Never ingest an essential oil!!! One drop swallowed can
kill.
For this reason it is imperative that essential oils be locked away from small children.
If there are children in your home, please make sure that you keep your oils in a locked cabinet or box and keep the key in
a place where children can not find it.
Most essential oils can not be used on children! The only two essential oils that have
been proven "safe" for children are Lavender and Tea Tree. These oils must be diluted before being used on children,
and it should be noted that even when strongly diluted, allergies may occur causing serious health conditions. Never
use an essential oil on a child without consulting your pediatrician! And never, ever use any diluted essential oil
on a baby!!!
Never use an essential oil without blending it with a "carrier". Many of the essential
oils are acidic and will burn the skin. Some people say that it is okay to use Lavender and Tea Tree oils without diluting
them, but it is my opinion that it is better to use the rule of blending everything. That is the safest thing to do.
Read individual essential oil profiles! Some of the oils are dangerous for people with
certain conditions such as pregnancy or high blood pressure.
Always perform a skin test before trying a new essential oil. To perform the skin
test, blend one drop of essential oil into a tablespoon of carrier oil and apply a small amount to the inside of your
elbow. Wait for 24 hours. If there is no change in the skin, the essential oil should be safe for you to use.
If there is any redness, bumps or swelling in the area, do not use that essential oil.
It is so important to do the skin test. I can give you an example of "why" from my own
experience. Chamomile is considered to be a very safe oil for use and has a low incidence of allergic reactions.
So I thought nothing of using it when my daughter requested a back and neck massage. I was giving my daughter the massage
and was moving right along when I noticed that her skin was turning pink. To my surprise she is apparently allergic
to Chamomile. I couldn't believe it! I told her to go and get in the shower and wash the oil off and
she did. A few hours later her skin tone had returned to normal. This was just the lesson I needed to remind
me of the importance of skin tests. Just because an oil is considered to be "safe" doesn't mean that you will
not be allergic or have some adverse reaction to it.
If you have a history of "seasonal" allergies, consult your physician before starting a program
of Aromatherapy using Essential Oils. Be certain to perform the skin test!
When you purchase essential oils there is no warning label on the bottles. You will
have to read the essential oil profiles here and elsewhere to find the precautions for each oil. Please take the precautions
seriously.
You can now go to CONDITIONS to see if a condition you wish to treat is listed. When
you have found the condition you wanted to look at, you can go on to CARRIERS to learn what you can blend your oils with.
If you don't have a particular condition in mind or just want to proceed, click on CARRIERS.
