More and more people are using aromatherapy at home, for their families and within their work environment. It is impressive to see an increasing acceptance of aromatherapy and its benefits. However, I still see some people in the clinic who do not understand the power of essential oils, believing that they are just beautiful smelling oils. One person admitted using “half a bottle” of lavender oil in their bath, not realizing the risks she was taking with her health.
Essential oils are the concentrated, aromatic essences that are derived, through extraction or distillation, from different plant sources, including flowers and petals, leaves, bark, stems, roots and grass. Each essential oil has unique therapeutic properties, which have been used for centuries for their medicinal, therapeutic and beautifying capabilities. They are highly concentrated, and for this reason, need to be used with respect and care.
By following a few basic guidelines, aromatherapy can be safely and effectively used at home to treat a range of common symptoms.
1. Essential oils are best used diluted - do not use essential oils undiluted directly on the skin.
Most essential oils are best used diluted in carrier oil, such as Sweet Almond, Apricot, or even Olive Oil, or an unscented base cream. Carrier oils assist the transportation of essential oils into the skin. Using a carrier oil also helps minimize any allergic or sensitive reactions to the highly concentrated essential oils.
The two exceptions to this rule are Lavender and Tea Tree oil which can be safely applied, in very small quantities, directly onto the skin to treat small and minor burns, stings or tiny wounds.
2. Use only high quality, 100% pure essential oils for effective health care
High quality essential oils are more expensive than fragrant oils, because of the cost in extracting essential oils from their plant source. Fragrant oils have no therapeutic properties, and are usually made up of man-made, synthetic ingredients.
The best way to identify a good quality essential oil is through its labelling. Ensure that the label clearly states that you are buying 100% essential oil. A high quality essential oil is sold in dark (amber or blue) bottles to prevent deterioration and will usually include the following features on the label:
- Common Name (e.g. Lavender)
- Botanical Name (e.g. Lavandula angustifolia)
- Use by date (all natural products have an expiry date)
- A government approved code to indicate that it has passed through rigorous assessment standards. In Australia, all products making therapeutic claims need to go through the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) process. These are identified with a code that usually looks like AUST L plus a number.
- Indications and contraindications – these are appropriate uses and situations where these oils are best avoided
3. Use essential oils only in the correct dilutions or dosages
Dilutions of 3% are acceptable when using essential oils on healthy adults. That is, 1 drop for every 2 ml of carrier oil. For example, if you are making up 10 ml of bath oil, use no more than 5 drops of essential oil. Remember the simple rule of less is best – should you use too much essential oil, this can result in skin irritations, headaches, general feeling of unease and nausea.
For children and the elderly, use no more than 1.5% dilution. That is, 1 drop of essential oil for every 4 mls of carrier.
4. Some oils can cause an allergic or sensitive reaction
As some essential oils may cause an allergic reaction on hypersensitive skins, it is wise to do a small patch test prior to using a specific essential oil for the first time. The best way is to add 1-2 drops of essential oil to a small amount of carrier (such as olive oil or an unscented hand cream) and apply to the inside of your wrist or elbow. If there is an irritation or reaction (such as a rash or spots), do not use this essential oil.
5. Some essential oils are hazardous and are best avoided
There are some well known essential oils that are considered toxic or hazardous and are best avoided. These are usually considered toxic or hazardous as they may lead to dermal or mucous irritation. The most common essential oils to avoid are camphor, cinnamon bark, clove, mustard, pennyroyal, rue, sassafras, wintergreen and wormwood. It is important to note though, that while many of the plants from which the stated hazardous essential oils are derived are still used safely in herbal medicine.
6. Essentials oils should never be ingested (taken orally) unless specified by a qualified herbalist
As essential oils are highly concentrated, it is not advisable to take essential oils internally unless
prescribed by a fully qualified and professional herbalist or naturopath. At present, while this may not be the case elsewhere in the world, Aromatherapists trained in Australia are not qualified to prescribe essential oils for ingestion, unless they have additional herbal medicine training.
7. Some essential oils are best avoided during pregnancy or by those with epilepsy and other health conditions
As essential oils contain powerful chemical properties, there are some essential oils best avoided during pregnancy and/or epilepsy. It is important to note that as long as certain essential oils are avoided, aromatherapy is a safe and beneficial therapy to enhance and promote good health during pregnancy. As some essential oils may promote uterine contractions and others are used to regulate poor menstruation, some of these oils are best avoided throughout the pregnancy.
The following essential oils are best avoided during pregnancy: aniseed, basil, clary sage, cedarwood, cypress, fennel, jasmine, juniper, sweet marjoram, myrrh, nutmeg, peppermint, rose and rosemary.
Any person prone to epilepsy is advised to avoid hyssop, sage, fennel, and rosemary.
Always carefully read the instructions on the label and, if in doubt, please consult a qualified Aromatherapist.
8. Store essential oils in a cool, dark place and out of reach place
As essential oils are highly volatile, they should be stored in a cool, dark place to avoid deterioration. Essential oils should be treated as medicines and should not be within easy reach of children. Ingestion of essential oils can lead to poisoning because of their high concentration.
9. Some essential oils should not be used before going into the sun
The citrus essential oils such as bergamot, lemon, lime, mandarin, orange, petitgrain and tangerine may make the skin more sensitive to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Do not go into the sun for at least 12 hours after using these essential oils, to avoid sunburn.
10. Use essential oils responsibly and appropriately around children
When using essential oils on children, it is important to use no more than 1.5% dilutions. That is, use no more than 1 drop of essential oil for every 2 ml of carrier oil or base cream. The safest essential oils for children include the citrus oils such as grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, orange, lime and petitgrain (though be aware of these oils may make the skin more vulnerable to the sun’s ultraviolet rays), as well as roman and german chamomiles, eucalyptus, lavender, spearmint, tea tree and thyme.
References: |
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Battaglia, Salvatore |
The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy |
Tisserand, Robert and Tony Balacs |
Essential Oil Safety |
Worwood, Valerie Ann |
Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child |
© Rosa Ghidella, 2005.
Rosa Ghidella is the Director of the Haberfield Naturopathic Centre in Sydney, Australia. She is a qualified Aromatherapist, Remedial Massage Therapist and Reflexologist. Rosa also has a Bachelor of Social Work and a Masters in Management. She has written numerous articles for a number of publications on health and wellbeing and has run a number of corporate workshops on motivation and health using complementary health care.
