(Capsicum) Traditionally used to support healthy muscles, joints and digestion.
Chili Pepper is an extreme irritant. Use extreme caution when working with this oil. We suggest that you blend Chili Pepper at 0.5% (or less) with other essential oils and/or carrier oils. Children: For infants and children, please follow the Dilution Chart on the Babies and Children page. Inhalation Caution: May irritate the nasal membranes if inhaled directly. Internal: Chili Pepper is suitable for internal use within safe parameters, if such use is deemed appropriate. We feel that internal use is rarely *needed* and should only be used with respect for how concentrated the oils are. HEO does not advocate internal use of essential oils without appropriate knowledge and understanding of how to administer, for what purpose, how much, which essential oils, safety concerns and so on. In our experience, essential oils are generally more effective used topically with proper dilution or inhaled. Kurt Schnaubelt Ph.D. notes that "French aromatherapy literature contains many references to using oils orally." He goes on to note that "generally 1 drop is always enough when ingesting essential oils." A potential toxicity hazard could occur when untrained people use essential oils orally and ingest too much. Keep in mind that while medical doctors or health care practitioners may prescribe essential oils for internal use, they are trained and experienced in the safe application of essential oils. It is not a matter of using "French" or "British" methods, it's a matter of experience and appropriate application. Click here for information about internal usage. (Remember that a little goes a LONG way!). What is CO2? CO2 extracted oils are high quality oils extracted using carbon dioxide in liquid form, as the solvent. Carbon dioxide is a gas under normal atmospheric conditions, but under certain conditions of low temperature and high pressure, Carbon Dioxide can be forced to become a liquid. In the liquid phase, CO2 becomes a very safe and effective solvent that allows all the desirable active constituents of a plant to be collected without the risk of heat degradation. Once the desired extraction is complete, the extraction vessel is brought back to normal atmospheric conditions, and the CO2 rapidly converts back to a gas and dissipates, leaving behind a very high-quality aromatic product that is the true, unchanged essence of the plant and completely free of solvent! CO2 Selects are obtained at lower pressures and more closely compare to the volatility of essential oils since less of the heavier waxy materials are extracted. CO2 Totals are obtained at higher pressures to get out the volatiles along with the heavier molecules and plant waxes that would not be seen in essential oils. These will typically be thicker. CO2 extracted oils are the closest representation of the natural plant ever achieved. Chili Pepper CO2 Total may include non-volatiles, including some fatty compounds that at cooler temperatures form waxy or flaky particulates. This is to be expected. These may dissolve when heated, but may also re-form when cooled. They can be strained out if undesirable, but they are not a sign of anything negative.
