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)”

Mary D.

January 15, 2015

Katie, in a previous article you mention that you diffuse peppermint oil often, but here you say that you would not do so around young children for safety reasons. I know you have almost always had young children 🙂 and we will be in the same boat. Can you clarify for me? Do you diffuse it in the open areas of your house but just not in the children’s rooms or closed spaces? Just wanting to understand! Thank you!

Reply
1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  January 15, 2015
  
  Yes. I diffuse in small amounts in open areas and not when I have a baby under 6 months…
  
  Reply
  1. Mary D.
    
    January 15, 2015
    
    Okay, perfect! That’s what I thought and what I do too. Thank you!
    Is that how you use the pumpkin spice room spray as well? I have read that some of the oils in that are better not used with younger babies/children. But I was thinking of diffusing it in an open space with very little of each oil.
    
    Reply
    1. Katie – Wellness Mama
      
      January 16, 2015
      
      Yes 🙂
      
      Reply
      1. Mary D.
        
        January 16, 2015
        
        Wonderful! Thanks again!
  2. Randi
    
    February 20, 2015
    
    This was my big thing! I have a 2 year old and wasn’t sure about diffusing. So is it still not good to use something for a cold on his skin if using coconut oil to dilute? Well in your opinion because this is the first site I’m trusting so far, I am researching tonight the things to buy!
    Thanks for asking Mary!
    
    Thank you
    
    Reply
Becky Brewer

January 15, 2015

Hi, I’m currently pregnant and starting to make my own handsoap, shampoo, toothpaste and such. Everything I’ve made I’ve gotten the recipe from Wellness Mama (love everything on here). In this post it was mentioned that pregnant women shouldn’t ingest Peppermint, I used peppermint in the homemade toothpaste, is that too much to be ingesting, or should I be fine. I would ask my OB but she doesn’t seem the type to know about anything natural and would probably just try to talk me out of making my own products.

Reply
1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  January 15, 2015
  
  I personally feel ok with using it in toothpastes in that dilution during pregnancy but definitely do your own research and make sure you are comfortable with any use.
  
  Reply
  1. Becky Brewer
    
    January 15, 2015
    
    Will do, thank you so much. You website is so helpful!!!!
    
    Reply
jessica

January 15, 2015

I have alot of questions about essential oils I’m. Hoping you can help me with. My sister is in a persistent vegetative state due to lack of oxygen to the brain. We order our essential. Oils from frontier. And use the aura cacia oils but I have no clue about essential oils how to mix them the best ones ect. My neighbor. Just started buying the young living brand an I saw they have an oil called brain power an after googling it I came across some success. Stories about it being used on coma patients an they put it on the roof of their mouth. It’s like 80 on younglivings site and 60 on amazon my neighbor was saying that amazons oils vs younglivings oils on their website look the same on the outside but the oil on the inside are different. My question is is younglivings oils better then aura cacia? Aurua cacia is alot cheaper they don’t have the brain power blend nut I know the oils it’s made from and could I make the brain power with the aurua cacia oils?

Reply
1. Dianne
  
  January 15, 2015
  
  I would say that Young Living Essential Oils are better than Aura Cacia oils because YL has a seed to seal commitment that guarantees that the oils have not been adulterated in any way. I have watched a video on youtube produced by Aura Cacia where they show very unclean methods of extracting their oils. As to buying as a wholesale member of Young Living or buying on amazon, there is no guarantee on the seed to seal commitment when you buy from amazon, and it has been reported several times that the bottles bought on amazon have been tampered with. I have seen articles that it is not safe to buy health products of any kind on amazon because the tampering is prevalent. I commend you for doing research for your sister’s health!
  
  Reply
2. Jamie
  
  January 15, 2015
  
  I would want to talk to someone qualified and knowledgeable about EO’s before treating your sister. Make sure to read the whole article and comments to also help. I learned it is not wise to use straight EO’s on the skin and taking something internally can have serious risk and only a professional could help you make the right choice. Plus there is not enough scientific data to prove EO’s are even safe internally (this is how I took it). As an above person stated : Find a “Professional Aromatherapist you can communicate with from a reputable association such as NAHA or AIA.”
  
  Reply
3. Susan
  
  January 15, 2015
  
  Check out nativeamericannutritionals.com – they have customer reviews galore and a chart comparing their blends to Young Living and DoTerra…but cost less as they aren’t an MLM company and you are buying direct. Cheap shipping too.
  
