Since I have some readers who are fairly new to using essential oils, I want to take a few minutes to write about some basic safety measures to take when using essential oils. First we'll start with how best to store our oils.
Essential oils are prone to oxidation. They don't necessarily expire, but they will begin to breakdown over time with exposure to heat, light and oxygen. We refer to this as their shelf-life. The chemical makeup of some oils, like citrus oils, causes them to oxidize more quickly than others like Cedarwood or Patchouli. Citrus oils generally have a shelf life of 1-2 years if stored cold, dark and the bottles closed tightly. Cedarwood has a shelf life of about 6-8 years and Patchouli has been known to have a shelf life upwards of 20 years! Again, it all depends on how the oils are stored.
Shelf life begins when an oil is distilled -not when you buy a new bottle and open it. This is why it's important to buy your oils from a reputable company who can tell you exactly when each batch of oils was distilled. And usually, you'll be able to get the shelf life information for each oil from the company you buy from. Once you have your oils, store them in the refrigerator (ideally in their own refrigerator, not where you keep your food) or in a cool room or closet somewhere below 65 degrees is good. If you have a bottle of your favorite oil that you'll use up within a few months, storing in the refrigerator isn't necessary, but keeping it cool, dark and closed tightly is important. I wouldn't store it on my bathroom window sill, but a dark closet would be fine.
A few more safety tips
Do not put essential oils in the eyes, ears, nose or mouth. Using a nasal inhaler is great, but don't put the oils directly in the nostrils. There are a few essential oils that can be used in the mouth, but I don't recommend ingesting oils unless under the guidance of a physician trained in essential oil use.
Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women should use extra caution using essential oils. It is recommended to use only a 1% dilution and avoid contraindicated and restricted oils. There are approximately 50 contraindicated oils for use during pregnancy. I plan to compile a list and post to the website for those interested.
Anyone vulnerable to epileptic seizures should avoid: Birch, Boldo, Buchu, Calamint, Feverfew, Genipi, Ho Leaf (ct camphor), Hyssop (ct. pinocamphone), Lanyana, Mugwort, Pennyroyal, Rosemary, Sage, Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas), Spike Lavender (Lavadula latifolia), Tansy, (Tanacetum vulgare)Thuja, Western Red Cedar, Wintergreen, Wormwood, Yarrow.
Anyone with asthma, airborne or skin allergies or chemical allergies should use essential oils with extreme caution.
Phototoxic Oils: Some essential oils are phototoxic- meaning they can cause severe burns if applied to skin that is exposed to UV light, whether from the sun or tanning beds. If you use any phototoxic oils do not expose the skin where the oil was applied for approximately 18 hours.
Phototoxic oils: Angelica Root, Bergamot, Cumin, Grapefruit, Laurel Leaf absolute, Lemon, cold pressed Lime, Mandarin Leaf, Bitter Orange, Rue, Taget.
*A note about Lime essential oil- Cold pressed Lime essential oil is phototoxic, however Distilled Lime essential oil is available and is not phototoxic. When purchasing Lime Essential Oil, I recommend looking for Distilled Lime so that you have one less thing to worry about when blending.
Keep all essential oils out of reach of children and pets
These are just basic safety guidelines. For a more comprehensive look at essential oil precautions and safety, refer to- Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young
As I share recipes and information on essential oils, I will always include any safety considerations pertaining to what is being shared within the article/recipe.
Storing Essential Oils
Shelf life begins when an oil is distilled -not when you buy a new bottle and open it. This is why it's important to buy your oils from a reputable company who can tell you exactly when each batch of oils was distilled. And usually, you'll be able to get the shelf life information for each oil from the company you buy from. Once you have your oils, store them in the refrigerator (ideally in their own refrigerator, not where you keep your food) or in a cool room or closet somewhere below 65 degrees is good. If you have a bottle of your favorite oil that you'll use up within a few months, storing in the refrigerator isn't necessary, but keeping it cool, dark and closed tightly is important. I wouldn't store it on my bathroom window sill, but a dark closet would be fine.
General Safety
Essential oils are very potent substances. The amount of plant material needed to yield just a liter of essential oil is mind-boggling to say the least. Because essential oils are so concentrated, a little really does go a long way. It is recommended that essential oils are diluted before applying to the skin with the exception of a few instances. In the case of a bee sting, a drop of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) undiluted will help reduce the pain. A drop of Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum) on a minor cut, followed by a drop of Lavender will help speed the healing process.
Extra care needs to be taken if using essential oils on babies, small children, the elderly and anyone with a compromised immune system. Generally, it is not recommended to use essential oils on babies or children under 5 years of age. Using hydrosols and carrier oils is preferred for this age group. (More on that in another post) In the case that using an essential oil on a small child or an elderly person arises (maybe for a minor cut or scrape) using a 1% dilution is typically sufficient.
Dilution Guidelines
1% -children under 10 years, the elderly, pregnant women, anyone with compromised immune system and/or long term illness
1% = 5-6 drops of essential oil in 1 ounce of carrier oil
................................................................................................................................................................
2% -general daily use for lotions, creams, body butters, baths, etc for normal healthy people
2% = 10-12 drops of essential oil in 1 ounce of carrier oil
.................................................................................................................................................................
3% -for relieving pains & symptoms due to cold/flu, muscles strains, minor injury, etc
3% = 15-18 drops of essential oil in 1 ounce of carrier oil
Do not put essential oils in the eyes, ears, nose or mouth. Using a nasal inhaler is great, but don't put the oils directly in the nostrils. There are a few essential oils that can be used in the mouth, but I don't recommend ingesting oils unless under the guidance of a physician trained in essential oil use.
Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women should use extra caution using essential oils. It is recommended to use only a 1% dilution and avoid contraindicated and restricted oils. There are approximately 50 contraindicated oils for use during pregnancy. I plan to compile a list and post to the website for those interested.
Anyone vulnerable to epileptic seizures should avoid: Birch, Boldo, Buchu, Calamint, Feverfew, Genipi, Ho Leaf (ct camphor), Hyssop (ct. pinocamphone), Lanyana, Mugwort, Pennyroyal, Rosemary, Sage, Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas), Spike Lavender (Lavadula latifolia), Tansy, (Tanacetum vulgare)Thuja, Western Red Cedar, Wintergreen, Wormwood, Yarrow.
Anyone with asthma, airborne or skin allergies or chemical allergies should use essential oils with extreme caution.
Phototoxic Oils: Some essential oils are phototoxic- meaning they can cause severe burns if applied to skin that is exposed to UV light, whether from the sun or tanning beds. If you use any phototoxic oils do not expose the skin where the oil was applied for approximately 18 hours.
Phototoxic oils: Angelica Root, Bergamot, Cumin, Grapefruit, Laurel Leaf absolute, Lemon, cold pressed Lime, Mandarin Leaf, Bitter Orange, Rue, Taget.
*A note about Lime essential oil- Cold pressed Lime essential oil is phototoxic, however Distilled Lime essential oil is available and is not phototoxic. When purchasing Lime Essential Oil, I recommend looking for Distilled Lime so that you have one less thing to worry about when blending.
Keep all essential oils out of reach of children and pets
These are just basic safety guidelines. For a more comprehensive look at essential oil precautions and safety, refer to- Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young
As I share recipes and information on essential oils, I will always include any safety considerations pertaining to what is being shared within the article/recipe.
No comments:
Post a Comment