Essential Oil Safety (Precautions and Risks)

Feeling a little lost when it comes to essential oil safety? These increasingly popular plant oils are very powerful and useful, but they also pose very real risks. Over the years I’ve done some digging on how to use them safely and they’re something our family uses daily. However, I’m not a fan of blanket advice about how to use (or not use!) them.

Don’t get me wrong. I love oils and I use them daily. Most often, I use them diluted in natural beauty or cleaning recipes, but I also use them aromatically and therapeutically at times. Because they’re so strong though, I don’t want to over use them for myself or my family. Here’s why.

Essential Oils are Highly Concentrated

Did you know it can take hundreds or even thousands of pounds of plant material to make a tiny bottle of essential oil? Some essential oils, like orange, naturally yield more oil. While other plants like Melissa take a whole lot more. This translates to a very concentrated and potent natural remedy.

Some sources say one drop of peppermint essential oil is the same as 26 cups of mint tea, but it’s not quite as simple as that. When we use herbs we’re using a much wider range of chemical constituents that naturally balance each other. Essential oils on the other hand are just the volatile oils in isolation. That means they have different properties and slightly different uses than the herb as a whole.

Essential oils can be a great tool when they’re used properly… in safe amounts.

Essential Oils on the Skin

I use diluted essential oils in many of my beauty recipes like lotion bars and herbal face oil. The key word though is “diluted,” using a carrier oil, like olive oil or avocado oil. There are times when it can be helpful to use undiluted essential oils. However, you really need to know what you’re doing, or work with an aromatherapist who does.

So what can happen if you don’t dilute your essential oils? You might notice skin redness, irritation, itching, burning, or an allergic reaction. Even if you don’t notice any symptoms right away your skin can become sensitized over time. This means that suddenly an oil that’s given you no issues before causes a severe reaction. Often the body can never use that essential oil again, even if you try it again diluted or diffused.

Certain essential oils, like cinnamon, clove, and lemongrass are more likely to cause a reaction. However, all essential oils have the potential to cause reactions when not used properly. I’ll test a new essential oil diluted on my arm before using it on a larger area of my body.

How to Dilute Essential Oils

This is a tricky one to answer and has a lot of nuance to it. How much you should dilute an essential oil depends on the following:

The person’s age (babies and the elderly have thinner skin so higher absorption rates)
Their state of health and if they have any medical conditions
Where you apply the essential oil on the body and how large/small of an area
Which oil you use and what you’re using it for

Most oils have a maximum safe dilution rate and some can be quite low. Safe dilution can range from .25% to about 20% depending on various factors. As a general rule though, safe essential oils are okay to use in skincare products at around a 2% dilution. This translates to about 6 drops of essential oil per 1 Tablespoon of carrier oil.

My Massage Horror Story

I learned first hand the hard way what can happen when you use too much undiluted essential oil. Years ago I tried a new massage therapist in town who offered an “aromatherapy” massage. I assumed this meant there would be essential oils in a diffuser during the massage. To my surprise, as the massage began I felt drops on my back.

I realized a few seconds later that she was pouring essential oils on my back… a lot of them. I asked her what oils she was using and she assured me that they were safe, but I got a headache soon after. She probably poured 80+ drops of undiluted essential oils on my back, which gave me shivers, a headache, and a 12-inch red spot on my back that lasted for days.

Not only did she not ask if I was pregnant or had health conditions first, but I found out she wasn’t even a licensed masseuse! Needless to say it was not a pleasant experience. Bottom Line: Exercise caution and do your research before using essential oils on the skin.

Phototoxic Essential Oils

Certain essential oils have constituents, mainly furocumarins, that can make skin more sensitive to UV light. The result are blisters and burns even after mild sun exposure. Phototoxic essential oils are mainly citrus oils, but not every citrus oil has furocumarins. And steam distilled citrus oils don’t have this issue.

Each of these oils also has a safe dilution rate where it’s much less likely to cause photosensitivity, but for many the margin of error is quite tight. To keep things simple, the following essential oils are best avoided before sun exposure if used in a leave on product (like lotion).

Bergamot (Cold Pressed)
Bitter Orange (Cold Pressed)
Grapefruit (Cold Pressed)
Lemon (Cold Pressed)
Lime (Cold Pressed)
Mandarin Leaf

Sweet or wild orange is the exception and is not phototoxic.

