Essential Oils Safety
How is each oil used?
How can I be sure I’m using them right?
Remember, less is more. Begin with small doses,
a few drops with a base oil (like fractionated coconut
oil) applied several times a day will be more effective
and safer than a large amount in a single application.
If you are strictly using an
difffuser for your essential
oils as aromatherapy,
simply add several drops
and follow the directions.
Be sure there is plenty of
airflow in the room and
make adjustments as
desired. Start small and
add more as needed.
Each oil will have usage specifications on the bottle
if they are directly from the manufacturer, but if
your particular oil in question has been hand created
you will want to do two things: Be sure you
know exactly what mix of oils is in the bottle; then
research them online. Because of their popularity,
essential oil information is right at your fingertips
through many trusted sources such as AromaWeb,
American Botanical Council, ScienceDirect and
PubMed. Draxe.com (search - Essential Oils on site)
is a trusted site for day to day information.
• Remember what works well for one person may
not work well for another. Some people have more
sensitive skin, for instance, and can’t have many of
the “hot oils” come in direct contact with their skin.
Others who have respiratory sensitivity to perfumes
and cleaning products (people with asthma and
COPD, especially) need to be careful as well. What
can open the airway of one person who has a cold
could potentially cause an asthma attack for another.
Always avoid using essential oils on mucous
membranes (unless it is mild enough AND specifically
suggested) and other sensitive areas of the
body. A rashy presentation is not uncommon on the
neck, particularly if you are sweating. A rash can also
develop if you are in the sun for extended periods
of time.
• If you have a painful dermal reaction to an oil, do
not use water to dilute it.
Water actually drives the oil more into the skin.
Flush and dilute with neutral oil, such as kitchenuse
olive or vegetable oil. Remember too, the
acidity or alkalinity of one’s skin also makes a
difference as to how the oil reacts with each
person.
If oil gets in your eye, use an eyedropper and
a neutral oil to dilute it. If pain in the eye does
not stop after a few minutes seek medical assistance.
• Pregnant women and pet owners, take
note. There are some essential oils that should
be used lightly or, some believe, not at all if a
woman is pregnant. They are clary sage, sage,
Idaho tansy, hyssop, fennel and wintergreen.
• While essential oils can be used on children,
check with your pediatrician regarding
use in infants and toddlers.
While children age five and up can also benefit
from certain essential oils, it is always best
to check with a pediatrician first. Infants and
toddlers have much more sensitive skin, so be
sure to heavily dilute any oils that would be
placed directly on their skin and check with
your doctor prior to use.
• You get what you pay for. You might see a
$5 bottle of lavender oil in the discount store
and think it’s a good deal … after all, isn’t one
oil the same as another? No. Not at all. If you
know someone who has had an allergic reaction
or bad experience in general with essential
oils, chances are they were exposed to a knockoff.
Do your research and stick with the triedand
true oils that are most recommended.
Short of using a Gas Chromatography/Mass
Spectrometer, you can’t test the purity of any oil
yourself. Talk to a professional before ingesting
any supplements, and again, remember to start
with small amounts as these oils are powerful.
Recommended reading - or gifts:
“The Essential Life” 2nd Edition
(available on Amazon)
“Prepper’s Natural Medicine” by Cat Ellis
(available on Amazon)
“Essential Oils for Beginners” by Althea Press
“The Complete Book of Essential Oils
and Aromatherapy”
by Valerie Ann Worwood
44GASPARILLA ISLAND November/December 2018
/Draxe.com