Important Aromatherapy Safety Tips

Essential oils are very concentrated, so it's important that you use them with caution. Always read the label warnings when you purchase essential oils and store them in tightly closed containers away from children. If you are not sure that a particular oil is safe, do not use it until you've researched it thoroughly and are sure that it will not harm you.

Many essential oils can be used in candle making, skincare, and consumed. If you choose to use essential oils in food and drink or apply the oils to your skin, use extreme caution. Do not consume undiluted oils, and be sure that if you cook with essential oils that you use common oils approved for use in food.

When applying essential oils to your skin, always dilute them with vegetable oil; do not allow undiluted oil to come into direct contact with your skin. Keep essential oils away from your eyes and mucous membranes. Any oils that you use on your skin should be "tested" in advance: apply a small, diluted amount to your inner arm to determine how your skin responds to the oils. If you see signs of redness, burning, itching, or other irritation, immediately wash the area thoroughly. In cases where you experience an extreme reaction, you will want to contact your health care provider.

Some essential oils cause irritation and rashes except when extremely diluted. Aniseed, bay, any styrax oil, balsam of Peru (very hazardous), calamus, cassia, cinnamon bark and leaf, citronella, costus, dill seed (not weed), fennel, bitter, absolute fig leaf, absolute hyacinth, absolute jasmine, junipers, bay laurel, pines, spearmint, turpentine, lemon verbena, and ylang ylang (in very high concentrations) are all oils that should not be applied to the skin or require excessive dilution before you apply them to your skin.

Photosensitivity (severe sun damage) can also occur when you apply essential oil mixtures to your skin. Bergamot, angelica, caraway, cassia, cinnamon bark, honeysuckle, verbena, patchouli, cedar wood, dill seed, petitgrain, and any cold pressed citrus oil such as expressed lime and rue, mandarin, lemon, tangerine, orange, and grapefruit oil can cause photosensitivity.

Depending on your current health status, there are some essential oils that you should always avoid. If you are pregnant, stay away from bitter almond, basil, clary sage, clove bud, hyssop, sweet fennel, juniper berry, marjoram, myrrh, peppermint, rose, oregano, coriander, jasmine, cedar wood, rosemary, sage, thyme, and wintergreen oils. People with hypoglycemia should avoid geranium oil, and those with kidney problems should use juniper, sandalwood, and coriander with caution. If you have epilepsy or any other seizure disorder, do not use hyssop, camphor, sweet fennel, sage, or rosemary oils. People with high blood pressure should never use hyssop, rosemary, sage, and thyme oils. Allspice, bitter almond, basil, cinnamon leaf and bark, clove bud, sweet fennel, fir needle, lemon, lemongrass, melissa, peppermint, tea tree, and wintergreen oils are very irritating to the skin. In general, anyone consuming alcoholic beverages should not use clary since it magnifies the effects of alcohol.

Keep in mind that if you have extremely sensitive skin or suffer from any kind of allergy, you will want to contact your health care provider before you ingest, inhale, or consume the product of any essential oil.