Using Essential Oils Internally

This is where things get really sticky. On one hand there are groups telling people to drink essential oils in their water. While others say it is never okay under any circumstance to ingest essential oils. Like most things, the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

If you’ve ever used lemon extract or sucked on a peppermint, then you’ve ingested essential oils. They’re commonly used in the food industry as natural flavoring in tiny amounts. That doesn’t mean they’re safe to ingest under every circumstance though, especially in large amounts. Remember, essential oils are highly concentrated substances!

The Gut Factor

Many sources tout essential oil’s antimicrobial properties. You know what else is teeming with many types of microbes? Your gut.

Research is constantly emerging about our extremely diverse gut microbiomes, but we still don’t fully understand them. We do know that gut health drastically affects other aspects of health. Gut imbalances can cause problems in the skin, brain, and other parts of the body. While more research has gone into essential oil’s effect on gut bacteria, there’s still a lot of unknowns.

Researchers have suggested certain essential oils are even as potent as prescription antibiotics. Other studies show how essential oils benefit certain gut microbes and lead to positive health changes. The bottom line is there’s still a lot we don’t know and it’s wise to exercise caution if you choose to use essential oils internally.

Many essential oils are considered “GRAS” or Generally Recognized as Safe for food and cosmetic use. However, many essential oils have not been studied in internal amounts in real life situations. It’s worth doing your research before trying this route.

Essential Oils During Pregnancy or Nursing

Essential oils can affect hormones, gut bacteria, and other aspects of health. Caution should be used when using them while pregnant or nursing. Like most things, essential oils may cross the placenta and get to baby.

Am I saying never use them? No… but do your research first and/or work with a qualified aromatherapist in these circumstances. Much of the research that’s been done on essential oil’s effect on unborn babies has some obvious limitations. Some researchers use isolated constituents, not essential oils in their whole form. Or they’re given in massive doses in animal studies that are much higher than anyone would consume in real life.

One study found that oregano essential oil is toxic to the embryos of pregnant rats. However, the rats were fed 150 mg of essential oil for every kilogram of their body weight. This is the equivalent of giving the average woman well over 2 teaspoons of essential oil.

What I Did During Pregnancy and Nursing

I personally don’t take any essential oil internally during pregnancy (or even while nursing). I stick to aromatherapy and very diluted use of pregnancy safe essential oils in skin care recipes and baths. Plus, I always re-test an oil in a diluted skin test before using it during pregnancy.

It’s best to use caution with any plant medicine during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. Some essential oils have hormonal effects that can cause miscarriage or other side effects.

Pregnancy Safe Essential Oils

Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater though! Essential oils can be very helpful during pregnancy, when used appropriately. Here are a few ways to use essential oils to help with pregnancy complaints. As always, be sure to check with your midwife or someone trained in essential oil use during pregnancy before using.

Inhale peppermint or lemon to help with nausea
Diffuse lavender to help with sleep
Massage with frankincense to help ground, relax, and soothe achy muscles

The International Federation of Aromatherapists recommends using a maximum dilution rate of .5% to 1% during pregnancy. This would be 3 to 6 drops of essential oil for every 2 Tablespoons of carrier oil. You can find an extensive list of essential oils to avoid during pregnancy here.

Peppermint essential oil can decrease milk supply so I avoided it topically while nursing.

Essential Oil Safety For Babies and Children

This is one of the things that concerns me the most with a lot of the essential oil recommendations I see online. I don’t ever give essential oils internally to children or use them undiluted on their skin. Children, especially babies, need less essential oils than adults do when using them topically. Even essential oils that may seem “gentle,” like lemongrass, can be very irritating to skin if too much is used.

Aromatherapy For Kids

Diffusing essential oils is one of the safest ways to get their benefits. My friend Heather has a really great and very thorough list of which essential oils are safe for each age group.

In general though, oils like lavender, chamomile, orange, lemon, and frankincense are helpful for even young children. These can be diffused or diluted and applied topically as needed.

Risks For Children

In extreme cases, essential oil misuse has caused seizures in some children. To clarify, the case studies on these are rare and the children were predisposed to seizures. However, it points to how powerful essential oils can be.

