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Despite their beautiful fragrances and health giving properties, essential oils, like any form of complementary health care, should be used wisely, and there are many publications available for guidance. As always, in cases of serious or recurring health problems, your health care practitioner should always be consulted.
Remember, when you use essential oils at home you are bringing a part of nature into your home. Many of the oils are naturally anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, relaxing and balancing. This is due to the natural chemical compounds found in them, which are extracted directly from their organic source when the essential oils are distilled.
With this in mind, it means that essential oils can be extremely powerful not only on our senses but on our well-being. So, when we dilute oils we always keep in mind that less is best.
When we use essential oils in Clinical Aromatherapy, it means that a professional trained Aromatherapist chooses essential oils to suit your health and emotional needs. So that you can begin to use essential oils at home safely, we have laid out some guidelines below about what to avoid.
However, its also important to let you know how you can enjoy using your essential oils!
To begin with only buy one or two. From a book of your choice identify what you would like to achieve ie to relax? To sleep better? To reduce headaches?
The best method of using the oils to begin with, is to use them in the bath. A general rule is to use a base oil such as sweet almond which acts as a carrier for the essential oils. If you use 25 ml of sweet almond oil, divide this by 2 and you will get 12.5. This means you can add 12 or 13 drops of essential oil to the sweet almond oil, and then pour a capful of the blend into your bath, just before getting in.
Of course, diffusing the oils are another way of bringing natural aromatherapy into your home. You can place up to 10 drops into a small bowl of water used over a candle burner, being careful not to leave the candle unattended. Or, with an electric diffuser add the drops of oil directly to the absorbent pad.
These are just two methods of using essential oils. Try our French Lavender oil first. This doesn't need diluting, since it can be used directly on the skin (always check for sensitivities first) The same goes for Tea Tree oil. These two essential oils that do not need to be diluted in a sweet almond carrier base.
- Never use before sunbathing and avoid photosensitive oils especially Bergamot.
- Please don't use essential oils directly from the bottle during pregnancy. Neroli and Lavender may be used in mild dilution, as long as they have been formulated for you by a Clinical Aromatherapist. Try our Maternity Collection instead, we've done all the work for you!
- Keep away from children.
- For Cancer patients avoid Fennel and Aniseed essential oils. Lavender, Chamomile Roman, Frankincense, Bergamot and Ginger in mild dilution may be used. Speak to a health care provider before giving a cancer patient aromatherapy.
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- Never take essential oils internally unless advised by a health care practitioner.
- All essential oils should always be diluted with the exception of Tea Tree and Lavender which in most cases can be used directly on the skin.
- Avoid using essential oils when taking homeopathic remedies.
- Reduce or avoid alcohol after aromatherapy massage.
- With high blood pressure, avoid Rosemary, Peppermint, Black Pepper, Clove, hyme, Hyssop, Sage
- For low blood pressure avoid excessive use of Lavender oil.
- For epilepsy avoid Fennel, Hyssop and Rosemary.
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