  Reply
4. Donna
  
  February 5, 2015
  
  I use Brain Power and LOVE IT!!! But NO Aura Cassia is not a pure brand and I would avoid it at ALL costs! Same goes for NOW brand oils… NOT PURE and NOT GOOD! I know of a few people who have been harmed by those brands. Please do not use them. YL is tested and they can prove that all the oils are solvent free. This is not true the the vast majority of other brands available in health food stores. By law they are ALLOWED to lie and say it is 100% pure when it truth it can be up to 95% solvents!!! I personally would not trust anything from a health food store… but that is just me. Money matters little when it is HEALTH that you want… and they are still cheaper than a doctor or hospital visit!
  
  Reply
Katie

January 15, 2015

On a side note off topic….I would have questioned a ‘massage therapist’ that didn’t ask about pregnancy or other medical issues before the massage started.

Reply
Sara

January 15, 2015

THANK YOU for this! Many really do need to realize that although natural, essential oils also have safety considerations. I hope that some of the people who do not believe what they are told in concern for their safety follow you and your blogs! Just because something is pure and natural does mean it is safe for everybody.

Reply
Eric Zielinski

January 15, 2015

Hi Katie,

I enjoy reading your articles because they are evidenced-based, but I’m sad to see that this one falls short of your normal standard. Your blog instills fear in your readers and much of it simply isn’t based off of peer-reviewed sources.

A perfect example is the arbitrary list of oils that are NOT safe for use during pregnancy. This is not the case whatsoever.

Also, your recommendation to have your readers ask their doctor about oils is quite misleading. MD’s, DO’s and even DC’s receive little to no training whatsoever on the safety and efficacy of therapeutic-grade essential oils.

There are many, many more points, but I want to be respectful because I have so enjoyed your work over the years.

Please consider working with a professional researcher to help clean up this article.

Thanks!

Reply
1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  January 15, 2015
  
  I have to disagree Eric. I have searched (and asked doctors, midwives, and aromatherapists) and there are simply not studies about the safety of many oils during pregnancy. In many cases, there are not peer reviewed studies about essential oil use as plant compounds like this cannot be patented and the cost of these studies is prohibitive. I realize that many doctors do not receive formal training about EOs and I definitely think everyone should check with an herbalist or aromatherapist as well for that reason. Even the term “therapeutic grade” is largely unregulated and often used by MLM as a way to market their products (many of which are not actually certified organic). If you have peer reviewed studies that show the safety of oils, especially during pregnancy, I would love to see them and you have my email. I appreciate how respectfully you commented and am open to reading any studies you send. Warmly- Katie
  
  Reply
  1. Eric Zielinski
    
    January 15, 2015
    
    Hey Katie,
    
    You make a good point, clinical trials are limited. However, that doesn’t give us license to arbitrarily advise against certain oils and compounds like many aromatherapists and midwives are in the habit of doing. I deeply respect aromatherapists and midwives; their training is usually quite thorough and they are very passionate about what they do.
    
    But, and this is a BIG but, their training determines their oil usage and recommendations and are greatly influenced by the country that live in. U.S. aromatherapy schools, for instance, are traditionally quite reserved when it comes to oral consumption of essential oils, whereas their European counterparts take a very different approach. Unfortunately, this bias has caused many people to be misled against the internal usage of essential oils, which has been a regular practice by folk medicine for literally millennium.
    
    Per your request, here’s some research for you:
    
    Because they are two of the most common herbs that people put on the chopping block, let take ginger and peppermint use in pregnant women. First off, my wife used both herbs and essential oils quite extensively during her three pregnancies and home births, and sings their praises. On the other hand, could someone experience an adverse reaction? Sure! Any one could be allergic or sensitive to anything, but that’s anecdotal and not true evidence.
    
    A 2004 article published in the Complementary Therapies in Nursing Midwifery sums it up best,
    
    “The safety and efficacy of each of these herbal remedies is discussed here. Only ginger has been subjected to clinical trials among pregnant women, though all three herbs were clinically effective against nausea and vomiting in other contexts, such as chemotherapy-induced nausea and post-operative nausea. While safety concerns exist in the literature for all three herbs with regards to their use by pregnant women, clinical evidence of harm is lacking.”
    
    Bottom line: proof that peppermint and ginger cause harm in pregnant women does not exist.
    
