Question
What do you think about internal use of essential oil? LK, O
Answer
Internal use of essential oils may include oral ingestion or using as suppositories. As this is a frequent question and there are a variety of opinions on the subject, I decided to ask Jacqueline for the official SCT reply to this one:
Jacqueline Fairbrass, the School of Complementary Therapies, its instructors and associates do not endorse the internal use of essential oils. The correct application of essential oils is imperative to utilizing the full benefits of essential oils. The highly concentrated plant compounds are to be treated with respect. Many will burn the skin through undiluted application and accordingly our opinion is that internal absorption may be damaging. In addition, through oral application, although essential oils may pass through the digestive system easily, they are metabolized by the liver and therefore potentially harmful. We suggest for further information, the authors Battaglia and Schnaubelt's writings on this subject.
Jacqueline and Emma
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