Pros and Cons of Essential Oils + How to Use Them Safely

I’ve seen essential oils ridiculed, and I’ve seen essential oils praised. Those who ridicule them sometimes make them sound like they’re nothing but a hoax, at best, or a scheme of the devil to lure us into the occult, at worst. Those who praise them sometimes appear to regard them almost as if they were magic in a bottle. Both perspectives seem extreme. Is there possibly a middle ground?

Here are a few good points taken from both sides. My hope is that after fairly considering both positions, we will be able to settle on a moderate, common-sense approach. (I will link to a few great articles at the end that address some common concerns Christians have about essential oils.)

Cons of Essential Oils

They are expensive.

Those who see essential oils as unnecessary usually point out that there are a myriad of natural health benefits found in plain, old regular herbs and that eating properly will take care of almost all health issues. Many times, these remedies cost little in comparison and can still be very effective. For example, instead of slathering peppermint oil all over oneself, why not just drink peppermint tea? It costs a lot less.

2. They are extremely concentrated.

Essential oils are much more concentrated than anything found in nature. If God had intended us to use something so concentrated, why didn’t He make it happen naturally? Perhaps, some people say, there are dangers involved in using something so unnaturally condensed.

3. They can cause adverse reactions.

This is probably rare. However, some people may have chemical reactions (not allergic reactions) to the chemistry of the essential oils. This can result in something as simple as having red, irritated skin; however, more serious reactions could result.

4. They have been used as part of New Age practices.

The greatest downside of essential oils is that they are sometimes treated as if they were magic, a way of charming ourselves against evil powers and of achieving our highest potential not only physically, but spiritually, as well.

This is obviously not true. Nothing has the ability to protect us from evil or to help us grow spiritually except God, and to put anything in His place is idolatry.

Pros of Essential Oils

They have powerful benefits.

But at the same time, essential oils do have value, as those who see them as helpful will highlight. However true it may be that quality herbs and nutritious food are usually all we need, what about those situations where we want the boost of something more powerful? Many testimonies, and even scientific studies, support the merits of essential oils. It isn’t just “in people’s heads”; their effectiveness, in many cases, has actually been proven. (See PubMed.com for information on scientific studies.)

As for their being concentrated; think about this: How often do we use nature’s gifts exactly as they come without changing them in any way? For example, how many of us love to eat our whole-wheat pancakes with pure maple syrup? Maple syrup is the sap of trees that has been boiled down to a concentrated, super-sweet liquid. We wouldn’t want to eat a lot of it, for sure; but, a little is okay, and may even be good for us.

It’s important to point out that we only use essential oils by the drop. It is because they are so concentrated that a little goes a long way.

2. Good-quality oils can be very cost-effective.

A 100% pure, therapeutic-grade, completely natural essential oil extracted from plants at the optimum time of the harvesting season, which is pesticide-, herbicide- and synthetic-free (you’ll need to do some investigation) can have benefits that fully counterbalance the monetary costs. Most of us know that preventing poor health by staying above the wellness line is a much better strategy than waiting until we get sick. Essential oils may have a multitude of health benefits that can boost our wellness naturally.

And for all those minor irritations that pop up in day-to-day life, in many cases a few drops of certain essential oils can be just as effective (or more so) and cost less than some of those over-the-counter solutions. So, just one bottle could contain months (or even years) of usage.

3. They are safe when used properly.

Essential oils are very powerful. Yes, people can have adverse reactions. Some people are highly sensitive to essential oils and cannot use them topically (on the skin). In that case, they may opt to diffuse them, instead. There are still many health advantages to be derived from diffusing the oils. However, for those who choose to use them topically or internally, here are a few rules of thumb:

