There has been a lot of talk about essential oil safety. Numerous people have complained that certain essential oils have caused a bad reaction – from skin irritation and redness to more serious ones such as a respiratory infection. This is a genuine concern for many, as essential oils are potent and can cause harmful effects if not used correctly or without proper safety precautions in place.

With so many different essential oils in the market, it can be hard to know which ones are safe for you and your family and which might cause reactions or problems.

If you are an oiler but are not familiar with essential oil safety precautions, this blog post will discuss essential oil safety precautions that can help ensure you and your family’s health and wellbeing!

How do essential oils work?

Pure essential oils contain a lot of crucial components. When inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or ingested in small amounts, these oils can help alleviate various physical and mental conditions such as anxiety, stress, and fatigue.

However, essential oils also contain potent chemical compounds that have been shown to cause irritations when misused. In addition to this, if essential oils are used in poorly diluted or undiluted essential oil concentrations, they may cause unwanted side effects.

There are two types of essential oils that you can use – ‘therapeutic grade’ and ‘medicinal grade.’ These essential oil grades are the best quality essential oils out there because they contain essential components.

The essential component of essential oils that makes them so beneficial is called ‘terpene.’ Terpenes are known to have anti-inflammatory properties which can help reduce pain, relax the mind and body, prevent infections, improve respiratory functions, etc., making essential oil safety precautions crucial to ensure you get all these benefits without any side effects.

Are essential oils safe?

The essential oil industry is a budding market that has been exploding in recent years. This may make you wonder if essential oils are safe to use.

There have been many cases of essential oil safety concerns, such as people reporting adverse effects from using certain essential oils, which led them to stop essential oil usage altogether; however, these reports were usually due to misuse.

Essential oils are potent, so they must be used in small amounts or with appropriate essential oil safety precautions to ensure the most benefits without any unwanted side effects.

Some essential oils to be aware of include: eucalyptus essential oil, tea tree oil, and peppermint essential oil, which are known for causing skin irritations. In addition to this, various essential oils such as cinnamon bark should not be applied directly onto the skin because they may cause skin irritations and rashes.

Additionally, there are essential oil blends that are to be avoided by pregnant women and children, such as citrus oils, essential oil blends with tea tree, peppermint, and eucalyptus oils as they can cause harm to these groups of people.

Overall, essential oil safety precautions are crucial to ensure you get the most benefits from your essential oils without unwanted side effects!

Essential Oil Safety Guidelines

When using essential oils, you need to be aware of safety precautions that may reduce your chances of side effects. Here are some essential oil safety precautions to keep in mind:

Do your research

Whenever you use essential oil products, you need to do your research. There are so many essential oils out there. Not all of them have the same safety concerns, making it vital that you pay attention to what type of essential oil is best for you.

For instance, there are phototoxic essential oils such as bergamot, angelica root, and grapefruit essential oils, which you should avoid when in the sun because they can cause skin irritations.

If you plan to use essential oils in your home environment with children or pets around, then ensure they are known to be safe for them, such as lavender essential oil.

diluted essential oils

Use diluted essential oil forms

Using pure essential oils that are diluted makes them safe to use. While some essential oils are safe to use neatly, like lavender oil, you may want to do a skin patch test first to see if essential oils have an adverse reaction to your skin.

If you want to apply essential oils topically, dilute a few drops of your favorite oil with a carrier oil such as grapeseed or coconut oil before applying it to your skin.

Avoid exposing essential oils to direct sunlight

Most essential oils don’t pose any risks when exposed to sunlight for a short period of time. However, essential oils with phototoxic properties such as citrus essential oils should be kept away from direct sunlight or UV rays because it can cause skin irritations even more so than if the essential oils were neat on your skin.

Know how to safely store your oils

essential oil storage

If essential oils are not stored correctly, they may lose their therapeutic properties, making them less effective. Ensure essential oils you purchase from a trusted source come with the proper storage guidelines to safely store your essential oil bottles.

Store essential oils in a cool and dark place such as a cupboard or drawer. This way, essential oils will not degrade and lose their therapeutic properties.

If essential oil products come with a dropper, then ensure to keep them away from children as it can be harmful if they ingest essential oils or get droplets in their eyes.

Use essential oils for their intended purpose

Some essential oils are safe to use neat on your skin, while others should not be applied directly onto the skin because they can cause adverse reactions.

Ensure you know which essential oil is best suited for what type of application before using them so that you can stay safe.

Diffuse essential oils in 30-minute intervals

diffusing essential oils

If essential oils are diffused for longer than 30 minutes, then the essential oil molecules may be too potent for your respiratory system. Only diffuse essential oils in intervals of no more than 30 minutes to ensure you benefit from their therapeutic properties without any unwanted side effects.

Be mindful that essential oils can interact with medications and supplements

Some essential oil blends that are safe to use may not be safe for everyone. For example, essential oil blends that contain lemon essential oils can reduce the effectiveness of certain medications and supplements. While certain oils cause an allergic reaction to some people when mixed with prescription medicines.

Be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using essential oils if you regularly take any type of medication. Hence, they know what essential oil products would work best for you!

Avoid ingesting essential oils

Some people drink essential oils by mixing them with water or taking them via drops. This is one of the most dangerous essential oil mistakes that people make.

Essential oils are highly concentrated, which means they are not edible and can cause severe side effects when ingested. If essential oils are ingested, they will enter your bloodstream and cause organ damage if too much is consumed.

What to do when you experience side effects?

The essential oils you use may not be safe for everyone. If essential oil side effects occur, stop using the essential oil and consult your doctor if symptoms continue or worsen.

Symptoms of essential oil sensitivity include:

– allergic reactions on the skin such as rash or hives when applying an essential oil topically

– nausea after diffusing an essential oil blend in a room

– wheezing and difficulty in breathing after essential oil ingestion

– essential oil poisoning if essential oils are ingested in excess

Ensure essential oils you choose to use on yourself or others do not pose any risks when used correctly and within the recommended guidelines.

Final Thoughts

Essential oils are powerful natural remedies that have been used for centuries to promote health and wellness.

They can be found in many products, including skincare items, supplements, household cleaners, aromatherapy diffusers, candles, and more. But it’s important to note these potent plant extracts should not be taken lightly as they may cause side effects if not used properly or with the proper precautions.

If you’re considering using essential oils at home or on your family members – whether fresh from nature or bottled up in a store-bought product – ensure that you follow safety guidelines before using them.

If essential oil side effects occur after use, then stop using the essential oil immediately and consult a doctor or medical professional as soon as possible so potential issues can be resolved.

Always remember essential oils are not toys but serious natural remedies that need to be used with caution and care!