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Found 3 results

  1. I know I've said it a few times on here - and it still holds true! Just because it's "natural" does not mean it's safe! Make sure you take your time to educate yourself. Another word of caution - with most substances - do NOT follow the idea of "if a little is good, more is better." Sometimes more is toxic! There are very few substances that don't have a toxic level that's fairly easy to reach - including coffee! Personally I only know of 1 supplement that doesn't have a toxicity level. http://www.naturallivingideas.com/essential-oil-myths/ The dawn of the Internet age opened up a whole new and ever-expanding informational highway that has liberated many and also, unfortunately, misinformed many. Anyone who wants to have a blog, website etc.. can have one and they can post just about anything they want to these sites. No matter how well intended these bloggers are, many are putting information out there that is incorrect, and sometimes even dangerous. Although essential oils are natural, don’t ever underestimate their power, to heal and even their power to harm. Essential oils should never be approached without caution and much understanding as to their safe application. Here are a few essential oil facts that may help you to better see the magnitude of their strength: It takes 150 pounds of lavender flowers to make just one pound of lavender essential oil. It takes 256 pounds of peppermint leaves to make one pound of peppermint essential oil. It takes thousands of pounds of roses to make 1 pound of rose essential oil. Just one drop of peppermint oil is equal to 28 cups of peppermint tea. The bottom line, essential oils are powerful and need to be handled with respect! The combination of growing interest in alternative therapies, including essential oils, combined with the Internet, has made it possible for some very misleading information to be published. This article will explore just some of the many myths around essential oils that people believe but are not true. Hopefully, this will shed some light on what is safe and not safe when it comes to the therapeutic use of oils. Myth #1: Therapeutic grade oils don’t exist The truth is that there are numerous therapeutic grade standards. It is just hard to know which one to trust. These standards are simply internal standards created by the companies who develop the oils. It is possible that these standards do not include a quality control by a third party lab. With that said, it is critical to understand how the company defines “therapeutic grade” It could mean that the oil is pure or it could also mean something else beyond that purity. Essential oil can also be very pure but also be low quality. The reason for this is that making a judgement call on a quality oil takes years and years for experience – not just a lab and some equipment. While there is not one independent standard for therapeutic grade and not one set body that controls this standard, it is also not true to say that therapeutic grade oils do not exist. However, where you must use extreme caution is in believing marketing jargon used by oil companies. Dr. Robert Pappas, a leading expert in essential oils and an essential oil chemist explains: “There seems to be a misconception that there is some kind of independent body that certifies oils as therapeutic grade, but to this date there is no such body, at least not one that is widely recognized. Does this mean there is no such thing as therapeutic grade? No, but just realize that any therapeutic grade standard out there right now is an internally derived company standard. Now this standard may be an overall great standard and perfectly acceptable to me or any other analyst or aromatherapist out there but it just needs to be noted that it’s not an independent standard.” Myth #2: If you use a pure essential oil on your skin and it causes a rash or burn then it’s just a detox reaction The plain and simple truth of this one is that if you put any substance on your skin and it causes a rash or burns, it should not have been put on your skin in the first place. This is an adverse reaction, not a harmless detox reaction. Clearly a burn, rush, or any other type of abnormal issues with your skin indicate an irritation. In addition, a detox reaction occurs when something is taken away, not added. So, if you find yourself with a rash or a burn after using an essential oil on your skin it is your body saying to stop! This is one of the reasons why a patch test is recommended on a small area before using any substance on a larger area. In addition, it always recommended that you dilute an essential oil in a carrier oil before using on your skin (see below for more information on how to do a patch test). Myth #3: Pure essential oils without additives should last forever This is just another very ridiculous claim. Oils may seem to last for a long time but in reality, they will eventually go bad because of oxidation. Citrus oils that contain a high level of limonene – a substance that oxidizes pretty fast, destroying the fresh citrus odor. In addition, wax will form in the citrus oil over time. It is best to use the oil within one year if you can. Blue oils also such as German chamomile, blue tansy, and yarrow breakdown over time. To slow the breakdown, be sure to put blue oils in the refrigerator and keep only a small amount of airspace in the container. Myth #4: You can ingest any essential oil without a problem The internal use of many essential oils is not safe unless under medical supervision. A small amount of essential oil is the equivalent to about 10 – 50 cups of herbal tea. There is a certain lack of guidelines and safety precautions when it comes to ingesting essential oils. