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)”

Jessica

January 16, 2015

Once again, I really appreciate this article from you. I love essential oils but kept receiving conflicting viewpoints on their safety And usage. I would agree with you to err on the side of caution since there is not a lot of research out. Your connection to gut health was very eye-opening to me. I have been using EO’s more and more the past year and especially for natural antibacterial properties during flu season. With a 2 year old and 8 month old I am now concerned.

Your article couldn’t have come at a better time because just last night I started diffusing eucalyptus oil in our bedroom to help my kids with congestion. There are many recommendations for that online, from reputable sources. And it really helped them sleep. But I take your caution seriously and you were very adamant about not using that around babies. Could you please send me to your references for that? I’m just trying to learn more. Thanks.

And thanks again for this article. Many health-minded ppl have acted like EO’s are like water and many conventional medicine ppl have acted like they are poison. I was leaning more towards the viewpoint of “they are really excellent when used properly” and I feel as though you helped clear up some misconceptions about how to use them properly. I really appreciate you doing that.

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Doris

January 16, 2015

I recently began visits to a new, young doctor, but I didn’t know EO’s were a part of the treatments available. I then tried EO’s and was impressed by how quickly a few drops seemed to bring improvement, but so quickly that I’m skeptical and cautious. There were no written instruction or cautions with the oils I purchased. There was, however, a free lending library in the office covering many aspects of this doctor’s philosophy of healing. The doctor’s instructions for EO’s were a bit hazy.
Specifically, I have yet to read how to diffuse EO’s to use topically. There was mention of some special sort of coconut oil, but the info. wasn’t clear. Can I dilute it in cooking oil and rub it on? Where can I find a formula for using tea tree oil on my toe nail fungus? I’ve been applying it full strength at night, but after reading all the above info. I’ll stop until I learn more.

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Chandra

January 16, 2015

Hi Katie! I love your blog and have followed you for several years. Yours was one of the first I read that helped me get started on a whole-foods, natural lifestyle. On this topic, however, I tend to disagree, and wanted to specifically address the issue you bring up of essential oils being anti-bacterial and thus potentially harming our gut flora. A friend of mine shared this study, which states:

“The antimicrobial activity of essential oils/compounds was measured by determining the inhibition of bacterial growth. Among 66 essential oils/compounds that exhibited ?80% inhibition towards Salmonellatyphimurium DT104 and Escherichia coli O157:H7, nine were further studied. Most of the oils/compounds demonstrated high efficacy against S. typhimurium DT104, E. coliO157:H7, and E. coli with K88 pili with little inhibition towards lactobacilli and bifidobacteria.”

Here is the link to the study:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2005.02789.x

I would love to hear your thoughts. Thank you for all your work in the natural blogging world and helping us mamas keep our families healthier!

Chandra

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Dawn

January 16, 2015

I LOVE my EO’s!!!! I use Plant Therapy and they are wonderful, they even make a kids specific section that is formulated just for children (takes the guess work out!!!) I never take EO’s internally and always use them diluted. Thanks for the information, love reading your blog!

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rebekah

January 16, 2015

Wellness mama, I was curious if you use Oregano oil for you or your children for illness or other purpose? Thanks

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Monica

January 16, 2015

I have been using On Guard on my kids, ages 4, 3 and 1. I rub a little with coconut oil on the bottoms of their feet at night. Is this not safe? And what is the safest way to use it?

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1. Steph
  
  January 16, 2015
  
  I would dilute On Guard: 1 drop to 1-2 TBS carrier oil.
  
  Reply
2. Elizabeth
  
  January 16, 2015
  
  Not safe. And esp not safe for kids under 6/10. Daily use of any oil past two weeks is not safe either. Diffuse things like tea tree and sweet orange if you are concerned for illness. Diffuse diffuse diffuse. That is Tue safest way to use eo’s around children, and watch out for On Guard and Thieves type blends. They usually contain things unsafe for young kids.
  
  Reply
Janet

January 16, 2015

I am so grateful for this article. You couldn’t have said it better that EO are the new rage and touted as a cure all. I also use them but I get really frustrated by all the people now who are in to self disgnosing and think they cure everything. And I find that most of the people that think that way also sell the oils…I will be kind and not mention brands. But it is extremely disheartening to me to have someone go to a “selling/marketing” conference and come back talking like they are a Dr. I am very fortunate that over the course of my life I have been relatively healthy and have not required Dr. care very often. I try to keep stress at a minimum, I exercise regularly and I eat well. That helps me to stay healthy. I also have a sensitivity to some EO…found that out the hard way. Once agin, thank you for your article and for your research. I really appreciate it.

