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March 2007 In this issue: Free Shipping During March - First Time Ever! Controversy over Cecilia Salvesen Article Private Labeling for Your Oil Bottles A message from Toni... March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb, or so I remember being told as a child. I wish that for you where ever you live. I'm ready for Spring! This month's newsletter is somewhat singular of mind. I received an email from Keith, a MD in CA. Keith thought Ms. Salvesen and I were irresponsible for printing the "whitewashed" material and sending it out to you, my customers. Keith wanted to be heard. Like the Genie in Alladin's lamp, "Your wish is my command." Most of this month's newsletter is devoted to the Tea Tree/Lavender controversy. I am pleased to say that you will have the opportunity to hear more from several authorities on essential oils who have world-wide statis as experts as well as Keith's remarks. I am grateful to Jan Jenson and Annette Davis who sent me printed material during the past month on the topic that we will learn more about in this newsletter. I did not solicit the last two letters, but rather they came when needed. I am grateful for this. That's synchronicity! A little bit different newsletter, but I hope it that will benefit you in large ways. Knowledge is power. Have a beautiful March!  FREE SHIPPING DURING MARCH!!!All Retail orders will be shipped free of charge during the month of March. No matter how large your order! Delivery Confirmation Included. Begins Today - Offer ends 3/31/07 Place your order, as usual online. Your order will reflect a shipping charge. When I receive your order, I will charge back the price of shipping to your card immediately. If you would prefer, you can call and place your order directly with me at 803.7323646 or email info@purestproducts.com. More on Tea Tree and LavenderEmail: February 19, 2007 Dear
Toni,
I feel
impelled to follow up on the Cecilia Salvesen's Tea
Tree piece(Feb.'07 newsletter), as follows:
"Cecilia
Salvesen seems to have a fundamental misunderstanding of science.
Nobody sets out to "prove" a medication is damaging. It would be
considered grossly unethical to do so.
Moreover
it is untenable, in my view, to demand that another 95 boys are hurt
before she will accept real evidence of harm. I know of no doctor who
would take such an extreme and uncaring stance.
The
proper scientific view is to accept anecdotal evidence of dangers and
side effects and proceed with caution; that has always been the case
and is the way we learn.
I think it is right to warn
customers of Purest Products that Tea Tree products should not be used
on small children (male or female), pregnant women, or those with
estrogen-dependent tumors. Other than that, Tea Tree is a
fine healing plant and I commend its use widely. Keith
************** MD PhD."
Response : February 19, 2007 Keith,
I have
written many articles on essential oil safety. Dirk, my late husband,
wrote a wonderful book on the proper uses of Tea Tree and other
essential oils. It is called What To Do When Antibiotics
Don't Work taken from 40 years of French scientific and
clinical study by two men, both medical doctors, Christian Duraffourd
and Jean-Claude LaPraz.
Additionally,
Dirk wrote Essential Oil Usage Guide. It
is given out freely to anyone who asks for a copy via email. He also
was a ghost writer for a full aromatherapy course manual
that has been distributed around the world entitled Aromatherapy
and The Whole Body. All
of this material has been written on the side of caution. As teachers
and educators, we have taught the proper use of essential oils for many
years to the best of our ability.
Cecilia Salvesen is
noted as one of the world's finest experts on essential oils.
She has been using essential oils for over 30 years
with
tremendous and even remarkable results on people. She is always
cautious in what she says, writes and does. She formerly owned a
college and
taught the uses of essential oils. Ms Salvesen has also
authored
numerous books and articles on the same. She is a true expert on the
subject of essential oils. She has extensive research on the effects of
genuine essential oils and their reaction on the body.
Cecilia is
a thoughtful person and doesn't speak without first thinking.
She is called on to offer expertise in large groups and specialized
focus groups involving the very material that she commented on. Last
year she gave the same material that appeared in my
newsletter, enalrged upon,to a large aromatherapy/reflexology
group that met in South Africa. She was one of the key note speakers.
A true
scientific study takes years and years to form a conclusion.
What is really behind the Tea Tree debate is the FDA and the Codex
regulations worldwide.
Essential
oils work. And just like aspirin, the
country regulators didn't find out in time to stop the distribution of
them as over the counter drugs/medication. This is all about
FDA regulations.
