Ingestion of Essential Oils

Ingestion of essential oils

At Springfields we source the finest quality essential oils from around the world, to supply you with pure, potent plant extracts for aromatic and therapeutic applications. Essential oils are many times stronger than the plants they are derived from, and far more concentrated than a herbal tincture extracted from the same plant.

We advocate the responsible use of essential oils. Accordingly, we do not recommend that you ingest essential oils without seeking professional advice. The issue is not the quality of the essential oils you take orally – there is no such thing as a therapeutic grade or non-therapeutic grade of essential oil.

The issue is safety and it is serious; even though essential oils are 100% natural, plant-derived extracts, they are medicines and have the potential to cause damage when taken orally. The simple fact of the matter is that essentials oils should only be prescribed for oral use in a clinical setting, by a suitably qualified practitioner. The practitioner will take into account your medical history, current medications and any ascertain contraindications before prescribing essential oils for oral ingestion.

According to the International Aromatherapy and Aromatic Medicine Association (IAAMA), the leading independent non-profit professional association for aromatherapy practitioners, a qualified practitioner for the purposes of promoting the use of therapeutic doses of essential oils for internal ingestion is an 'Aromatherapist with an Advanced Diploma in Aromatic Medicine, other ingestive modality with training in essential oils or medical qualification and holds an insurance policy which specifically covers the internal ingestion and internal application of essential oils'.

There are many methods of obtaining the aromatic and therapeutic benefits of essential oils, namely; inhalation, massage, skincare preparations, bath and compress. Generally, one of these methods will be suitable for your chosen application. If you require specific advice on oral ingestion or in relation to a specific medical condition, we recommend you consult a qualified practitioner, as described above.