog is overheated, you swab the pads of their feet with alcohol because it's one of the fastest ways to bring down their core temperature (because blood vessels are closest to the surface of the skin there).
Still doesn't mean that rubbing peppermint oil on your stomach is going to lead to whatever "active ingredient supposed to relieve IBS symptoms" pass through the skin, fat, interabdominal space, and target the colon.
I just don't see that happening.
Ever.2 -
CorneliusPhoton wrote: »Ok Bit the bullet...
Anything applied topically has a difficult time getting into the blood stream. That's actually the purpose of skin; it acts as a barrier for all the things we are exposed to in daily life. Evolution works wonders on that.
Absorbing deep into the skin means it goes "deep" into a thin layer; it does not enter the blood stream.
And claims that essential oils or carrier oils can is just hype to sell their products.
We know without debate that some chemicals can and do enter your bloodstream through topical application. This is how we can use nicotine patches, birth control/other hormone patches, pain relief patches. Skin is an organ. This is why everybody on earth has triclosan in their bodies. Phthalates, parabens, nanoparticles, hormone disruptors...When you apply personal care products to your skin, many of their constituents appear in your bloodstream. http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/
But those drugs are not suspended in oil, and are often combined with carrier compounds specifically designed to pass through the skin.
Are you suggesting that essential oils are also designed as such?
I am only suggesting that many modern medicines come from plants, and that some plant-based remedies may have some beneficial use. I can't prove that they do, and you can't prove that they don't in every case. I am just suggesting that the answer is not definitive until somebody coughs up enough money to do all of the studies.1 -
CorneliusPhoton wrote: »Speaking about transdermal absorption, I was once prescribed hormones via shooting (thank you _Waffle_) them into my coochie because they were more effectively delivered to the bloodstream than going through the whole digestive system. I think that using any of the... "insertable" drug bullets (enemas?) are the same as trans-dermal delivery, just a faster route to the bloodstream than the external skin.
Well, you also put nitro tabs under your tongue because it's one of the fastest ways to get it into the blood stream.
And when a dog is overheated, you swab the pads of their feet with alcohol because it's one of the fastest ways to bring down their core temperature (because blood vessels are closest to the surface of the skin there).
Still doesn't mean that rubbing peppermint oil on your stomach is going to lead to whatever "active ingredient supposed to relieve IBS symptoms" pass through the skin, fat, interabdominal space, and target the colon.
I just don't see that happening.
Ever.
Ok...?
Under the tongue is also transdermal.
I am specifically responding to these claims: "Anything applied topically has a difficult time getting into the blood stream. That's actually the purpose of skin; it acts as a barrier for all the things we are exposed to in daily life. Evolution works wonders on that... Absorbing deep into the skin means it goes "deep" into a thin layer; it does not enter the blood stream." That is an incorrect statement. I have no dog in the peppermint oil drama.0 -
I used Tea Tree oil to help clear up a nasty skin infection that wasn't responding well to antibiotics alone. The two combined proved to be very effective. I did do research before trying the oil, however, and found there is quite a bit of scientific evidence that Tea Tree oil has proven antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. My teenage daughter uses it diluted with water to dab on acne. It does a nice job of clearing it up. I would be really leery of ingesting any of them, as they aren't regulated and who knows if any given bottle contains what it purports to have in the ingredients. I do add a couple of drops of EO to a diffuser because it smells nice and I like it much better than the overpowering smell of chemical air fresheners. I don't know if the oils really have calming or invigorating properties, but I do believe in the power of suggestion/placebo effect. If I put an EO blend meant to be relaxing in the diffuser, and tell everyone it's meant to be relaxing, then I find the family is more inclined to sit down and relax.0
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CorneliusPhoton wrote: »CorneliusPhoton wrote: »Ok Bit the bullet...
Anything applied topically has a difficult time getting into the blood stream. That's actually the purpose of skin; it acts as a barrier for all the things we are exposed to in daily life. Evolution works wonders on that.
Absorbing deep into the skin means it goes "deep" into a thin layer; it does not enter the blood stream.
And claims that essential oils or carrier oils can is just hype to sell their products.
We know without debate that some chemicals can and do enter your bloodstream through topical application. This is how we can use nicotine patches, birth control/other hormone patches, pain relief patches. Skin is an organ. This is why everybody on earth has triclosan in their bodies. Phthalates, parabens, nanoparticles, hormone disruptors...When you apply personal care products to your skin, many of their constituents appear in your bloodstream. http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/
But those drugs are not suspended in oil, and are often combined with carrier compounds specifically designed to pass through the skin.
Are you suggesting that essential oils are also designed as such?
I am only suggesting that many modern medicines come from plants, and that some plant-based remedies may have some beneficial use. I can't prove that they do, and you can't prove that they don't in every case. I am just suggesting that the answer is not definitive until somebody coughs up enough money to do all of the studies.
