Dos and Don’ts of Purchasing Essential Oils Online

With the rise of health-conscious lifestyles and the increasing popularity of natural remedies, essential oils have become a significant part of wellness routines. They offer a myriad of benefits, from improving sleep and focus to enhancing skincare regimens.

Research Before Buying

Before making a purchase, it is crucial to conduct thorough research. Not all essential oils are the same, so it is essential to vet the brands you are considering. Look for companies that provide detailed information about their production processes. The best suppliers disclose how they source, distill, and test their oils for purity levels.

Third-party testing results, such as GC/MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) reports, can indicate the quality of the essential oils. Additionally, reading customer reviews and comments on forums or social media can help you gauge the reputation of the brand. Trustworthy brands typically have a loyal following and transparent business practices.

Prioritize Amber Glass Packaging

When evaluating essential oil brands, ensure that they are packaged in amber glass bottles rather than clear plastic or other materials. Amber glass bottles protect the oils from UV light, which can degrade their potency over time.

Glass packaging also ensures that the oils do not interact with or absorb harmful chemicals from the container. Reputable brands understand this and invest in proper packaging to maintain the strength and efficacy of the product.

Avoid Unrealistic Deals

While deals and discounts may be appealing, an exceptionally low price for essential oils should raise a red flag. Pure essential oils undergo specific and labor-intensive extraction processes, and their pricing typically reflects that. Products offered at unusually low rates often contain synthetic fillers, fragrances, or diluted oils, which can diminish therapeutic benefits and pose potential harm.

Don’t Compromise on Safety

When buying and using essential oils, safety should be a top priority. It is essential to read and follow usage instructions carefully.

Some oils, such as eucalyptus or cinnamon, are highly potent and should only be used as directed to ensure safety. Refrain from ingesting essential oils unless under the guidance of a certified professional, as improper use can be dangerous.

Essential Oil Tips for Beginners

For beginners, starting with versatile options like lavender, peppermint, and tea tree oil is recommended. These oils have diverse uses, from stress relief to skincare.

Always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil before applying them to your skin to prevent irritation. Patch testing is crucial to check for allergic reactions. As you become more comfortable, you can explore and expand your collection.

Buying essential oils online can be a fulfilling experience when you adhere to these essential dos and don’ts. Focus on reputable brands that provide detailed product information, utilize amber glass bottles, and uphold quality claims with transparency.

For beginners, following essential oil tips can help you use them safely and effectively. With a well-informed approach, you can reap the benefits of essential oils and curate a collection that aligns with your wellness objectives.

The article was originally published on Alternative Medicine Magazine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is holistic medicine considered safe?

Holistic Medicine is not as dangerous as you may think, but several risks are involved when using this treatment. The most common side effects include headaches, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, diarrhea, constipation, and insomnia. These risks must be understood by patients and balanced against the benefits of alternative treatments, such as acupuncture.

There are no cases of death from holistic medicine.

Always consult your doctor before beginning any new treatment plan.

What is Alternative Medicine?

It is a healing approach that focuses on prevention instead of treating. It also encourages people to become informed consumers actively engaged in improving their health and well-being.

Alternative medicine refers any treatment or diagnosis that does not use allopathic (conventional), medical practices.

Who uses holistic medicines?

Holistic medicine treats the whole person and not only specific symptoms. Holistic medicine focuses on both mental and physical well-being.

Holistic medicine includes acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic treatment, nutritional counseling, yoga, and other complementary therapies.

A holistic approach to medicine includes those with heart problems, cancer, diabetes, arthritis or depression.

What does holistic refer to?

Holistic means whole-based. Holistic means seeing the whole picture and not just parts of it. This isn't always possible because we tend not to see things as a whole.

We tend to think of black and then white. There are many shades of grey.

When working on a project, you should try to view it from multiple angles. Look at it from all sides.

It is important to see how the pieces fit together. How does each of its components interact with one another?

And if you find a problem, ask yourself why this particular element is causing trouble. Make sure to take into account the impact of every change you make.

What are the benefits of alternative treatment methods for cancer patients?

Cancer patients often face many challenges as they attempt to overcome their illness. They may have lost all hope or feel helpless as there is nothing they can do. Some symptoms include nausea, vomiting, headaches, weight loss, and fatigue.

In addition, most conventional treatments are not effective against cancer cells. Therefore, cancer patients seek other therapies, such as complementary medicine. A majority of cancer patients will use alternative medications at least once during treatment according to research.

Some cancer patients choose complementary medicine over chemotherapy, believing it will be easier for them to manage side effects. Also, they may prefer it because it costs less.

These are just a few of the reasons why you might want to consider them:

Some patients believe that natural remedies can help prevent a recurrence.

Many people believe natural remedies can improve their quality of living.

Others believe natural remedies could reduce your chance of developing cancer.

For those concerned about possible side effects of chemotherapy, natural remedies can be used as first-line therapy.

What does complementary medicine mean?

Complementary Medicine, also known as alternative medicine, refers to any medical treatment which is not part of mainstream medicine. This covers treatments such as acupuncture (aromatherapy), chiropractic care, homeopathy and hypnosis.

Complementary medicines should not be used in lieu of traditional medicine. They should be used alongside it. They're also sometimes called “alternative” or “integrative” medicine because they integrate Western scientific methods with other approaches that have been proven effective in healing people.

Is holistic healthcare the same thing as alternative medicine?

Holistic Health Care differs from Alternative Medicine because it focuses on treating the whole person, not just the symptoms.

Holistic Health Care considers all aspects of a person's life including their mental, physical and emotional health, as well as occupational, cultural, social, and familial factors.

Alternative Medicine does not address these issues. It doesn't address these issues.

