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)”

michelle

January 25, 2015

Hi Katie, just on the topic of essential oils. You mentioned to keep peppermint and eucalyptus away from children. Before reading this article I had been defusing Breath by DoTerra in my toddlers room because she was getting a cold. I was also rubbing a diluted portion on her feet at night and alternating with Onguard also diluted hoping it would help her get over it. From what you’re saying here, non of those products are actually safe to use diluted or defused around a child her age? Can you please confirm as both these products include the ingredients you mentioned. Please help clarify this for me. Additionally I am still breastfeeding her and I also had a sinus cold and rubbed breath on my sinus area and temples. I’m hoping that I haven’t done something terrible. Please let me know

Reply
1. Sara
  
  January 28, 2015
  
  Hi Michelle, Yes, those oils can be dangerous to children. If the babes are okay, I would just discontinue use of those particular oil blends. (just because nothing happened this time, doesn’t mean that something can’t happen next time) Eucalyptus contains 1,8 cineole and peppermint contains menthol, both known to slow CNS response and slow the cold receptors in the lungs of little ones. Check out Robert Tisserand Essential Training on Facebook. There is much safety information to be found. What I tell most people is “Once we know better, we DO better!” When I started using essential oils in my home, I made the same mistake, (thankfully, my child wasn’t harmed) so please be kind to yourself.
  
  Reply
Shauna

January 20, 2015

Love this post, Katie!

I found a similar article that goes into detail not only about the risks of ingesting essential oils, but also notes that some of the official-sounding things are actually marketing ploys by some of the larger MLM EO companies. This marketing ploy is actually why you’ll often find something like “we’re the only company that offers Certified Therapeutic Grade oils” or some other official sounding thing. Of course they’re the only ones, it’s their phrase and they have it trademarked, so they’re the only ones that can use that phrase!

https://remedygrove.com/traditional/Why-Are-All-the-Articles-that-Suggest-Ingesting-Essential-Oils-is-Safe-Written-by-Young-Living-Sales-Reps

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1. Donna
  
  February 5, 2015
  
  Actually, therapeutic grade is a newer industry grading level. Before therapeutic grade was available, the best one could get is perfume grade oils which are adulterated with alcohol and other solvents and possibly artificial fragrances as well. Yes, Gary Young invented the improved distilleries that will produce therapeutic grade oil but that doesn’t mean it’s not real. It is recognized by the perfume industry, the essential oil industry, the aromatherapy industry and oils must be tested to be if they are in this higher level before they can be labeled as such. There are organizations who regulate such things and the phrase therapeutic grade is one of those things. (YL is the ONLY US company to hold certificates from these regulatory organizations though – the rest don’t qualify.) It is not just a marketing ploy, far from it. That is the way you can tell whether an oil is going to be safe to use in some way or not. And while there are a few small companies with integrity who make small batches of just a few oils that are pure and made in the proper manner, the vast majority of companies out there are resorting to diluting with chemicals, distilling using solvents, etc… YL not only has 100’s of pure oils, they have other products as well, all made with the same high level of quality. I see no way to argue against quality!
  
  I stick with YL because of the large variety I mentioned above, because they have been doing this a long, long, long time (longer than anyone else!) and because there ARE plenty of studies about their helpful benefits, done by YL and by outside groups and universities, hospitals, etc… The studies DO exist!! Check pubmed – there are at least 100 studies – peer reviewed and published – on just Frankincense alone! The studies do exist and if it seems like YL folk are the only ones who know about them it could be that they are the ones studying the longest and hardest. YL has been around longer than any other EO company and have a very high standard of production with the oils and their other products – bottom line is they are a great company with great products. I have been at this 15 years (and tried many many things before finding EO’s) and have experienced myself and witnessed so many good things happen for others that I feel it would be simply selfish to NOT share that with others. So don’t immediately discount someone just because they are with YL. Being with YL doesn’t mean they “sudden became experts”… usually it means they care and have tons of education and experience on the topic, as I do. So don’t just judge blindly because of all this controversy – you might miss out on something really good!
  
