RESPECT THE OIL – HOW TO SAFELY USE ESSENTIAL OILS
Aromatherapy and essential oils have been around for approximately 6000 years and today they are more mainstream and popular than ever. Yet what seems to be equally as popular is the lack of knowledge that is necessary to use them safely.
This no doubt is the reason why some will swear by the benefits of them, while others will report allergic or adverse reactions. Essential oils are the botanical chemical compounds of the flowers, plants, woods or resins they are extracted from, from their essence is a potent, naturally derived fragrance. Natural can often be misconstrued as safe and the misuse of essential oils can have alarming consequences.
The internet is replete with tips, advice, and recipes regarding the use of essential oils and how to implement them into your home or skincare routines. While some do inform on the importance of safety first, there are many more that offer troubling tips and dangerous advice. The benefits of using essential oils are enormous, from the positive effects they have on the psyche to the healing effects they have for the skin and body. A natural synthetic-free fragrance that does so much more than just smell good! If a few simple rules are followed when using them, the risks of having an adverse experience can be avoided completely.
Follow the 5 rules below to safely enjoy the vast benefits of Aromatherapy and essential oils.
1) Never ingest essential oils. Not in your mouth, your nose, or your ears. There are people who do and there are people who say it is safe. It is not. You can poison yourself.
2) Never put pure essential oils directly onto your skin. A popular tip is to put pure lavender oil on a minor burn or an insect bite to take away the sting. Do not do this. Although lavender essential oil is among the safest, and although you may not notice a reaction from doing so, you can develop an allergic reaction later on, from putting pure essential oil onto your skin regularly. So if you love lavender oil or any other essential oil, you risk developing an allergy to it and will no longer be able to use it. Always dilute your essential oils in a base oil first and be sure to use safe dilution rates. See the links below.
3) Never put pure essential oils into a bath. Some may say that they do this all the time and have never had any problems. Here is the issue, oil and water do not mix. When you put a few drops of pure essential oil into a bath they end up rising to the top and floating on the surface of the water. When you dip into the bath those pure oils latch directly onto your skin and other parts of your body. Ouch! Always use essential oils in a solubilizer or add them to an unscented shower gel or soap base. This will incorporate the oils into the bath water. You can dilute the oils in a base oil first and then add them to the bath, the oil will still float on the surface but it will be safer when it comes into contact with your skin. This is also true for using essential oils in bath salts, without a solubilizer the pure oils will separate from the salts and sit on the surface of the water.
4) Be careful with sun exposure when using some essential oils. Some essential oils are phototoxic and can cause a reaction when used on the skin and then exposed to the sun. Some citrus oils can be phototoxic. Angelica Root essential oil and cold pressed oils of lemon, orange, lime, grapefruit, are a few. This does not mean you cannot enjoy these wonderful smelling oils it simply means that you need to be careful when using them. Avoiding sun exposure for up to 18 hours when using these particular oils on your skin is recommended. Professionally made beauty and skincare products that contain essential oils have been carefully formulated using safe dilution rates, however if you have never tried essential oil products or if you are experimenting with making your own botanical blends it is best to educate yourself on which oils can have adverse reactions.
5) When in doubt research each oil and talk to a professional. Always look up the oil if you have never used it before or you do not know anything about it. There are some oils that are best avoided, and if you are pregnant or nursing the use of essential oils is usually not recommended. Always check with your doctor first, especially if you have any allergies. If you have pets you need to be careful of which oils they are inhaling in the air or licking off of your skin. Some oils can be toxic to pets. Fortunately, there are plenty of knowledgeable and accurate sites with information on each essential oil. See the links below.
Another important point to remember is that many essential oils on the market are not as pure as they claim to be, or their quality is sorely lacking. Be mindful of where you are buying your oils and products from. Once again research is needed. There are companies out there that offer certification or technical analysis of the oils to ensure their purity, and there are well known businesses that offer both education and sell their oils. As you gain more knowledge of essential oils it will be easier to spot which companies are reputable and which are not.
When we incorporate essential oils and plant-based products into our skin and beauty care routines, or into our cleaning products and air diffusers, we are utilizing and inhaling less chemical product and less synthetic fragrance which only improves our state of well being, both for ourselves and our planet. Yet misusing such a potent form of nature can come at a cost, one that can be avoided simply by making knowledge and safety a priority. Respect the oil and reap its benefits!
Essential oil safe dilution guide: https://www.aromaweb.com/articles/dilutingessentialoils.asp
Essential oils directory: https://www.aromaweb.com/essentialoils/default.asp
Safety Guidelines: https://tisserandinstitute.org/safety-guidelines/
Phototoxicity and essential oils: https://www.aromaweb.com/articles/phototoxicity-essential-oils.asp
Essential oils that are toxic to pets: https://www.foundanimals.org/essential-oils-toxic-pets/
Aromatherapy Education: https://tisserandinstitute.org/