Observation

[zianuray]

For all the similarities that essential oil reference books have, there is one area where they are consistently inconsistent.

Contraindications and/or "toxic" oils.

Get five books by different people, all well-respected in their field, and there will be at least one oil on each list that isn't on any of the others.
At least one oil will be used in each book that the other four have screaming tizzys over the very idea of.  Eventually, if you read enough books, you'll have such a list of potential "problem" oils that you'll be scared to use olive oil on your salad.

There are oils that are supposedly "OMG never even think about using this!" that I use regularly with good results.

There are oils that I use neat or -- horrors! -- drink in water or juice.  According the the American health system, this is an extreme no-no, though this method has been in use in Europe for years.

My suggestion?  Do the research, test the oils, and make your own decision!

Comments

[ladywind.livejournal.com]

Tea Tree oil. Everything I've read says "Panacea, even useable neat, but OH JESUS GOD DON'T INGEST IT!" Dire things. So I use it in mouthwash, much like I used to use peroxide--which will also do dire things to a person if they swallow it. Chase it with a water rinse and go on. Kills beasties, gives me decent breath, doesn't burn. Has yet to kill me.

[zianuray.livejournal.com]

A lady in Australia has been using about 30 drops per day, internally, and so have some of her HIV-positive clients, as part of an empirical study as to whether it reduces opportunistic infections. No ill-effects so far.