  Reply
  1. Katie – Wellness Mama
    
    February 5, 2015
    
    Unfortunately, there is no independent certification for “therapeutic grade” and no governing agency that regulates that term (not that I am for any more government regulation, by any means). I have looked and looked, and though you say “There are organizations who regulate such things and the phrase therapeutic grade is one of those things,” every agency and regulatory body for this is owned or affiliated with an EO company in some way. I have no doubt that many have noticed health benefits from essential oils and that many/most people who promote them do it out of a desire to help others. I do not doubt your sincerity or that of others who recommend essential oils, I just recommend caution and reading actual research from independent sources that do not have a financial interest in the sale of essential oils.
    
    Reply
Trista

January 19, 2015

Thank you Katie! I’ve seen a couple other posts like this one recently, and I’m grateful for the information. You see so much about essential oils online, but up until now, there weren’t often any warnings about them. I had bought a couple to try. It was after seeing these posts that I found out the oil blend I had been using for colds and congestion was not suitable for children. (It has both eucalyptus and peppermint in it, plus a few others.) We haven’t run into any problems with it, but I did stop using it around my 6 year old son.
I just think it’s good to see these posts because there is a lot of information out there and because so many people were touting its benefits, it didn’t even occur to me to treat it like medicine that needs to be used wisely. I’m trying to learn more, but until then I’m being more prudent in their use.

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Alex

January 18, 2015

Do you not use the OraWellness HealThy Mouth blend during pregnancy then since it has cinnamon and peppermint?

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Jodi

January 18, 2015

I suffer from tension headaches that frequently go into migraines. I have headaches about 5 out of 7 days with a migraine about once a month. They have been diagnosed by a doctor as tension and was given muscle relaxers and pain pills. These don’t get rid of the headaches but make them bearable.
Wanting some thing that might work better, I tried peppermint essential oil. I have tried diffusing it, applying it to the base of my skull and rubbing it on the tention spots on my neck. This was having VERY little effect on my headaches. A friend told me she likes to put 1 drop of peppermint oil in her glass of ice water. I did this and the next day my headache was gone and stayed gone for a month.
After reading your article, and finding out how concentrated peppermint oil I wonder if this is safe. Any advice/comments?

Reply
1. Shauna
  
  January 20, 2015
  
  Peppermint has a high menthol content (the menthol is what gives it that tingly feeling), which has an LD50 estimate as low as 196mg/kg, and the NAHA states that more than 1g/kg of peppermint oil is deadly https://naha.org/index.php/naha-blog/peppermint-safety-info). Peppermint oil has a tendency to irritate mucus membranes, as well.
  
  Menthol is also a muscle relaxant, so there’s that, too. That means just about anything it comes in contact with will not contract as much as it normally should. This is awesome for tense muscles, but not so great for sphincters and the various valves in your GI tract.
  
  I’m not sure that 1 drop would be enough to cause lasting, permanent harm, but I’d definitely stick to it as a last resort thing and weigh it against the other options available to you. Even if essential oils turn out to be your best bet, I’d still recommend trying to use them externally by either rubbing them on you via a carrier oil, or diffusing them. There are a number of oils that are great for relieving tension and migraines (I just bought a bottle of Spikenard for that very purpose), and I’d say try them before taking peppermint internally again.
  
  Also, you might want to look up cluster headaches and dietary treatments for recurring headaches/migraines. I used to suffer from daily headaches, too, until I changed my diet to Paleo and dramatically reduced my starch and sugar intake.
  
  Reply
2. Donna
  
  March 24, 2015
  
  One drop and your headache stayed gone? That sounds Wonderful!! Think of how much liver damage Tylenol and similar drugs do – but you got the job done with ONE drop of pure oil!! Keep at it, you are doing good!
  
  Reply
Roxanne

January 18, 2015

I’m a lil concerned now, my daughter frequently suffers from respiratory distress and is on a daily inhaler to stop her wheezing, we were told to put some eucalyptus drops on her pillow (I put them on the back side of her pillow) to help with her breathing at night. In the last two weeks, she hasn’t been coughing at night and she hasn’t woken up once – unlike the previous 4 months where she would wake up every single hour wheezing and coughing.

