Aromatherapy can be safe and rewarding as long as you use caution and common sense. Remember, however, that essential oils are highly concentrated, volatile plant extracts: they can be toxic or irritating if not used correctly.
Any time you’re working with pure essential oils, keep the following Dos and DON’Ts in mind:
Aromatherapy DON’Ts
- DON’T apply pure, undiluted essential oils directly to skin. Most oils should be diluted in a carrier oil, like almond or jojoba, before coming in contact with flesh. Otherwise, you risk “burning” the skin and developing a rash. Lemon, cinnamon, and peppermint are some common essential oils that can “burn” on contact.
- DON’T ingest essential oils. Essential oils can irritate the stomach lining, and as little as 15 mL of any essential oil can be fatal.
- DON’T exceed recommended dosages. Essential oils are remarkably effective in small doses. An aromatic bath, for instance, is just right when eight (not eighty!) drops of an essential oil are added to bathwater.
- DON’T use an essential oil for more than three weeks. After three weeks using your favorite oils, give them – and your body – a rest. Wait at least a week before resuming use.
- DON’T use certain oils on skin that will be exposed to heavy sunlight. Angelica, bergamot, cumin, lime, orange, and verbena essential oils may cause burning if applied to skin that’s exposed to heavy sunlight.
If you are pregnant…
- DON’T use basil, bitter almond, clary sage, clove bud, hyssop, juniper, marjoram, myrrh, rose, sage, thyme, and wintergreen essential oils. They are harmful to the fetus and some can cause an abortion. Also avoid fennel, peppermint, and rosemary during the first three months of pregnancy.
If you have high blood pressure…
- DON’T use sage, rosemary, hyssop, or thyme essential oil.
If you suffer from epilepsy…
- DON’T use sweet fennel, hyssop, sage, or rosemary essential oil. They can trigger and attack.
Aromatherapy DO’s
- DO dilute essential oils in a carrier oil before applying to skin. Carrier oils like sweet almond, jojoba, avocado, and olive oil are perfect for mixing with only a few drops of essential oil, rendering them safe to use on the skin. (Some oils, like lavender and tea tree, can be used “neat,” or undiluted, in very small amounts. However, the majority of essential oils need to be diluted before use).
- DO keep essential oils away from eyes. They can burn the cornea. If eye contact occurs, flush the eye with whole milk; water only spreads the oil.
- DO be aware of potential skin irritants. Basil, lemon, lemongrass, lemon verbena, melissa, peppermint, thyme, tea tree, cinnamon leaf, sweet fennel, Siberian fir needle, parsley seed, and pimento leaf essential oil are all potential skin irritants. In baths, use only a maximum of three drops of these essences. Avoid them altogether if you have sensitive skin or are prone to allergic reactions.
- DO keep essential oils locked away from children and pets. Essential oils are highly concentrated plant essences that can be fatal when ingested.
- DO know which oils are toxic – and avoid them. The following oils should NEVER be used in aromatherapy:
- Aniseed*
- Bitter almond
- Boldo leaf
- Calamus
- Cinnamon bark
- Clove
- Clove Bud*
- Yellow camphor
- Horseradish
- Hyssop*
- Jaborandi leaf
- Mugwort
- Mustard
- Oregano
- Pennyroyal
- Rue
- Sage*
- Sassafras
- Savin
- Savory
- Southernwood
- Tansy
- Thuja
- Wintergreen
- Wormseed
- Wormwood
*These oils should only be used by trained and experienced aromatherapists. Otherwise, avoid them.