Safety
3 min read
Warnings to Users of Essential Oils
Essential oils are natural, but "natural" doesn't mean risk-free — these are highly concentrated plant compounds, many times more potent by volume than the dried herb or fresh plant they came from.
- Never apply undiluted oil directly to skin. Always mix with a carrier oil first — undiluted application is a common cause of skin irritation and burns.
- Wear protection when handling concentrated oils. Gloves and eye protection are reasonable precautions when measuring or transferring oils, not an overreaction.
- Read up before mixing. Some oils interact poorly with each other or with medications — research a specific oil's effects and contraindications before use, not after.
- Avoid use during the first trimester of pregnancy, and use particular caution with any essential oil throughout pregnancy given limited safety research in that population.
- Keep oils away from children and pets. What's a mild scent to an adult can be a genuine toxicity risk to a small child or animal.
None of this is meant to discourage aromatherapy — it's meant to make sure it's practiced the way any concentrated plant medicine should be: with real respect for its potency.