You’ve specifically mentioned not using eucalyptus oil around children… do you think in the manner we’re using it, it would be okay since it’s not touching her skin? Even the bottle itself recommends it for bronchitis and respiratory troubles??

Thank you for your help!

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1. Donna
  
  March 24, 2015
  
  Growing up, my mother would put a drop of Eucalyptus oil on the collar of our pj’s if we had a cold and maybe some in a coffee can of water set over the heat vent, her version of a home made humidifier/diffuser. Once upon a time, every pharmacy and store carried it… along with clove and iodine and witch hazel. Now you have to ask them to be stocked or they won’t be there! And that is a shame…
  
  Reply
Susan

January 18, 2015

Seems like the only folks that say it’s “safe” to use EO neat , are do Terra and YL users . They are doing a lot of harm with their claims. And I too use EO daily: diffused and in products.

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Holly

January 17, 2015

Anyone have any insight on Jadebloom.com essential oils?
Also as far as what eo not to use during pregnancy I am finding that there is contradicting information as well. I went to the link Katie posted and also another one I personally found. There were major differences, the one I found personally had a lot more no no’s in pregnancy. I wish all this eo info was more straight forward and there wasn’t so much contradicting information out there.

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Holly

January 17, 2015

Katie thank you for the great article and helping me to realize I need to be cautious with eo usage, as I have not been. Could you clarify for me please, are essential oils safe to use daily in your beauty regime, diluted of course as you stated? I read that you had said not to use any eo for more than two weeks. So does this apply to using them in a beauty regime? For example I have been using frankincense (boswellia serrate), with a few drops of jojoba oil nightly. At first I was using it straight until I read your article and since have been diluting it. Is this ok to do indefinitely or does the two week maximum apply? And if so what is a suitable amount of time to take off and restart when using a particular oil? Also is it safe to use eo in your beauty routine if pregnant or nursing? I know you said you stay away from them yourself personally, does this apply to the beauty recipes you have on your site? I plan to get a book and do further research as well. Thank you for all your information you share, I know research is so time consuming.

Reply
1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  January 18, 2015
  
  I personally feel safe using them in the amounts I have in beauty recipes since they are so diluted, but definitely do your own research and make sure you are comfortable with it too.
  
  Reply
Sarah

January 17, 2015

Education on using oils is necessary. I always use carrier oils to bring them closer to their natural strength and first time users should definitely dilute with a carrier.

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Jes

January 17, 2015

Hi Katie, ill start by saying i LOVE ur blog and follow everything u do. Thankyou so much for teaching and inspiring me about everything from food to natural cleaning and beauty, my family thanks you for it.
I have a few questions regarding EOs.
1. Is clove oil diluted 1 to 2 drops in 1 tbls coconut oil considered safe for rubbing on teething babies gums?
2. U mentioned eucalyptus oil us unsafe for children under 6 but i want to know if the eucalyptus radiadus is also unsafe as this is marketed as being safe for children and i make a very diluted chest rub with it for my kids when they r sick.
3. How long after using a citrus EO do u have increased photosensitivity? I use a facewash made of lemon EO, castile soap, water and a touch of olive oil. If i use this in the morning before heading out, could i be putting myself at risk?
Your help would be greatly appreciated.

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Donna Kerfoot

January 17, 2015

Thank you for your article. Like the other comments posted, I too have been alarmed at the articles about e/o on social media and advising un diluted and internal use. The only oil that is safe to use undiluted is tea tree oil. I have used e/o for 20 plus years and I have never used e/o other than tea tree undiluted. I would recommend anyone interested in learning more about e/o to buy and read anything by Valerie Ann Worwood she has many books on everyday use as well as one for use with children, she is a leader in the field. Great article!

