Is Using Essential Oils Herbalism?
- ALUA PATEL
- Apr 16, 2023
- 3 min read
Defining Herbalism
Herbalism is the practice of using whole plants — leaves, flowers, roots, seeds, barks — for healing, nourishment, and wellbeing.
It includes teas, tinctures, powders, infusions, poultices, capsules, syrups, baths, and topical applications.
Philosophy: plants are used holistically, balancing multiple compounds and energies to support health.
Approaches: Western herbalism, Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, folk traditions, modern clinical herbalism.
Defining Essential Oils
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts, distilled or cold-pressed to capture volatile aromatic compounds.
Used in aromatherapy, massage oils, skincare, diffusers, cleaning products.
Focused on fragrance molecules like terpenes, esters, aldehydes, ketones.
Powerful and potent: one small bottle may require kilograms of raw plant matter.
How Essential Oils Overlap with Herbalism
Both involve using plants for health and wellness.
Many herbalists incorporate essential oils into practice (massage blends, topical applications).
Some herbs are better expressed through oils (eucalyptus for respiratory care, lavender for calming, tea tree for antimicrobial use).
Both can support physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
Both emphasize plants as allies in holistic health.
How Essential Oils Differ from Herbalism
Whole Plant vs Extracted Fraction
Herbalism often uses whole plants, preserving synergy of compounds.
Essential oils isolate volatile aromatic fraction, leaving behind many other plant constituents (alkaloids, polysaccharides, tannins, minerals).
Concentration
Herbal teas: mild concentration.
Tinctures: moderate.
Essential oils: extreme potency — drops equal to cups of tea.
Safety Profile
Herbal teas: generally safe for most.
Essential oils: risk of burns, toxicity, allergic reactions, hormone disruption if misused.
Philosophical Difference
Some herbalists consider essential oil use as adjacent to herbalism, not herbalism itself.
Others argue essential oils are part of the herbal continuum, just one preparation method.
Historical Perspective
Distillation of aromatic oils dates back to ancient Egypt, Persia, India.
Herbalism as whole-plant practice is older, spanning millennia of folk use.
Aromatherapy as a distinct field was formalized in early 20th-century France.
Benefits of Essential Oils in Herbal Practice: some examples
Emotional Support: lavender, bergamot, frankincense for relaxation and mood balance.
Respiratory Support: eucalyptus, peppermint for sinus and lung relief.
Antimicrobial Use: tea tree, thyme, oregano oils for skin, cleaning, and infection prevention.
Pain and Muscle Relief: wintergreen, rosemary, clove in massage blends.
Skin Care: chamomile, rose, sandalwood soothing inflammation.
Risks of Essential Oils Compared to Herbal Preparations
Toxicity: concentrated dose can damage liver, kidneys if ingested.
Skin Sensitization: citrus oils cause phototoxicity; cinnamon and oregano burn skin.
Hormonal Effects: some oils (lavender, tea tree) linked to hormone disruption in children.
Drug Interactions: potent oils may alter drug metabolism.
Environmental Cost: high plant matter required for small bottles raises sustainability concerns.
Speak With Your Doctor About
Toxicity
Do not ingest essential oils unless under qualified medical supervision.
Dilute oils before skin use.
Keep away from children and pets.
Medication Interactions
Oils like clove, cinnamon may thin blood.
Citrus oils may affect drug metabolism.
Peppermint and rosemary may trigger issues for people with epilepsy or high blood pressure.
Dosage
Safer guideline: 1–2% dilution in carrier oil for skin use.
A few drops in a diffuser for inhalation.
Avoid prolonged, daily use.
Herbalism Perspective on Essential Oils
Herbalist Acceptance
Many herbalists use essential oils for topical and aromatic purposes.
Oils seen as part of broader toolkit, not replacement for whole-plant medicine.
Herbalist Concerns
Overemphasis on oils risks overshadowing gentler, more sustainable herbal practices.
Marketing often disconnects oils from herbal context.
Education gap: public may think oils are equivalent to teas or tinctures.
Integrative View
Oils can complement teas, tinctures, and dietary herbs.
Herbalists encourage understanding oils as concentrated, specialized tools — not the core of herbalism.
Final Answer
Is using essential oils herbalism?
→ Yes. Essential oils represent only one narrow, concentrated aspect of plant medicine.
Herbalism values the whole plant — body, chemistry, spirit.
Essential oils are tools that can support herbalism but should never replace the broader, balanced approach of traditional herbal practice.