Some oils, like peppermint, rosemary, eucalyptus, and wintergreen have specific precautions around little ones. These herbs contain menthol and 1,8-cineole that can slow breathing (or even stop it) in very young children when misused. Aromatherapy expert Robert Tisserand recommends avoiding peppermint for children under age 3 and diffusing or diluting eucalyptus oil at .5% for children ages 3 to 6.

The University of Minnesota also cautions about the use of peppermint and similar oils in young children with G6PD deficiency (a common genetic enzyme deficiency). These children can get severe jaundice from using these oils.

I prefer using safe essential oils in a diffuser or in very diluted amounts in beauty and cleaning products. Important note to add: pets can be just as vulnerable.

Essential Oils in Plastics

It’s not often mentioned, but essential oils really should be stored in glass containers. Essential oils can dissolve some plastics, even when diluted, or degrade the plastic over time. While certain plastics can be okay for essential oil storage, they’re not the safest option. I store my homemade cleaners and beauty products in glass whenever I can for this reason.

This caution also extends to other surfaces in the house, which I found out the hard way. I accidentally left a bottle of wild orange oil on a piece of homemade furniture. When I picked it up the next day, it had stuck to the furniture, pulling the finish and stain off with it.Be extremely careful about leaving any oils, especially citrus oils, on wood or other stained surfaces.

The Good News About Essential Oil Safety

Although there are plenty of warnings about essential oil safety, they are wonderful natural remedies when used correctly. My goal isn’t to discourage anyone from using essential oils, but encourage proper research and safety first.

I use essential oils almost daily, but I make sure to research each oil and its proper use first. It can also be really helpful to find a trained aromatherapist, herbalist, or naturopathic doctor to ask specific questions about essential oils. It’s also important to make sure any essential oils you use are organic and very high quality. Here’s one of my favorite places to get high quality essential oils at an affordable price.

Safe Ways to Use Essential Oils:

At the end of the day, essential oils can be a great and safe natural remedy, if used safely. The main ways I use essential oils are:

Aromatically– in a diffuser. This reed diffuser also makes a great desk accessory!
Topically– Diluted in homemade lotion, toothpaste, lotion bars, body butter and other homemade recipes.
Cleaning – I also use them around the house to clean surfaces.

I reserve undiluted skin use and internal use for times of real need when the benefits outweigh the risk. And I avoid using essential oils like this on babies/children or when I’m pregnant. These are uses that are best done only after research and training in proper use.

What essential oils do you use? What are your favorite ways to use them? Leave a comment and let us know!

Sources

Krumbeck, E. (2014, September 8). When to NOT use essential oils (Essential oils can cause seizures in kids). Naturopathic Pediatrics.
Piatt, M. (2021, January 22). How Many Pounds Of Material Does It Take To Make Essential Oils? Enchanted Aromatics.
Robbins, W. (N.D.) Phototoxicity and Essential Oils. Aromaweb.
Robbins, W. (N.D.). Guide to Diluting Essential Oils. Aromaweb.
Prabuseenivasan, S., Jayakumar, M., & Ignacimuthu, S. (2006). In vitro antibacterial activity of some plant essential oils. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 6, 39.
Pezantes-Orellana, C., et al. (2024). Essential oils: a systematic review on revolutionizing health, nutrition, and omics for optimal well-being. Frontiers in medicine, 11, 1337785.
International Federation of Aromatherapists. (N.D.). Aromatherapy in Pregnancy Guidelines.
Dosoky, N. & Setzer, W. (2021). Maternal Reproductive Toxicity of Some Essential Oils and Their Constituents. International journal of molecular sciences, 22(5), 2380.
Dessinger, H. (2021, May 29). Which Essential Oils Are Safe For Kids? 70+ Oils & How To Use Them. Mommypotamus.
Tisserand, H. (2018). Are Eucalyptus and Peppermint Oils Safe For Young Children. Tisserand Institute.
JB Bottle. (2025, February 1). Need to store essential oils? Pick the right plastic bottles to keep them fresh and potent!

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About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

499 responses to “Essential Oil Safety (Precautions and Risks)”

Tania

October 8, 2017

Hi!
If essential oils burn through plastics, are they safe to use for people who have stents, pacemakers, artificial hips, breast implants, contact lenses, or anything else that might have plastic in them? Can it potentially break down an artificial hip or stent if ingested (even in proper diluted amounts)?
Thanks!

