Conclusion on essential oils

OLUFUNKE FROM PUNCH

The first time I ever tasted date, I vowed never to eat it again because it was insanely sweet and I thought it could cause serious blood sugar spike. However, I had a change of heart when I saw Justin Richard’s video on the fruit. He is insulinresistant1 on Instagram, and he boldly proclaims on his page, “Type 2 (diabetes) runs in my family and I am trying to prevent it. Let us get healthy together.”

Justin eats different foods and measures his blood sugar afterwards to see how the food impacts his blood sugar. Back to his video on dates, he ate three of them and they did not raise his blood sugar. It shocked me; and I now use dates as a sweetener.

I recommend that you follow Justin on Instagram. If you want to add dates to your diet, make sure you check your blood sugar after you consume them to be sure they do not cause a blood sugar spike for you, as individual results may vary.

I decided to put a stop to our discussion on essential oils because the variety of essential oils is extensive. If we continue, we cannot exhaust the list of essential oils in a year or two. I want us to move to other things in nature’s kitty. I will just touch some areas we never delved into.

In all, I discussed five essential oils— frankincense, lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree and jasmine essential oils.

While preparing for the article on eucalyptus essential oil, I ran out of space and I expunged a particular piece of information, but a reader actually reminded me of it. I will like to talk about it now.

Koalas are mammals that feed mainly on very fibrous eucalyptus leaves, and occasionally on leaves of other plant species. The koala’s digestive system is particularly good at tolerating its toxic eucalyptus diet, which, even in small amounts, can be poisonous and fatal to most animals when ingested. Koalas have a special fibre-digesting organ called a caecum. Other animals, such as humans also have a caecum, but that of the koala is very long (200 cm). The caecum contains millions of bacteria which break down the fibre into substances which are easier to absorb. Even so, the koala is still only able to absorb 25 per cent of fibre eaten. Water is also absorbed from the gum leaves, so that koalas rarely need to drink, although they can do so if necessary, such as in times of drought when the water content of the leaves is reduced.

When you hear essential oils, the picture you have is that they are oily. However, contrary to the use of the word “oil”, they are not really oily-feeling at all, they are called “oils” because they contain oil-soluble chemicals.

An essential oil is essential in the sense that it contains the essence of the plant’s fragrance—the characteristic fragrance of the plant from which it is derived. The term “essential” does not mean required or usable by the human body, as with the terms essential amino acid or essential fatty acid, which are so called because they are nutritionally required by a living organism. They are hydrophobic (don’t mix with water) and lipophilic (don’t mix with fats or lipids).

Essential oils are not the same as infused oils. For example, a frankincense-infused oil is created by steeping frankincense resin in a carrier oil, resulting in a milder extract containing a broader spectrum of the plant’s compounds, while frankincense essential oil is a highly concentrated extract obtained through steam distillation, capturing only the most volatile and potent components of the resin, making it significantly stronger and requiring dilution before use on the skin. If I put lavender buds in oil and let them steep in it for some time, that is lavender-infused oil, not an essential oil.

Safety guidelines to follow in using essential oils include:

You can easily dilute your essential oils by blending a few drops with a carrier oil. Carrier oils— such as almond oil, jojoba or coconut oil— are typically vegetable-based.

Not only are carrier oils useful in spreading the essential oil onto a larger surface area, they help protect the skin from rash and irritation that could occur when essential oils are used in their concentrated forms.

Patch tests allow you to see how your skin reacts to a particular oil before you perform a full application. To conduct a patch test, wash your forearm with unscented soap. Pat dry, then rub a few drops of diluted essential oil into a small patch of your forearm and cover with gauze. Wait for 24 hours before removing the gauze. If the skin patch is red, itchy, blistering or swollen, you had an adverse reaction to the oil and should discontinue use. If you experience discomfort before the 24-hour period ends, immediately wash the area with soap and warm water.

Infants and children have thinner skin and less developed livers and immune systems. This makes them more vulnerable to potential toxicity associated with oil use. If the child is above two years old, certain essential oils can be administered topically, with carrier oils and through aromatherapy methods, but at a much weaker concentration than adult dosing. A 2007 study reported that using lavender and tea tree oil topically on males who have not reached puberty has been linked to hormonal abnormalities that encourage breast growth. These oils should only be administered through aromatherapy methods or avoided.

The benefits of aromatherapy are well-researched. Inhaling certain essential oils, such as sweet orange, can help ease symptoms of stress and anxiety. Inhaling lavender may improve sleep quality. You can reap the benefits of aromatherapy through inhalation or diffusion. Inhalation is most effective when treating respiratory issues, whereas diffusion is best suited for mood management.

When diffusing oils, follow proper dilution guidelines; make sure you diffuse in a well-ventilated area; diffuse intermittently— typically 30 to 60 minutes on, then 30 to 60 minutes off.