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that just because an essential oil has the same name as a familiar herb that it is safe to ingest. The reality of this statement is that some of the most dangerous essential oils bear the name of common herbs. Herbs and their essential oil counterparts are not anywhere near the same. While you can liberally apply basil to your pasta, you can not liberally ingest basil essential oil. Be very careful to jump to the conclusion that just because an oil has a familiar name of an herb you love that it is ever safe to ingest it. Essential oils are clearly as potent as pharmaceutical drugs and since you probably would not go ingesting a whole bunch of pills without some caution, you should most definitely, give the same respect to essential oils. Again, when it come to ingesting oils, be sure that you are working with a certified and reliable practitioner that can supervise your use. The Alliance of International Aromatherapists gives this statement on the internal use of essential oils: “AIA does not endorse internal therapeutic use (oral, vaginal or rectal) of essential oils unless recommended by a health care practitioner trained at an appropriate clinical level. An appropriate level of training must include chemistry, anatomy, diagnostics, physiology, formulation guidelines and safety issues regarding each specific internal route (oral, vaginal or rectal).” Myth #2: If you use a pure essential oil on your skin and it causes a rash or burn then it’s just a detox reaction The plain and simple truth of this one is that if you put any substance on your skin and it causes a rash or burns, it should not have been put on your skin in the first place. This is an adverse reaction, not a harmless detox reaction. Clearly a burn, rush, or any other type of abnormal issues with your skin indicate an irritation. In addition, a detox reaction occurs when something is taken away, not added. So, if you find yourself with a rash or a burn after using an essential oil on your skin it is your body saying to stop! This is one of the reasons why a patch test is recommended on a small area before using any substance on a larger area. In addition, it always recommended that you dilute an essential oil in a carrier oil before using on your skin (see below for more information on how to do a patch test). Myth #5: All essential oils in their diluted form are safe for children The truth is that many oils are very dangerous to use on children five and under. Here is an excellent articleon understanding how essential oils impact children. Be sure to consult a professional before using essential oils on children. Myth #6: It is safe to use essential oils on your skin and go out in the sun immediately after Citrus oils will always make your skin sensitive to the sun because they contain particular constituents that increase the damage caused by UV light. This increased sensitivity can cause blistering, burning and discoloration. Oils. that increase the risk of UV damage include lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit and bergamot. Myth #7: If you don’t like the way an oil smells it means that your body needs that oil The human body has been designed to protect us from things that may harm us such as bad smelling food that may be rotten. This built-in protective mechanism (to smell odors) is critical to our survival. The opposite is also true, that we can be conditioned to like things that are not good for us such as the pleasurable and alluring smell of hot donuts or french fries. The food manufacturers have a great knack for manipulating natural flavor enhancers to make “bad” food seem good. When it comes to essential oils, you may not like the aroma initially because it is new to you and you have no previous experience with it. Give yourself time to become acquainted with oils that may seem offensive at first. However, always listen to your body if it is telling you to stay clear of something. Myth #8: Real essential oils without additives do not freeze because there is no water in there Like just about every other liquid, essential oils will freeze if the temperature is cold enough – water has nothing to do with keeping this from happening. In fact, many oils will freeze in your household freezer and some even in your refrigerator. Some oils are even solid at room temperature. Myth #9: It is safe to put essential oils directly in a hot bath If you want to use essential oil in a bath, be sure to first emulsify it. The best substance to use is sesame oil or milk. If you don’t emulsify the oil it won’t disperse but will float on the top of the water and enter the skin directly. When the oil combines with the heat and water in this way it can cause dermatoxicity. Tips for Using Essential Oils Never use undiluted essential oils on your skin. There are some oils that are generally considered safe to use on unbroken skin including lavender, chamomile, and rose, however, it is still best to dilute them. The exception to this is if you are using oils under the strict supervision of trained professional. Dilute oils with a carrier oil such as almond or jojoba. In addition, always do a patch test with the oil on a small area of skin before using it more widespread. To do a patch test mix a little bit of essential oil/carrier oil at twice the amount of concentration that you plan to use. If you are going to use a 3% mixture of oil, mix it at 6% using six drops in a teaspoon of carrier oil, or 3 drops to ½ teaspoon of carrier oil. Put a couple of drops of the concentrated oil mixture on a bandaid and place on the inside of your arm. Check for irritation after 48 hours. If the skin under the bandage becomes irritated, red, itchy, swollen or develops bumps or blisters, this is a reaction you don’t want. Never store essential oils in plastic containers. Many oils, in their undiluted form, can eat right through plastic. Even when you do dilute them for personal care use or even household cleaning, it is best to store them in a glass bottle. Be very careful with undiluted oils around wood finishes as well. Pregnant and nursing women need to be very careful when using essential oils. These are just a few of the oils that are considered unsafe for pregnant and nursing women, cedarwood, cinnamon, sage, clove, ginger, jasmine, lemon, nutmeg, rosemary, ginger and chamomile. Check with a qualified practitioner before using any oils. Remember: Essential oils are potent and although highly therapeutic, can be dangerous if used incorrectly.
