Nut and Nut-Free Aromatherapy Carrier Oils: Nourishing Your Health While Managing Allergies
Nut allergies are becoming a more common health concern and affecting overall immune health. It is said that 1 in every 200 have some kind of nut allergy. You have to read labels on food items. In aromatherapy, it is also important to read the labels on personal care products and choose carriers wisely such as face moisturizers, body lotion, shampoo and conditioner, hair oil and soaps.
To understand what a is considered a nut, I searched the Wikipedia definition which states, A nut in botany is a simple dry fruit in which the ovary wall (shell) becomes increasingly hard as it matures, and where the seed remains unattached or free within the ovary wall.” So, a seed is contained within a nut, however it is not a nut.
Keep in mind, not all nuts trigger allergies. Allergies can be a cough, sneezing, water eyes, swollen tongue, hives, increased perspiration, instant headache, just to name a few. These are signs to watch for. It is important to assess and know which nuts you have an allergy or sensitivity to.
For example, argan oil is derived from a nut, however, there are few allergies to argan oil, in comparison to say, almond oil. The key is to know your body chemistry, know the plant, quality of ingredients, source of plant material and the location and environment of product processing.
Let’s compare the nut & nut-free aromatherapy carrier oils.
Nut Oils
Nut oils are derived from the nuts or fruits of trees and shrubs. They include:
- Almond
- Argan oil
- Brazilian Nut
- Coconut*
- Hazelnut oil
- Kukui Nut oil
- Macadamia oil
- Shea butter
*There is some contradicting information about the classification of coconut oil, so recommend using your own personal judgment. Read, research and evaluate information then decide where you stand on using it. I’ve added it to the Nut List as referenced on the recommendation of the Food Allergy and Research Education list, and to err on the side of caution. In 2006, the FDA classified coconut as a nut, however, many sources do not.
Nut-Free Oils
Nut free-oils are derived from anything other than the nuts or fruits of a tree or shrub. They can be extracted from seeds, leaves and flowers. With that said, if a carrier oil is processed or manufactured in a facility that also processes and manufacture nut products, there is the possibility of cross-contamination, meaning it can still trigger nut allergies. When researching your nut-free products, they need to disclose that the products was indeed produced and handled in a nut-free environment. Nut-free oils include:
- Apricot kernel oil
- Arnica oil
- Avocado oil
- Babassu (kernel) oil
- Baobab (seed)
- Borage oil
- Calendula oil
- Castor oil
- Coconut* oil
- Evening Primrose oil
- Grape Seed oil
- Hemp seed oil
- Jojoba
- Moringa Seed oil
- Neem seed oil
- Nigella sativa (black cumin seed) oil
- Palm oil
- Pomegranate seed oil
- Pumpkin Seed oil
- Rosehip Oil
- Safflower Oil
- Sesame seed oil
- Sunflower seed oil
- Tamanu oil
Learn more about these carriers in the JennScents Holistic Aromatherapy Comprehensive Guide.
Nut-Free Relaxing Massage Oil
1 ounce arnica oil
1 ounce evening primrose oil
1 ounce jojoba oil
1 ounce sunflower oil
12 drops Lavender essential oil, Lavandula angustifolia
8 drops Roman Chamomile, Anthemis nobilis
6 drops Bergamot, Citrus bergamia
5 drops Clary Sage, Salvia sclarea
5 drops Marjoram, Origanum marjorana
4 drops Ginger, Zingiber officianale
Combine all carrier oils into a glass measuring bowl with a lip spout. Then add in your essential oils and mix well. Pour this carrier oil mixture into a bottle, label and store in a cool, dark place in between uses.
Nourishing Nut-Rich Body Balm, 4 oz.
1 ounce Coconut Oil
1 ounce Shea Butter
1 ounce argan oil
.5 ounces almond oil
.5 ounces hazelnut oil
8 drops Carrot seed oil, Daucus carota
8 drops Yuzu, Citrus junos
6 drops Ylang Ylang, Canaga odorata
6 drops Patchouli, Pogostemon cablin
6 drops Myrrh, Commiphora myrrha
6 drops Frankincense, Boswellia carteri
Add shea butter to a 4 ounce glass jar and let it soften using the sun, or slightly warmed on the stove or toaster oven. This will allow the butter to “melt” making it easier to stir and mix with the other ingredients. Next, add in coconut oil and mix well. Then, add in remaining carrier oils, stirring until mixed well. Add in the essential oils. Mix them in by stirring slowly, so the oils do not splash out of the jar. Place the cap on the jar, and place inside of the freezer for 30-60 minutes, so the shea butter-coconut oil mixture can solidify. You can keep it stored in the refrigerator to have a cooling body balm. or store at room temperature in a cool, dark place in between uses. If you need a warming balm, when you are ready to use it, you can add 1-2 tablespoons to a glass bowl or jar, and heat via the sun or other heating method. If you do this, make sure the oil is not to hot before application as this can burn the skin.
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Disclaimers: Information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prescribe. It is recommended that if serious health issues exist, you consult a licensed medical provider. JennScents does not assume liability or responsibility for the use and/or misuse of this information.
References: This blog may contain excerpts from JennScents Aromaversity Certification Courses and the JennScents Holistic Aromatherapy Comprehensive Guide.
- FDA Nut Classifications
- This blog contains excerpts from JennScents Aromaversity Certification Courses
- Source
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Shea isn’t actually a nut and many people who have a tree but allergy including myself don’t have any reaction to Shea. Another thing avocado oil should be avoided if you have a tree nut allergy, avocados have the same proteins as walnuts.
Thank you for sharing that insight
Shea is 100% a nut related to Brazil nuts. It is a tree nut but less people are allergic.
Thank you Terri. Yes, it is a distant relative of the brazil nuts.
hi so jojoba oil is not a nut oil???? have a tree nut allergy and finding it very difficult with beauty products
Jojoba is made from the wax located inside of the seed (or what some refer to as the nut) of the jojoba plant. It is typically hypoallergenic, however I would still do your due diligence to make sure you don’t have an allergy or sensitivity to that particular plant.