I do
appreciate your comments. I'll forward your remarks directly to Cecilia
in case she would like to comment back to you. Toni
Dear
Toni,
I think you have missed my point
and I'm sad. No "expert" is permitted the luxury of personal opinion
overriding clear warning signals. That's not expertise, that's
dogma. Gynecomastia is not an FDA fix. It's a disease.
If you won't publish it to the
same readers that read her whitewash then I will draw the inevitable
conclusion you too are putting profits and status before public safety
issues. We call that hypocrisy when doctors of the FDA do
it. I am constantly appalled by the double standards in what
purports to be a "holistic" market.
By the
way, international status impresses me not in the
least. There are lots of famous fools. Science is bigger than Ms.
Salvesen, you or me. Love, Keith
Comments
from Ms. SalvesenKeith's response after I suggested he not be so angry. No,
sad, not angry. All this extra emotion is from you. All that is visible
-objectively- is you are reluctant to tell your customers that
the advice given by one expert is countered by another - one who has no
financial interest whatever in this matter. I'm not
selling anybody anything and have only the motive of public safety.
That's not saying my word is law, of course. You brought that
up. But truth is law. You know that! Debate doesn't seem to be welcome. Keith
Hi Toni I must admit, I have only briefly glanced at the contents as I quite honestly, don't have the time, inclination or desire to waste energy to respond to Keith's petty comments. I feel that each person has the right to express their feelings and make their comments so I grant him the right to do that. I also grant myself the right to make an observation and to comment on the following: Out of possibly thousands of people who read my comments, he is the only person who read it out of context. Every other person read it exactly as it was written and meant i.e. "If a hundred (or more boys) were consulted," … emphasis on the word "IF" and "CONSULTED" … no where have I expressed the desire that 100 boys should be "hurt". How extremely small minded to read it "to demand that another 95 boys are hurt". Honestly…. I don't have time to waste on such pettiness. All I can say in Geico language is "sounds like someone woke up on the wrong side of the rock!" More comments from other experts....... Response from Jean Bokelmann, MD Re: Henley DV, Lipson N, Korach KS, Bloch CA. “Prebubertal gynecomastia linked to lavender and tea tree oils.” New England Journal of Medicine. 2007;365(5):479-485. To the Editor: I commend Henley for their well-conceived laboratory research suggesting a mild estrogen receptor agonism and mild androgen receptor antagonism in selectively modified breast cancer cells. While I understand the basis of the postulation to perform the study of lavender and tea tree oils, there remains a huge cavern of variables that prevent the conclusion of any legitimate “link” between the in vitro findings and the in vivo observations of some astute health care providers. After centuries of clinical use of these oils in Europe and Australia, it is curious that such findings have not previously been noted and correlated with their use. Furthermore, physicians in France have prescribed these oils internally as well as externally for years without noting such effects. Jean-Claude Lapraz M.D. and Christian Duraffourd M.D. are two such physicians. They have developed an approach to medical practice over the past 36 years that entails extremely methodical and detailed scrutiny of patients with attention to subtle signs and symptoms of endocrine disturbances (see references below). It is highly unlikely they would have overlooked gynecomastia in prepubescent boys. Another consideration is that lavender farms in France, where generations of families are exposed to lavender for many hours on a daily basis for years, have not brought forth such a concern in their prepubescent boys. While the details of the in vitro aspects of the study could be scrutinized with regard to choice of cells (breast cancer cells do not represent the normal cell when it comes to genetic behavior), the concentration and duration of oil applied to the cells, and the effect of combining the oils with DMSO, discussion of such details could proceed ad infinitum. The real issue is related to the Evil Knevil-style propulsion across the abyss between in vitro findings and in vivo observations. The authors provide little data
about the actual composition of the products that were
being applied topically. Anyone looking at this report
critically would be compelled to ask many questions about the
putatively offending products: Were they essential oils in their
natural form, chemically modified essential oils, or synthetic
fragrance materials? What were the other ingredients? Did they
contain traces of endocrine-disrupting pesticides? It is peculiar
that fraternal twins had a difference in manifestation when
they were both using the form of skin product that would
provide for longer duration contact and better penetration. Even if the
soap was not completely rinsed within minutes of exposure, the
