Because essential oils are ‘natural’ many people assume they are safe, however, they do contain chemicals and anyone using essential oils should know how to use them safely. There are precautions you may need to take and I have outlined some advice below on safe use. If you are going to use essential oils as part of your self care, then you should seek advice from a qualified aromatherapist.
I remember, long before I qualified as an aromatherapist, I used to use essential oils liberally in the bath for my children and. I had no idea what precautions I should take or how to use them safely. I was lucky that I did not cause any ill effects by not knowing how to use them safely.
Most essential oils are safe to use. But there are some precautions you should take when using them, especially if you take any prescription medications or are receiving any medical treatments, for example, chemotherapy, or have health conditions like epilepsy. There are also some contraindications with homoeopathic remedies, for example peppermint oil should not be used if you are taking any homoeopathic remedies, so use with caution. This does not mean you cannot use essential oils, or receive aromatherapy, just that sometimes there are some essential oils that need to be avoided, and it is important to know this to ensure you are not making a condition worse.
Other considerations are that you should never apply essential oils directly to your skin. You can become sensitised to essential oils if misused. This means, you might have an allergic reaction. Always use a carrier oil, like sunflower oil or jojoba oil to dilute them. There are only two essential oils that are safe to apply undiluted on the skin (Lavender and Tea Tree) but I always advise dilution with a carrier. This also goes for adding essential oils to bath water. Never add essential oils directly to bath water. Oil and water do not mix. This means that your essential oils will float on top of the bath water, and come directly in contact with your skin potentially causing harm. You can add your essential oils to some full fat milk or cream or a dispersible liquid for mixing with essential oils, and then add this to the bath. A general rule of thumb will be 4 drops to 10ml, but this is not always the case as some essential oils are stronger than others. It also depends on whether you are using them to aid physical health or mental health.
There are some essential oils that should be avoided with very young children, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and the elderly and frail. A generally safe essential oil to use would be Mandarin, but I would always advise consulting a qualified aromatherapist.
Some citrus essential oils are phototoxic. This means it may make your skin more sensitive to the sun’s UV rays and cause the skin to burn due to the chemicals in the essential oil. These oils should be avoided if you’ll be exposed to sunlight or UV tanning beds.
Essential oils should never be taken internally and keep essential oils out of reach of children.
Essential oils are a wonderful enhancement to your well-being and self-care routine but only when used safely.
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