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  October 12, 2017
  
  For more reasons than the one you mentioned, I would check with a doctor first.
  
  Reply
Cathy

September 23, 2017

This post convinces me to treat essential oils as the drugs they are. And to treat sellers of essential oils like I treat sellers of drugs: I stay away from them except in extraordinary circumstances. There is no proper daily use for these products. This blog is a seller of essential oils, and while i have seen many useful and inteligent posts on other subjects I will be staying away from this blog in the future. In the meantime I hope all sellers of essential oils will carefully examine their intentions.

Reply
1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  September 23, 2017
  
  I wouldn’t go so far as to call them a “drug”, but like many things, care needs to be taken when using them, as there is a proper and improper way to use them. Many MLM companies and their distributors market them as a cure-all for everything, which they’re not, but don’t throw out the baby with the bath water when it comes to them, as they can be very beneficial when used carefully and correctly…
  
  Reply
  1. Cathy
    
    September 29, 2017
    
    The post provides all evidence that essential oils are drugs:
    
    -They are distillations of plant material in an attempt to isolate certain components.
    
    -They are concentrated.
    
    -They have unwelcome side effects.
    
    -They eat through plastic and through the finish on your furniture.
    
    -They are anti-biotic and therefore are dangerous to your gut if ingested. And you can very easily infer from the post that their anti-biotic properties work by inhalation and by application to the skin.
    
    -They are dangerous for pregnant women and children.
    
    -They are dangerous if used without special skill, knowledge, instruction and training.
    
    All of the above facts are repeated throughout the post and the comments.
    
    If that doesn’t describe a drug I don’t know what does.
    
    Reply
    1. Katie – Wellness Mama
      
      September 30, 2017
      
      By that definition, almost everything we encounter can be classified as a “drug” and can be considered dangerous. Like anything in life, the amount and the circumstance make all the difference. Vinegar is concentrated. It can have unwanted side effects and eat through certain kinds of furniture. It can eat through tooth enamel and harm the gut if used undiluted over long periods of time. The same can be said of salt, baking soda, turmeric, Vitamin C, hydrogen peroxide and many other substances. Most supplements also meet this criteria. Yet all of those things can be very beneficial as well. I absolutely agree with you that we should all be exercising caution and I only recommend using essential oils safely and in dilutions that are agreed to be safe among the world’s top experts. According to the definitions I’ve found of an actual drug: “A drug can have two distinct definitions; a “chemical substance, especially one prescribed by a medical provider that is used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a condition or disease. The second definition references the unlawful use of substances, “A chemical substance such as a narcotic or a hallucinogen that affects the central nervous system and is used recreationally for perceived desirable effects on personality, perception, or behavior”.” I’ve never recommended essential oils as a medicine or to treat any condition nor am I a medicinal provider and I don’t personally know of any essential oils that work as a narcotic or hallucinogen so I don’t think essential oils would meet the technical criteria.
      
      Reply
theresa haugen

September 22, 2017

Dear Katie,

I really appreciate your website and all the information! I have been reading through the comments. I was introduced to Young Living and attended a party about a month ago. I have always been interested in essential oils and thought it would be a great way to become introduced. I had two areas of concern. First, it is a MLM company, which I knew when I accepted the invitation so very minor. However, as a registered nurse, I absolutely disagree with the promotion of ingesting the product. I sat, listened and observed. Not a word was mentioned regarding allergies, contraindications with medications, nor mention of precautions with children and pregnancy. One hostess was pregnant and shared how happily she is using all the oils. I questioned her about precautions and apparently there were none. I did purchase the starter kit and have to say the oils smell amazing. All the people attending were very nice. I will be moving on though. This prompted my quest to educate myself about the world of essential oils. Right now I’m doing research to become certified in aromatherapy.

Thank you again and Blessings!

Theresa

Reply
Donna

September 8, 2016

Why should she not do this? Peppermint IS edible, as is peppermint essential oil especially if it is an unadulterated brand and which should have a GRAS (generally regarded as safe) notice on the label as well as a “serving size” recommendation.

Candy and tea and many other products are flavored with peppermint essential oil (even tobacco!) so I really do not see your objections to her idea. It would be highly diluted after all, as it would be mixed with the alcohol and water AND when used, only a small amount would be used.