essential oils would have dissipated It is quite possible, even probable, that the idiopathic prebuscent gynecomastia is just that – idiopathic. Until in vivo studies are performed and they result in suggestive and/or conclusive outcomes, it is reckless to claim a “link” between either tea tree oil or lavender oil and gynecomastia. However, we do support the implication from the article that physicians should be alert to a history of topical applications of any and all substances whenever any idiopathic condition presents itself. Sincerely, Jean
Bokelmann M.D. (References for this letter are available upon request from me) Response from Robert Tisserand
Response
to article in the New England Journal of
Medicine "Prepubertal Gynecomastia Linked to Lavender & Tea
Tree Oil." NEITHER LAVENDER
OIL NOR TEA TREE OIL CAN BE LINKED TO BREAST GROWTH IN YOUNG BOYS Robert
Tisserand Background In a recent report, a correlation is alleged between commercial products containing lavender and tea tree oils and breast growth in young boys. Three cases were seen in boys aged 4-7, who had all been using such products. In each case, the breast growth reduced to normal parameters within several months of ceasing to use the products. Subsequent laboratory testing showed that both essential oils had estrogen-like properties (Henley et al 2007). In the report, no information is given about any of the constituents of the products used. The information given about product use is sparse, and we do not know for certain whether any of the products contained lavender or tea tree oils, since they were not analyzed by the researchers. The cases Case one In the first case, "The patient’s mother reported applying a "healing balm" containing lavender oil to his skin starting shortly before the initial presentation." No further details of the product or its use are given, but a healing balm sounds like something that might only be applied to a small area of skin. If so, then it is unlikely that any ingredient could have entered the boy’s blood in sufficient concentration to cause gynecomastia within a short time period. Case two In the second case, a styling hair gel was applied to the hair and scalp every morning, along with regular use of a shampoo. Both tea tree and lavender oil are cited on the ingredient list of both products. In a subsequent website report, it is claimed that the two hair products used in this case were manufactured by Paul Mitchell, and that these were analysed by a competitor. The shampoo was said to contain "very low concentrations" of tea tree oil, and the content in the hair gel was "virtually undetectable". Lavender oil concentration was not checked (Neustaedter 2007). Dermal absorption of fragrance from shampoo application has been estimated to be 80 times less than that from body lotion (Cadby et al 2002). If the website report is genuine, considering that shampoo is a wash-off product, and that there was only a negligible amount of tea tree oil in the hair gel, tea tree oil can be ruled out as a possible cause of this boy’s gynecomastia. However, liberal use of a hair gel rich in lavender oil could result in moderate dermal absorption of lavender oil constituents (Cal 2006). Case three The third case involved "lavender-scented soap, and intermittent use of lavender-scented commercial skin lotions". This sounds as if there may not be very much natural lavender oil present. Further, soap is a wash-off product, and the use of lavender lotion is described as "intermittent". Whether any absorption of genuine lavender oil took place at all seems doubtful. Since dermal absorption of soap fragrance is some 266 times less than that from body lotion, it is virtually impossible that the fragrance in a soap could be absorbed in sufficient quantity to cause any physiological effect (Cadby et al 2002). Of great interest is the statement that, in this third case, a fraternal twin used the same skin lotions, but not the soap, and did not develop gynecomastia. It would be reasonable to assume that, since the soap could not be responsible for the effect, and since the twin used the lotions without any problem, the gynecomastia in this third case must have been due to some cause other than essential oils. The in vitro testing The in vitro evidence shows weak but definite endocrine disrupting effects for both lavender and tea tree oils. The second case was the only one in which tea tree oil was involved. Tea tree oil was tested because it was deemed to be "chemically similar" to lavender oil. However, apart from the fact that both are essential oils, they have little in common chemically. The composition of the essential oils tested is not given, nor is any other information about them, apart from the supplier. Since they do not appear to be organically grown, biocide content is a possibility. Discussion It is unusual in such reports not to name the products suspected as being responsible for the effects under discussion. In the circumstances, it is also curious that the labelled ingredients were not cited. It is even more surprising that no attempt was made to ascertain, retrospectively, whether any constituents of lavender or tea tree oil were detectable. If the products are not named, no one else can test them either. Even assuming that one or both of the essential oils were present at some level, we do not know what quantities of essential oil constituents may have penetrated the