We know that dōTERRA CPTG essential oils are 100% pure, as they are put through rigorous testing and held to an uncompromising standard of high quality. But sometimes our bodies may have a reaction to the oils. Perhaps our skin shows signs of irritation where the oil was applied, or maybe there are signs of digestive upset when taken internally. You may be wondering why this is happening if the product is pure and totally natural.
Because the oils are of such high concentration, if a reaction does occur (which is very rare when using dōTERRA essential oils) it is recommended to “patch test,” which means applying a small amount of ONE oil to an area on the skin and watching for signs of a reaction. It is also highly recommended to dilute with fractionated coconut oil to avoid skin sensitivity. Most of the oils are safe to use neat, meaning undiluted, but for those with sensitive skin, (infants and small children are included in this category) it is important to dilute first and then increase the strength as tolerance permits.
Recently, an allergy specialist explained the idea that people can have an intolerance to things that are in nature (which many assume to be an allergic reaction when in reality it is not). Generally speaking, removing the culprit that caused the reaction and then gradually reintroducing it in small doses allows your body time to learn how to endure it without signs of intolerance.
In some circles, people have come to regard any sort of reaction from essential oils as your body exhibiting signs of “detox.” Meaning, that if your body is in an unhealthy state or has an overabundance of yeast, using pure essentials will send your body in to cleansing mode, often displaying signs of an allergic reaction. Science has yet to back up this claim.
Dr. Robert Pappas, a highly regarded essential oil chemist, had this to say about essential oils and adverse reactions:
“…In the case of using an essential oil on your skin we are ADDING something new to our bodies that your body has no prior experience with, any bad reaction could not logically be classified as a detox reaction. A rash or burn from an essential oil is basically your skin screaming at you ‘hey, stop that and stop it now!’” Pappas recommends doing a patch test when trying a new essential oil.
Some people have reported stomach upset with the use of the Slim and Sassy product. Some recommendations from other users include scaling back how much and how often you use the product and gradually increase until you find a place where your body is happy. Another recommendation from users is to take Digetzen with Slim and Sassy.
Most importantly, it is critical when using any wellness product to be in touch with your body. Your body will send you powerful messages about what is happening by the way you feel. The more in tune you become to discerning those messages, the more power you will have over your own health. This will be the most important guiding principle in your usage of dōTERRA essential oils. Try different oils and different dosages and then listen carefully to your body and how you feel afterwards. Every person’s chemistry is so different, all of the oils will have different levels of impact.