PURE ESSENTIAL OILS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are Melaleuca PURE Essential Oils food grade? There are a number of essential oils that are permitted to be used as food flavourings, including the majority of Melaleuca’s PURE Essential Oils . The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains a list of essential oils and natural extracts that are “generally recognised as safe” (GRAS) for use in foods, in a very small amount, for flavouring only. A similar food flavouring list is also maintained by The Flavour & Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA). However, a food grade (GRAS or FEMA) designation is NOT intended to be, nor should it be used as, a standard or justification for using essential oils internally for therapeutic purposes. Should essential oils be ingested? The internal use of essential oils should only be administered under the supervision of a health-care practitioner. All PURE Essential Oils are labelled for external use only. This recommendation is in no way a reflection on the quality of Melaleuca’s PURE Essential Oils . Instead, it follows the guidance of professional aromatherapy organisations and independent industry experts who specialise in essential oil safety. There are very few companies that make the dangerous claim that straight essential oils should be ingested. The practice of casually recommending oil ingestion is careless and irresponsible. Essential oils contain a variety of highly concentrated, powerful constituents that, when used improperly, can lead to injury and long-term negative health effects. Does Melaleuca grow its own plants to make PURE Essential Oils? Just like we have done for the last 30 years, we carefully choose our partners based on a strict set of guidelines to guarantee that you are getting the best quality oil available and that the farmers are using sustainable and ethical farming practices. How are PURE Essential Oils extracted? The method of extraction varies from oil to oil, depending on the part of the plant that was used to obtain the oil. The majority of PURE Essential Oils are steam distilled and citrus oils are cold pressed. You can see the specific method of extraction for a particular oil by visiting that oil’s product detail page at eu.melaleuca.com . Are PURE Essential Oils organic? Melaleuca partners with farmers who use sustainable and ethical farming practices to grow the plants needed to obtain PURE Essential Oils . Each oil is guaranteed to be free of pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metals. Organic certifications are granted by government agencies. Many of Melaleuca’s PURE Essential Oils are extracted from plants grown in countries where organic certifications are not available.
What is an essential oil? Essential oils are simply a concentrated form of the oils found naturally in the flowers, leaves, bark, stems, seeds, and other parts of plants. When the oils are extracted, they maintain the characteristic fragrance, or essence, of that plant and have been used for thousands of years by cultures all over the world for their pleasant and sometimes powerful fragrances and properties. Are Melaleuca PURE Essential Oils “therapeutic grade”? If “therapeutic grade” or “certified therapeutic grade” were industry- recognised certifications for grading essential oil quality, PURE Essential Oils would qualify as such. However, they are nothing more than made-up marketing terms used by some essential oil companies. “Therapeutic grade” and “certified therapeutic grade” testing standards are defined by the very companies who invented the terms – they have no actual certification value. In fact, you’ll find inconsistent definitions for these made-up terms. In some instances, “therapeutic grade” includes two quality tests, while other sources reference as many as seven tests. There is currently no governing body certifying the production and quality of essential oils nor is there a standard system for grading them. We believe it is deceitful to use language that would imply that there is. Without a central certification body, we turn to the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) and Association Française de Normalisation (AFNOR) for reputable quality specifications available for many essential oils. When an ISO or AFNOR standard is not available, we compare our oils to historical testing data from essential oils experts to ensure PURE Essential Oils are always the highest purity and quality oil available. What testing does Melaleuca conduct to ensure that its PURE Essential Oils are the best quality? PURE Essential Oils are some of the highest quality oils available. Each one is 100% pure oil extracted directly from the botanical plant source and is guaranteed to contain NO synthetics or impurities. They meet stringent quality specifications and are put through a battery of quality tests: • GCMS testing (Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry) • Chirality testing • Heavy metal/pesticide/herbicide testing • Organoleptic testing • Optical rotation and refractive index testing • Specific gravity testing • Microbial testing
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II’ve heard I should avoid sunlight after using some essential oils. Is this true? Yes, some oils, especially citrus oils, can increase your skin’s sensitivity to sunlight and magnify the effect of harmful ultra-violet rays. Oils that may increase your sensitivity to sunlight are marked with the „Photosensitive“ icon on the oil’s product detail page at eu.melaleuca.com section „Discover More“. Furthermore note the increased chance for photosensitivity in the “Warning” section on the PURE Essential Oil insert. Be careful to avoid sunlight for 12 hours after applying the oil to your skin or until the oil has completely washed off. Do essential oils interact with prescription medication? Generally, essential oils do not interact with prescription medications when applied topically or used aromatically. However, it is prudent to consult with your health-care practitioner before using essential oils while taking prescription medication, or if you have a blood clotting disorder.
Can PURE Essential Oils be used in a diffuser? Absolutely. Using PURE Essential Oils in a diffuser is an excellent way to fill your home with the aromatic notes of some of nature’s most fragrant botanicals. The Melaleuca PURE Ultrasonic Diffuser + Humidifier uses high-frequency vibrations to create an ultra- fine mist – without the use of heat or chemicals – to maintain the integrity of PURE Essential Oils . How do I know where to apply an essential oil on my body? Based on the composition of an oil, there may be areas of the body where it can be applied and others that should be avoided. Oils that may cause irritation to areas with sensitive skin are marked by the “sensitive” icon on the product detail page at eu.melaleuca.com . As a general rule, essential oils should never be applied to the eyes, inner ear, or to mucous membranes. Can essential oils be used on children? Extra care should be taken with using essential oils on children. Please pay special attention to the dilution guidelines on the PURE Carrier Oils : • Children or sensitive = 1 drop essential oil + 5 ml carrier oil or more • General, daily use = 2 drops essential oil + 5 ml carrier oil • Periodic use = 3 drops essential oil + 5 ml carrier oil Also, please refer to the PURE Essential Oil insert under “Directions,” “Warning” and “Ingredients.” The ingredient list for each oil will include allergens. If it is your first time using a particular oil on young or sensitive skin, dilute properly and apply to only a small patch of skin to ensure no reaction occurs before the oil is applied more broadly. Can essential oils be used while pregnant or nursing? While many essential oils appear to be safe for use while pregnant or breastfeeding, you should consult your health-care practitioner before introducing any new element into your pre- or postnatal care, including the use of essential oils. Additionally, certain oils should be avoided while pregnant or breastfeeding, including, but not limited to, wormwood, rue, oakmoss, Lavandula stoechas, camphor, parsley seed, sage, and hyssop. How do I know if an essential oil will or has the potential to irritate my skin? Each person can respond differently to an essential oil. Please refer to the “Directions” and “Warning” on each PURE Essential Oil insert. If it is your first time using a particular oil on young or sensitive skin, dilute properly and apply to only a small patch of skin to ensure no reaction occurs before the oil is applied more broadly. What should I do if I experience skin discomfort or irritation after using an essential oil? You should discontinue use of that particular oil if irritation occurs. You can dilute and calm essential oils that have already been applied to the skin by adding a few drops of a PURE Carrier Oil to the affected area.
Melaleuca of Europe (Germany) GmbH · Hessenring 13a · 64546 Mörfelden-Walldorf Germany/Duitsland/Deutschland/Niemcy/Németország/Německo + 49 (0) 6105 980 2800 · + 49 (0) 6105 980 2402· Freephone number for your country eu.melaleuca.com · 01/17 · Subject to change. 2
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