Essential oils make great natural home remedies, but just because they are natural does not mean they are always safe. Essential oils are very concentrated and powerful and should be used with caution. Here are 5 safety tips for using essential oils at home.
Mandarin Essential Oil
1. Do not take essential oils internally. Even a tiny amount can damage the linings of your stomach. Some aromatherapy books talk about taking essential oils by mouth, but in these cases, the oils are usually prescribed by a doctor and are taken in a safe form, such as in capsules. Some cooking recipes suggest using essential oils as flavoring. My own aromatherapy tutors always discouraged the use of essential oils internally, even in cooking and even in small amounts, and when using such potent oils, it is better to be safe than sorry.When handling essential oils, make sure you don’t get any oil into your eyes either.
2. If you are suffering from any medical condition (epilepsy, high or low blood pressure, asthma for instance) always check for any contra-indications before using essential oils. In many cases it is safe to try aromatherapy and use some oils, as long as you avoid certain essential oils.
3. If you are pregnant, there are a few oils that can be used, but once again it is better to be safe than sorry and to use only oils that are considered safe in pregnancy. The safest oils are generally said to be Mandarin and Neroli, and incidentally both are good for preventing stretch marks –as long as they are blended into a base oil such as sweet almond or wheatgerm (a very good oil for stretch mark prevention). Use a low dilution: 1 drop to 5 ml of base oil during pregnancy. After the first trimester, you might be able to use a few more oils (in the same low dilution), such as Lavender and Rose. Even though Lavender is one of the safest oils in aromatherapy, you should avoid it during the first trimester if you have a history of miscarriage as it can help to bring on a delayed period.
4. Don’t use essential oils on the skin undiluted. The oils are very strong and even a couple of drops can irritate the skin. Essential oils should always be blended with a base oil such as sweet almond and a general dilution is 3 drops of essential oil(s) to 5 ml of base oil. The exceptions here are Lavender and Tea Tree; you can try a drop of Lavender on a mosquito bite to ease the stinging, or Tea Tree on a spot if you’re suffering from acne. If your skin is very sensitive, always dilute the oils.
5. Don’t use essential oils on babies or small children unless you really know what you’re doing. There are a couple of oils that can be used (well diluted) on small children, I’ll write more about aromatherapy and children in the next article.
Photo: Mandarin Essential Oil by Itineranttrader
I have been using essential oils for therapeutic use for the last five years, and I absolutely love them! I am not sure how I lived without them before that. I would never ever be without Peppermint, it is my go to oil for almost everything, and has saved me so many times. I also love Wild Orange and Sandalwood, but it’s hard to pick favorites because I truly love them all for all that they can do.
I have been ingesting oils for the last five years with absolutely no negative side effects. I also apply almost all of my oils neat, with the exception of cinnamon. Yes, some are a little hotter than others, but it doesn’t really bother me, or cause a reaction on my skin. If you have pure therapeutic quality oils that have been extensively tested to make sure there are no additives, synthetics, or impurities, they are safe to ingest. The essential oils I use have a supplement fact sheet right on the label saying they are safe to ingest.
I agree, if you are pregnant you need to be more cautious when using essential oils, although I know several women who use them extensively while they are pregnant and have had no adverse reactions, I would have to agree with the “better safe than sorry” adage here. Also, if you are breastfeeding you probably do not want to use Peppermint as it has a tendency to dry up your milk.
Thanks for sharing your tips for essential oils and sharing your knowledge of them. I love learning everything I can find about essential oils. They truly are a “Gift”.
Hi there,
and thanks so much for your comment and your tips. I use Lavender and Tea Tree neat on my skin but I have a sensitive skin and most oils, even if I accidentally drop a single drop on my skin, cause irritation. The same happens if I use undiluted oils in the bath. I love Peppermint too (but it’s one of the oils that would irritate my skin so i have to dilute it). Interesting to learn that some oil suppliers say they are safe to ingest. I guess there are very different views about it. Thanks for the information!
Satu
Peppermint irritates my skin in a bath but I can put a couple drops on a cotton ball and set on the floor in a shower and the steamy fumes don’t bother me. Many oils I can use without irritation. It definitely varies person to person.
I think that caution for high quality is always essential (no pun intended) with any alternative therapies to ensure that you are really taking what you *think* you are taking.
I also like using real shea butter during pregnancy when my stomach starts to get itchy. It’s not a cure for stretch marks but it FEELS GREAT – lavender and neroli are two of my favorite oils during any time but especially during pregnancy. I don’t have any contraindications though. 🙂
I’ve ingested oils from a couple of different companies, but the ones I use now are my favorite. If you want to try them you can purchase them and learn more about them here
http://www.oilessentials.org
I know a lot of people who use them, and I don’t know of any of them who have had any problems using them on their skin, but I know some people are more sensitive than others.
I have to agree with Ang, high quality is essential if you are hoping for therapeutic results. This brand really works. Just got rid of my ear infection using Basil oil around my ear, and taking Rosemary and Oregano in capsules. Also a drop or two of a protective blend called OnGuard under my tongue a few times. Worked wonders.
I enjoyed your comments.
Great article. I absolutely love my essential oils. I’ve been into natural medicine for nearly 20 years. These days, the first thing I grab are my doTERRA oils. My 12 year old son has never had an antibiotic. Thanks for sharing.