  2. Your skin is the largest organ of your body and since it is porous, it absorbs whatever you put on it. Some studies have found that as much as 60% of the chemicals we put on our body are absorbed through the skin into our system. It is easy to see that what we use on our skin ends up inside our bodies. So it is important to pay close attention to the ingredients in our skin care products. If the products you use contain harmful ingredients such as harsh, toxic chemicals, colors, and fragrances, those ingredients make their way into your body, your blood and lymphatic system. http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/myths-on-cosmetics-safety/ Myth – If it’s for sale at a supermarket, drugstore or department store cosmetics counter, it must be safe. Fact – The Food and Drug Administration has no authority to require companies to test cosmetics products for safety. The agency does not review or approve the vast majority of products or ingredients before they go on the market. FDA conducts pre-market reviews only of certain cosmetics color additives and active ingredients that are classified as over-the-counter drugs (FDA 2005, 2010). Myth – The government prohibits the use of all dangerous chemicals in personal care products, and companies wouldn’t risk using them. Fact – With the exception of color additives and a few prohibited substances, cosmetics companies may use any ingredient or raw material in their products without government review or approval (FDA 2005). Whereas the European Union has banned more than 1,000 ingredients from use in cosmetics, the FDA has only prohibited the following (FDA 2000a): Bithionol Chlorofluorocarbon propellants Chloroform Halogenated salicylanilides (di-, tri-, metabromsalan and tetrachlorosalicylanilide) Methylene chloride Vinyl chloride Zirconium-containing complexes Prohibited cattle materials (including material from non-ambulatory cattle, material from cattle not inspected and passed and mechanically separated beef). Myth – The cosmetics industry effectively polices itself, making sure that all ingredients meet a strict standard of safety. Fact – Since FDA does little to regulate ingredient safety, it has authorized the cosmetics industry to police itself through its Cosmetics Ingredient Review panel. In its more than 30-year history, the industry panel has declared only 11 ingredients or chemical groups to be unsafe (CIR 2012). Its recommendations on restricting ingredients are not binding on companies (FDA 2012). Myth – Cosmetic ingredients are applied to the skin and rarely get into the body. When they do, the amounts are too low to matter. Fact – People are exposed to cosmetics ingredients in many ways: breathing in sprays and powders, swallowing chemicals on the lips or hands or absorbing them through the skin. Biomonitoring studies have found that cosmetics ingredients – such as phthalate plasticizers, paraben preservatives, the pesticide triclosan, synthetic musks and sunscreen ingredients – are common pollutants in the bodies of men, women and children. Many of these chemicals are potential hormone disruptors (Gray 1986, Schreurs 2004, Gomez 2005, Veldhoen 2006). Cosmetics frequently contain enhancers that allow ingredients to penetrate deeper into the skin. Studies have found health problems in people exposed to common fragrance and sunscreen ingredients, including increased risk of sperm damage, feminization of the male reproductive system and low birth weight in girls (Duty 2003, Hauser 2007, Swan 2005, Wolff 2008). Myth – Products made for children or bearing claims like “hypoallergenic” are safer choices. Fact – Most cosmetic marketing claims are unregulated, and companies are rarely, if ever, required to back them up, even for children’s products. The FDA says descriptions such as “hypoallergenic” or “natural” can “mean anything or nothing at all,” and while most of these terms “have considerable market value in promoting cosmetic products to consumers… dermatologists say they have very little medical meaning” (FDA 2000b). Myth – Natural and organic products are always safer. Fact – Products labeled natural or organic often contain synthetic chemicals, and even truly natural or organic ingredients are not necessarily risk-free. The global market for organic personal care products was valued at more than $7 billion in 2012, capturing the attention of consumers who prefer more natural or plant-based products (Cosmetics Design 2013). Products labeled “organic” or “natural” can contain petrochemicals, and those certified as organic can contain as little as 10 percent organic ingredients by weight or volume (Certech 2008). FDA tried to establish an official definition for the term “natural,” but this initiative was overturned in court (FDA 1998). Myth – FDA promptly recalls any product that injures people. Fact – FDA has no authority to require recalls of harmful cosmetics. Furthermore, manufacturers are not required to report cosmetics-related injuries to the agency. FDA relies on companies to report injuries voluntarily (FDA 2005). Myth – Consumers can read ingredient labels and avoid products with hazardous chemicals. Fact – Federal law allows companies to leave some chemical ingredients off their product labels, including those considered to be trade secrets, components of fragrance and nanomaterials (FDA 2011). Fragrance may include any number of the industry’s 3,100 stock chemicals (IFRA 2010), none of which is required to be listed on labels. Tests of fragrance ingredients have found an average of 14 hidden compounds per formulation, including ingredients linked to hormone disruption and sperm damage (EWG & CSC 2010). Myth – Cosmetics safety is a concern for women only. Fact – An EWG 2004 consumer survey showed that while on average women use 12 personal care products daily, men use an average of six a day, exposing themselves to more than 80 unique ingredients. Check your products out at - http://www.ewg.org/
  3. I started looking into this because a health minded friend of mine mentioned it as a good alternative to honey, claiming that natural Agave nectar was just a beneficial and just as sweet, What I found was not so good... First off don’t be dazzled by the word "natural"; U.S. food regulators do not legally define the term for anything other than meat, so it's left up to produce manufacturers as to its use. http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Suppliers2/HFCS-is-natural-says-FDA-in-a-letter Agave nectar is a "natural" sweetener that ranks relatively low on both the glycemic index and glycemic load scales. Sounds good - but the reason is because it has a high content of fructose. Fructose does not quickly raise blood sugar (glucose) levels because the body doesn't metabolize it well. New research suggests that excessive fructose consumption can impact liver function and promote obesity. http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/86/4/895.short It turns out, agave has a higher fructose content than any other common sweetener, more even than high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-truth-about-agave Bottom line - no matter what the form of sugar - even honey - too much is just too much!
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