Something I put together for another forum....I can't claim this one as original writing as it's put together from a variety of sources...just good info...
We've all used essential oils. They are useful in aromatherapy, massage, perfumes and medicines. At the very least, I always have tea tree, lavender, patchouli, oregano, peppermint and eucalyptus at hand.
However, just because EOs are easy to buy does not mean they are safe! Essential oils are powerful, concentrated botanicals, which MAY OR MAY NOT have the same properties as the leaves or other parts of the herb. Only a few of them are safe to use neat (directly on the skin), and with very few exceptions they should never be ingested.
Some EOs can produce severe reactions in sensitive individuals, and may induce lifelong sensitivity if one is overexposed. Aromatherapists and massage therapists who mix their own oils are particularly vulnerable.
Here are some commonsense precautions to observe when working with EOs:
* Keep them away from children and pets.
* Don't use on babies, children or pets.
* Keep them away from flame - they are flammable.
* Don't apply neat; dilute with a carrier oil.
NOTE: Tea tree, lavender, patchouli and a few others are safe in small amounts for most people.
* Even diluted, you should always do a patch test on the inner arm - don't use if redness or irritation develops.
* Don't inhale directly from the bottle. Hold the bottle a few inches from your face and waft the aroma toward your nostrils using your free hand.
* Do not ingest essential oils.
NOTE: A few drops of peppermint oil in a glass of warm sugar water is a good remedy for upset stomach. Oregano oil is taken in capsules to combat bacterial and viral infections.
* Keep them away from eyes, nose, ears, and any bodily opening or mucous membranes.
* Never assume an EO has the same properties as the plant.
Here are the most hazardous of essential oils, which should generally be avoided altogether: bitter almond, buchu, camphor, sassafras, calamus, horseradish, mugwort, mustard, pennyroyal, rue, savin, savory, southernwood, tansy, thuja, wintergreen, wormseed, wormwood.
NEVER USE DURING PREGNANCY: aniseed, peru balsam, bay laurel, basil, benzoin, bergamot, bitter almond, basil, birch, cajeput, camphor, cedarwood (any variety), celery seed, blue chamomile, cinnamon, clary sage, clove, cypress, dill, fir, eucalyptus, fennel, grapefruit, hyssop, juniper, spike lavender, lemon, lemongrass, marjoram, myrrh, nutmeg, oregano, parsley seed, pennyroyal, peppermint, scotch pine, rosemary, sage, spikenard, st. johns wort, thuja, thyme, valerian, yarrow.
Don't ever put these on the skin: cinnamon, ajowan, cassia, clove, costus, elecampane, fennel, oregano, pine.
Will cause light sensitivity: Most citrus, angelica, bergamot, lemon verbena.
If EOs get in the eyes, flush with cold milk or vegetable oil.
To remove from hands, dilute by rubbing hands with cream or vegetable oil, then wash more than once in warm soapy water.
Many essential oils if spilled are required to be handled as hazardous waste! Tea tree for instance, must be absorbed by an inert material, sealed in a container, and disposed of in accordance with various laws.
Don't mean to scare anyone. I know very few people who have been harmed by essential oils. Still, it could happen. Soyez sage!
We've all used essential oils. They are useful in aromatherapy, massage, perfumes and medicines. At the very least, I always have tea tree, lavender, patchouli, oregano, peppermint and eucalyptus at hand.
However, just because EOs are easy to buy does not mean they are safe! Essential oils are powerful, concentrated botanicals, which MAY OR MAY NOT have the same properties as the leaves or other parts of the herb. Only a few of them are safe to use neat (directly on the skin), and with very few exceptions they should never be ingested.
Some EOs can produce severe reactions in sensitive individuals, and may induce lifelong sensitivity if one is overexposed. Aromatherapists and massage therapists who mix their own oils are particularly vulnerable.
Here are some commonsense precautions to observe when working with EOs:
* Keep them away from children and pets.
* Don't use on babies, children or pets.
* Keep them away from flame - they are flammable.
* Don't apply neat; dilute with a carrier oil.
NOTE: Tea tree, lavender, patchouli and a few others are safe in small amounts for most people.
* Even diluted, you should always do a patch test on the inner arm - don't use if redness or irritation develops.
* Don't inhale directly from the bottle. Hold the bottle a few inches from your face and waft the aroma toward your nostrils using your free hand.
* Do not ingest essential oils.
NOTE: A few drops of peppermint oil in a glass of warm sugar water is a good remedy for upset stomach. Oregano oil is taken in capsules to combat bacterial and viral infections.
* Keep them away from eyes, nose, ears, and any bodily opening or mucous membranes.
* Never assume an EO has the same properties as the plant.
Here are the most hazardous of essential oils, which should generally be avoided altogether: bitter almond, buchu, camphor, sassafras, calamus, horseradish, mugwort, mustard, pennyroyal, rue, savin, savory, southernwood, tansy, thuja, wintergreen, wormseed, wormwood.
NEVER USE DURING PREGNANCY: aniseed, peru balsam, bay laurel, basil, benzoin, bergamot, bitter almond, basil, birch, cajeput, camphor, cedarwood (any variety), celery seed, blue chamomile, cinnamon, clary sage, clove, cypress, dill, fir, eucalyptus, fennel, grapefruit, hyssop, juniper, spike lavender, lemon, lemongrass, marjoram, myrrh, nutmeg, oregano, parsley seed, pennyroyal, peppermint, scotch pine, rosemary, sage, spikenard, st. johns wort, thuja, thyme, valerian, yarrow.
Don't ever put these on the skin: cinnamon, ajowan, cassia, clove, costus, elecampane, fennel, oregano, pine.
Will cause light sensitivity: Most citrus, angelica, bergamot, lemon verbena.
If EOs get in the eyes, flush with cold milk or vegetable oil.
To remove from hands, dilute by rubbing hands with cream or vegetable oil, then wash more than once in warm soapy water.
Many essential oils if spilled are required to be handled as hazardous waste! Tea tree for instance, must be absorbed by an inert material, sealed in a container, and disposed of in accordance with various laws.
Don't mean to scare anyone. I know very few people who have been harmed by essential oils. Still, it could happen. Soyez sage!