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meghan

January 16, 2015

Fantastic article, thank you.

I personally agree with Susun Weed that essential oils are not safe for anyone either internally OR externally, and do my best to avoid them completely. Instead, I use infused herbal oils.

Articles for interest:

http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/January07/goddess.htm

http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/February05/healingwise.htm

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1. Janet
  
  January 20, 2015
  
  Excellent article. Thank you for sharing. That is what I like about reading the comments…there is much to offer/share and much to glean from others.
  
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Malorye

January 16, 2015

Thank you so much for this post. I get so frustrated when people just act by listening to word of mouth, instead of doing actual research. I also love essential oils, but caution and understanding is so important when using them. I have seen co workers using and suggesting essential oils neat, and using them internally on a daily basis. It saddens me that “reputable” companies will hand out this kind of dangerous and misled advice. I have a very young child, and since she was born, I only keep Lavender, Sweet Orange, and Clove essential oils on hand. I feel that they are safe/effective and it gives me peace of mind. Thank you so much for being such a fantastic resource, and for all that you do!!

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1. Malorye
  
  January 16, 2015
  
  Also, just to clarify. I only diffuse the above essential oils, the only exception would be the clove. I sometimes use it with coconut oil for tooth pain, ulcers, and ingrown nails. I love that you wrote about herbal teas Katie 🙂 I have found that herbal teas are the most amazing medicine!!
  
  Reply
  1. Elizabeth
    
    January 16, 2015
    
    My EO cautious friend, clove for teething is another dangerous one. (Just so you know) Clove on littles is dangerous and diffusing is still risky. :/ I had to learn this myself.
    
    Reply
    1. Malorye
      
      January 19, 2015
      
      Thank you so much for syaing that 🙂 You are so right. I would never use clove essential oil for teething! I was referring to adult tooth pain, and even then I only use 1 drop to 1-2 Tablespoons of coconut oil. Also, I only diffuse clove when we leave the house. I will turn on the diffuser as we are leaving to give the house an immune system cleaning/boost. I diffuse sweet orange and lavender on a fairly daily basis and love/trust them!
      
      Reply
Jevena

January 16, 2015

I do love essential oils and have used them for many years. HOWEVER–I have learned to be much more cautious with them!
One of my early essential oil experiences was using tea tree oil undiluted on toe nail fungus. After using for about a month my toe started itching madly with little red bumps all over it. The itching was insane, even keeping me awake at night.
I have to say I was pretty ignorant about EOs–Sooooo, years later I got a slight yeast infection and my friend had a health food store and suggested tea tree suppositories–did I mention I was ignorant! OMGosh. TORTURE! The itching and swelling were so bad I could not pee (sorry) and it lasted for a week. I won’t go into any more detail other than to say it has left a definite impression on me–forever!
Moral of the story–essential oils are great but please test first and do NOT use undiluted!

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Elizabeth

January 16, 2015

Do you plan on changing some of your recipes to follow these guidelines? I have noticed that you have not always followed these rules, especially in your vapor rub recipe for example. I am glad to are you posting on this finally. People follow your blog closely and eo safety should be a priority. I would love to see existing recipes include warnings.

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Liz

January 16, 2015

I’m too tired to go to much length here but I must say that I am quite disappointed in this article. First, let me direct you to your very own recipe for bug spray which includes 30-50 drops of essential oil in a small bottle … FAR MORE drops of EO than I would use (but then, I do go for the pure stuff). Rosemary and peppermint just a couple ingredients (better watch out for decreased breathing and you give no warnings in that article about using on pregnant women or small children, btw.

https://wellnessmama.com/2565/homemade-bug-spray/

And then I’d like to point out that there are many doctors (people with higher education) who actually USE and ENCOURAGE the use of EOs in their practice. I’ve talked to our pediatrician who chooses a more natural approach, though she is an MD, and she showed zero concern over our use of EO and actually encouraged it.

And my last point … The US is the grand central station of lawsuits and some of these MLM you are cautioning about have been around for many years. Don’t you think that they would have been involved in some hefty settlements and public sanctions by now? I actually have a book that, in black and white, states safety guidelines of the various oils including undiluted and internal use. Don’t you think these publishers would hand been put out of business? It would be all over the news! Instead, what I did see in the news is that Vanderbilt University Medical Center diffuses doterrA essential oils I their ER and has discovered reduces stress and illness among the ER staff.

