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Essential Oil Safety
Information
Essential oils are highly concentrated liquids that
can be harmful if not used carefully. Implementing
aromatherapy into your lifestyle shouldn't cause
paranoia or undue worry. By treating essential oils as
medicines and following the steps outlined below, you
will be well on your way to safely enjoying the many
benefits that aromatherapy can offer.
These safety guidelines are not a complete safety
reference for the proper use of essential oils. When
in doubt, consult your physician and/or a qualified
and trained aromatherapy practitioner.
Essential oils should never be used undiluted on the
skin. There are instances when experienced
aromatherapy users and practitioners make exceptions
to this precaution, but only once significant
essential oil knowledge is gained should you ever
attempt to apply an undiluted oil on the skin.
Lavender and tea tree are listed by a large number of
aromatherapy sources as being oils that can be used
undiluted. Undiluted use of lavender and tea tree,
however, should only be done on rare occurances as
severe sensitivity still could occur in some
individuals. Again, the safest rule of thumb is to
never use any essential oil undiluted.
Some oils can cause sensitization or allergic
reactions in some individuals. When using a new oil
for the first time, do a skin patch on a small area of
skin. Place a small amount of the diluted essential
oil (never use essential oils undiluted on the skin)
on the inside of your elbow and apply a bandage. Wait
24 hours to see if there is any form of reaction. Even
if a particular essential oil is not known to cause
irritation, this step should not be ignored. Even if
an oil does not irritate you, it still can irritate
someone else. It is important that you always keep
that in mind.
Some essential oils should be avoided during pregnancy
or by those with asthma, epilepsy, or with other
health conditions.
Less IS More. When using essential oils, use the
smallest amount of essential oils that will get the
job done. If one drop will get the job done, for
example, don't use two drops.
Not all essential oils are suitable for use in
aromatherapy. Wormood, pennyroyal, onion, camphor,
horseradish, wintergreen, rue, bitter almond and
sassafras are some of the essential oils that should
only be used by qualified aromatherapy practitioners,
if ever at all.
Never let children use essential oils without the
presence of an adult knowledgeable about their use.
Most essential oils smell wonderful and many essential
oils such as citrus oils can smell like they are safe
to drink. Keep your essential oils away from children.
Treat the oils like medicines that are poison in
unknowing hands.
Essential oils should not be taken internally.
Essential oils should only be taken internally after
receiving a detailed consultation and prescription
from a trained and qualified aromatherapy
practitioner.
Essential oils are flammable. Please keep them out of
the way of fire hazards.
By aromaweb.com
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