Essential Oil General Safety Information
Harmful if swallowed. Not for internal use. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid contact with your eyes and mucous membranes. External use only. Discontinue use if skin irritation/sensitivity occurs. If pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. Information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners, always check with your healthcare professional for any interactions with medications you are taking.
Essential oils are powerful plant extracts that need to be used with caution to ensure safety. While it’s not complicated to include EOs in your routine, it’s essential to follow some important guidelines. By following these safety guidelines, you can enjoy the benefits of essential oils while ensuring your well-being. Here are some key points to remember:
- Never ingest essential oils: Even if a label claims it’s safe to consume, it’s best to avoid taking essential oils internally.
- Dilute essential oils before applying to the skin: Undiluted essential oils can be too strong and may cause skin irritation. Always mix them with a carrier oil before applying to your skin.
- Perform a skin patch test: Before using a new essential oil on a larger area of your skin, it’s a good idea to do a patch test. Apply a small amount of the diluted oil on a small area of your skin and wait for any reactions before proceeding.
- Discontinue use if you experience any adverse reactions: If you notice any redness, irritation, or negative skin reactions after using an essential oil, stop using it immediately.
- Be cautious of phototoxic essential oils: Some essential oils can cause skin irritation when exposed to sunlight. Avoid using these oils on your skin before going out in the sun to prevent discomfort.
- Use care when adding essential oils to bathwater: Essential oils do not mix well with water, and they can concentrate in certain areas of your bath. This can cause the undiluted oil to come in contact with your skin directly, leading to potential irritation. Mix essential oils with a carrier oil or a dispersing agent before adding them to your bathwater.
- Use caution during pregnancy and with certain health conditions: Some essential oils are not recommended for use during pregnancy or for individuals with specific health conditions like asthma or epilepsy. It’s important to consult with a healthcare professional before using essential oils if you have any questions or concerns.
- Avoid using essential oils near or around sensitive areas: Keep essential oils away from sensitive areas such as the genitals, mouth, nose, eyes, and ears.
- Be mindful of children, the elderly, and pets: Use extreme caution when using essential oils around children, the elderly, or pets, as they may have different sensitivities or be taking medications that could interact with the oils.
- Care should be taken when using essential oils near animals: as not all essential oils are safe to use on dogs, cats, birds, horses or other pets. Make sure your pets can “get away” “out of the room or area in which you are using essential oils. Be sure to research their compatibility beforehand.
- Keep essential oils away from fire hazards: Essential oils are flammable, so it’s important to store them away from sources of heat or fire.
“These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”