We
already know the fact that essential oils have a number of aromatic and
therapeutic benefits. However, even though essential oils are natural, it’s
very important to remember that they are also very potent. If they are not used
properly, they can cause skin irritations, allergic reactions and internal
toxicity. In fact, this 2017 report of Aromatherapy United shows a total of 55 voluntary reports of injury related to improper use of
essential oils.
In
order to prevent essential oil related injuries, the following guidelines must
be observed when handling and storing essential oils.
Keep Essential Oils Away from Open Flames
Essential
oils are flammable substances, so they should be kept away from potential fire
hazards like an open flame (e.g. gas stove, candle, fireplace). This is also
the reason why it’s not recommended to use essential oil burners that are
powered by a candle. Also, do not smoke while handling your essential oils.
Always
remember the golden rule: wherever there is a source of flame, there is a risk
of fire when it gets in contact with essential oils. For added protection, have
a fire extinguisher nearby when working with essential oils.
Keep Essential Oils Away from Young Children
The
most common cause of essential oil toxicity in children is accidental
ingestion, followed by chemical burn due to accidental spill of essential oils
on their skin. That’s why it’s important to store your essential oils in a
place where your kids can’t reach them. If you store your essential oils in the
fridge, then make sure that your fridge has a child-lock feature.
Keep Essential Oils Away from Your Pets
Most
essential oils are toxic to our furry friends. For instance, there are certain
aromatic compounds in essential oils that can cause kidney and liver toxicity
in cats and dogs.
Since
our pets are curious beings and love to lick everything, make sure that they
can’t reach your essential oils. Also, don’t forget to wash your hands after
handling essential oils to prevent your pets from licking them from your hands.
When
diffusing essential oils, it is best to keep your pets out of the room. Animals
have very sensitive sense of smell. What smells great and beneficial to you
might be too strong or harmful to your pets.
Always Wear Personal Protective Gears
Accidents
can happen anytime. Imagine if you have accidentally spilled a bottle of undiluted
essential oil on your hands while doing your DIY stuff and you don’t wear any protective
gloves? You just risk yourself to getting chemical burn or skin sensitization.
That
is why it is of utmost importance to always wear Personal Protective Gears
(PPG) when handling essential oils. The protective gears include:
chemical-resistant gloves, safety goggles, face mask, hair net, laboratory coat
(or you can wear long-sleeve shirt and pants) and closed-toe shoes.
Wash Your Hands after Handling Essential Oils
Imagine
this scenario: you just finished blending your essential oils and you forgot to
wash your hands afterwards. In the middle of the day, you accidentally rub your
eyes and the tiny residue of undiluted essential oils on your hands get in
contact to your eyes, which of course can cause irritation.
Problems
like that can be avoided by making it a habit to wash your hands every time you
handle essential oils.
Store Essential Oils in Glass Bottles and Label
Them Properly
Pure,
undiluted essential oils can melt plastic containers over time, causing leaks
which can waste your precious oils. So when buying essential oils in bulk
sizes, you must decant them into smaller dark colored (amber or cobalt) glass
bottles which are more chemical-resistant than plastic ones.
Store
your EO bottles in cool, dark place (away from direct sunlight) because frequent
change in temperature can easily degrade the quality of your essential oils.
Also, remember to keep the bottle lid tightly closed, otherwise the essential
oils (being volatile substances) will evaporate due to exposure to oxygen.
Make
sure to properly label all of your EO bottles, most especially if you store
them in the fridge or in the kitchen pantry. Nothing can be more terrifying
than your family members ingesting essential oils thinking that they are food
flavorings.
Cover Your Essential Oil Workstation
Some
essential oils can cause damage to certain surfaces (e.g. wood, leather,
plastic) and can even dissolve paints. That’s why it is a good practice to
cover your EO workstation with paper or cloth towels to protect the surface
from accidental spills that can ruin its finishing.
Check Essential Oil Safety Information Prior to
Use
Before
using any essential oil, always check first its safety information, more
specifically, its contraindications. Some essential oils cannot be used if you
have specific medical conditions (e.g. asthma) or is taking certain prescribed
medications. For instance, rosemary essential oil should not be used if you
have epilepsy or high blood pressure.
It’s
also equally important to check the maximum dermal limit of the essential oil
you’re using to avoid skin sensitization issue.
Tisserand
and Young’s book Essential Oil Safety is an excellent and comprehensive reference to find out about the safety
information of each essential oil.
Do Not Ingest Essential Oils Without Proper
Guidance
Not
all essential oils are safe to be taken internally. Only those essential oils
with GRAS (Generally Recognized As
Safe) status are regarded as safe for ingestion. This is the current list of essential oils with GRAS status.
However,
it is not recommended to ingest essential oils without first consulting a
certified aromatherapist who is knowledgeable in the proper internal dosage of
essential oils.
Do Not Apply Undiluted Essential Oils on the
Skin
The
most common cause of dermal irritation or skin sensitization is undiluted
application of essential oils. Always dilute your essential oils in carrier oil
before applying them on the skin. Again, make sure to follow the maximum dermal
limit when diluting essential oils for topical application. For example,
cinnamon bark essential oil has a max. dermal limit of 0.07%.
P.S.
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