    Like anything, you can find articles that support whatever viewpoint you’re trying to promote. But’s that a two-edged sword. Personally, I don’t know of any chemical in peppermint or ginger that could cause deleterious effects in pregnant women or their babies. Subsequently, I am not surprised when I read studies that support them for pruritus (itching), nausea & vomiting, for instance.
    
    Just some thoughts.
    
    Thanks for the dialogue.
    
    References
    
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14744504
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3813175/
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92775/
    
    Reply
    1. Katie – Wellness Mama
      
      January 15, 2015
      
      I agree- and I’m not giving blanket advice to anyone not to take or use essential oils. I have seen many cases recently of reckless advice being given about essential oil use and the purpose of this post was to encourage people to research and use caution, especially if pregnant or on babies and children. As you know, EOs are extremely potent and can have a very strong impact (good or bad) on the body. I see advice on blogs and Pinterest all the time encouraging people to give their children EOs internally or use them undiluted on babies… these kinds of things worry me a lot.
      
      In regards to the pregnancy stuff… None of the studies you provided showed the safety of internal use of any of these substances and one of them just referred to the herbs themselves, which could mean tea or tincture and not EOs. That same study, for what it is worth, said that no harm was found from use of cannibis either- I’m curious if you would encourage a pregnant women to use cannabis as well or if your own wife did. The one study that talked about EO use specifically referred to peppermint oil on the skin (diluted in a carrier oil), which I talked about in this post as a safe way to use it. Peppermint is known to be a uterine stimulant and I know many knowledgeable midwives who caution against it, especially in the first trimester. It can decrease milk supply, so it is often avoided while nursing.
      
      Again- I understand where you are coming from and my purpose is not to dissuade people from using essential oils, just to encourage more research, dialogue and safe use. Yes, midwives are not trained specifically in essential oil use, though they do receive training in herbs and their uses during pregnancy (which would extend to use of their EOs also) but aromatherapists are specifically trained in EO use and risks. I would argue, however, that both midwives and aromatherapists are much more highly trained and accurately trained than the small army of self-educated essential oil enthusiasts with no formal training whatsoever who are encouraging people to give essential oils internally to children or rub eucalyptus undiluted on the feet of a baby.
      
      I know that you have a personal interest in people using essential oils and that you promote them, and again, I’m not trying to keep anyone from using them. I just think the blanket recommendations about their use can get dangerous.
      
      Reply
      1. Eric Zielinski
        
        January 15, 2015
        
        Hi Katie,
        
        Forgive me if I misunderstood your article, but when I read your list of Thou Shall Not Use These Oils for pregnant women, I didn’t see anything about internal use. Everything I wrote was in regards to non-internal use of the plants and oils that are supposedly counterindicated for Mamas, because you made it quite clear that internal usage was a “no-no.”
        
        The internal oil debate is another beast all together, and so is cannabis oil. Maybe we can grab a cup of herbal tea (without essential oils) and chat off-line. 😉
        
        Lastly, your comment about peppermint being an uterine stimulant is simply not founded on science. In fact, just the opposite:
        
        “The spasmolytic effect of jasmine absolute was most likely to be mediated through cAMP, and not through cGMP. The mode of action in vitro resembled that of geranium, lavender and peppermint oils.”
        
        https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12203263
        
        Same thing with your comment about decreased milk supply. I’m telling you, I’ve search far & wide to find anything about it in the literature and it just doesn’t exist. It’s an old wives tale. My wife bagged over 1000 ounces of milk in her first month of nursing, and she regularly used peppermint oil and drank peppermint tea. BUT this isn’t “proof.” I cannot recommend that women use peppermint oil to boost their supply because of my wife’s experience.
        
        Likewise, I will not deny that its impossible for a mom to experience an adverse effect to peppermint and produce less milk. I’m just saying that #1 it’s not proven clinically, #2 I have never heard of it personally in our midwifery/home birth circles and #3 I don’t think it’s right to instill hesitancy in women because of hear se.
        
        You can’t believe everything on the Internet. As one of the most influential wellness bloggers today, you have a a loyal following of people who listen to you and I suggest taking this approach:
        
        “Research supporting the negative effects of these oils are limited or nonexistent. Nonetheless, there are various sources that claim women should not use them during pregnancy or while nursing.”
        
        Making this type of comment would leave it more open to the reader to truly do their own homework.
        
        Regarding personal interests, you affiliate with Mountain Rose, so touche!
        