Reply
1. Donna
  
  February 5, 2015
  
  The ONLY safe oil is tea tree?? I’m sorry but that statement is just simply untrue. If you buy your tea tree oil at a store or OTC, I can guarantee you that it is diluted with chemical solvents. Adulterated tea tree oil harms so many people every year – it angers me that the law allows companies to label things pure when they are not! Oils that are un-pure are the reasons that people have bad reactions or think they don’t work or are scared of them. One should not be scared of essential oils, just use them properly, know EXACTLY what is in that bottle, do your homework and do what is best for yourself.
  
  I personally have learned to giggle instead of saying Ouch if I get a burn, like the one I got on the oven last week. Why you ask? Because Nothing in the whole world is more fun that putting Lavender EO on a burn and watching the blister disappear in front of your eyes!!! Don’t try this with a cheap, health food store brand though or you will make it worse. But with therapeutic grade oil, the burn just melts away and the pain stops instantly. Period. Same for scraped knees and small cuts… fresh skin by morning! These are my own personal experience but the research on Lavender backs me up! And that is only one of the many EO’s I diffuse or apply topically on a regular basis… and yes, sometimes I ingest some of them too! Bottom line is this: If you want to use EO’s for health and beauty reasons, make sure you have a pure, undiluted, unadulterated therapeutic grade EO and NOT a perfume grade or food flavoring grade… those are guaranteed to contain alcohol and other additives and you will not get the desired effect. Quality and source DO matter. Get those right, read up a bit and go for it. But do not be afraid of essential oils.
  
  Reply
Liz

January 17, 2015

I’m looking for a comprehensive book for essential oils. (uses, safety, etc) Can someone suggest one?

Reply
1. Malorye
  
  January 19, 2015
  
  Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand
  
  Reply
2. Ronda
  
  March 23, 2015
  
  Surviving When Modern Medicine Fails by Dr. Scott A. Johnson who has a doctorate in naturopathy and is a board certified Alternative Medical Practitioner. He has conducted medical research including the safety of essential oils. There are many pages in the book on safety and guidelines, protocols (which have worked wonders for my family), and over a dozen pages of references/research studies.
  
  Reply
Zizi Ukestad

January 17, 2015

Katie what are your thoughts on ingesting Thieves Oil? Our whole family takes a “00” size capsule daily. I make the Theives Oil myself.
Ingredients: cinnamon, eucalyptus, clove, lemon and rosemary

Our family has not been sick for over 3 years with any flues, or colds and we take it with your Homemade Ginger Ale recipe…of which I LOVE and adore!!!!! I have a healthy ginger bug always brewing!!!!! I have shared with friends and they all love it too!

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laura

January 17, 2015

you have more influence than i do is it possible for you to look into the newest sales pitch from doterra here is the link to a promo from them
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WegbZcQ504
i find it upsetting they are showing the oils used directly from the bottom on chidren
are these oils diluted because they are still up there in price

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Alana Woods

January 17, 2015

Kudos for writing this article. I loved reading all the comments, too. I am certified as a Clinical Aromatherapist, from an excellent school, “Scents of Comfort” in Canada. And had a practice in Washington State, outside Seattle. In my school we had a lot of anaatomy/physiology learning.
The main thing I am grateful for, in your article, is that your information on contradications. is just right on, in my understanding!!
I never recommend ingesting essential oils, but to use them diluted on the skin,The bottom of the feet is one good place. The digestive system has to metabolize them, and most people do not have an iron stomach!The only time I use oils “neat”(directly) is in burns. Lavendar neat will heal a burn fast.(personal experience).
Also, diluting the oils in a carrier oil makes them go further and they won’t evaporate as fast.
I have written a small booklet”:Aromatherapy & Essential Oils, a Simple Guide” from questions people have asked me.I wrote one chapter on “Read all skin products”in the market.giving toxic substances one should not put on skin.