Clearly, this article was written just to get clicks to your blog. I’m VERY disappointed in the lack of integrity you display here.

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1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  January 16, 2015
  
  This article was definitely NOT written to get clicks or for any other self serving reason. In fact, I probably could have made money by including affiliate links to essential oils in this post… and I didn’t. There are a variety of other keywords and ways to write this that would have gotten MORE clicks and maybe even made money… that was not my point with this post.
  
  I’ve been putting off writing it for a long time because I knew there would be many who disagree… which is fine, but I think it is important to hear both sides. Again, I encourage people to consult a doctor or aromatherapist. If yours suggests using them and you have researched and feel comfortable with it…. go for it. I’m just trying to offer an alternative view from all of the distributors for oil companies who suddenly become “experts” in EOs. I typically use bug spray on clothing and do plan to update that recipe and several others. My point with this post was not to discourage people from using EOs but just to encourage more research and caution. Ironically, I’m yet to find one person who is commenting accusing me of being biased or having a “lack of integrity” whose email address, IP address or facebook profile doesn’t have a link to their EO distributor website with one of the two big companies. I really would love to understand how you think I lack integrity for encouraging people to do their own research and check with a reputable source before using something.
  
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jo

January 16, 2015

Im diabetic and Burning oils always drops my blood sugar it’s great! I wonder why and whether this can help in a cure

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Tamara

January 15, 2015

Katie,
I do enjoy some of your home-made recipes. however as a health care provider, I think that when it comes to anything medical and/or science related you simply are not qualified to post a blog. As Dr. Eric commented above much of your information is simply not accurate. While you may do your own “research”, I believe your research/choice of articles is biased based on your own personal beliefs/experiences. Posts like this make me lose all respect for you as you do have a following and I believe you are misleading a lot of your readers with your posts. Please, respectfully, consider posting only about topics that that you are qualified to write about. Some of your posts cause more harm and alarm than good.

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1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  January 16, 2015
  
  I don’t really see how you think I’m doing harm by simply suggesting that people do their own research and sharing the other side of the essential oil question (that is often not presented or talked about by the many untrained reps suggesting people consume these). As Dr. Eric mentioned above, most health care professionals do not receive any training in essential oils and would also not be qualified to speak about them. In fact, the only people that receive formal training about essential oils are aromatherapists and I recommend talking to them in this post. I don’t post as a doctor or health care professional. I make it very clear that I am not a doctor or healthcare professional. What I am is a concerned mom with friends who are giving their children EOs internally and this worries me, as a mom and a friend. Also, everyone writes from their own lens and experience. That being said, Dr. Eric writes from a bias as well, as he is a rep for an essential oil company, so his opinions would also be tainted by personal experience and beliefs. From looking at your comment history, every comment you have ever left was negative or critical. I have to wonder why you keep wasting so much time on a website that you don’t feel aligns with your beliefs. There are plenty of vegetarian friendly and essential oils supporting blogs and perhaps you would prefer to read those.
  
  Reply
  1. Crystal Reedy
    
    May 8, 2015
    
    Love your reply, Katie!
    
    Reply
Stephanie

January 15, 2015

I can appreciate all that you have said on this topic. A couple of people that I know treat EO’s as medicine, meaning that they are very potent and should be used with caution. I have not diluted my oils when using them on myself but I always dilute when applying to my children.
I remember seeing a few posts you had that involved doTERRA oils, that you really liked them, and (I think?) became a seller. What caused you to stop using them?
Anyway, you might already know about this FB page, but I thought it was worth a share. He debunks myths that are out there about EO’s: https://www.facebook.com/EssentialOilUniversity I also liked what Dr. Z said, that there are differences in uses depending on the country it is being used in.
Thanks for all the info you research on and share!
~Steph

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KT

January 15, 2015

When you say do not use certain EOs during pregnancy, does that include personal care products with those essential oils in them? Like your soaps?

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1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  January 16, 2015
  
  I typically will still use most oils that are highly diluted in soaps and lotions but not use them therapeutically during pregnancy.
  
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Mieko

January 15, 2015

Thanks for this post! I had a really bad experience with tea tree oil on my face before. I used it undiluted and literally half of my face broke out into a big red rash! It was terrible and it lasted over a week. I ended up going to the dermatologist because I thought I got chemical burns. I should have been more cautious 🙁

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1. Jean
  
  June 9, 2015
  
  I just did this same thing. I am experiencing a weeping oozing rash on my face from applying tea tree oil undiluted. Did you develop an allergy to tea tree oil from this experience? I am wondering if I will need to stop adding the tea tree drops to my laundry now. If anyone else has any advice on this please chime in. Also, is anyone aware of another essential oil that is as effective for the laundry (ie. disinfecting, killing mold, etc.) Maybe I can just switch to something else. Hopefully, I won’t have to rewash all my laundry.
  
