Diving into the aromatic world of essential oils, we’ve gathered insights from seven experts, including naturopathic physicians and certified clinical aromatherapists.
7 Health Experts’ Input on Essential Oils for Weight Loss
Read what essential oils are and their mechanism of action on the body, from a naturopathic doctor’s perspective to a fitness developer’s advice on realistic expectations. Explore their professional opinions on the effectiveness of essential oils for weight loss in our latest Q&A feature.
- Naturopathic Doctor Discusses Essential Oils
- Health Expert Skeptical of Oils for Weight Loss
- Inhalation Over Internal Use for Weight Loss
- Holistic Approach to Essential Oils and Wellness
- Balanced Diet and Exercise Over Essential Oils
- Fitness Developer Advises Realistic Expectations
- Multifaceted Approach to Weight Loss with Oils
Naturopathic Doctor Discusses Essential Oils
Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts, derived from plants that capture their natural smells and therapeutic properties. By processes such as distillation or cold pressing, these oils are obtained. Each type of essential oil consists of specific combinations of chemical compounds that can have different effects, on the body.
Essential oils can be applied topically (on the skin), by inhalation (aromatherapy), or internally (under professional guidance). Aromatic molecules, when inhaled, travel through the olfactory system to the brain and, in particular, impact the limbic system that relates to emotions, behavior, and memory. When absorbed through the skin, the topical application allows these compounds to enter the bloodstream and act there.
When it comes to weight loss, essential oils should be viewed as a complementary tool rather than a standalone solution. While there is limited scientific evidence directly linking essential oils to significant weight loss, they can support weight management efforts in several ways:
Appetite Suppression and Cravings Control, Stress Reduction, Metabolic Support, Boosting Energy Levels.
Essential oils could thus assist in weight loss as they address factors such as appetite control, coping with stress, and boosting metabolism and energy levels. Nevertheless, they should not be seen as a solution to the whole problem but should be carefully considered while designing an overall health plan.
Michael O. McKinney, Physician, Healthy Outlook, Inc.
Health Expert Skeptical of Oils for Weight Loss
It is different how essential oils act on human bodies, depending on the type of oil and its nature. When applied to the skin or inhaled, some have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, or sedative effects. For instance, lavender oil is famous for its calming features, while peppermint oil can be helpful during digestion and headaches.
Weight loss drives the marketing of essential oils, even though their performance here is minimal. Nonetheless, certain oils such as grapefruit and cinnamon can help increase metabolism or control hunger pangs, but they don’t provide a quick-fix way to lose weight. The process of weight reduction is multifaceted and necessitates an amalgamation of a healthy eating plan, regular physical exercise, as well as lifestyle changes.
I believe in tapping into a broader scope of healing methods when maintaining wellness but with some realism. Essential oils can complement a healthy lifestyle but never depend on them to shed pounds. To this end, it is important to seek medical advice from a healthcare provider before using essential oils, more so if one has underlying health conditions or they are expectant.
Akanksha Kulkarni, Health Expert, Prowise Healthcare
Inhalation Over Internal Use for Weight Loss
Essential oils are oil-soluble components extracted from plant parts. Steam distillation is typically used to extract these oils from flowers, leaves, seeds, resin, and other plant parts, although they can be extracted in other ways. The result is a highly concentrated essential oil that has, many therapeutic uses (and sometimes safety considerations).
Essential oils can work to alleviate many health issues across various body systems, such as anxiety, digestive upset, nerve pain, and many skin issues.
Using Grapefruit essential oil can be effective for weight loss when inhaled. Some encourage adding drops to your water – but there is a lot of risk when doing this (irritation in the mouth, esophageal damage, ulcers), and the research backs up inhalation – not internal use.
Lea Jacobson, Certified Clinical Aromatherapist, Using Essential Oils Safely
Holistic Approach to Essential Oils and Wellness
Essential oils are commonly used in aromatherapy, skincare, natural cleaning products, and holistic wellness practices, and are typically applied to our skin or experienced through the sense of smell. Each essential oil has its unique aroma and properties, which can range, from promoting relaxation and stress relief to offering anti-inflammatory effects.
While many see the process as unfounded and describe it as “new medicine,” it is quite old, and many people used tools such as this before the creation of modern medicine. Unfortunately, as science developed, a lot of this was left behind as we found answers in different areas, but we have seen it return massively in recent years as something that can be used alongside how we are currently treated.
We have seen the biggest boom for this in the mental health and wellness industry as people dig deeper into ways to look after themselves that don’t involve antidepressants, and I think the important thing to note here is that if you are vulnerable, make sure you are engaging with companies that have medical professionals working for them.
Ensure you are getting quality products that have been researched and developed. As somebody who works in supplements, I can’t express enough how important this proper care is for safety and your benefit.
Jan Brandrup, CEO, Neurogan Health
Balanced Diet and Exercise Over Essential Oils
Essential oils, potent plant extracts lauded for their aromatic and therapeutic qualities, interact with the brain and nervous system when inhaled or applied topically, impacting mood, stress, and physiological functions.
Despite their potential to promote relaxation and well-being, attributing magical weight-loss powers to essential oils is unsubstantiated. Scientific evidence supporting their direct efficacy in shedding pounds is scarce.
The real weight-loss ‘essential’ is a balanced diet and regular exercise, not a few drops of lavender or peppermint. Here at our company, we advocate for honest, science-based approaches to health rather than overhyped trends. With that said, it’s best to keep our feet on the ground—and our essential oils in the diffuser.
Adam Wright, CEO, Human Tonik
Fitness Developer Advises Realistic Expectations
Essential oils are like super-concentrated versions of natural plant scents and flavors. They’re made by pressing or distilling parts of plants and are often used in aromatherapy to help with both physical and emotional health. For example, limonene is a common ingredient in oils like grapefruit, orange, and lemon. It’s known for fighting inflammation and helping with digestion, and some people believe it can assist in weight loss.
From what I’ve learned while essential oils can uplift your mood and help reduce inflammation, using them for weight loss isn’t a quick fix. They might support your goals as part of a bigger health plan that includes eating right and exercising. For example, using grapefruit oil might help reduce water retention. You could also try a relaxing bath with a mix of oils like carrot seed and celery seed, which some find helpful for easing symptoms like PMS.
It’s important to keep your expectations realistic with essential oils. They can be a great addition to a healthy lifestyle but they’re not miracle cures. If you’re thinking about using them, especially for something specific like weight loss, it’s good to add some effective workout plans and high-protein meals to your routine and let these oils play more of a supporting role!
Samrah Yousuf, Content Lead, SQUATWOLF
Multifaceted Approach to Weight Loss with Oils
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts with corresponding aromas and medicinal effects. Their inhalation can impair mood and physiology by transmitting signals to the olfactory system. Topical application provides a point-treatment effect, while consumption, under supervision, aids in whole-body healing.
Even though it is said that grapefruit, lemon, and peppermint oils show promise in their effect on weight loss, evidence of their effectiveness has not been sufficiently gathered. It describes a multifaceted approach; some examples include diet, exercise, and lifestyle.
Aromatic oils might be a great assistant to full-scale alternative therapy, but they are not the cure. Communicating and consulting with naturopathic or holistic practitioners will be very helpful for you to receive direct advice that corresponds to your health factors and goals while you integrate essential oils into a weight loss program.
Saneem Ahearn, VP of Marketing, Colorescience