Essential Oil Safety

Essential oils make wonderful additions to healthy lifestyles. It must not be forgotten, however, that essential oils are highly concentrated substances which should be used with care. It is best to treat essential oils or products with essential oils as you would other medications from your medicine cabinet—with respect, care, and adhering to recommended dosages. Remember, always err on the side of caution if you are unsure of a particular dosage or blend. Do your research when experimenting with new oils and pay particular attention to any contraindications applied to the oil.

General Precautions

• Follow suppliers or author's recommended dosages and dilutions. Dilutions for children and elderly are generally half the recommended dose.

• Wash your hands after handling essential oils. This avoids accidentally rubbing your eyes or mucus membranes and getting oil stuck on these sensitive and highly irritable areas. If oil does get in your eyes, immediately wash out with cold water.

• Never take oils internally. Some essential oils are very effective when taken internally. However, this should be left to an experienced or qualified aromatherapist.

• Oils should not be applied undiluted directly to skin. In some cases, such as minor burns or insect bites, some oils are effective if directly applied to the skin. However, direct application is almost never recommended or desired.

• Some oils, especially the citrus oils, are photosensitive. Never use these oils if you are going out in the sun. You should keep out of the sunlight for at least 12 hours if you have topically applied photosensitive oil. Examples: lemon, bergamot, grapefruit.

• Keep oils out of reach of children at all times and away from eyes.

Pregnancy

As a precautionary factor, some oils have been deemed unsafe to use during pregnancy or breast-feeding. There is no evidence that a pregnant women or fetus have ever been harmed while using essential oils properly. However, it is speculated that the constitution of some essential oils may have a physiologically negative effect on pregnant women and should best be avoided. Before using an essential oil always check to see if it is safe to do so. The list below is not limited only to these oils. Care should be taken when using essential oils when pregnant.

Do not use these oils during pregnancy: Black Pepper, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Clarysage, Clove Bud, Geranium, Ginger, Juniper, Peppermint (avoid first trimester), Rosemary, Thyme, Ylang Ylang.

Driving

There was a blurb once written in a magazine article recommending lavender essential oil as a nice calming oil to use inside the car. This was probably not smart advice and a good example of aromatherapy not completely being understood as a complementary modality. Oils that elicit a relaxing response should be avoided as a car scent as they may cause drowsiness.
Avoid while driving: Roman Chamomile, Lavender, Rose, Ylang Ylang, Neroli.

Skin reactions

Skin reactions are difficult to predict because they vary between individuals. For an individual with a history of sensitive skin, asthma, or allergies, it is always best to conduct a skin patch test before using oils. Skin reactions to be aware of when using essential oils are skin irritation, sensitization, and photo toxicity.

Skin irritation is the result of the skin coming in direct contact with an abrasive substance. The reaction usually occurs quickly and the severity depends on the concentration of the substance; may appear as rash or red blotches. Skin irritations are usually localized and healing begins once the abrasive substance is removed. If an irritation occurs, immediately remove the oil with perfume-free soap or milk. Aloe Vera gel may help to soothe the skin. It is difficult to predict if an essential oil will cause skin irritation. Even oils that are not known skin irritants could have an adverse reaction in some individuals.

Some skin irritants: Cinnamon, Clove Bud, Thyme, oxidized citrus.

Sensitization is the result of a systemic reaction involving the immune system. The skin has an allergic reaction response in the form of a rash, red blotch, slight blistering, sneezing, or itching. An allergic reaction may not always be immediate. Sometimes the effects of using an oil which produces sensitization on an individual may take anywhere from days to longer to show up. Discontinue use immediately if an allergic reaction occurs. If an individual has been sensitized to an essential oil, it should always be avoided. The inflammatory responses can occur even with a small amount of the particular oil. Skin patch testing is always recommended. People who are allergic to other substances or have asthma or sensitive skin may be more prone to sensitization with some oils.

Some sensitizing oils: Cinnamon, Lemongrass, Ylang Ylang, oxidized citruses.

Photosensitization. Some oils, especially citrus oils, can produce a reaction called photosensitization or photo toxicity. On exposure to sunlight the skin can be traumatized causing redness, increased pigmentation, or blistering. Photosensitization can only happen if exposed to ultraviolet light. The most common constituent that causes photosensitization is furocoumarin. Bergamot and other citrus oils contain small quantities of furocoumarins known as bergaptene. Oils that are phototoxic should be applied topically at 1% dilution. When applied topically, exposure to sunlight should be avoided for at least 12 hours after application.

Phototoxic oils: Bergamot, Lemon, Grapefruit, Neroli.