        Again, great work on your website. I just hope you’d consider cleaning up this piece a little. If you’d like some help, shoot me an email and I can give you a hand. 🙂
        
        Shalom
    2. Cindy
      
      January 16, 2015
      
      This has been an interesting and friendly discussion that I find intriguing. You both make valid points. I would like to see the two of you team up in the future if possible. I feel it would be helpful to your readers as a means of clarification. I have to admit, it can be a little confusing after you read some of the comments from others-not Dr. Z. Thanks.
      
      Reply
      1. Alli Scott
        
        January 16, 2015
        
        Very nice discussion, and as an EO user who is trying to be an educated and thoughtful consumer, I appreciate this level of respectful and research-based dialogue. And I agree with Cindy! Please consider more posts where you two possibly team up!
      2. Jessica
        
        January 16, 2015
        
        I agree that this was a nice and respectful dialogue and I appreciate that.
        
        But criticizing From an objective argument standpoint:
        Eric, you seem to rely heavily on your wife’s experience and that does a lot to discredit what you’re writing. If you had strong research as the main body of your argument and then a “p.s. My wife had this experience” that may be different. Wellness mama does a much better job of keeping her content mainly intellectual and scientific with small bits of anecdotal evidence. I trust her opinion a great deal more.
      3. Je’Nelle
        
        January 17, 2015
        
        Hi Katie,
        I was wondering as well where exactly your list of eo’s to avoid in pregnancy came from. I use eo’s and feel I do good research before use. I’m currently pregnant and have had severe hyperemesis throughout the first trimester. Ginger and peppermint (especially peppermint) have been extremely beneficial to me. I was very surprised to see them in your list. I didn’t check every source listed at the end of the article, but I did read the last 2 posted (the pregnancy safety data sheets) and neither mention either of these oils as unsafe. Just curious where this list came from.
      4. Katie – Wellness Mama
        
        January 17, 2015
        
        I will update to add the source. I would personally use them aromatically during pregnancy or in toothpaste, but not directly on the skin or internally (my opinion). Here are some guidelines from the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists: https://naha.org/assets/uploads/PregnancyGuidelines-Oct11.pdf about aromatic use.
    3. Malori
      
      February 6, 2015
      
      I know a certified midwife (Stephanie Fritz) who is very experienced and uses essential oils extensively with her patients (and even recommends taking EO’s internally during pregnancy). She wrote the book “Essential Oils for Pregnancy, Birth and Babies.” When I become pregnant, that will be the resource I turn to with regards to essential oil usage during pregnancy.
      
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      1. Misty
        
        March 11, 2015
        
        Please research other sources as well Malori. I cannot endorse Stephanie Fritz’s protocols and actually shudder at the thought of someone following her advice. Keep in mind she is very high up in the MLM chain so she absolutely has something to gain by advising you to use massive quantities of essential oil. Request the handout from her website and ask any non-MLM trained aromatherapist their thoughts…
Nadine

January 15, 2015

Katie, Katie, Katie. THANK YOU. Seriously, thank you. I’m a LMT and doula and am on my journey (slow journey) to becoming a clinical aromatherapist. I was totally appalled this week when I saw a blog about how to treat pink eye naturally. They actually recommended rubbing undiluted lavender around the child’s eyes! My little aromatherapist heart almost exploded. How dangerous! I’m very unhappy with how people are abusing essential oils. I’m so sorry that you had a bad experience with massage. That was a crazy amount of oils. Luckily for my clients…they get a drop on a tissue to inhale and everything else is diluted with organic jojoba oil. Thank you so much for writing this! You made my day. Keep doing what you’re doing. We all really appreciate you.

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Grace

January 15, 2015

I’m interested in EO. Where do you recommend purchasing?

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kate

January 15, 2015

Wow! Are you a certified aromatherapist? You should do some more homework on that peppermint and seizures topic.

You can’t write a lengthy article on a topic you have so little info about.

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1. Donna
  
  February 5, 2015
  
  I’m sorry but I have to agree with Kate on this. This article – to my way of thinking – is misinformation and fear and little else. I am disappointed by it to say the least…
  
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Maura

January 15, 2015

Great article!!
I had learn a lot from it
But now I have a question, which EO I should use for Diy body butter for my 4yr old daughter?

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Sarah

January 15, 2015

Thank you for this. There is an extremely helpful Facebook group called “using essential oils safely” that I would encourage anyone to join who is looking for answers on this topic. They are very conservative and there are several certified aromatherapists that chime in on what is recommended and what isn’t. I personally have 2 small children and need unbiased information on what is safe (not from the company who is selling it!)

