Essential Oil Education

First of all let me describe what an allergen is. Typically it is an allergen that is the source of allergies–the culprit that causes some kind of hyper-reaction in the body. For an allergen to cause an allergic reaction–we must have been previously exposed to it, our bodies must have developed antibodies for that allergen and there must be a hyersensitive reaction every time we are exposed to it. The allergen may be airborne, in the water or food or it could be something we touched–like poison ivy leaves.

Allergens with only a few exceptions–are proteins or polypeptides composed of amino acids. if you asked the question–can essential oils be an allergen or contain allergens–we would have to say unequivocally–NO since they contain no proteins. What is interesting is that you can have a respiratory allergy to goldenrod or ragweed but not be allergic to the essential oils that come from that plant since proteins do not come across in the distillatin process.

What about Fatty Oils–Can You Have an Allergic Reaction to These?

YES–if you are alleregic to peanuts–you will react to peanut oil because the pressed oils will contain proteins and polypeptides from the seeds or nuts.

That should be good news. But you say you know of someone or maybe you yourself developed a rash after using an essential oil–does that mean you developed an “allergy” to that oil? Actually no–there is no allergy however the oils are doing exactly what they are programmed to do–go after petrochemicals. Your body is toxic and the oils are showing you that you need to cleanse your body. Can you continue using the essential oils? I wouldn’t advise it. Clean up your body first and that may take months or even a year to do but eventually you will be able to use the essential oils that caused the rash. More next post on how to clean up your body.

Want to learn more about how these amazing oils actually work in the chemistry of your body? Check out our aromatherapy certification program at http://www.ISHAhealing.com