ABEM e.V. - Benefits and dangers of essential oils (PDF)

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Updated - February 2, 2025

ABEM e.V.Im Erlengrund 24, 32791 Lage, has opened a Document published by "Dr. Peter Enns", in which the "Benefits and dangers of essential oils" are explained.

„ABEM e.V. (Arbeitskreis biblische Ethik in der Medizin) is a non-profit association founded in 1995 by a group of committed doctors and theologians.„

Its objective is defined as follows: "The non-profit association is committed to promoting ethics in medicine based on biblical principles. The focus is on providing support in medical-ethical issues and in medical-pastoral problem cases. Through this work, the association strives to promote the integration of biblical principles into the medical context and to provide holistic care in ethical matters. The overarching goal is to promote an ethical approach to healthcare based on biblical values.„

Foreword

Unfortunately, Dr. Peter Enns is not described in detail on the website or in the document with regard to his qualifications. Due to the fact that several people have the same name, it is therefore not possible to make a concrete statement as to which of the contents of his publication are based on research or his own knowledge.

In this respect, I am keeping my following statement as objective as possible.

Notes

Legal situation

The legal situation in Germany makes it mandatory for manufacturers of pure, unmodified essential oils to present the effect of the oils in terms of arguments, e.g. in the pure "wellness" area. All statements in this regard must be limited to e.g. soothing, promoting, etc. in order to be "compliant".

Even if oils have undisputed "antibacterial", "antiviral" and "antifungal" effects, these attributes must not be mentioned. Only doctors or alternative practitioners may make such statements.

This means that the often "vague" description provided by the manufacturer regarding the properties of essential oils is only an aid. If you want to know exactly what properties the oil in question has, you should take a look at the specialist medical websites on the Internet. The studies to be found there provide detailed information.

Application of essential oils

As essential oils are concentrates, they should only be used in accordance with professional advice.

Just as concentrates in the area of household cleaners, scented oils, etc. should only be used in accordance with the printed hazard and application information, improper use is also not indicated for essential oils.

declaration

Essential oil products are often found as Cosmetics declared. Such products must not be ingested and are only approved for external use. This is all the more the case as synthetic substances or allergenic active ingredients are often added here in higher concentrations, which are subject to the statutory declaration obligation and are harmful to the organism when used internally or even excessively externally.

Statement

The points made by Dr. Peter Enns in cooperation with ABEM e.V., including the conclusion on page 8 of the document linked above, are listed below, followed by the corresponding statement.

• „1. Essential oils and medicinal plants are not bad in themselves and are by no means sinful. The use of essential oils does not make anyone a bad or good Christian. They are given to us by God, but today they are often not exactly brought to us by good people and forces!„

The objection that essential oils "often not exactly brought to us today by good people and forces" is true, but the cause of the bad influence does not lie in the nature of the essential oils, but in that of the person using them.

• „2. (1) Essential oils are a well-known herbal remedy for the treatment of colds, bronchial diseases, etc. (2) They are particularly useful for non-serious illnesses.
  (3) But let us never forget God's claim with regard to our illnesses: Ex 15:26: I am the Lord your physician! Help comes from the Lord! God heals - no doctor, no medicine, no plant and no oil!„

Set 1 is correct.

Set 2 is open to interpretation, as the severity of an illness is perceived in relative terms. In addition, essential oils act on and in cells and therefore have a profound potential effect, which is also of considerable relevance in serious illnesses. See, for example, use in patients on isolation wards, in palliative medicine or published studies on e.g. PubMed or Elsevier aka ScienceDirect.

Set 3 implies that man only needs to believe in God and consequently needs neither a human doctor, nor medicines (prescribed by him), nor plants (given by God), and therefore no essential oils.

