Precautions in using essential oils in
aromatherapy
Aromatherapy has been known to relieve stress and to even
ease muscle pains and headaches. But before you join the
bandwagon and get into the candles and the oils, you must first
remember that what you are dealing with can also be dangerous
if you do not practice caution.
The heart of aromatherapy lies in the use of essential oils, which
provides the scent or the aroma that you whiff to relax your
body. These oils come from plants. They are extracted from the
different parts like the leaves, the roots, the buds and even
in some, the peelings of the fruits. But like any natural item,
some of these oils can be extracted from plants that are toxic
and poisonous. This means that you may be inhaling the aroma of
a toxic substance!
But of course, this rarely happens. There are consumer and
product guidelines that are being followed when it comes to the
manufacturing of these essential oils for aromatherapy. Also,
it is important to take note of how much you need to put into a
candle or into diffuser. Remember that too much may not be good
especially if too concentrated amounts have an impact.
In fact, many essential oils can be irritating to the skin
when applied in too concentrated amounts. When using these
oils, dilute them first in a carrier oil or even in water
before applying to your skin. Of course there exceptions to
this rule. Lavender and Tea Tree, for instance, are made for
the skin. In fact, they can be applied directly to the skin
because of their mildness. These oils can treat minor burns and
skin eruptions.
If you are however very sensitive and your skin reacts
quickly to a foreign substance, it is good to perform first a
patch tests wherein you will apply a small amount of the oil in
a small area of the skin. You can use those parts of the skin
that are hidden by clothes just in case allergies occur. Among
the areas where you can do the patch test are on the upper
chest area, the back, or at the crook of your arm. It will
probably take about 12 hours for the skin to react. So just
wait. If swelling, redness and rashes appear, then the
concentration is too much. Just try to dilute it before using
it on the skin or for aromatherapy.
|