Home > Learning Center Safety and Storage
| | |
|
Safety and Storage of Essential Oils
Safety
Essential oils are safe to use, pleasurable and very beneficial as long as a few common-sense precautions are followed:
Avoid contact with eyes or mucus membranes.
Essential oils can sting when they get in the eyes or on mucus membranes. Rinse the affected area with a plain vegetable oil.
Internal Use
The International Federation of Aromatherapists strongly discourages the internal use of essential oils. These are highly concentrated substances that can damage the delicate lining of the digestive tract. In addition, some essential oils are toxic when taken internally. Essential oils should only be ingested under the direct supervision of a professional aromatherapist.
Contraindications
People who have epilepsy or high blood pressure, pregnant women, infants and children all have special considerations in the use of essential oils. Please check the safety consideration for each oil before using it.
Dilution
Essential oils are very concentrated. They should always be diluted for use on the skin. With the exception of Tea Tree and Lavender, they should be used undiluted on the skin only under the supervision of a professional aromatherapist.
Sensitive Skin
Some oils can be skin irritants. To check for sensitivity to a particular oil, put a few undiluted drops on the inside of the wrist. Cover with a bandage and check the skin in two hours.
Phototoxicity
Some oils, particularly citrus oils, accelerate skin pigmentation when used on the skin before exposure to sunlight. When using Bergamot, Orange , Lemon and Angelica on the skin, wait at least six hours before exposing the area to sunlight.
Storage
Essential oils are volatile. They can be damaged by exposure to heat, oxygen and sunlight. A good-quality oil comes in a dark bottle, either brown or cobalt blue. After use, the cap should be securely fastened, and it should be stored in a cool, dry place, out of reach of children. Many essential oils come with a plastic dropper insert in the bottle. This allows only one drop at a time to come from the bottle, making blending more accurate, preventing spills, and inhibiting ingestion by a child.
When properly cared for, most essential oils have a shelf life of two to five years. Citrus oils oxidize easily so they have a much shorter shelf life--about six months. The test of freshness in an essential oil is its smell.
Excerpt from "Aromatherapy for Every Day" by Christoph Streicher and Karla Christensen.
| |
| | |
|
|