At the beginning of 2018 I was introduced to a Facebook group titled The Dark Side of Essential Oils (it has since been changed to The Unspoken Truth of Essential Oils). The group was started by Stacey Haluka. In 2017 she decided to speak out regarding a severe allergic reaction that she sustained from using essential oils.
Stacey’s story is a cautionary tale about following the advice of misinformed sales representatives. In 2020 Kayla Fioravanti has expanded on this story through a continuing education course available at Ology Essentials.
Stacey teamed up with Kayla Fioravanti to publish her story in hopes of spreading important information. The following is a review of the book itself.
The beginning of the journey
In 2014 she was excited to embark on a journey centered around essential oils. She joined a multi-level marketing (MLM) company in hopes of sharing the benefits that essential oils. Stacey made sure to use the product so she could speak from personal experience.
Multi-level marketing or direct sales companies provide training to new consultants. This training is always exciting, but doesn’t always contain good information. It truly does give you an opportunity to immerse yourself in the company information, but it is geared for you to become a super sales person.
Stacey quickly started having unexplainable issues. Through the book she shares pictures of the rashes that developed. She also experienced other physical illnesses. When she reached out to her “upline” she was told to keep using the essential oils, “it’s a detox” was some of the advice. Unfortunately, the continued use lead to further reactions.
She reached out the parent company to try and get answers. Most of her contact with the home office led to no response. Her frustration is clear as she shares the various communications she made. After seeking out medical treatment and discontinuing use of essential oils Stacey is starting to recover.
Finding experts to help
Thanks to Stacey’s drive to find better information she was able to connect with the various contributors in this book. Everyone from Robert Tisserand to Sylla Sheppard-Hanger were able to help her understand what happened.
In the second half of the book Kayla, a certified aromatherapist, helps readers understand the complexity of using essential oils. Although essential oils are amazing they do come with risks. Kayla breaks down some of the biggest myths that are spread by the MLM companies. These include; practicing the “French method” (ingestion), brand quality, and that you can’t be allergic to essential oils.
This book and the group that Stacey created are important to the essential oil industry. If we want to continue to have unrestricted access to essential oils it is imperative to look for safe ways to use them. If you use essential oils please pick up this book, take some time to absorb the story. As mentioned above you can also take Kayla’s course at Ology Essentials where she dives deeper into the complexity of this issue.
If you have questions join the Facebook group. Stacey and several aromatherapists, including myself are there to provide guidance. If you have had a reaction you believe is related to essential oils, report it (links available in this article to report).
