We all love essential oils for their wonderful aroma, yet essential oils are much more than mere aromatic compounds. They also have therapeutic effect on us, like, some essential oils are good at providing relief from anxiety, stress, some are really beneficial for skin care, some are known to have good anti-fungal, antipyretic and other useful properties.
It takes large amount of plant material to produce just a few grams of essential oil. For example, distilling 1 kg of Lavender essential oil may require more than 100 kg of lavender flowers. Another example, approximately 4000 kg of rose flowers are required to get 1 kg of rose otto. Consider the magnitude of plant material used in producing a single drop of essential oil. Now, in normal daily life you do not require that much amount of plant material to keep your room fragrant or for topical use. That single drop of essential oil is very concentrated. So, we should respect essential oils, use them carefully, judiciously and avoid wastage.
Remember: Essential oils are very concentrated, and they can be harmful when not used carefully.
But this should not stop you from using essential oils or Aromatherapy in your daily life. You can achieve great benefits from Aromatherapy if you follow these simple yet important guidelines on using essential oils in your daily life. I have divided these safety considerations into two parts, General and Clinical.
General safety considerations in the use of essential oils
# 1. As essential oils are very concentrated plant extracts, it is necessary to dilute them with a carrier oil (like sesame, coconut, jojoba, olive, castor etc) before applying on skin. The undiluted use of oils, like Lavender or Tea Tree or Vetiver are known to have caused severe skin sensitization in some individuals although these oils are considered safe for undiluted use by many. Trust me when I say that the sensitization is forever.
Always dilute any essential oil with a carrier oil before use.
# 2. Not all essential oils are suitable for everyone. Some oils may cause irritation or trigger allergic reactions or may cause sensitization in some people. To judge the suitability of any essential oil for the first-time topical use, always perform a patch test on the small area of skin. Another way is to try smelling the essential oil you intend to use by placing its two or three drops on a piece of clean tissue paper or on a cotton swab. Hold this paper or swab at a distance of approx. 1 inch from your nose and inhale gently. Do not inhale deeply. If it triggers an allergic response, this oil is not for you and will probably cause an allergic reaction on skin too. But this test does not ensure that even if there was no allergic response to inhale test, there would not be any allergic reaction on skin.
# 3. Less is more. Use only that much amount of essential oils as is necessary. If only 1 to 3 drops are required, use that much only.
Important approach in using essential oils : Less is More.
# 4. Always check for allergy to an essential oil or essential oil blend. If an essential oil or blend causes irritation, redness or itching on your skin, immediately wash the area with soap and water (water should not be hot or warm but at room temperature) and apply plain carrier oil to the affected area. If irritation, redness or itching persists contact doctor immediately. Discontinue using that essential oil.
# 5. Certain essential oils are photo-toxic. Meaning that when such oils are applied on skin, even after proper dilution, and exposed to sun, they react with UV rays of sun to cause inflammation, blistering or reddening of skin. This is a very painful condition. The cold pressed essential oils of bergamot, lemon, lime, grape fruit, bitter orange, angelica root, tagetes, laurel leaf absolute, mandarin leaf and rue are considered photo-toxic. (This is not a comprehensive list). Never use photo-toxic oils immediately before exposure to sun light. Give a break of at least 18 hours before venturing out in sun. Never use photo-sensitizing oils before UV exposure.
# 6. Keep essential oils out of the reach of children and pets. They can be poisonous if swallowed.
# 7. Inhalation can be done in two ways : direct (steam or from EO Bottle) and diffusing through diffuser. Avoid prolonged direct inhalation (more than 10 minutes) from essential oil bottle or via steam inhalation as it may cause headache, nausea and lethargy. In some cases people have suffered from double vision or incoherence. So, it is best to use ambient or indirect inhalation via diffuser.
# 8. Avoid driving at all costs after Aromatherapy massage for few hours since person gets relaxed and sometimes drowsy after an Aromatherapy massage.
# 9. Avoid oral ingestion and internal application, such as in the mouth, vagina, or other mucus membranes.
# 10. After using essential oils, avoid touching your inner nose, eyes or mouth as it may cause irritation due to residual essential oils on hands. Better to wash your hands.
