Monday, February 8, 2010

Essential Oil Safety

Essential oils are the lifeblood of the plants that surround us.  They are generally made from the distillation of leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other plant elements.  The product of this process is a highly-concentrated liquid plant essence, clear or amber in color.

While the essential oils are good for mind, body and spirit, they must be used responsibly so as not to cause allergic reaction or sensitivity.
  • NEVER use undiluted essential oil on your skin.
  • TEST new oils before you use them in any bath or body recipes.
  • READ the guidelines and warnings for the oils that you are using.
  • ERR on the side of less instead of more when it comes to adding oils.
  • KEEP essential oils out of the reach of children.
  • KEEP essential oils away from your eyes and other mucous membranes.
  • INTERNAL use of the oils should be considered after consulting with a qualified aromatherapy practitioner.
  • If IRRITATION redness, burning or itching occurs, add more carrier oil to the troubled area.
  • The oils are FLAMMABLE so keep them away from sources of ignition.
This information is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to prescribe, treat, prevent, or diagnose any disease or condition.  Essential oils are not a substitute for professional medical care.

Resources:

2 comments:

Wizardess said...

All so true! I love essential oils, especially lemon, geranium & rose. Fragrance oils don't even come close. But it is well to be careful...I've actually had an aromatherapy injury from not following directions to a tee. Hmm..that should be a blog post: The Incident with the Lemon Oil. :)

Bridgett said...

I'm actually glad I read this because I had been told I could put lavender oil directly on my daughter's eczema.

Sounds like a carrier oil might be indicated. I like jojoba. :)

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