• 3. „(1) The use of essential oils is associated with health risks. (2) Some oils have a high
  allergy potential (especially those derived from nature!). (3) Allergy sufferers should therefore stay away from oil
  keep away. (4) Some oils can damage the respiratory tract and cause asthma. (5) The toxicity of the oils
  many people are not aware of. (6) Particularly in the case of children, the ÄÖ may not be used because of the
  risks should not be used without serious preparation, advice and dosing. (7) Last but not least
  also assumed a risk of carcinogenesis in some oils.„

Set 1 is a generalization and therefore inaccurate.
Every substance must be used properly, just as a kitchen knife can be used to harmlessly peel an apple, but can also be used to kill a person. The responsibility for proper use always lies with the person carrying out the work.

Set 2 in particular the passage in brackets and marked with an exclamation mark "especially those derived from nature!" is incorrect.
Synthetically produced oils have a much higher potential to be harmful to health. Due to their high allergy potential, 26 synthetic fragrance oils alone were included in the INCI list (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients). Eight of these are of purely synthetic origin (Amylcinnamal, hydroxycitronellal, amylcinnamyl alcohol, 4-(4-hydroxy-4-methylpentyl)-3-cyclohexenecarboxaldehyde 1), 2-(4-tert-butylbenzyl)propionaldehyde, hexyl cinnamaldehyde, methyl heptine carbonate (2-octinic acid methyl ester), 3-methyl-4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-yl)-3-buten-2-one).

A number of (partially/fully) synthetic oils are patented, which is why a list of the specific ingredients is not made available for the (economic) protection of the trade secret thus established. Without knowing the exact composition, it is therefore not possible to draw any concrete conclusions about possible health hazards.

Pure essential oils, on the other hand, are made available to the end customer transparently in terms of their composition via batch-oriented gas chromatographic analysis on the respective websites, at least by DōTERRA and YoungLivinig.
This provides an accurate assessment of any possible, dose-dependent, harmful effect. As with all chemical substances, it is advisable to carry out a suitable allergy test prior to exposure if there is a potential, as part of the usual duty of care.

Set 3 is therefore incorrect.

Set 4 affects proper and responsible use. Anyone who misuses an application need not be surprised at the harmful consequences for health.
Although hydrochloric acid in the stomach helps to break down food and is harmless to the body, a breath from a bottle of hydrochloric acid (in the right concentration) will certainly cause a chemical burn to the respiratory tract.

Sets 5 and 6 point out toxicity and causation of cancer, as well as the need for serious production and advice, such as dosage.
On the one hand, as Paracelsus already wrote, the dose makes the poison; on the other hand, knowledge of the complete ingredients, and therefore the purity, but also the advice for a safe and helpful application are elementary.

Furocoumarins, for example, are also suspected of having a carcinogenic effect. However, only in connection with UV exposure. Otherwise, they have an antioxidant effect and - quite the opposite - act as Cancer inhibitor.

Photosensitizing substances (such as Bergaptene) require sun protection in order to avoid the carcinogenic effects of UV radiation(! - not the essential oil).

As always, overdosing should be avoided to prevent undesirable effects (carcinogenicity and genotoxicity), such as with estragole (e.g. contained in tarragon, eucalyptus and fennel), or. Safrole - which is contained in sassafras oil (with up to 80%), camphor, black pepper, cinnamon, basil, nutmeg - in decreasing order of concentration.
The above-mentioned carcinogenicity and genotoxicity have been observed at high to very high doses.

• 4. will be split into sets for a better overview:
• „Unfortunately, the current wave of euphoria and enthusiasm for EEE in the free church communities is largely caused by people who show a particular affection for alternative methods or complementary medicine.„

Just as all goods are linked to current trends in advertising, essential oils are no exception to this practice.
Whether you associate the product, following the advertising, with such esoteric, ritual or even occult aspects is up to you.
The enthusiasm and affection cited are also not dependent on the user group, but are distributed across society as a whole in varying percentages.

It is not the essential oils that are esoteric, ritualistic or occult, but the user alone determines the orientation.

• „Among the product providers - who "dominate" the market - it can be seen that the driving force today is particularly the representatives of so-called holistic procedures, who claim that ÄÖ is a panacea.„

Apart from the fact that every provider is prohibited by law from making promises of healing, there is a lack of sources here that factually substantiate the above claim.