skin, but we do know that transcutaneous absorption from fragrances takes some time. The amount that could find its way into the blood from a wash-off product such as a shampoo or soap is negligible, because the time of skin contact is so short. Skin absorption from tea tree and lavender oil constituents is measured in hours, not minutes, in and some instances even leave-on products result in minimal dermal penetration (Cal 2006, Reichling 2006). The Henley et al report mentions that none of the boys had been exposed to any known endocrine disruptor, such as medications, oral contraceptives(!), marijuana or soy products. However, no mention is made of other known endocrine disruptors, such as organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, polychlorinated dioxins, alkyl phenols, pthalates and parabens (Darbre 2006). Both pesticides and phthalates have been found in essential oils, and both phthalates and parabens are commonly found in cosmetic products. It is, therefore, entirely possible that other ingredients in the products caused the gynecomastia. Pesticides, PCBs and dioxins are found in the environment, often in food, and it is also possible that some local surge of environmental hormone disruptors caused these cases in Colorado. No attempt was made to identify the constituent(s) responsible for the in vitro effect, but it is reasonable to expect that any hormonal action in an essential oil would be due to one or two constituents, or even contaminants. It is noteworthy that, while in vitro hormonal effects from essential oil constituents have been previously reported, these are generally very weak, and have been estimated as being at least 10,000 times less potent than 17beta-estradiol (Howes et al 2002). There
is no evidence that the effect seen in
vitro would take place in vivo, and much more research would be needed
before any definite determinations could
be made. Many estrogenic substances have previously been identified
from plant
sources, and very weak activity is typical of these phytoestrogens
(Chadwick et al 2006, Howes
et al 2002). Conclusions Even if one or more of these cases was linked to product use, any connection with either lavender or tea tree oil is unproven. Other known endocrine disrupting ingredients in the products could have played a role. Furthermore, we do not know what other factors, such as dietary or environmental, may have played a part. The in vitro work reported by Henley et al (2007) does indicate a hormonal effect. However, this cannot be extrapolated to estimate actual human risk, especially without knowing more about the essential oil constituents causing the in vitro effects seen. No
connection was established between the in vitro work and the three
cases, and the case for tea tree oil having an effect on prepubertal
gynecomastia is
especially weak. Phytoestrogens generally have a very weak hormonal
activity, and it is
implausible that the amounts of essential oil that enter the body from
product use would
have a significant effect.
Further research will hopefully
clarify these issues. TWO NEW SYNERGIES!Parasite EZE is a combination of essential oils (basil, oregano, cinnamon bark) used to counter the effects of parasites. Read the complete formula on page 145 of What To Do When Antibiotics Don't Work along with all the instructions. $ 16.00 (15ml) Lime and Jasmine with Manoi de Tahiti, "just for fun!! With spring and summer just around the corner, you can use this blend to feel fresher and more energetic, or simply smell terrific. It's so yummy you will want to use this as your summer essential oil parfume. $ 18.00 (15ml) Private Labeling for YOUR essential oil bottlesInexpensive and Smart If you have considered personalizing your essential oils with your own logo or name, 2007 is the time to move forward with the idea. Last year, I purchased a wonderful new full color professional label printer. It uses a special plastic peel off label that is high gloss and stain resistent, even from essential oils. I began using these labels during the latter part of November and all of December. I am so happy with them in every way. Any image you would like will come across beautifully, even a picture. I have been working with a limited amount of private labeling for some years, but with the addition of this new equipment, I am able to update my old customers to a new, smart, more professional, and accept additional private label orders, too.. If you are thinking of working with Purest Products on the wholesale level and have a need for private labeling, please call me at 803.732.3646 or email me at info@purestproducts.com I'll be happy to tell you about the low start-up costs involved. I can already assure you that I have the lowest number of miminum bottles to order and the smallest set-up fees of anyone that I know of. It's a very good thing to check into. And there could never be a better time than right now. Thank you for making my life efforts so rewarding to me. It's because of you that I do what I do. If you wish to discontinue receiving Purest Products Newsletter each month, please send an email to: info@purestproducts.com with unsubscribe in the subject. Your name will be removed immediately with my appreciation for your stay. TVG |
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