Essential
oils are highly
concentrated and should be treated with care. A working knowledge of
how to use these oils is necessary in order that you are able to get
the most benefit from them without causing any harm. Here are a few
guidelines to ensure safe and effective use of essential oils:
- Use only 100%
pure
natural essential oils from plants
- Keep oils
tightly
closed and out of the reach of children and pets
- Never consume
undiluted oils. Use only oils approved for food use
Don't
use undiluted oils on
the skin, dilute with oil, lotion, or cream. There are a very few
exceptions to this rule, for example non-irritating oils like Lavender
or Tea Tree oils undiluted on burns, insect bites, pimples, and other
minor skin eruptions as long as you do not have sensitive skin.
Skin
test essential oils for
sensitivity. Many people who are sensitive or allergic to synthetic
fragrances will not be sensitive to natural oils. Do a patch test with
a 2% dilution (with a pure vegetable oil) in the crook of the arm, 12
hours will be ample time to check for a reaction. If redness or
irritation occur try a weaker dilution (1%) or try an alternative oil.
- Keep oils
away from
eyes and mucous membranes
- If redness,
burning, itching, or irritation occur, apply more vegetable oil
Avoid
using any
of the following oils during pregnancy:
Anise, Bitter Almond, Basil, Bay,
Birch,
Cedar Leaf, Cedarwood, Citronella, Clary Sage, Clove Bud, Geranium,
Hyssop, Lavandin, Spike Lavender, Sweet Fennel, Juniperberry, Marjoram,
Myrrh, Pennyroyal, Peppermint, Rose, Rosemary, Sage, Tagetes, Thyme,
and Wintergreen.
The
following
oils can be irritating to the skin and should be tested before use:
Allspice, Bay Laurel, Bitter Almond,
Basil,
Birch, Cajeput, Cassia, Cedar Leaf, Cinnamon Leaf, Clove Bud, Sweet
Fennel, Fir Needle, Lemon, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Pine, Tagetes, Tea
Tree, Thyme, and Wintergreen.
Angelica, Bergamot, and all
citrus oils can make
the skin more sensitive to ultraviolet light and should be used with
care. Do not go into the sun with these oils on your skin.
People with
high blood pressure
should avoid:
Hyssop, Rosemary, Spanish Sage, and
Thyme.
Potentially
toxic oils:
- Bitter almond
(Prunus amygdalus var.
amara)
- Inula (Inula
graveolens)
- Khella (Ammi
visnaga)
- Mugwort
(Artemesia
vulgaris)
- Parsley
(Petroselinum sativum,
Carum sativum)
- Pennyroyal
(Mentha
pelugium)
- Sassafras
(Albidum)
- Thuja (Thuja
occidentalis)
- Wintergreen
(Gaultheria procumbens)
Very toxic
essential oils:
I recommend not using the following
oils at
all.
- Ajowan
(Ptychotis
ajowan, Carum ajowan)
- Arnica
(Arnica
montana)
- Bolda (Peumus
boldus)
- Buchu
(Barosma
betulina)
- Calamus
(Acorus
calamus)
- Cascarilla
(Croton
eluteria)
- Chervil
(Anthriscus
cerefolium)
- Camphor,
brown and
yellow (Cinnamonum
camphora)
- Deer tongue
(Carphephorus
odoratissimus)
- Horseradish
(Cochlearia armoracia,
Armoracia rusticana)
- Jaborandi
(Pilocarpus jaborandi)
- Mustard
(Brassica
nigra)
- Narcissus
(Narcissus poeticus)
- Rue (Ruta
graveolens)
- Santolina
(Santolina
chamaecyparissus)
- Spanish broom
(Spartium junceum)
- Tansy
(Tanacetum
vulgare)
- Tonka
(Dipteryx
odorata)
- Turmeric
(Curcuma
longa)
- Wormseed
(Chenopodium
ambrosiodes, C. anthelminticum)
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