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Cynthia

January 17, 2015

I just wanted to add my two cents as I also have learned the hard way about some oils. Early on I had been putting a drop of lemon oil in my glass of water because of an article, obviously not well researched, I read about the uses of lemon EO. Only later to find out about the photosensitivity. Thankfully I had not gone in the sun but due to medications that I take plus the fact that I have lupis I am ALREADY photosensitive and I would have been very badly burned. When you’re photosensitive your skin doesn’t react the same way to the sun. Basically the melatonin in your skin doesn’t naturally go to work in protecting your skin and instead of becoming burnt in the traditional way – on the outside, of your skin – in fact you get burnt through your skin right down to the bone. I accidentally fell asleep with part of my leg in the sun and it actually turned a dark purple – like a very, very bad bruise and it was extremely painful!! Further it doesn’t matter if you take it internally or if it is put on your skin, say in lip balm or perfume, it goes from your skin directly into your blood stream and so now am very careful what I put in such things as perfume and chapstick – as wouldn’t orange or lemon be great in chapstick? Sure but you can’t do it safely if you plan on leaving your house within 24 hrs. HA!

There have been a few studies on Rosemary, diluted,, to help with concentration which it does considerably and would be good to apply or inhale before a test. But they found on testing the subjects breath and skin that the oil’s chemicals and even smell transferred from the subjects’ skin into their blood and breath as well – a good breath freshener and odd way to apply it hmm? You can put a drop diluted on the bottom of your foot and you’ll experience better breath (of rosemary EO which is kinda funny but it just goes to show how strong it is – that is a dilution of about like Katie had mentioned – about 5 %.). But perfume generally is used in a 30% dilution to perfumer’s alcohol so have to be VERY careful in what you put in it and how much. That means extensively researching every oil you put in it. And if you want to make a complex perfume that can be an amount of oils well and above 5 or even 10.

In any case I am very careful now in how I use oils. I find that frankincense is pretty harmless, diluted – say if you want to use it as an air-freshener, perfume or on your carpet or in your vacuum bag as is geranium (or rose but you’d never use rose in carpet deoderizer lol as it is about $50 for 1/10 oz of the cheapest rose). But that is just my experience – obviously you should do your own research. I plan on using some cajeput in henna and have tested it on my skin already and had no reaction thankfully since I shelled out the money for it – $12 and that’s a cheap one in that I’m not using it for medical purposes but as hair dye and frankly I’m a little scared to use it as you leave the stuff on your entire head for more than 12 hrs. Soooo…..wish me luck!! I plan on using it in an about 10 drops per 1 cup of water which is about 250% dilution and still am jittery about it lol.

Oh and just a note on my personal experience – I would recommend again you not trust my personal experience but research it yourself – I find that if I put a drop of peppermint in a glass of water swish it around so that it somewhat coats the cup – that is in a full glass of water – then throwing the water out and filling the glass up again that it helps tremendously in the case of a small instance of food poisoning. That is if you think you ate something slightly off and are nauseous but not throwing up or having any other very serious symptoms like diarrhea (nice subject huh?) It does indeed very well kill the bacteria in your gut including the good and I follow it up with some kombucha (which also helps with just a plain ole tummy ache). I find that peppermint and lavender and tea tree are essential for a natural first aid kit and that tea tree can be used neat on your skin for a cut but CANNOT be ingested!! and lavender for a minor burn. EOs work and work well when you know how to use them and practice extreme caution (DO NOT EVER BUY TANSY FOR ANY REASON – IT IS DOWNRIGHT POISONOUS – FOUND THIS OUT THE HARD WAY TOO – BEGAN DIFFUSING IT WHILE I SAT DOWN TO READ ABOUT IT AND HAD TURNED OFF THE DIFFUSER DUE TO BAD HEADACHE BEFORE I EVEN GOT TO THE PART ON HOW IT IS POISONOUS BUT RATHER EXPERIENCED IT FIRST HAND!! immediately threw it out and was put out that I spent money on it!! Why do they sell the stuff when you’d have to use a face mask in order to use it, for what purpose I have no idea! certainly not medical.) So yeah – be careful!!

Thank you Katie for the article

Cynthia

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Mariel

January 16, 2015

Every massage I’ve ever had has included being totally doused in essential oils. And come to think of it, I’m pretty sure I’ve always gotten headaches afterwards. You make me question if there was a direct correlation! Next time I receive a massage, I’m definitely going to resist the use of essential oils.

