Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Guidelines

Aromatherapy is one of the best ways to relaxshould only be used by specially qualified
yourself, whether through burning oils to accompanyaromatherapy practitioners. Even most practitioners do
meditation, or using it them in a wonderful massage.not use them.4. With oils, less IS More. Follow directions
However, we must be careful with using essential oilsin home kits. Usually, the smallest amount of essential
as the wrong amount or the wrong mixture can bringoils required will get the job done. If the label says use
about some serious side effects.Essential oils areonly a drop, for example, don't use more.5. Children
highly concentrated liquids used in aromatherapy thatshould never use essential oils without the presence of
can be harmful if not used carefully. However, includingan adult who is knowledgeable about their use. Children
aromatherapy and massage in your lifestyle shouldn'tare often attracted to essential oils because of their
really cause undue paranoia or worry. The importantwonderful smells. Some oils smell like food (like vanilla)
thing to remember is to always treat essential oils asand citrus oils can smell like something safe to drink.
medicines. Follow the suggestions given below as wellAlways keep essential oils away from the reach or
so you can be on your way to calmly and safelychildren. Again, remember to treat these oils like
enjoying the numerous benefits that aromatherapymedicines that are poison in ignorant hands.6. If you are
offers.The safety guidelines that you are about topregnant, or suspect you are, it is safer to avoid
read are not a complete reference for the proper useessential oils. Asthma sufferers, as well as epileptics,
of essential aromatherapy oils. Use common sense;should not use essential oils. People with other health
when in doubt about the oils used on you, alwaysconditions, such as allergies, should also consult a
consult a trained aromatherapy practitioner or aphysician because some essential oils can cause
physician.1. Essential oils are flammable. When lighting asensitization or severe allergic reactions. If you are
burner to heat scented oils, do not leave the roomusing a new oil for first time, do a skin patch first on a
unless the flame is put out. Always keep your burnerssmall area of skin, like the inner arm. Apply a small
at a safe distance from curtains, paper and alcoholicamount of the diluted essential oil (again, never use
substances.2. Do not apply undiluted essential oilsessential oils undiluted on the skin) on the inner arm and
directly on the skin. Some oils are exempted from this;apply a bandage on it. Wait 24 hours and check if
however, only use undiluted oils if you have attained athere is any form of skin reaction. Even if a common
significant education and sufficient experience withessential oil is not known to cause skin irritation, this
them. Lavender and tea tree oils are cited by a largestep should not be overlooked. An oil may not irritate
number of aromatherapy practitioners as being oilsyou, but it may still irritate someone else. It is important
that can be safely used undiluted however this shouldthat you always keep that difference in mind.7.
only be done very rarely as some individuals can beEssential oils should not be swallowed or ingested.
severely sensitive. So to be safe, the rule of thumb isEssential oils should only be taken internally if you have
to avoid use any undiluted essential oil.3. Not allreceived a detailed consultation and a prescription
essential oils can be used for aromatherapy. Herbal oilsfrom a trained and qualified aromatherapy practitioner
from bitter almond, camphor, pennyroyal, onion,with the knowledge of your physician.
wintergreen, horseradish and sassafras are some that