So I will answer the question – Essential oils are very strong and much more potent than the actual herbs so you would not need much at all, a few drops of a quality, solvent free oil should do the trick. But if you are planning to use the extract to flavor foods, teas or candies there really is no need to make one at all. Just add one drop of quality oil and taste. If you desire a stronger flavor, add one more drop. If you are afraid it will be too strong (for beverages for example), dip a toothpick in the oil and stir the hot tea or iced water with it. Once you get the flavor you are looking for, enjoy!!

Ever make Lemon Chicken for your family? After plating and just before serving, add just ONE drop of lemon essential oil to the dish for the BEST Lemon Chicken you ever tasted! The aroma will be delightful, the flavor will be enhanced and will have everyone asking for more.

I hope this is helpful. 😉

Reply
1. Cathy
  
  September 9, 2016
  
  I would never ingest essential oils and I have worked hard to get them out of my household. I know two people involved in the soap making and EO promoting business which brings them into close dealings with essential oils. One has a mysterious illness suspected to be an auto-immune disorder which has worsened as her involvement with EOs has increased. She and the other person have not been able to carry pregnancies to term after several tries. My brother used to work making scented candles and became quite ill during that time, and his illness subsided after he quit that job. It is my understanding that these oils are so strong as to attack the mitochondria. Put some on a piece of finished wood furniture and see what happens.
  
  I am not attacking any particular brand. But I do not believe that products of this nature should be sold by the multi-level marketing method, which encourages hype about a product that, when cornered, all its proponents finally say you have to be very careful and very knowledgeable about. Nor should EOs be included in all our household products without appropriate warnings. The entire EO industry is plagued by problems, questions, inquiries and investigations, which you will see if you consult the FDA website. This is a clue that they are unsafe in normal use.
  
  If you want to make a tincture, obtain the fresh plant and put it in vodka for six weeks. Mint is just not that hard to find. And then you have what you are looking for. EO in vodka or other alcohol is not a tincture. It is a drop of EO, which I consider unsafe, and which is made of gargantually more plant material than you could possibly fit into any jar in your house, and is not the whole plant but an isolated and distilled part mixed with vodka. I wonder if anyone can tell us just what the constituents of that mixture would be?.
  
  Reply
  1. Daiva
    
    September 9, 2016
    
    Well, I remembered, that I had peppermint softgels, so I used one in the smoothie and it was way too strong. So I took 10 of those softgels, cut them and squeezed out into about 1 ounce of alcohol/water mixture. Now I take 3 drops of that, and it is good.
    Actually I read an idea about making our own essential oil by making tincture with alcohol, and then freezing it. Oil part will freeze, but not he alcohol, and we can separate them. I never tried this, so not sure it works. In either case, it is not worth probably since it would take lots of tincture to make tiny amount of the oil. We can also make peppermint oil instead of tincture by simply steeping herb in the oil instead of alcohol.
    
    Reply
    1. Cathy
      
      September 10, 2016
      
      Essential oils cannot be made at home. I am relieved to know that you are aware of how to steep a whole herb in oil instead. That method produces an herbal oil which is far different from an essential oil. I am not familiar with “softgels”. If they are made of essential oils one needs to know that before making a choice to ingest. The freezing method with the tincture I don’t understand because I can’t tell where your oil is coming from in that example. I believe that many subscribers and commentators on this blog post don’t know what an essential oil is nor how one is made nor why they are even feeling compelled to ingest them. When it comes to something as powerful as an essential oil, it pays to know what you are eating. In fact doesn’t it always matter very much what you are eating, where it came from and how it was prepared? It is usually much safer to use something that can be prepared at home (even if you don’t do it yourself) than something that has to come from a factory with fancy and expensive distilling equipment and huge amounts of raw material such as essential oils are.
      
      Reply
      1. Daiva
        
        September 11, 2016
        
        Softgels are MEANT to be ingested, they are made to help people with digestive issues. I know perfectly well, that herbs steeped in oil are not essential oil, however they can be quite strong as well as the oil in my softgels was. And the oil taken from the tincture, if it really separates from alcohol part during freezing would be quite close to the essential oil since no other oil would be added from the outside source. Same things can be made in variety of different ways.
Daiva

September 5, 2016

I am wondering, if I can use peppermint essential oil to make peppermint extract (mixed with alcohol and water)? Tincture takes 2-3 months, and we do have essential oil. I wonder how many drops I would need to make a 2 ounce bottle?