Statistics

In 83% of the cases, the readers agreed. (en.wikipedia.org)
A 15-year systematic review published in 2022 on the global acceptance and use of CAM among medical specialists found the overall acceptance of CAM at 52% and the overall use at 45%. (en.wikipedia.org)
An assessment of conventional treatments found that 41.3% concluded positive or possibly positive effects, 20% concluded no effect, 8.1% concluded net harmful effects, and 21.3% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
These studies found that 38.4% concluded positive or possibly positive effects for CAM (12.4%), 4.8% concluded no effect, 0.7% concluded harmful effects, and 56.6% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
The use of alternative medicine in the US has increased, with a 50 percent increase in expenditures and a 25 percent increase in the use of alternative therapies between 1990 and 1997 in America. (en.wikipedia.org)

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What are the main 4 categories of complementary and/or alternative medicine?

The main categories of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are mind-body, natural products as well as manipulative therapies. Mind-body medicine can include yoga, meditation and Tai Chi. Natural products include herbs and vitamins, minerals as well as dietary supplements. Manipulative therapies are physical manipulations like acupuncture or chiropractic care, acupuncture or therapeutic exercise. Energy healing involves techniques such as prayer and visualization.

CAM refers to a variety of health practices that are not in line with Western medical models. These practices vary widely regarding how much scientific evidence supports them, whether they involve drugs or surgery, and which conditions they treat. Some CAM professionals also perform diagnostic testing, such as blood tests, and prescribe medication. Some do both.

There are many subcategories that fall within each of these categories. In mind-body medicine there are relaxation techniques. Natural products include nutritional supplements, botanical remedies, homeopathic remedies and essential oils. Manual, movement, traction and electrotherapies are all forms of manipulative therapy. They include cupping, stretching and myofascial release. Trigger point therapy, orthotics, neurostimulation, trigger point therapy, manuals, trigger points, trigger point therapy, orthopedics. There are spiritual healing modalities such as prayer and faith healing within energy healing.

Many CAM treatments treat symptoms but do not address the root cause. Some chronic diseases may be treated with CAM. When used appropriately, CAM could complement traditional treatment options.

There are many reasons why people use CAM:

To improve their overall wellbeing.
To manage a certain condition.
To relieve pain or discomfort.
To prevent illness.
To promote wellness.
To address a person's belief system.

People turn to CAM for greater control of their health than conventional medicine. They might believe there are fewer side-effects. Some people choose CAM to not take prescription drugs. Some people prefer not to use pharmaceuticals. Others still seek out CAM, even though they've had bad experiences in conventional medicine.

Some people who use CAM feel that they need to be certain about their work before trying new things. Many CAM users want to know more about the safety of CAM. Others rely on the word of mouth among family and friends.

Although CAM may be seen as a negative thing in society, most people who use it report positive feelings. People who use CAM are generally happier and healthier than people who don't. This holds true regardless your age, gender or race.

Nearly all Americans use some kind of complementary and/or alternative medicine. Nearly all adults–95%–use one type of CAM at least once during their lifetime. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, NCCIH, estimates that approximately 40 million people visited CAM providers in 2010.

According to the NCCIH estimate, 10% of the U.S. Population uses chiropractors.

The American Medical Association reiterated its support for integrative medical care in 2013. It recognized that physicians should “integrate scientifically valid complementary and alternative medicine into clinical practice…to meet patients ‘ needs and expectations.”5

The Institute of Medicine published a groundbreaking report in 2007 entitled “Relaxing Contraints: Improving access to Complementary and Alternative Healthcare.” It concluded that there is no credible evidence that any particular CAM intervention is effective in treating or preventing cancer.

CAM is still gaining popularity despite this conclusion. The 2008 number of CAM practitioners increased 8 percent compared with 2007.

A recent survey found that almost half the respondents said they used CAM as part their primary healthcare plan.

CAM therapies include natural products as well mind-body practices, manipulative technologies, energy healing methods, exercise, diet supplements and other approaches.

Many CAM therapies can be used for pain relief, but many have other benefits such as improved mood, reduced stress and increased immunity.

Acupuncture is a treatment that can reduce chronic back pain, anxiety, depression and improve the immune system, promote weightloss, and improve menstrual symptoms.

Many CAM treatments are based on traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, and their roots go back thousands of years.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), for instance, originated over 5,000 years ago. This practice has been in China since antiquity.

TCM has remained an important component in health care even though it was not until the middle of 1800s that Western science became popular.

TCM has become a popular treatment option for more than 70% of the population in the United States.

Yoga is another CAM therapy that is very popular. Yoga originated in India around 5000 B.C. and is now embraced worldwide.

Yoga has been gaining popularity with the general population because it provides many physical, mental, and spiritual benefits.

Yoga can relieve stress, improve flexibility, and increase strength.

Even though there are limited scientific studies, yoga appears to have positive effects upon sleep33. This may make it useful for people suffering from insomnia.

Other CAM therapies, such as meditation, homeopathy, aromatherapy, are also becoming more mainstream.

One of the most used types of CAM is herbal medicine.

Herbal medicines include herbs, spices and flowers, seeds, fruits and mushrooms, bark, leaves roots, stems, and bark.

They are often considered safer than prescription drugs and are used widely by consumers.

The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health estimates that about 90 million Americans use some form of complementary/alternative medicine.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), 45% of adult cancer patients used alternative medicine during their treatment.

The National Institutes of Health has estimated that 60% of patients with breast cancer use CAM. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that around 50% of all cancer survivors reported using CAM.

According to a recent study, 51% cancer survivors have used at the very least one type of CAM.

However, only 8% of these individuals discussed this use with their physicians.

This gap in healthcare delivery is caused by a lack of communication between conventional doctors and CAM users.

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