HOW TO USE THESE OILS?

THE 10 Commandments for Using Essential Oils

by Mikael Zayat

1. Choose pure, unadulterated products; avoid "fragrances," even those which are supposedly "natural." An essence is an extract, natural or synthetic, often used to scent foods and cosmetics (soap, cream, shampoo, bath oil, etc.) Most of these products have names of flowers (gardenia, honeysuckle, lilac, lily of the valley, magnolia, , violet, …) or of fruits (green apple, red apple, apricot, banana, cherry, peach, strawberry …)
Try not to confuse a fragrance with an essential oil. To obtain therapeutic results, you must use only 100% pure, natural essential oils.
Essential oils extracted from organically grown or wild plants, are of incomparably greater potency than oils made from plants grown with chemicals, as they leave traces of insecticides and pesticides. In Quebec, however, most essential oils come from wild plants picked up while respecting their environment. Essential oils of coniferous origin are extracted from branches collected during regular trimmings which allow natural renewal of the forests.

2. Do not inject essential oils (intravenously, intramuscularly, etc.) under any circumstance. And Avoid sun exposure during the days following the use of photosensitizing essential oils (ammi visnaga, bergamot, most citrus zests, etc.) The same precaution applies as well to many perfumes and colognes.

3.Generally, people with allergies should be very cautious with essential oils. People with respiratory allergies should avoid direct inhalation of essential oil vapors. Essential oils are rarely allergens. Allergies are often caused by the diffusion of synthetic scents: scented candles, deodorizing sprays, plug-in scents, etc. People with skin sensitivities should avoid applying an essential oil directly on the skin, without expert advice. You should always test an essential oil first on a small area of your hand. If there is an allergic reaction, it usually appears within a few minutes of application, in which case, lift the oil with a cloth soaked in vegetable oil (olive, sunflower, etc.), and then wash your hands with natural soap.

4. Essential oils rich in phenols (phenol thyme, oregano, savory, clove, and cinnamon leaf) can be very irritating, especially to the skin. Whether taken internally or externally, do not use them in their pure state, and dilute them sufficiently to prevent burns.
The taking of essential oils internally should involve a medical prescription.
The essential oils that can be taken orally are usually those extracted from herbs used for cooking (anise, basil, cinnamon, mint, oregano, thyme, etc.) When taking oils by mouth, put a small drop on a sugar cube or on a fingertip and place in the mouth, avoiding contact with lips or eyes. Be very careful, as these oils are stronger than might be expected.

Undiluted essential oils, without exception, must never be applied to sensitive areas such as the genitals, underarms, face, etc.

5. Ketonic essential oils (thuya –now called arborvitae—armoise, hyssop, camphor, rosemary, sage officinalis, tanasy etc.) are to be used externally only. Their unsupervised use can be dangerous as ketones can cause seizures or even, at high doses, coma or death.

These essential oils should only be used for short periods (one week, then wait a week before restarting, if necessary), even for external use, because of the cumulative effect of ketones.

6. If essential oil should get in the eye, immediately pour vegetable oil (sweet almond, (carthame), olive, sunflower, etc.) in the eye in order to dilute it, and then wipe with a cotton ball soaked in vegetable oil. Succumbing to the urge to wash the eyes in water only makes the situation worse, because water just disperses the essential oil across a larger surface of the eye. The same treatment applies in case of contact of E.O. with delicate skin such as the armpits, genitals, face, mucous membranes, etc.)

When pure essential oil is applied repeatedly to the skin, protect it by applying a little bit of vegetable oil to prevent irritation or drying of the skin, or apply vegetable oil beforehand to slow absorption.

7. In case of accidental ingestion of a pure essential oil, take one to ten spoonfuls of vegetable oil in order to reduce the irritation of digestive membranes. In case of accidental ingestion of a large dose of essential oil (of any sort and in any form):
take several spoonfuls of vegetable oil,
a) induce vomiting (if possible),
b) visit the emergency room for stomach pumping or other treatment depending on the situation.

In order to avoid this sort of accident always keep essential oils out of reach, in child-resistant bottles.

8. For bathing, never pour essential oil directly in bath water, because oil is not soluble. First, make the oil soluble by mixing with egg yolk or powdered milk. To enhance the relaxing qualities of a warm bath, place near the tub a small cotton ball or napkin soaked in your favorite essential oil. Thus the air will be aromatized, and since inhalation gives the greatest benefit, the trick is done. If you are accustomed to using bubble bath, you probably know that the foam atop the bath works as insulation, keeping the bath warmer, longer. But essential oils lessen this effect, as they destroy the air bubbles, allowing heat to dissipate. Essential oils can also damage bathtub enamel. (I make a neutral & relax bubble bath).

9. During pregnancy, ketonic oils (see above list) are yet more dangerous. Use other essential oils with care, very diluted, externally or with a relaxing aromatherapy bath. If an aromatherapeutic treatment is indicated, follow the guidance of an aromatherapy practitioner (or try our Pregnant I & II)  Pregnant women are usually very sensitive to odors, so it is important to make sure that any scents used are pleasing to them.or younger children, an essential oil must be diluted (about 20%).

10.We know that, among mammals, mothers and babies recognize one another through their smell. Any scent worn by the mother can disturb this delicate sense. Therefore, avoid scented (fragrance) massage oils for babies under one year of age. (you may want to try our massage oil mixes).

*Source: Dr. Daniel Penoel’s (aromatherapist for over 20 years) book: Aroma Medicine—Planetary Medicine.
Translated by Michelle Renfield

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