Reply
1. Cathy
  
  September 6, 2016
  
  No. Please do not do this!
  
  Reply
Donna DeMouth Shaner

August 20, 2016

Sorry, but I think these oils are extremely dangerous and I will tell you why. My daughter-in-law is heavily into the Young Living oils and sells them. A few weeks ago, she tried to treat my grandson’s “constipation” with her magic oils. Only problem was, he had a burst appendix. When he started having hallucinations she finally took him to the doctor, where he was correctly diagnosed and treated (surgery). I am scared to death she is going to kill one of the kids with her insistence on these “natural treatments”. She will not listen to anyone. Its a cult.

Reply
1. Donna
  
  August 21, 2016
  
  A cult? Really?? The owner of this blog uses essential oils and has many recipes using them posted everywhere. They are not going to kill anyone.
  
  Rubbing some oil on his belly to try to help him is a perfectly fine thing to do. As far as the child having problems with his appendix – do YOU know the symptoms of that? I don’t. Most of us don’t. She did take the child to the doctor when the issue persisted and he was treated. So what was that you were saying about her killing the children or insisting on only natural cures? Is there something wrong with trying something natural? If so, this blog would not exist. Or were you paid to post this comment?
  
  Sheesh…
  
  Reply
  1. Donna DeMouth Shaner
    
    August 23, 2016
    
    No, I wasn’t paid to post this comment and I’m not talking about “recipes”. You think it is perfectly okay to treat a child with oils when he has been curled up in his bed, in pain and vomiting for days? Sorry, but there is something wrong with you, if you do not see a problem with this. And she did not take him until he progressed to hallucinations and stoke like symptoms. As I have been reading this blog I have noticed many cautions about doing the very thing this child’s mother has been doing to him, such as ingesting a lot of these oils and infusing them into the air. She also claims this child is allergic to virtually every food (determined by placing his hand on a machine). He is on an extremely restricted diet and has lost weight and is very, very thin. She doesn’t believe in “modern” medicine anymore. There is no accountability as he is home schooled. If you don’t believe Young Living is a cult, then you have not done your research on the company or its founder. A cult encourages you to break ties with your family members if they question you and that is what has happened. As concerned grandparents, we have been kicked to the curb for having the nerve to question what she is doing. The blog writer has expressed concerns about the use of some of these oils and their use on children. So yes, I believe it is possible that her “treatments” could result in serious injury or death.
    
    Reply
    1. Donna
      
      September 8, 2016
      
      Wow! You believe that Young Living encourages people to turn from their families? Where on earth do you get that idea? It is so absurd as to be totally laughable and I surely hope none of the readers here will buy into that. If you have any proof whatsoever that this 25 year old established and successful company is encouraging people to leave their families, homes or jobs and follow them blindly, we would all love to see it. However no such thing exists so let’s just let that go, shall we?
      
      As far as the lady you are referring to, I don’t know what to say. We have no way of knowing how much you are exaggerating or are misunderstanding so how could anyone reply to your comments? You could be making the whole story up for all we know. But if not, it does sound as if she should seek more education and also use other modes of medicine when necessary. But then again, you also need education on the benefits of holistic medicine, something this site shares a lot of information about. I recommend that you do some reading.
      
      Furthermore, you did not originally state that he had been vomiting for days – only that he had an upset stomach and constipation so either you purposely omitted facts in your first post or you are embellishing them now. I myself have had a family member experience hallucinations and had NO idea this was happening to them… how could I have known? You are not giving us all the details and are only sharing one side of the story and it is completely slanted to your point of view.
      
      Please know that SOME oils are safe to ingest in small amounts and since the entire field of aromatherapy is basing on smelling and inhaling the oils, your complaint about her using them in that way is completely unfounded as that is exactly how the majority of the world uses them and exactly what the American model of aromatherapy teaches and advises.
      
      I think the problem here is that you simply don’t understand essential oils – or any alternative medicine – at all. It is obvious that you don’t believe in holistic and natural medicine and she does – that alone seems to be reason enough for you to feel free in being hypercritical of everything she does… and also good reason for her to distance herself from your constant criticism. You also are disparaging of homeschooling. Why is that? It is obvious that you do not care for your daughter in law and honestly, I do that even if she was mother of the year that you would be satisfied. Do you not allow other people to make decisions for themselves and to live according to their own beliefs? Not everyone is a follower like you. People are allowed to make choices for their own families without an in-law’s permission. And that does not mean she is involved with a “cult”, no not at all. Whatever mistakes she has made are on her head but it does sound like you nag at her about ALL of her choices and if she has “kicked you to the curb” for that, well, that is her right to do so.
      
