Pages

Tuesday 1 October 2013

THE SAFE USE OF ESSENTIAL OILS - guideline



1. Undiluted essential oil should never be used directly on the skin. Always keep a bottle of carrier oil or any pure vegetable oil handy when using essential oils. Vegetable oils dilute essential oils if they cause discomfort or skin irritation. DO NOT USE WATER as essential oils are non-water soluble. Using water would only spread the essential oil over a larger area.
2. Some oils can cause desinsitising or allergy in some people. Also people with allergies should test a small amount of oil on a small area of sensitive skin, such as the inside of the arm, before applying the oil on other areas. The bottom of the feet is one of the safest, most effective places to use essential oils.
3. Less is more : in other words if you can get the job done with one drop - don't use two.
4. Essential oils are flammable - keep them safely away from fire hazards.
5. Keep bottles of essential oils tightly closed and store them in a cool location away from light. If stored properly, essential oils will maintain their potency for many years.
6. Keep essential oils out of the reach of children. Treat them as you would any product for therapeutic use.
7. Do not use essential oils rich in menthol (such as peppermint) on the throat or neck area of children under 30 months of age.
8. Lemon, bergamot, orange, grapefruit, tangerine, White Angelica and other citrus oils may cause a rash or darker pigmentation if applied to skin exposed to direct sunlight or UV rays within 3-4 days of use.
9. Keep essential oils away from eye area and do not put into ears. Do not handle contact lenses or rub eyes with essential oils on fingers.
10. Pregnant women should consult their health care professional before using essential oils containing constituents with hormone-like activity, such as Clary sage, Idaho tansy, juniper and fennel.
11. Epileptics and those with high blood pressure should consult their health care professional before using essential oils. Avoid hyssop, fennel, and Idaho tansy oils.

No comments:

Post a Comment