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Rabia Lieber

January 15, 2015

Thanks for the great info! I’ve been using some EOs lately on myself and my 11YO daughter. I only uses one or two drops in each teaspoon of olive oil. They seem to be helping both of us concentrate and focus during the day.

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Cori

January 15, 2015

Thank you! I would have never known this if you hadn’t posted it!

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Kreichert

January 15, 2015

Thank you SO MUCH for this article!! There is so much misinformation out there about EO’s since the MLM’s have gotten so ubiquitous!

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Cortney

January 15, 2015

This post is very informative and very helpful as I begin to delve into learning about EO’s! What are your thoughts on Eucalyptus Oil for children? Is there a reputable site that discusses what is okay and not okay to use on children? My daughter (9 months old) had bronchitis and we used it to help her cough and clear her nose by putting it on her feet and sometimes chest. I used a teaspoon of coconut oil with 2 drops. I guess I’m now questioning whether that was safe and if she were to get sick again, if it’s okay to continue to use.

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1. Cortney
  
  January 15, 2015
  
  I answered my own question! I just found some interesting articles about not using Eucalyptus on children under 10 years old…Yikes! I’m glad nothing serious happened but I will be sure to be more careful. The lady I spoke with recommended it and I just trusted her. That won’t happen again! Thank you again for this article. It has really made me more aware of how important it is to research before using EO’s because they are very potent.
  
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  1. Donna
    
    February 5, 2015
    
    On the feet or in a diffuser only for babies!
    
    Eucalyptus and Menthol – what does everything think is in VapoRub or BenGay??? Except those products are petrochemical in basis and NOT all natural in any way at all! But no one thinks twice about using those since we all grew up with them… And to my way of thinking, there is NO way a product made from crude petroleum sludge is better than a pure EO. I mean, think about it – which would you really want on your body? And if applying EO’s neat to the skin is against the American model of Aromatherapy because they will soak into the skin and harm the person, WHY would you want a product made from crude oil on your skin? Does that not soak into your cells as well?? Think about it!
    
    Eucalyptus (IF pure and undulated!!!) is fine for a diffuser or a bit mixed with coconut oil for older kids.
    
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Holly

January 15, 2015

Thank you for the great article. I have recently been researching a lot on eo because I have been using them way too freely in the past. Do you know off hand from your research if frankincense and tea tree oil are safe to use when pregnant or trying to conceive? I will do research now of course but wondered if you knew off hand. It would great if you wrote an article on which beauty products are safe to use when pregnant. That is one thing that I find hard to come by are beauty products that are truly safe when pregnant and nursing. Thank you for all the great info!

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cassondra

January 15, 2015

Hello wellness mama, first i want to start off by saying thank you very much for this article and posting the links to where you got your info. Really when it comes down to brass tax every thing we eat (example gmos) to products we use are just as toxic (see ewg.org) finding what is safe and works can be a challenge. I have grown up around essential oil use as my mother is a lmt and reflexologist and has been for 20yrs. We are huge believers in essential oils and there benefits. But appreciate when people are informed about there use. Unfortunatly where we live anything natural is highly frowned upon so there is not a doctor to ask so most people need information like this. Every person is different with what the body can handle and not handle. Research from the pharmaceutical side will always show the risks of an essential oil while hiding those same risks from the medication they prescribe. In the long run i would rather take my chances from a natural side then from putting a chemical in my body. Anyways thank you for the informed article.

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Patti Connell

January 15, 2015

Katie: I am in desperate need of a solution to dry mouth!!! Especially at night!!! I broke my hip last October and have been in pain pills but am down to only one a day and still experience horrible dry mouth at night!! Any ideas??

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Shannon

January 15, 2015

This is a very informative article, thank you. It is a great resource for essential oils.

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Betsy

January 15, 2015

What about using DigestZen for infant reflux? It contains peppermint but I know I have heard of using this as a remedy…

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1. Sue
  
  January 15, 2015
  
  NO! Would you pour a handful of aspirin into your hand and give it to a baby because someone on the internet (who was of course, selling aspirin) said it was safe? NO.
  
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2. Dana
  
  January 15, 2015
  
  Betsy, I’ve had luck diluting the oil 4 drops carrier oil to 1 drop Digestzen and only apply to the bottom of the child’s feet. Rub the oil in your hands first then on the babies feet…never drop essential oils directly on a child.
  
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