Let's talk about the most fundamental step to using essential oils safely and effectively before you reach for another drop!
What's wrong with this picture??
One drop of essential oil applied directly to the skin seems harmless enough -- and it's often recommended by well-intentioned people without proper training in aromatherapy. Why the worry?
There are actually a variety of reasons why essential oils should be diluted, all of which are very important. For now, we're focusing on the safety implications.
Essential oils have chemical constituents that provide a host of benefits for the plants they are derived from, and which we humans can enjoy as well. Many essential oil constituents have been widely researched with proven antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, analgesic, cleansing and purifying actions. However, some of these same constituents can be very irritating and sensitizing, potentially resulting in skin irritations or allergy (potentially very serious and painful).
Essential oils are very concentrated, and very potent.
Let's put this into perspective. The essential oil in a bottle ranges anywhere from 50-100 times more concentrated than in the plant, and there are often safety issues which apply to essential oils that may not apply to the whole plant or herbal preparations like teas and tinctures.
Consider these statistics from Aromatics International:
Sweet Orange essential oil requires roughly 14 oranges to produce one 15 mL bottle of product.
Lavender essential oil requires over 200 pounds of plant material to yield one pound of essential oil.
Rose essential oil requires roughly 5,000 pounds of rose petals to yield 1 pound of essential oil.
Consider hot herbs and spices such as Oregano and Cinnamon. You do NOT want to apply these undiluted. Even oils which are less obvious irritants can result in a very negative reaction if used undiluted.
"Do not apply undiluted essential oils to your skin. It’s that simple." -Robert Tisserand, co-author of "Essential Oil Safety"
How should I dilute essential oils?
Essential oils are diluted in what are referred to "carrier oils." Many are quite common and already in your kitchen! A short list includes: almond oil, coconut oil, grapeseed oil, olive oil or avocado oil. In short, dilution means mixing a specific ratio of essential oil drops to a quantity of oil. Depending upon your purpose and intention for essential oil use, there are some general guidelines for recommended dilutions. One of my favorite dilution charts is posted by the Tisserand Institute website. We will dive deeper into recommended dilutions for specific purposes -- and additional reasons to dilute -- in a future post.
Internal
Another use of undiluted essential oils which is very concerning -- and frequently recommended by well-meaning people -- is the internal use of essential oils. This is a meaty topic which we will also address in another post, but let's just say that consuming "one drop in your water" (especially if practiced frequently) is not as harmless as it sounds. For now, I ask you to consider how sensitive and delicate your mucous membranes and tissues are in the various routes into your body. Your body has several orifices, each of which is very sensitive!
Where can I learn more?
As the awareness of aromatherapy and supply of essential oils on the market explodes, so should the knowledge of essential oil safety and best practices. The amount of misinformation and dangerous advice out there is appalling.
Please consult a certified aromatherapist (like me!) with any questions or concerns, and feel free to peruse articles I've posted on my Facebook page or post a question there. More suggestions for quick reference, I also recommend trusted resources such as Tisserand Institute, Aromahead Institute, and Aromatics International -- all of which post helpful, informative blogs and articles.
The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) and Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA) also house a great deal of information and resources on their websites. I am proud to be a member of both!
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