At least at first, always use a carrier oil. This is a fatty vegetable oil such as olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, etc. I usually fill a dime-sized area in the palm of my hand with the carrier oil (perhaps 1/4 to 1/2 tsp) and mix one drop of essential oil in with it. This I then apply to my skin. I have used essential oils without diluting them, too; but, this is not recommendable for first-time use or with “hot” oils such as cinnamon, peppermint, oregano, etc. Some oils, such as lavender or frankincense, are usually mild enough to use without a carrier oil; still, caution is always recommended.
Start slowly. Don’t try out a whole bunch of oils at once; start with one. Apply it with a carrier oil to a small patch of skin. Watch for redness. If there is any at all, stop using that oil for two to three days. Then, try again. If the same reaction occurs, discontinue use of that oil. You may be able to use other oils; however, if you continue to have skin irritation with the other oils as well, perhaps the best option is to only use them in a diffuser.
Take advantage of a high-quality reference book. There are many out there and they don’t all say the same thing. However, there may be one your essential oils consultant recommends; that could be a good place to start.
Be careful when using essential oils with children. They are much more sensitive than adults. One of the easiest and safest ways to use essential oils around children is by diffusing them. You can also apply them (with a carrier oil) to the bottoms of their feet. Most reference books will have recommendations for adults and for children.
Be careful when using essential oils during pregnancy. This is a very sensitive period in a woman’s life. Because of changing hormones, her body’s chemistry is not the same as it normally is. She doesn’t want to use any oils that could interfere with her hormones, unless recommended by her health practitioner. Oils such as clary sage and myrrh may disrupt her hormones.
Be careful when using essential oils with pets. Their bodies are different, and some oils that are fine for us would not be fine for them. Look in your reference book which oils are recommended for pets, and which are not.
Use caution when taking essential oils internally. They are very powerful, as mentioned before, and could cause a burning sensation, depending on how “hot” they are. If the oils are 100% pure and free from ALL synthetics, pesticides, and herbicides (do your research), they should be safe to take internally, with caution. However, it may be best to take them in a gel capsule along with a carrier oil such as olive oil, or to combine them with an emulsifying ingredient such as milk (in a smoothie would be great!). I like mixing a drop with honey in some very warm water for tea, every now and then.

Hopefully, these tips will help familiarize you with the basics of how to use essential oils safely. This list is not exhaustive, and I am not a health professional. Interestingly, however, there are health professionals who advocate using essential oils!

Now, back to the Pros of Essential Oils. We have one more item to look at:

4. They are a neutral product of nature and have no inherently evil properties.

Essential oils are neutral, just like meat (Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8). Some people use meat to sacrifice to idols. Some people eat it to feed their bodies. Meat in and of itself has no intrinsic spiritual value; it is how we use it that counts. Similarly, some people may use essential oils in the wrong way, while other people use them properly. Is it right to expect all people to throw out their essential oils because of those who use them improperly? That doesn’t seem fair. Even though they could, for “conscience sake,” the truth is, that when it comes to the health of their family, it makes more sense to most people to take advantage of a health option that could potentially bring with it huge benefits, as opposed to “worrying what other people will think.” Besides, essential oils, in one form or another, are mentioned in the Bible in a positive light, which seems to give weight to the opinion that God does not disapprove of their use but to the contrary, accepts them and perhaps even approves of them.

A Middle-Ground Approach

Though some people have misused essential oils (just as they have misused many other elements of God’s creation), perhaps our duty as Christians is to shine light upon the issue and take dominion over the earth, as God mandated in Genesis 1:28, using what He gave us for our own good. We should reclaim what has been lost to eastern mysticism and declare that it really belongs to God. We should show a model of Christians using essential oils in an appropriate way that everybody can look up to and learn from.

We should reject any usage of essential oils that includes New Age elements. We should make sure we do not promote essential oil singles or blends for their so-called “ability” to give us spiritual protection, financial abundance, greater spiritual insight, better relationships, a closer connection to God, or any other un-natural claim.

With Christian freedom, we can be at peace using oils such as lavendar, eucalyptus, peppermint, lemon, etc. for their God-given benefits to our physical health (which includes our brain and emotions). We can use essential oil blends for their health properties and great smell.

A balanced, common-sense view of essential oils does not completely “throw out the baby with the bathwater.” In other words, we don’t need to reject God’s gifts in nature because they have been used improperly by New Agers. On the other hand, we should use caution and not do anything, or promote any idea, that is connected to false religion and which could lead ourselves, our family, or others astray.

Also, we should not spend more money on essential oils than we can reasonably afford, though it would be worthwhile to invest in having a few in one’s wellness cabinet for their proven benefits (I’ve been so glad to have mine, when emergencies have popped up–and they were comparably less expensive than the alternatives).

Finally, it would be wise to investigate various options for boosting our health, without relying exclusively on essential oils. Herbs, tinctures, supplements, good nutrition, water, exercise, sunshine, fresh air, etc. are all good things to include!

After reading this article, it’s probably clear to you that I’m slanted in favor of essential oils, though I openly acknowledge their disadvantages. Since there is so much controversy over this issue, I can’t give answers that will satisfy everybody. Each person must look at both sides of the issue in as objective a mindset as possible. Each person must do their own study and use common sense, to the best of their ability. Finally, each person must not think they have the only valid viewpoint. Just as we can see from a casual perusal of this topic that there are reasonable points coming from both perspectives, we must recognize that other people may not agree with us for good reasons and must respect their viewpoint and individual situation.

Here are a few articles that I think you will be very interested in reading (in fact, I hope you DO read them!):

What are some ways you’ve found essential oils helpful? Conversely, what are some practices or perspectives related to essential oils you actively try and avoid because you consider them harmful? Your answers to these questions will probably be useful to many mothers! Thank you for sharing!

~Jessica