peppermint

Many studies have shown that peppermint oil can improve pain management in irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS.

It appears to work by relaxing the smooth muscles in the colon, which relieves pain experienced during bowel movements.

It also helps to reduce abdominal bloating, which is a common digestive symptom.

NEVER ingest essential oils unless otherwise specified. 

Are NOW® Essential Oils food grade? If so, are they safe to take internally?

NOW® essential oil products are intended solely for use as aromatherapy products; they’re not intended for internal use.

Many of our essential oils are clearly labeled “Not for internal use” due to the fact that they’re highly concentrated, and for other safety considerations.

If some of your essential oils are food-grade, why aren’t they labeled for internal use?

Although some of our essential oils do qualify as food-grade, federal regulations state that a food or dietary supplement intended for ingestion must bear Nutrition Facts (food) or Supplement Facts (supplements), plus all appropriate serving information for that declared use. Since our oils are intended for aromatherapy, we’ve chosen not to market our essential oils for internal use, so we cannot recommend using them internally, and we can’t label them for any use other than aromatherapy.

Certain essential oils can be used in foods, but typically in amounts so small that they can’t be conveniently measured using common household measuring devices. In addition, because essential oils are highly concentrated, they’re extremely potent and could increase the risk of injury to consumers when not used as directed, even if food grade. And some essential oils are not safe to consume internally at all, no matter how small the amount.

Are your essential oils considered GRAS (generally regarded as safe)?

Some of our essential oils do qualify for GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status through the FDA. However, even these products are not labeled or marketed for ingestion or use in foods for the reasons outlined above. The safety of our customers comes first, and FDA labeling regulations are in place specifically to protect consumers. This is why we don’t market our essential oils for ingestion, and we caution against using these highly concentrated oils internally.

Even though we choose not to market our oils as food-grade of for internal use, rest assured that our essential oils are manufactured and tested to be of the highest quality and purity available. These pure essential oils are produced only by natural extraction methods, with no solvents or diluents used, and are thoroughly tested and labeled appropriately for aromatherapy use.

Are Essential Oils only for aromatherapy?

NOW^® Essential Oils are highly concentrated plant and botanical extracts intended for aromatherapeutic use. Because these extracts are highly concentrated and potent, we recommend consulting with a trained professional or referencing other reputable resources for recommended dilutions before using essential oils for any purpose other than aromatherapy.

Infants, children, and pets may be highly sensitive to essential oils, even when used as directed in a diffuser. Always diffuse essential oils in well-ventilated areas, especially in the presence of children, pregnant/nursing women, pets, or individuals with respiratory or other medical conditions.

Can Essential Oils be used topically?

Some essential oils can be highly irritating to the skin, and direct skin contact with essential oils should be avoided. Do not use any undiluted essential oil directly on the skin, especially the skin of infants, children or pets, unless directed by a healthcare practitioner.

Label cautions and usage

Each of our essential oils has been reviewed for safety, and specific instructions for their use can be found on the label and our website. Please follow our label cautions, which are there for your safety and are based on authoritative sources.

Essential oil recipes found on our site have been carefully crafted and evaluated by professionals; deviation from these recipes is not recommended.

Although our essential oils are pure and produced without chemical additives, due to strict regulatory requirements, pure essential oils sold for aromatherapy cannot be labeled as food-grade or bear instructions for topical or internal use.