Using Essential Oils Wisely

If you've had a chance to look around my blog, I'm sure you've noticed that I often use essential oils in many of my homemade health care, personal care & home care recipes. As much as I depend upon them & absolutely love using them, they are not completely harmless & it's a good thing to know HOW TO & HOW NOT TO use them.

Below is an article that I recently read at work, from leading essential oil company Aura Cacia, & I thought it was a great one to pass long.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim<><

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Essential oils are very concentrated. Their safe use requires they be treated w/care & respect. The user should be knowledgeable about their properties before any use. Most personal applications require DROPS rather than ounces.

• Always read & follow all label warnings & cautions.



• Keep oils tightly closed & out of the reach of children.



• Never ingest essential oils.



• Don't use undiluted oils on your skin. (Dilute w/vegetable oils such as sweet almond oil or grageseed oil [or liquid Castile soap ~KW<><])



• Skin test oils before using. Dilute an amount & apply to the skin on your inner arm. Do not use if redness or irritation occurs.



• Keep oils away from eyes & mucous membranes. [NOTE: some essential oils CAN be inhaled, such as Lavender ~ for stress & sleeplessness ~ it's important to know which ones can & cannot. ~KW<><]



• If redness, burning, itching or irritation occurs, stop using oils immediately.



• Angelica & ALL citrus oils make the skin more sensitive to ultraviolet light. Do not go out into the sun w/these oils on your skin.
  


• Sweet fennel, hyssop, sage & rosemary should not be used by anyone w/epilepsy.
  


• People w/high blood pressure should avoid hyssop, rosemary, sage & thyme.

OILS TO AVOID DURING PREGNANCY:

~Bitter almond, basil, clary sage, clove bud, hyssop, sweet fennel, juniper berry, marjoram, myrrh, peppermint, rose rosemary, sage, thyme & wintergreen.

POSSIBLE SKIN IRRITANTS:

~Allspice, bitter almond, basil, cinnamon leaf, cinnamon bark, clove bud, sweet fennel, fir needle, lemon, lemongrass, melissa, peppermint, tea tree & wintergreen.

SOURCE: www.auracacia.com

PLEASE NOTE: As a born-again Christian I DO NOT agree w/the New Age elements that many in the health food industry follow. I am an adult Christian trying to be a light in the world where the Lord has put me. ~KW<><