Essential Oils Safety & Precautions
When using Essential Oils, you should always keep these things in mind:
- Keep out of reach of children.
- Essential Oils should not be taken internally.
- Essential Oils should not be used directly on the skin.
- Aromatherapy should not be used in place of a medical diagnosis or treatment. When in doubt, always consult with a knowledgeable Aromatherapist or Aromatherapy Consultant before using Essential Oils.
Always remember, Essential Oils come from different parts of the plant. If you are allergic to a certain plant, it is possible you may also be allergic to that oil. To find out if you are allergic to certain oils you can perform a patch test on your arm. Simply place a drop of the Essential Oil in the bend of your elbow and rub into skin. Check your skin’s response to the oil to determine if it is safe for you to use.
Essential Oils & Pregnancy
Women who are pregnant need to take special care when using essential oils. As a rule of thumb, you should not use any essential oils during pregnancy except:
- Citrus oils
- Cardamom
- Palmarosa
- Rosewood
- Sandalwood
- Ylang Ylang
Essential Oils & Children
Just as with pregnant women, there are precautions with the safe use of essential oils with children. The amount used should be in 1/3 – 1/2 the amount as an adult and you should stick to these oils:
- Chamomile
- Eucalyptus
- Lavender
- Mandarin
- Orange
- Rose
- Rosewood
Essential Oils & the Sun
While both essential oils and the sun are wonderful ways to aid in staying healthy, the two don’t always mix and can become phototoxic. These essential oils should not be applied to the skin 1 hour or less before going out into the sun:
- Angelica root
- Bergamot
- Ginger
- Grapefruit
- Lemon
- Lime
- St. John’s Wort