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Jodi

January 16, 2015

thank you for this thoughtful article. i started a small company of topically applied blends to put the body in balance and i completely agree with your points on pregnancy and nursing. the only thing i would add is that i think in the process of balancing the body, the oils sometimes throw the body into detox which is not ideal while pregnant or nursing. Thank you again for this thoughtful and honest article!

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Mary

January 16, 2015

I didn’t get a chance to read through all the posts, but wanted to mention that a friend of mine selling essential oils recommended I give my son (4yrs old) lemon oil in water. I only did a drop to start and he didn’t like it, she told me to increase it to 10 drops (these were doTERRA oils that can be taken internally). He only took a few sips, but didn’t like it so I didn’t push it. He ended up breaking out in hives ALL over his body and I had to take him to the Dr. At first I couldn’t figure out what had done it, but as I thought it through and narrowed things down I realized it was the lemon oil. When I told the lady she insisted it was not an allergic reaction and that it is impossible to be allergic to oils. All I would say is definitely use caution with the oils for children – especially internally.

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1. Shauna
  
  January 20, 2015
  
  doTerra essential oils are no different from any other pure essential oil, and purity does not equal safety. In fact, for many oils, it’s actually the *reverse* (sassafras is a good example of this, as it was basically internal use of the essential oil that got sassafras removed from root beer, because the concentrated saffarole is acutely toxic and possibly carcinogenic…but it takes the equivalent of gallons upon gallons of root beer daily for decades to reach either threshold due to the purity/dilution differences).
  
  I highly recommend using caution with all of the MLM companies, and anyone who says that ingesting essential oils are inherently safe, especially if they say they’re safe because they’re natural. Some oils may be safe, but 1 drop is sufficient for a large amount of water or other recipe. 10 drops in what’s likely a small amount of water is far, far too much (to compare, 10-20 drops is about what I use in body lotion/butter and other cosmetic recipes, where the end user uses a tiny amount of the final product at a time, and the full batch makes enough for several people).
  
  It is very much possible to be allergic to plant oils. In fact, the oil is what a person is *most* likely to react to when touching a plant (see also: poison ivy, oak, and sumac).
  
  The idea that they don’t interact is also ludicrous. St. John’s Wort is a prime example. It’s great for treating mild depression, but it has well-known side effects and interactions with medications. Likewise, the active ingredient in aspirin (salicylic acid) is found in a number of plants, and those plants (especially in concentrated forms, like EOs) should not be used by people with issues regarding aspirin.
  
  If you want to use essential oils on your son or yourself, dilute it in a carrier oil and use it on the skin or diffused into the air. You’ll get the same effects for far less risk, and your oils will go a lot farther.
  
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  1. Randi
    
    February 21, 2015
    
    I was curious if you knew of other reputable areas to research? I have a 2 year old that I want to help calm during the day and help ward off sickness and help while sick but I have a lot of health issues and am on many meds and you stated it can have interactions with meds. I need to check that because I am on quite a bit! I have just started my EO research and am a bit lost!
    
    Thank you
    
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2. Donna
  
  February 5, 2015
  
  I would suggest that maybe the hives was her liver detoxing all the poisons we are exposed to in our lifetimes. I have seen this happen and if one can push through for a day or two, it will usually stop. But since she had such a severe reaction, she should try some other way to cleanse the liver before trying the EO again… and then ONLY a pure one and only a drop or two in a gallon is fine. Until then, she might try water with real lemon slices and/or cucumber and maybe a sprig of mint or cilantro… This will help flush out the toxins that cause these sorts of rashes and reactions.
  No, I’m not a doctor – just have about 15 years experience with EO’s and 25 years experience with herbs. 🙂
  
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  1. Katie – Wellness Mama
    
    February 5, 2015
    
    Hives can be a reaction to detoxification, but when they occur that acutely they can likely be part of an allergic reaction. It is absolutely possible to be allergic to an essential oil, especially when ingested and especially in children. I’m not a doctor either, but as a concerned mom, I would not suggest giving essential oils to children internally (without a doctor or qualified practitioners advice), especially if they’ve had a reaction of some kind.
    
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