Aromatherapy can be very beneficial for many people, but there are certain safety instructions people should follow when handling aromatherapy paraphernalia, such as scented essential oils.
First when handling essential oils it is important to avoid contact with the skin, because it may cause irritation. It is important to wear latex gloves and protective glasses when handling essential oils. The oils must be diluted with carrier oil before being applied to the skin. Quality carrier oils such as jojoba, almond or olive oil are a good choice. Dilution should ideally be 3% essential oil to 97% carrier oil.
Diffusers and oil lamps need only 2 to 3 drops of essential oil to scent a room for several hours. The cup should be filled more than half way with clean water, than the drops of essential oil should be added. The candle should be lit in the burner after the oil is added. Some oils can be highly flammable, so it is important to be careful when using an essential oil lamp.
Essential Oils and Child Safety
Essential oils should also be kept well away from babies and children and preferably stored in high places that children cannot reach.
On no account should scented essential oils be used on babies under the age of three years old. Also, any oils that are used on children over that age should be used at a fraction of the usual concentration for adults
Pouring essential oil directly into bath water without first diluting with a carrier oil is also not recommended as undiluted oils can cause severe skin irritation.
Avoid Ingesting Essential Oils
It is also important to never ingest essential oils that are intended for external use. Essential oils should not be taken internally, unless under the guidance of a professional, who has received the training for that specific mode of administration. Most professional aromatherapists are not trained in the internal ingestion of oils, so consumers should make sure they are fully qualified before getting that sort of treatment.
Certain aromatherapy materials should also not be swallowed or added to recipes and beverages, unless the product is labeled as food grade material.
Essential Oils and Pregnancy
Aromatherapy should also be avoided during pregnancy. A doctor may approve the use of aromatherapy for certain pregnant women, but the therapy should only be used in the first trimester. The essential oils should only be used at 1 percent concentration, which is less than half of their normal strength. There are certain essential oils that should be avoided completely during pregnancy, which include Camphor – cinnamon camphora, Rosemary – Rosemarinus officinalis, Sage – Salvia officinalis and Savin oil -Juniperus sabina.
Aromatherapy paraphernalia should be stored away from heat and light sources. Since many of the products used in aromatherapy are flammable, they should never be put near a flame, fire, or any other source of ignition.
Scented essential oils used in aromatherapy can be very helpful, but there are certain guidelines that users must follow to ensure the best experience. It is common for many people to skip the safety instructions, but when handling aromatherapy paraphernalia it is important to incorporate all of the safety guidelines into the treatment.