There Are Better Ways to Do It
Tempted to gulp down a few drops of lemon oil in a tall glass of water? Not so fast!
You may have been the latest unsuspecting victim of bad essential oil advice that could irritate your mucus membranes, lead to organ failure, hospitalization and even death! It is no joking matter!
The internet is going crazy with unwarranted claims of the wonders of ‘lemon oil in water’ and how it’s a powerful detoxification remedy. I wonder why people are quick to hand out such advice without backup, and it irks me even more why people are ready to accept such advice without doing their personal research first.
Yes, I have ever consumed essential oils, and I have ever given essential oils to my family to treat various ailments over the past few years – but there is are rules to follow, for safe consumption and to avoid adverse effects.
I’ll be exploring some of the SAFE ways to consume essential oils, but drinking them in water is NOT one of them.
Here are some reasons why you should not drink essential oils in water:
1. Oil and Water Do Not Mix
Essential oils are oils and it is basic knowledge that oils and water do not mix, even though you try to stir them as much as possible. This is because oil and water have different densities. Oil, having a lower density than water will always float up above the water. When you drop in lemon essential oil into water, for example, you will find it floating on top of your glass of water. So when you go ahead and drink it, you’ll find that:
2. The Essential Oil May Come into Contact with Sensitive Mucous Membranes
As you swallow undiluted essential oils, they may come into contact with sensitive mucous membranes in the mouth and throat. They may also hit the stomach walls, irritating the intestinal linings and possibly damaging them in the process, especially if you already have conditions like stomach ulcers. Ulcers can be aggravated even by spicy foods, so what about essential oils which are potent and concentrated extracts derived from several pounds of plant material?
3. Water Is Not the Best Carrier for Essential Oils
If you want to get the therapeutic benefits of essential oils, then water is not the best way to consume essential oils. There are better ways to do so as we shall discuss below. If you are taking lemon essential oil in water for example, you might not even get the benefits of ingesting lemon essential oil in the first place because the oil may stick to the glass and not even make it into your body. This is definitely not an efficient method of intake. There are safer ways:
Best Ways to Consume Essential Oils
Essential oils, being an oil, can be safely mixed with other edible oils/fats, effectively diluting them and making them fit for safe consumption. The following are some safe ways to properly consume essential oils:
» In Kefir/Yogurt
Kefir and yogurt are wonderful probiotic drinks that are rich in healthy fats. These fats enable essential oils to mix well and become thoroughly combined so that they can be evenly distributed when they hit the stomach walls, allowing for smooth digestion.
I like to take a drop of lemon essential oil with my daily cup of kefir and it makes my kefir so much more palatable. Even in food combining, most fruits are not compatible with yogurt/kefir, but citrus fruits are and this makes it a way better way to detox and lose weight compared to taking it in water.
» In Capsule Form
You can fill a soft shell capsule made of vegetable gelatin (known as 00 vegetable capsules) with a drop of your food-grade FDA approved essential oil. For example, a drop of ginger oil can be taken this way to aid digestion and to alleviate nausea.
» Mixed in Honey
Honey is a great carrier for essential oils and a great remedy for sore throat that I like to follow in my family is with 1 tablespoon raw honey and 1 drop of lemon essential oil. I mix it thoroughly and lick it slowly with a clean finger and my word, this provides amazing relief for any type of sore throat.
» With Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is also a great medium to get essential oils safely into your body. Simply mix 1 tbsp of organic coconut oil with a food-grade essential oil (such as frankincense oil for joint inflammation). Make sure it is thoroughly mixed before you consume it.
Caution
- I recommend you do not take more than 1 – 2 drop of essential oil at a time.
- Make sure you are consuming essential oils that are approved by the FDA to be safe for consumption.
- Always ingest essential oils under the care of a certified aromatherapist or naturopathic doctor.
- Above all, always use 100% pure high quality and organic essential oils from trusted sources.