Hello, hello, my loves!
Let’s talk about something I feel very strongly about: please, for the love of all things good and holy, do not eat your essential oils.
I know, I know. You’ve seen it on social media and in woo woo blogs and such. Someone swearing by a drop of oregano oil in their water or adding lemon oil to every single thing they consume. And look, I get the appeal. We are a community that loves natural remedies, plant medicine, and finding alternatives to the growlingly toxic synthetic world. But there is a very important line between plant medicine and putting highly concentrated chemical compounds directly into your body without guidance, and I need us to talk about it.
Essential oils are extraordinarily concentrated. It takes an enormous amount of plant material to produce even a small bottle. The Association of Migraine Disorders states that a single drop of peppermint oil is the equivalent of roughly 28 cups of peppermint tea. Your digestive system, your mucous membranes, and your organs were simply not designed to process that level of concentration casually.
Ingesting essential oils can cause serious damage to your esophagus and stomach lining. Some oils are toxic to the liver and kidneys with repeated internal use. Certain oils are outright dangerous to children, pregnant women, and people on medications, even in small amounts. Say it with me: just because something is natural does not mean it is automatically safe in every form and dosage.
Herbalism, tea rituals, tinctures made with intention and knowledge are incredible tools that deserve respect, proper education, and in many cases the guidance of a trained practitioner.
If you are curious about incorporating more plant medicine into your wellness practice, please work with a qualified herbalist. Ask questions. Do the research.
But first and foremost: keep the oils on your skin, in your diffuser, and away from your mouth.
Your liver will thank you.
Love you, be well!
Autumn || The Untamed Priestess 🌙