• „Here, providers and distributors are often representatives of TCM, Ayurveda, yoga, Hinduism, Buddhism or at least aromatherapy. This is openly referred to as treatment at the level of the powers, the mind and the subconscious.„

While TCM represents Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda the Indian counterpart, and Hinduism and Buddhism are world religions, aromatherapy is neither a medical nor a religious world view.
Those who place essential oils in the above context may decide so for themselves, but this does not establish general validity per se.

• „This becomes very clear when even superficially reviewing the products of the companies DōTERRA and Melaleuka, which are very popular and advertised among Russian-Germans today. It is therefore not recommended to use the products in this context and to obtain the oils from the corresponding sources.„

Irrespective of any nationality, the above statement is generally incorrect (possibly true in relation to the municipality known to the author).
No specific sources are made available, nor are esoteric contents tending towards TCM, Ayurveda, Buddhism or Hinduism mentioned or propagated on the websites of the companies mentioned.

The use of a brass bowl for presenting pastries or sweets, for example, is generally uncriticized, but its use as an incense bowl is more likely to be interpreted in an esoteric, ritualistic way.
However, to deduce from this that brass bowl manufacturers should be avoided and that their bowls should not be used by Christians is like throwing out the proverbial baby with the bathwater.

• 5. „If required, essential oils can be obtained from the pharmacy at a significantly lower price. Here you can also be advised accordingly so that it is used with the correct indication, type of application and dose.„

The Pharmazeutische Zeitung has published an article on this topic in its Between esotericism and pharmaceutical law of April 8, 2002, wrote a good overview of pharmacist practice in connection with legal regulations, including those of the German Pharmacopoeia (DAB), and took into account the associated problems with essential oils.

Among other things, the (gas chromatographic) detection of the components and quality of essential oils is emphasized. Manufacturers is not provided or not provided in full. The linked article deals with the search for manufacturers who make such evidence available to the end customer in full, either on their websites or explicitly on request, but also those who are unable to provide any information on this.

The importance of this fact is underlined by the increased yield of essential oil, often forced by higher distillation temperatures and / or pressures out of greed for profit, and the resulting chemically altered properties (restructuring of the bonds) of the active ingredients. Under certain circumstances, the original healing effects may be completely lost or other effects may develop.
It should be easy to understand why such oils are (or can be) offered at "significantly lower prices".

Practice shows that although pharmacists are familiar with their pharmaceutical environment, they are not necessarily also familiar with the field of essential oils. The recommendation in the sentence quoted at the beginning should therefore be treated with caution.

• 6. also split here for the sake of clarity:
• „There is also a worrying trend that has not just started with the current wave of offers.
  of the Aeolus is recognizable. The church of Jesus Christ, with the close fellowship that characterizes it
  of believers, is now becoming a sales market for some companies. Here they encounter a
  above-average openness to alternative methods and a particular interest in
  "natural" health offers.
  There are more and more members of the community who are enthusiastic about these products or even
  possibly out of a desire to earn a living, into a sales structure of this kind.
  companies can be integrated. They act as intermediaries and sell the products (currently ÄÖ)
  proactively in the community. Here, siblings, friends and relatives are courted and products
  offered.

Regardless of the location, beliefs, product or whatever: if the pizza at 'Da Mario' is particularly tasty, people will immediately spread the word, no matter where and on what occasion. Assuming that you receive a free pizza for every third recommendation, and that in turn is passed on, nothing other than a quasi-sales concept or "MLM" is created over time.

However, this does not mean that the quality of the pizza is suddenly inferior, nor should the owner be condemned because he is pleased and appreciates the commitment of his satisfied customers.

If one of these customers belongs to the Buddhist faith or an esoteric group, pizza and pizza bakers remain good and recommendable, but become neither part of a world religion nor esotericism.

• Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for practiced strategies to be used to build up pressure ("Do you want to
  that your child will be healthy?" or "Why don't you try it at least once?
  natural/vegetable and completely harmless!").

Spreading fear (and thus creating pressure) has always been a tried and tested means of manipulating people. Anyone who acts in this way is unlikely to conform to the Bible.