      Reply
Daniella

August 2, 2016

I love Mountain Rose Herbs’ essential oils. They are local to the PNW, where I live, and they have wonderful ethics, and practices. Honestly they are the only essential oil company I completely trust. They also sell all sorts of awesome teas, herbs, seeds and more. Most of their stuff is organic and they always strive for sustainability. I don’t work for them, but I am always happy to share them with other people, because I trust them completely and know that my money is well spent.

As for the dangers of essential oils, it’s always a good reminder to read.
I feel like lavender is the best, safe, and multi-purpose essential oil in my household… I’m never without it!
Cheers!

Reply
helene

July 31, 2016

Way too many comments to read, so this mite have been said, but the therapist was prob doing Raindrop Therapy, not massage. She used too much EO but you just feather it along the spine, not a real massage.
If it was a cheap brand you could react to it if youre sensitive.

Reply
Cathy

July 29, 2016

Wow. After reading your excellent post, Katie, and then scrolling through hundreds of replies and reading scores of them, here’s my takeaway: essential oils are very dangerous and should be removed from our homes as soon as possible. If you want to use “natural” remedies and treatments, try some infusions, salves, and tinctures that you can make yourself with herbs available in your vicinity or local health food store or online source. To “appropriately” use essential oils takes a great deal of education, knowledge, skill, self-control, and hands-on training, and, even then, there are no guarantees you won’t have a severe reaction or disrupt your immune function. To make your own essential oils is impossible given the gargantuan amounts of plant material required to make even a very small amount of oil, not to mention the fact that you would need a distillation system. Finally, the last person I’ll be listening to as to how to use these oils is someone whose livelihood depends on my buying them.

So I agree with almost everything in your post except the suggestion that there is an appropriate use for these oils. Obviously they are unreasonably dangerous in normal use to me, to children, to pets, to pregnant women, and to everyone else.

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1. Wellness Mama
  
  July 29, 2016
  
  I wouldn’t go so far as to say they should never be used, just that caution should be taken (like many things), and they are not a cure-all as many MLM companies try to assert…
  
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Jane

July 10, 2016

Katie- can you comment on what oils are safe to diffuse around my 9 month old in my home for all of us to enjoy? Is there anything I can diffuse in her room directly?

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Tara

July 3, 2016

Hello, about a month ago I attempted to use Bergamot oil topically on my armpits as a deodorant alternative. It is suggested for that specific use in the Young Living handbook with no warnings. Anyway, I’ve had a rather unsightly skin discoloration on my armpits ever since and it hasn’t faded at all after a month. I am wondering if you have any advice on how to treat it? Maybe Aloe Vera? Thanks in advance!

P.S.
I only did it twice and stopped immediately after noticing the reaction.

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RIVANA

July 2, 2016

Thank you so much for such an informative post.

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Dani

June 16, 2016

preg… due next week 6/26/16 (well hoping for next monday lol)
I’ve used peppermint oil on cotton balls at work cause of mice n’ spiders… I have had a perfect preg, so the lady all worried about her doing it (unless you soaked soaked u’r balls and touched them) you should be okay…
No matter preg or not, u should be careful with getting the full dose on yourself

Also have had migraines like crazy )was assaulted and punched in head 8-10 times… Peppermint was/is the only thing that helped… no one has said anything about it before (two docs and my friends on fb that typically use oils and have kids and are smart like that – one was gonna buy a kit to make her own oils)… I would heat up the bathroom shower water, fling oil on the walls (kinda like holy water towards demons, lol)
I clean with it, gallon of water to 8-10 or so drops … (Or at work, make hot water in mop bucket and put drops in there cause it’s also good for disinfecting and keeping those damn spiders at bay)

Actually gonna make a peppermint spray for when i give birth for an aromatherapy feel… Cause now peppermint smell helps my migraines and other pains, it relaxes me

but my question is… why is lavender bad when everything is lavender??? it helps soothes the baby and helps sleepy time at night…
I just got diffuse for the babys room so i can use some smells to help sooth her/if she gets a cold/ really bad smelling diapers

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Megan

June 13, 2016

Love how you acknowledge the potency of essential oils and how topical use may cause irritation, especially on infants.

