Essential oils are mostly produced by distillation of the plant matter. They are the strongest form of herbs available today. Essential oils must be diluted before applying to the skin and are not generally recommended for internal use. Some essential oils are irritating to the skin, should be avoided in pregnancy, and are toxic or cause sensitization. Some basic knowledge should be gained before using an essential oil.
Herbs are generally subtle in their effect so one doesn t want to be too subtle in the approach.
Generally the doses on labels are very conservative. When symptoms are very acute, take more frequent and larger doses for a short period of time until the crises has passed and when dealing with chronic conditions take low, less frequent doses for a longer period of time. Please remember, herbs are not the total answer. Plants have been the medicine since the beginning of man. With modern techniques and technology we have the best of both worlds.