Alternatively, the approach "I'll give you a sample here (which I bought), just let me know if it helped" is more in line with the idea of charity and care. And if the "pizza tastes good", the rest will happen all by itself, without pressure or fear!

There have always been and still are black sheep who walk over dead bodies for profit and sell the Eskimo an icebox. However, these should not or only very rarely be found, especially among Christians ...!

• It is not uncommon for these products to be used by
  (former) siblings who have left the narrow path, but still have contacts
  to the (old) churches. Here the enemy wants the church of Jesus Christ, which is a house
  of God, a pillar and foundation of truth, becomes a department store and den of thieves.
  May the children of God feel here as our Lord and Master felt then: (John 2:16-17):
  Zeal for your house has consumed me - Don't turn my father's house into a department store!„

Whether "former" church members have "left the narrow path" is a moot point, unless you join the ranks of sectarians who only recognize their specific interpretation of the Bible as universally valid.

For the sake of completeness, John should be quoted in context:

14 And he found the sellers of oxen, sheep and doves and the moneychangers sitting in the temple.
15 And he made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, even the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers' coins, and overturned the tables;
16 And to the sellers of doves he said, "Take this away from here; do not make my father's house a store.

The temple was transformed into a market hall. Applied to the essential oils under discussion here: if brothers and sisters set up stalls in the church and offer their products for sale there, this would correspond to John's description, analogous to Jesus' actions, and would justify appropriate action.

However, if brothers and sisters talk about their everyday lives, experiences, worries, the best pizza in town, the latest offers at the discount store or even essential oils during a cozy get-together after the service, this would be an impermissible restriction of everyone's personal rights.

• 7. „It is also regrettable and not conducive to fellowship when brothers and sisters become a burden to others through their own use of the ÄÖ with their fragrance and disturb the fellowship.„

Not everyone will want to smell the "fragrance" of a perfume that is usually very expensive, especially as most perfumes consist exclusively of synthetic fragrance compositions and are therefore not conducive to good health.

Nevertheless, a person with social skills will not have the idea of excluding someone from a community. They will avoid being within smelling distance.

But to say to him that he is a burden to others and a troublemaker with his perfume would probably not correspond to the biblical recommendation for a Christian.

• 8. „Wellness massages with or without aromatherapy are offers of our time that are also "well received" by God's children. We need to warn them. Following Jesus is not a feel-good offer - it is a call to self-denial, cross-bearing and service for the Lord.„

"Wellness massages with or without aromatherapy" serve solely to promote human well-being and as a balance to stressful everyday life, e.g. to counteract muscular cramps or, with olfactory application (via the sense of smell), also to have a neurological, psychologically regulating effect. Wellness massage is neither in competition with nor a substitute for following Jesus,

• "This is what Mary brought about in John 12. She also brought an oil of ointment into the house. But not for self-application. All attention and devotion should be given to Jesus."

John 12:3 says, "Then Mary took a pound of pure, delicious anointing oil, anointed Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the smell of the anointing oil."

Nard oil is obtained from nard, a valerian plant, and is used in TCM and Ayurvedic medicine, even if this may not suit "us Christians" at all.

It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, calming, anxiolytic and muscle relaxant properties, promotes inner peace and sleep, balances the mood, reduces nervousness and nourishes the skin.
The topical application of the oil to Jesus' feet was therefore able to unfold its full spectrum of effects on Jesus' body. All the more so as the active ingredients reach the site of action via the soles of the feet in the second fastest way (they are absorbed olfactorily the fastest, within around 22 seconds) -> "... but the house was filled with the smell of the anointing oil.".

So Maria "did everything right"! And so should WE!

• „(1) Those who live their lives in this way can also use essential oils for health complaints or illnesses with simplicity and in compliance with the medical indication and type of application. (2) But not under the banner of aromatherapy and wellness. (3) Nor under the pressure of a cleverly constructed sales strategy of some companies. (4) Children of God should refrain from this.„

Set 1 full agreement.

