We all know that one person who swears by essential oils for everything.
These are basically aromatic oils that are extracted from certain plants and flowers. If a plant is fragrant, it contains an essential oil. It’s what makes a rose smell like a rose, or a strawberry smell like a strawberry.
The most common types of essential oils include lavender oil, which may help with stress, peppermint and eucalyptus oil, which may help open your airways when you’re sick, and tea tree oil, which is supposed to be healing.
But, even though they may offer some benefits, there are certain moves you shouldn’t be making with them, according to chief medical officer at EHE, Dr. Tania Elliott.
Should You Eat Them?
While some people find it trendy to pop a few drops of essential oils into their food, Dr. Tania advises against it!
"You’re not supposed to eat these essential oils," she explains. In short, they're not FDA regulated, she says.
Should You Breathe Them In?
The chief medical officer is all for breathing in essential oils to clear sinuses during cold and flu season!
She suggests bringing a pot of water to a boil, popping a few drops of lavender in it and gently breathing in the humidified air. (Be sure not to inhale too close to the boiling pot.)
Should You Put Them On Your Skin?
Yes, but under one very important condition!
"You want to make sure you dilute them," Dr. Tania stresses.
According to her, the key is a 1:100 dilution.
What does that mean, exactly? 1 cup of water for every 2 drops of the essential oil!
"Otherwise, it’s going to be very irritating to your skin," the doc says of applying highly concentrated oils directly.
In fact, putting tea tree oil on wounds without diluting it will cause burning and actually prevent wound healing, the doc reveals.
"It is one of the most common contact allergens," Dr. Tania stresses.
We had no idea (and neither did Rach!).