And many modern medicines are actually found to be completely ineffective after extensive use and testing.
Without proof, I'd think people are mostly wasting money. I would think most essential oils are not effective when rubbed on the skin. I'm sure there are plenty of people who suggest ingesting them, but since the FDA does not regulated supplements, I would not recommend that, especially since many MLM type people are selling products that are not of a grade to be ingested.
And I'm not opposed to alternative medicines as a supplement to modern medicine. I would imagine a lot of it is placebo effect. Lots of different herbs have been long known to have actual affects. But I believe a large portion of what is being claimed by essential oils is supposition and random statements used to sell products.
And personally, I think the environment and culture rapidly rising about embracing anything "natural" is better is have a huge detriment to the health of those people (especially with regards to people choosing to not use modern medicine to treat their sick children) is incredibly dangerous.0 -
CorneliusPhoton wrote: »CorneliusPhoton wrote: »Ok Bit the bullet...
Anything applied topically has a difficult time getting into the blood stream. That's actually the purpose of skin; it acts as a barrier for all the things we are exposed to in daily life. Evolution works wonders on that.
Absorbing deep into the skin means it goes "deep" into a thin layer; it does not enter the blood stream.
And claims that essential oils or carrier oils can is just hype to sell their products.
We know without debate that some chemicals can and do enter your bloodstream through topical application. This is how we can use nicotine patches, birth control/other hormone patches, pain relief patches. Skin is an organ. This is why everybody on earth has triclosan in their bodies. Phthalates, parabens, nanoparticles, hormone disruptors...When you apply personal care products to your skin, many of their constituents appear in your bloodstream. http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/
But those drugs are not suspended in oil, and are often combined with carrier compounds specifically designed to pass through the skin.
Are you suggesting that essential oils are also designed as such?
I am only suggesting that many modern medicines come from plants, and that some plant-based remedies may have some beneficial use. I can't prove that they do, and you can't prove that they don't in every case. I am just suggesting that the answer is not definitive until somebody coughs up enough money to do all of the studies.
And many modern medicines are actually found to be completely ineffective after extensive use and testing.
Without proof, I'd think people are mostly wasting money. I would think most essential oils are not effective when rubbed on the skin. I'm sure there are plenty of people who suggest ingesting them, but since the FDA does not regulated supplements, I would not recommend that, especially since many MLM type people are selling products that are not of a grade to be ingested.
And I'm not opposed to alternative medicines as a supplement to modern medicine. I would imagine a lot of it is placebo effect. Lots of different herbs have been long known to have actual affects. But I believe a large portion of what is being claimed by essential oils is supposition and random statements used to sell products.
And personally, I think the environment and culture rapidly rising about embracing anything "natural" is better is have a huge detriment to the health of those people (especially with regards to people choosing to not use modern medicine to treat their sick children) is incredibly dangerous.
Agree 100%.0 -
I tend to think EOs benefit people mostly via the placebo effect (with a few exceptions - tea tree oil for instance). But if it makes you feel better, it makes you feel better; doesn't much matter to me how or why. The issues I am concerned about are when these types of "holistic remedies" delay or worse yet, take the place of, actual medical care, especially wrt young children who cannot tell their quacktastic parents to put down the thieves oil and take them to the hospital post-haste. Or when they are used incorrectly, as some of them can have side effects if used in high enough quantities or if taken using the wrong method (orally vs rectally vs topically). I tend to see them as woo, but that doesn't mean they are completely inert substances. The main problem is they aren't regulated and there isn't much in the way of quality control. Some of them smell pretty, but that's really the only positive thing I have to say about them.3
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CorneliusPhoton wrote: »CorneliusPhoton wrote: »Ok Bit the bullet...
Anything applied topically has a difficult time getting into the blood stream. That's actually the purpose of skin; it acts as a barrier for all the things we are exposed to in daily life. Evolution works wonders on that.
Absorbing deep into the skin means it goes "deep" into a thin layer; it does not enter the blood stream.
And claims that essential oils or carrier oils can is just hype to sell their products.
We know without debate that some chemicals can and do enter your bloodstream through topical application. This is how we can use nicotine patches, birth control/other hormone patches, pain relief patches. Skin is an organ. This is why everybody on earth has triclosan in their bodies. Phthalates, parabens, nanoparticles, hormone disruptors...When you apply personal care products to your skin, many of their constituents appear in your bloodstream. http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/
But those drugs are not suspended in oil, and are often combined with carrier compounds specifically designed to pass through the skin.
Are you suggesting that essential oils are also designed as such?
I am only suggesting that many modern medicines come from plants, and that some plant-based remedies may have some beneficial use. I can't prove that they do, and you can't prove that they don't in every case. I am just suggesting that the answer is not definitive until somebody coughs up enough money to do all of the studies.