# 11. When diffusing essential oils using a diffuser, diffuse essential oils intermittently (10 to 15 minutes) and not for long duration at a stretch as excess aroma may cause headache to some people. Only diffuse in well-ventilated areas.
# 12. Always follow proper dilution guidelines.
# 13. Essential oils oxidise over a period of time and lose their efficacy. This can be recognized by the change in the colour of an oil, change in its aroma and / or change in the oil viscosity. We say the oil has expired. Do not use expired essential oils on skin, not even in diluted form, as they may cause severe irritation and sensitization of skin.
# 14. As most of the essential oils are highly volatile, keep essential oils away from flames.
# 15. If you are unsure about the use of essential oils, better use them under the supervision of an experienced Aromatherapist or a doctor conversant with essential oils.
Clinical aspects of safety considerations in the use of essential oils
# 1. Essential oils should be used very cautiously during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. During these times, the essential oils should be used in very low concentrations, preferably at 1%. However, it is advisable that pregnant women should use essential oils under the guidance of an Aromatherapist or a medical professional knowledgeable about essential oils.
# 2. Certain essential oils should be avoided at all costs during pregnancy and lactation. Research indicates some of these essential oils are of Anise, Birch, Black Seed, Carrot Seed, Cassia, Cinnamon bark, Blue Cypress, Dill Seed, Fennel (both bitter and sweet), Ho leaf (Cinnamomum camphora ct. camphor), Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis ct. pinocamphone), Myrrh, Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas), Oregano, Pennyroyal, Rue, Sage (Salvia officinalis), Thuja, Wintergreen and Yarrow (Green).
Restricted use of some essential oils has been suggested during pregnancy and lactation. These oils are Lemon Basil (1.4%), Frankincense (Boswellia papyrifera) (1.7%), Lemongrass (0.7%), Melissa (0.9%), Tea Tree (0.8%). The percentages indicate the safe use concentration of these essential oils in pregnancy and lactation.
# 3. For children who are 5–12 years old, elders on multiple medications, pregnant women, and those with serious health conditions, begin with a low concentration. Babies and young children tend to be very sensitive, so we should be more cautious. In most cases, for a topical application, you can use hydrosols, aloe vera gel, butters, and carrier oils for kids under five years old rather than using essential oils. You can diffuse gentle essential oils around babies and younger children. Ambient inhalation (inhaling oils that are diffused into the air and away from their face) is generally safe. Diffuse intermittently for 5 to 10 minutes, then stopping for nearly an hour. Ensure that the room remains well ventilated.
The use of essential oils of Birch (Sweet) or Wintergreen on children in any amount is not advisable due to the possible risk of developing Reye’s syndrome and its known connection with salicylates.
# 4. People suffering from migraine should avoid EOs during an episode of migraine as in some people, migraine increases olfactory sensitivity.
# 5. People vulnerable to epileptic seizures should avoid essential oils of Wintergreen, Birch, Rosemary, Yarrow, Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas), Spike Lavender (Lavandula latifolia), Sage, Thuja, Western Red Cedar, Wormwood, Genipi, Hyssop (ct pinocamphone), Pennyroyal, Buchu, Calamint, Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), Mugwort and Ho Leaf (ct camphor)
# 6. Do not put essential oils in or around the eyes, the ears, or other orifices. If essential oil does come in contact with your eye, immediately wash your hands with soap and water and then put some carrier oil on a paper towel and gently wipe your eye. You may have to do this a few times. You can also flush with saline solution. If irritation persists, seek medical advice.
# 7. Patients on blood thinning medications should avoid essential oils of Birch, Garlic, onion, Wintergreen.
# 8. Patients on medicines for enhancing platelet aggregation, breast feeding mothers, patients of peptic ulcer, liver or kidney disorders should avoid essential oils of Ajowain, Anise, Holy Basil, Bay, Cassia, Cinnamon, Clove, Fennel, Oregano, Tejpat, Thyme (all chemotypes) etc.
These are just a few of the many more aspects of the safe use of essential oils in clinical settings.
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