Some companies claim that for best results, I should use essential oils on my skin at full strength . Others claim I should never use essential oils on my skin at full strength. Which is it?
The mis-use of any substance can lead to injury, and essential oils are no exception. Essential oils are powerful in scent and action and must be treated with respect for aromatherapy and other uses.
Never Put Undiluted Essential Oils On Your Skin.
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Essential oils are concentrated liquids and are very powerful substances. They should not be consumed internally without education from a qualified educator or without personal counsel from a trained aromatherapist. Treat Essential Oils aith Respect
The following list includes basic guidelines to promote safety in the use of essential oils:
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- Keep all essential oil bottles out of the reach of children and animals.
- Do not use on children or animals.
- Do not apply to the body undiluted.
- Do not take internally.
- Do not use if pregnant: consult with a certified health professional with knowledge of essential oils.
- Do not use a particular essential oil if you've had a previous adverse reaction to it.
Treat essential oils with the same care that you treat medicines. You don't need to be afraid or avoid essential oils and I'm certainly not trying to scare anyone out of enjoying all the benefits that aromatherapy offers. They can be an amazing blessing within a holistic lifestyle. Do remember, however, that when working with essential oils, less is more.
Here are two rules to follow:
Do not ingest essential oils. They are concentrated and very potent. In large amounts, they can attack the delicate linings of your stomach, esophagus, and throat. You can even poison yourself by ingesting essential oils
As with all medications, keep all essential oils out of reach of children. Children typically put things in their mouths, and as you have just read, swallowing essential oils can be dangerous.
Be cautious when using essential oils. Consult an aromatherapist before you try to use one internally, or without diluting it with a carrier oil.
For example: Don't use the following essential oils while you are pregnant:
nutmeg, which may have hallucinogenic effects and react with pain-relieving drugs in labour
rosemary, which is thought to increase blood pressure, and may cause contractions
basil, which is thought to contribute to abnormal cell development
jasmine and clary sage, which may trigger contractions
sage, which may cause bleeding in your uterus (womb)
juniper berry, which may affect your kidneys
Skin Safety
Because the skin is the most common way of using an essential oil, either by bathing in an oil-infused bath or through massage with a carrier oil infused with essential oil, your skin will come in direct contact with the essential oil. Many people have shied away from essential oils because they used too much in a massage oil or put too many drops of a sensitizing oil into their hot bath.
To avoid irritation of the skin, do not use undiluted oils on your skin. Always, always, always dilute essential oils in blends with a carrier oil. Only two oils can be used neat with relatively little risk:
Lavender can be used for burns, cuts, and insect bites, dabbed on with a cotton ball or cotton swab.
Tea tree oil can be used directly to treat pimples, insect bites, cuts, and warts.