  Reply
Judy Burger

January 15, 2015

A friend facebooked your article to me and I say THANK YOU! I do not use essential oils because I have a lot of allergies. Because of this I become very fearful when I see them come out of someone’s kitchen cabinet. It make total sense to me that these are a concentrated item. It has taken me many years to figure out many of my allergies, so that I can avoid whatever it is. Example: vanilla – candles, scent sticks, etc. For years I would get a headache when I visited other people’s homes where they were burning a candle. Then one day I ran into a store to pick-up something, you know on a mission, get in, get out – as I passed the entry someone was making cotton candy and then the smell hit me. I shook my head and continued on then back to the front to check out. As I was writing my check I felt like I was about to pass out. I literally ran out of the store to get some fresh air. I sat in my car with my windows down for about an hour, until I felt it was safe for me to drive. As I got to feeling better I started examining in my mind what had just happened. It came back to the cotton candy, so I investigated “how to make cotton candy”. It’s basically white sugar and a little vanilla. That puzzled me, I use vanilla in baking with no problem. Then six months later talking to a friend, I found out the individual making the cotton candy had made a trip to Mexico just to get fresh vanilla for this event. Most of my allergies are aromatic causing severe headaches, people that enjoy these scents do not understand it, they just want to have a pleasant smelling home. I see nothing wrong with using essential oils, but I too would warn people to just start with one and then not to introduce a new one for at least a month. Spacing out the time of introducing new oils gives your body time to adjust and you time to see how it effect you and your family. Thanks again. Judy B

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Sofia

January 15, 2015

I made my own toothpaste (powder) using your recipe with bentonite clay, that’s got some EO in it and I’ve also made my own mouth wash since I was having issues with bad breath a few months back. For the mouthwash I mixed about 1.5 cups filtered water with Himalayan red salt and added 4 EO at about 10 drops each, they were peppermint, clove, cinnamon and tea tree. The mouthwash works extremely well and I gargle 3 times then spit and rinse and gargle with water. I am worried I may be ingesting too much EO even though I spit. Also, I did this during first trimester pregnancy which worries me even more since I miscarried. I just want to know if the EO in the toothpaste or mouthwash is safe considering i don’t actually eat them, just brush and rinse with them. Thanks Katie for the informative post, as usual!

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1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  January 15, 2015
  
  I really haven’t been able to find anything definitive on this. I’ve felt relatively safe using it in ways like toothpaste that would be spit out, but there isn’t really any research on this to know for sure.
  
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2. E.Lynn
  
  June 7, 2015
  
  Hi Sofia,
  As an RN I would like to comment that the areas inside of your mouth are quite sensitive to substances of any kind (similar to the mucous membranes found inside the nose, eyes, etc.) There are times during emergencies where pharmaceutical medications are given either under the tongue or chewed in the month due to the ability to enter the bloodstream more quickly than they would if swallowed. ( No one should ever do this with any medication without the supervision of their doctor or medical provider!) I am using this example of practice (in the hospital where I worked) to illustrate my opinion that, if pharmaceutical medications can enter the body more quickly through areas of the mouth–I would be cautious of any substance that is put in your mouth, whether or not it is swished then spit out or ingested completely. As many intelligent people have commented here, it is much better to proceed with caution and better to be safe than sorry!
  
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Jackie

January 15, 2015

Hi, thank you for writing this. I was completely unaware of this. I don’t take EO internally often but I have at times when I’ve been sick – mostly DoTerra OnGuard.

I’m a little concerned now about peppermint oil. You mentioned not to use it all at during pregnancy, I’ve been using some homemade Chapstick (your recipe) which I did put some drops of peppermint oil in the batch. I’m pregnant and wondering if I should not use the Chapstick then?

Also, you wrote that peppermint should not be used for babies or young children. What about in homemade toothpaste? I was just about to make some and was planning on putting peppermint oil in it. But my pregnant self would be using it plus my 21 month old. Is that a bad idea to use it in the toothpaste then?

I would really love your thoughts. Thank you!

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1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  January 15, 2015
  
  I will clarify that in the post. I do use it in extremely diluted amounts in small quantities like lip balm and in toothpaste (though just diluted).
  
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