Set 2 There is nothing to be said against aromatherapy and wellness, because both are beneficial to the human body and its health and therefore in harmony with God's will.
Non-biblically based religions or Far Eastern traditions, on the other hand, should still be viewed critically.

Set 3 Both pressure and fear are not biblically legitimized measures. They belong neither in economically focused sales arguments nor in politically motivated statements or other strategies aimed at manipulation.

Set 4 In the sense of the comment on sentence 3: Agreement.

In brief

Auzugsweise comments:

• „The oils quickly take on the status of a character-altering agent and have an almost
  like a cure for the soul and thus become a religion and a means of salvation.„

Essential oils are neither a religion nor a "cure for the soul" or "means of salvation". Misuse is always the responsibility of the user.
Some essential oils can have psychoactive effects, as the molecules are cell-permeable and have a very rapid olfactory effect.

If the user makes them into a religion, etc., then it is he who attaches this meaning to them. Essential oils remain what they are: Natural, chemical substances with an individual concentration and distribution of active ingredients that vary according to geographical cultivation, weather conditions, time of harvest and type of distillation, and therefore also different effects and prices.

• ... The price here is also very high. The oils from these suppliers can be obtained much more cheaply from other sources. It would therefore be better to refrain from using oils from this supplier.„

Unfortunately, the author again fails to provide a source and justification for his assessment, both that the price is "very high" and that the oils "can be obtained much more cheaply from other sources".

This argument proves that neither the conditions nor the entire process for the production of a therapeutically effective essential oil have been studied. Likewise, the possibilities of adulteration and stretching of essential oils, which have a massive influence on the price structure, seem to be unknown. Not to mention manufacturing research departments and quality assurance.

The general advice is therefore "to refrain from using oils from this supplier ..." and the purchase of oils from, inevitably, unsecured sources.
In doing so, we are accepting that what we have previously built up as a threat will come true: that essential oils are toxic, allergenic, carcinogenic, among other things, if people use or even consume such qualitatively unsafe oils!

What was that about "fears" and "threats"?

• „(1) Quite practically, a few roses from the husband with a few words of appreciation could
  a by no means lesser aroma effect and mood enhancement in women.
  than a bottle of 5 ml oil for 434€! (2) A lovingly prepared tea (or salad) can also be
  with lemon may have an even better effect on a family member with a cold than a
  Drops of oil from a small bottle for 168€!„

Set 1 I fully support the recommendation to the husband!

The mention of the 5 ml rose oil at 434 euros, like the lemon balm oil at 168 euros, is probably intended to underline the "overpriced" prices of "the manufacturer".

The author's ignorance is obvious here: If he had properly informed himself before publishing his present document, he would know that 10,000(!) freshly picked flowers of 'Rosa damascena' have to be harvested, the petals carefully removed from the flower one by one in order to extract exactly these 5 ml of rose oil from them by means of steam distillation. The flowers are picked in one day and distilled on the same day.
I am happy to leave the profitability calculation to the author, Dr. Enns.

Set 2 The tea recommendation lags "a little" - for example, you would have to drink 28 cups of peppermint tea to achieve the equivalent of one(!) drop of peppermint oil. The effect of a cup of tea would not even come close to a placebo effect.

• But how good it is when God's children practise "Christian wellness". When they learn serenity, experience security in the Lord and experience the liberating effect of forgiven guilt. This "wellness" of faith ("I am well in the Lord") can have very positive physical effects, as even scientific studies have shown. Everyone should regularly check whether their own spiritual and mental "life is in balance"!

Even if the general studies mentioned above remain unnamed, I certainly agree with the comments. However, one's own health is a prerequisite for being able to help and support other people. Therefore, caring for one's own health is no less a Christian duty than spiritual care. To undermine this health care under the term "wellness" as ideological or worldly is too short-sighted.

It is up to everyone to act on their own responsibility and in conformity with the Word of God. Whoever uses a knife will use it for his or her own good, and whoever uses essential oils will do the same.

Neither knives nor oil are to be condemned if the person who handles them misuses things and does NOT act according to God's will!