Essential Oil Safety

Disclaimer: None of the statements below have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Some of you may know I use essential oils (EOs) to enhance my well being. A few people occasionally ask my advice about which EOs to use and how to properly use them. I wanted to publish this post to share what I’ve learned through my own research about using EOs safely, which I feel everyone should be aware of first and foremost when using EOs. If you are new to EOs, please do your research and choose a brand that is pure essential oil only. Many brands have been tested and discovered to be adulterated and containing fillers and contaminants. If you want to know what brand I trust and use because they are tested by a third party, please click here.

Essential oils may be used aromatically, topically and internally.

AROMATIC USAGE

With diffusion, I tend to use 1-2 drops per 1 hour of diffusion. If you can’t smell it, it does NOT mean you need to put more.  Essential oils are very potent. I always say, less is more, so use sparingly. Like most things, too much of anything has a risk of causing negative bodily reactions.

TOPICAL USAGE

Since EOs are highly concentrated they may cause irritation or other skin reactions, so should be diluted for safety. Mixing with a fatty carrier oil (olive, coconut, almond, etc.), which slow EO absorption, allows for even application when applied topically. If a topically applied EO feels uncomfortable, try applying more carrier oil. Do NOT add water!

Children, Pregnancy and Seniors suggested dilution: 1 drop essential oil with 2 teaspoons carrier oil
Adults suggested dilution: 1-4 drops essential oils with 1 teaspoon carrier oil

When topically applying the following oils, always heavily dilute and use caution since these oils may feel very hot and cause discomfort and/or skin reactions, including rash and blistering:

• black pepper
• cassia
• cinnamon
• citrus oils (Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Orange, etc.)
• clove
• eucalyptus
• fennel
• geranium
• ginger
• lemongrass
• oregano
• peppermint
• thyme
• wintergreen

Citrus oils may cause sun sensitivity; allow 12 hours from application before being exposed to the sun.

It is not recommended to use essential oils on broken or tender skin. Do not use essential oils in your eyes, ear canal, or on mucous membranes. If oil gets into eyes, flush with milk or other fatty liquid.

Repeated use on the same area may lead to hypersensitivity.

INTERNAL USAGE

Use EXTREME caution with internal use. Many impure brands will indicate on the bottle that it may not be ingested. In case of accidental ingestion or too much ingestion, contact Poison Control immediately. Do research or consult a professional to understand how to properly ingest EOs from brands that are reputable for purity.  The following oils should NEVER be ingested:

• Arborvitae
• Blue Tansy
• Cedarwood
• Cypress
• Douglas Fir
• Eucalyptus
• Spikenard
• White fir
• Wintergreen

Oil and water do not mix, so keep this in mind when applying to bath or drinking water.

TIPS FOR PETS

Cats may not metabolize essential oils and are susceptible to toxicity.

Dogs can benefit from essential oils, but due to their size and olfactory sensitivity, please heavily dilute oils with all types of uses.

OTHER TIPS

No matter the type of application, I always recommend starting with very small amounts to determine how your body reacts.  Similar to how people have different allergies, EOs that may be fine for one person may not be the case for another.

Keep oils out of reach of children. When using with children, use minimal doses and monitor child’s reaction.

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have serious health issues especially immune or liver issues, speak to your doctor first.

Oils may be flammable so keep away from heat sources.

Don’t use essential oils with plastic bottles for either drinking or storage.

Heavy use may interact with medications. Consult a physician accordingly.