I know you said you don't have a dog in this fight, but for anyone else reading this thread: Essential oils bring in billions of dollars annually. Why do you suppose the companies selling them haven't coughed up money to do accurate studies? Think about it.4 -
WiseBlueRaven wrote: »CorneliusPhoton wrote: »CorneliusPhoton wrote: »Ok Bit the bullet...
Anything applied topically has a difficult time getting into the blood stream. That's actually the purpose of skin; it acts as a barrier for all the things we are exposed to in daily life. Evolution works wonders on that.
Absorbing deep into the skin means it goes "deep" into a thin layer; it does not enter the blood stream.
And claims that essential oils or carrier oils can is just hype to sell their products.
We know without debate that some chemicals can and do enter your bloodstream through topical application. This is how we can use nicotine patches, birth control/other hormone patches, pain relief patches. Skin is an organ. This is why everybody on earth has triclosan in their bodies. Phthalates, parabens, nanoparticles, hormone disruptors...When you apply personal care products to your skin, many of their constituents appear in your bloodstream. http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/
But those drugs are not suspended in oil, and are often combined with carrier compounds specifically designed to pass through the skin.
Are you suggesting that essential oils are also designed as such?
I am only suggesting that many modern medicines come from plants, and that some plant-based remedies may have some beneficial use. I can't prove that they do, and you can't prove that they don't in every case. I am just suggesting that the answer is not definitive until somebody coughs up enough money to do all of the studies.
I know you said you don't have a dog in this fight, but for anyone else reading this thread: Essential oils bring in billions of dollars annually. Why do you suppose the companies selling them haven't coughed up money to do accurate studies? Think about it.
This. We've been using "essential oils" as medicine for thousands upon thousands of years. If they really worked worth a damn, we never would have felt the need to invent actual medicine.
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I used Tea Tree oil to help clear up a nasty skin infection that wasn't responding well to antibiotics alone. The two combined proved to be very effective. I did do research before trying the oil, however, and found there is quite a bit of scientific evidence that Tea Tree oil has proven antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. My teenage daughter uses it diluted with water to dab on acne. It does a nice job of clearing it up.
Tea Tree oil is fairly popular here in Australia ... and that is another one I've used. Supposed to be good for minor cuts and things like that ... probably because of the antibacterial properties.
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To the original poster, nice username
Must be a Whovian.
Personally, EO's have done nothing for me. But I have friends who swear by them.0 -
tlflag1620 wrote: »I tend to think EOs benefit people mostly via the placebo effect (with a few exceptions - tea tree oil for instance). But if it makes you feel better, it makes you feel better; doesn't much matter to me how or why. The issues I am concerned about are when these types of "holistic remedies" delay or worse yet, take the place of, actual medical care, especially wrt young children who cannot tell their quacktastic parents to put down the thieves oil and take them to the hospital post-haste. Or when they are used incorrectly, as some of them can have side effects if used in high enough quantities or if taken using the wrong method (orally vs rectally vs topically). I tend to see them as woo, but that doesn't mean they are completely inert substances. The main problem is they aren't regulated and there isn't much in the way of quality control. Some of them smell pretty, but that's really the only positive thing I have to say about them.
To add to this, people also don't believe that these compounds can interfere with medicines and as such, won't inform their doctors about it.
But hey, it's all natural so it cannot be harmful!3 -
tlflag1620 wrote: »I tend to think EOs benefit people mostly via the placebo effect (with a few exceptions - tea tree oil for instance). But if it makes you feel better, it makes you feel better; doesn't much matter to me how or why. The issues I am concerned about are when these types of "holistic remedies" delay or worse yet, take the place of, actual medical care, especially wrt young children who cannot tell their quacktastic parents to put down the thieves oil and take them to the hospital post-haste. Or when they are used incorrectly, as some of them can have side effects if used in high enough quantities or if taken using the wrong method (orally vs rectally vs topically). I tend to see them as woo, but that doesn't mean they are completely inert substances. The main problem is they aren't regulated and there isn't much in the way of quality control. Some of them smell pretty, but that's really the only positive thing I have to say about them.
+10 -
But what about simply relaxing the muscle? I could be wrong, but I thought that could have implications for how severe some people may perceive abdominal discomfort from IBS. That's just simply the oil being absorbed into the skin (not any further).
Still doesn't mean that rubbing peppermint oil on your stomach is going to lead to whatever "active ingredient supposed to relieve IBS symptoms" pass through the skin, fat, interabdominal space, and target the colon.CorneliusPhoton wrote: »Speaking about transdermal absorption, I was once prescribed hormones via shooting (thank you _Waffle_) them into my coochie because they were more effectively delivered to the bloodstream than going through the whole digestive system. I think that using any of the... "insertable" drug bullets (enemas?) are the same as trans-dermal delivery, just a faster route to the bloodstream than the external skin.
I just don't see that happening.
Ever.
I'm saying that because (to my knowledge) that is a reasonable explanation for how rubbing essential oils on the skin can help certain health issues like IBS.
0
This discussion has been closed.
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