Work with a certified aromatherapist or consult your doctor
One of the biggest misconceptions about essential oils is that because they’re natural, they’re safe to use, says Yu-Fan Lin, M.D., an integrative medicine specialist at the Cleveland Clinic in Lakewood, Ohio.
Essential oils are concentrated and potent, meaning that small amounts can have health benefits. Plus, essential oils can have different effects on different people. Diffusing peppermint oil may relieve headaches in some people, but it can cause side effects in people with fast heart rates, notes Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Additionally, some essential oils should not be used during pregnancy because they can stimulate uterine contractions, says Dr. Lin.
Consult your doctor or certified aromatherapist to learn which essential oils are safe to use, how to use them (inhalation or topical application), and the appropriate dosage. This is especially important for pregnant women, first-time users, and those considering using essential oils with children or pets.
To be sure you’re working with a qualified aromatherapist, check if the practitioner has been trained at an aromatherapy school accredited by the National Holistic Aromatherapy Association (NAHA), the educational nonprofit that developed industry guidelines for aromatherapy certification programs.
Don’t think all essential oils are created equal
According to NAHA, essential oils are not regulated in the United States, which means the quality of essential oils available on the market varies greatly.
Some essential oils are made with synthetic ingredients rather than actual plant materials, Lin says, so while they may smell like plants, they don’t contain the plant compounds that provide the health benefits you’re hoping for. “They may smell nice, but they don’t work,” Lin says.
However, even though essential oils are derived from plants, several factors can affect their quality, including the use of pesticides, improper packaging or handling, and improper storage.
Do your research to ensure the oil you choose is of high quality. When purchasing essential oils, look for the following information on the product label:
- Latin name of the plant
- Name of the country where the plant was grown
- Oil Purity Statement
- No Synthetic Ingredients
Also, when shopping for essential oils, be wary of the word “fragrance.” “The word ‘fragrance’ can mean a variety of things, including synthetic ingredients, so if you see the word ‘fragrance’ on an essential oil bottle, you’re in big trouble,” says Shanti Dechen, director of Aroma Apothecary Healing Arts Academy in Crestone, Colorado, and a certified clinical aromatherapy practitioner.
Store in a cool, dry place
Like most food and health care products, essential oils have an expiration date: “Most essential oils only last six months to a year,” Lin says.
According to the Institute for Integrative Medicine, citrus essential oils like bergamot, orange, and verbena generally have the shortest shelf life, while flower-based essential oils like chamomile and lavender have the longest.
However, essential oils break down faster when exposed to heat, Lin says, so to extend their shelf life, they should be stored in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.
Keep bottles tightly closed when not in use: Certain essential oils, like those from pine and spruce, can cause skin irritation when they oxidize (combine with oxygen), says Dechen.
Keep out of reach of children and pets
Some essential oils may be beneficial for children, but like any household cleaner, it’s important to keep them out of reach of children. Many essential oils can have adverse effects if ingested, and children may be more susceptible than adults. For example, swallowing more than a very small amount of sage oil can cause seizures in children, warns the National Capital Poison Center.
Similarly, essential oils can be harmful to pets if ingested. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, even inhaling the oils or having them on your pet’s fur can have adverse effects. Symptoms of essential oil poisoning in dogs and cats include:
Keep your loved ones safe by storing essential oils in an elevated location, out of reach of children and pets, and use oils in a place where children and pets cannot reach them, such as a dedicated bathroom.
Please perform a patch test before applying directly to the body.
Essential oils are often applied directly to the skin through massage, baths, and skin care products. But while they’re generally safe to use on the skin, there’s always a risk of irritation, and that risk varies from person to person, says Elizabeth Koh, MD, an internist and medical director of the Integrative Medicine Collaborative at UCLA Health in Los Angeles.
According to the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, skin irritation can result from an allergic reaction and is often characterized by redness and pain shortly after applying the oil.
The American College of Health Sciences (ACHS) and the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing point out that it’s wise to do a skin patch test before using a new essential oil on large areas of the body, especially if you’re prone to allergic reactions.
To do this, mix a small amount of essential oil with a carrier oil (more on this next) at twice the concentration you plan to use. So if you’re mixing 3 percent essential oil, mix it at 6 percent (3 drops per 1/2 teaspoon of carrier oil). Per the ACHS, apply the mixture to a small area on your inside forearm and cover with sterile gauze for 24 hours (remove if you feel any burning or irritation). Then, per the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing, check for skin irritation.
Don’t forget to use a carrier oil to dilute it.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, most essential oils can cause skin irritation if applied directly to the skin undiluted.
Topical essential oils are often mixed with a carrier oil to prevent allergic skin reactions. Common carrier oils can be found at natural food stores and include jojoba oil, avocado oil, grapeseed oil, apricot kernel oil, and sweet almond oil.
If you use essential oils in a massage, dilute them in a carrier oil to a concentration of 1 percent or less, i.e., one drop of pure essential oil per teaspoon of carrier oil, as recommended by the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing.
Know the essential oils you are using
Essential oils are found in many skin care, aromatherapy, and household products. They’re also commonly used in massage therapy. Because essential oils work differently for different people, it’s important to check which oils are in the products you regularly use and ask your massage therapist which oils they use. For example, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, some people may experience skin irritation when certain essential oils are applied topically.
You should ensure that any essential oils you plan to use do not have any contraindications for your specific health condition (for example, if you are currently pregnant or taking certain medications), and always consult with a certified aromatherapist or doctor if you have any doubts.
Do not use light-sensitive oils in sunlight
Certain essential oils are photosensitive, meaning they react when exposed to ultraviolet light. This reaction can make your skin more susceptible to redness, burning, itching, discoloration, and blistering if you apply these oils to your skin and then expose it to sunlight, according to the ACHS. Citrus oils such as bergamot, lemon, lime, orange, and angelica are especially photosensitive, notes the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing.
To protect yourself from sunburn and side effects, wait at least 12 hours after applying essential oils before exposing your skin to direct sunlight, during which time ACHS recommends wearing long pants and long sleeves to cover the area.