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Nancy

June 9, 2016

so much more research for me…these safety issues on ingesting and undiluted oils….I have lots to learn. I got hooked up with one of the MLM companies and a friend told me to google the CEO, wow, not a great past. I’m not fond of MLMs either….I love making DIY home-made products without toxins, but perhaps I should not ingest the supplements from this company with oils in them … ???? Thank you for all this research and helpful resources to continue my own research.

I did heard a great podcast on “safety” Sylla Sheppard-Hanger and Nyssa Hanger — eye-opening!

I remember when I started taking some herbal supplements that I heard were so good for you — started having some strange feelings, like out-of-body feelings — Dr. sent me for tests and told me to stop taking the herbs, take vitamins w/o herbs. Maybe I should stop taking the Green Supplement I just started taking with the oils????

So much to learn.

appreciatively, Nancy

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Krisi Anthony

June 4, 2016

Honey I would look a little further into lavender oil applied topically to the skin before mentioning in use with children. It can damage the skin. I’m not an expert, just something I hope you look into. And if someone knows better than me i hope they share with me because to me knowledge is more precious than diamonds and gold 🙂 I reference your articles almost daily and appreciate your work. It is far reaching. Thank you for what all of you at wellness mama do 🙂

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Kati

May 24, 2016

Because it isn’t a set list that is agreed upon across the board by professionals. It is fluid in that it changes depending on who you’re talking to or whose blog you’re reading.

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Katie

May 23, 2016

Regarding pregnancy and morning sickness, please don’t let the opinions of this blogger deter you from looking into using peppermint EO. I had horrible morning sickness for both of my pregnancies and my midwife encouraged me to use diluted peppermint EO topically on my tummy. It was the only natural remedy that took the edge off and really helped me get through those awful times. I was able to naturally give birth to two healthy little ones. I have known plenty of women who’ve done the same thing. While I appreciate that Wellness Mama wishes to encourage caution, which is so very important with EO’s, the list she provides of essential oils that are OK/dangerous for pregnancy is highly disputed and very fluid.

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1. Wellness Mama
  
  May 24, 2016
  
  Why do you say the list is “fluid”?
  
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  1. DANIELLE
    
    June 22, 2016
    
    i think she uses the world fluid as its always changing pending on study or by person.
    
    Pepermint oil was the only thing to help me as well while i’ve been preg.It was that as anatural assistant or take controled substances/TON of tylonal, (could take 3 K mg of it and still be hurting, which was my max for the day) for migrains that could drop me
    
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2. Alex
  
  May 24, 2016
  
  Thank you so much for making this point about peppermint oil during pregnancy. I too suffered from bad morning sickness and so did my sister. It was the ONLY thing that worked for us, only NATURAL remedy that made any difference. Lucky for all those women who don’t have to deal with awful morning sickness and can quickly dismiss peppermint as being “dangerous” without much to back it up.
  
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Tash

May 16, 2016

I can’t believe what happened to you at your massage! That many drops straight on the skin must have been so uncomfortable 🙁 It’s really sad that EOs have become something that people think can just be slapped on without thinking. I’m glad that more people know about them, but the “education” people are getting nowadays is alarming!

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Natalie

April 26, 2016

Hey guys! New to the Blog Site – so sorry if this may be a repeat question of if it seems I didn’t read everything in detail (I have to admit, I did skin but only to get a general idea). So I have a question or 2 as it relates to the essential oils… I LOVE peppermint, but from what I may have read is that this is NOT safe during pregnancy. However, is this safe when used with a diffuser? I get really bad headaches and the peppermint helps so much. I currently use lavender lotions and oils and scents for aches and pains and to help with relaxation, but just wondering what other options and alternatives there may be for the respiratory senses and as a pick-me-up scent aside from peppermint. Does this also mean I can’t have my peppermint beverages? ??? another issue I have is the thinning hair, and a friend of mine recommended the Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Shampoo and Coconut Conditioner… Had to press pause when I read OIL and figured I’d do a little research and ask questions first before I either went to the store or ordered these items online.

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