In our introductory video (see below), we discussed what essential oils are and how they are extracted.

We pointed out the high concentration of these plant extracts. This should give us some understanding on the potency and also the high cost of some of these oils.

It takes 250 lb. of lavender flowers to make
1 lb. of lavender oil – and it requires 6,000 pounds of
Melissa plant to yield just a single pound of
Melissa essential oil.

When properly diluted and used with common sense, essential oils are safe, pleasurable and therapeutic and can greatly enhance a healthy lifestyle.The essential oil in your bottle is 50 to 100 times more concentrated than the plant, they come from. They are powerful substances and can even be harmful if not used with due care and diligence.

Essential Oils are extremely concentrated plant essences
that need to be treated with respect

ESSENTIAL OIL SAFETY STANDARDS

Aromatherapy is, in the right hands, a safe and effective therapy. However, because they are potent substances, some can be harmful if used incorrectly. We need to take a few simple precautions in order to safely apply this extremely beneficial therapy successfully.

These standards pertain to SINGLE OILS (synergies, or blends of two or more oils are a different subject as the chemistry changes when oils are combined). Especially beginners should strictly adhere to these standards:

1.) ESSENTIAL OILS SHOULD NEVER BE USED UNDILUTED ON THE SKIN. There are a few exceptions to the rule, including Lavender • Tea Tree • Ylang Ylang and • Sandalwood

2.) ESSENTIAL OILS SHOULD NOT BE USED INTERNALLY. They can harm or disrupt the natural working of the digestive tract. Further the oils have to be filtered in the organs and can bog down your system, and even cause toxicity. Topical application of Essential Oils is preferred as it bypasses your digestive tract.

3.) ESSENTIAL OILS SHOULD NEVER COME IN CONTACT WITH YOUR EYES. Wash your hands after handling essential oils, to avoid eye contact. If you ever get essential oils into your eyes, rinsing them with water will just displace them and burn another part of your eye, since they are not water soluble. Instead, use any kind of vegetable oil and wipe around your eyes. (I have even put some olive oil in my eyes during production once, when menthol splashed into my eyes – worked great!)

4.) ALWAYS DO A PATCH TEST WHEN USING A NEW OIL TOPICALLY. The inside of your forearm has very sensitive skin, this is a great place to do a patch test to see if you can tolerate the oil. If you applied an oil to your skin, that gives you an irritation, (again, use a fatty oil to dilute the essential oil if you have a reaction).

5.) ALWAYS USE THE LEAST EVASIVE FORM OF TREATMENT. It is not necessary or wise to always reach for the strongest oil. If an oil that is easily tolerated does the trick, there is no reason to choose an aggressive oil. After all, we want to aid the body in its inherent ability to heal itself.

6.) CHECK THE SOURCE OF YOUR INFORMATION. A lot of information is marketing driven and full of mis-information that can be confusing or even harmful. When in doubt, consult literature from Europe (in the case of English language, check with sources in England, Australia…). In these places, Essential Oils are not a fad or trend, but they are part of the official health care system. Europe has done a lot of clinical trials and studies.

7.) CHOOSE YOUR AROMATHERAPY COUNSELOR WISELY. The person giving you advise on questions regarding Essential Oils should have a formal schooling in Aromatherapy. Self-taught education is just not enough to give you sound instructions.

PROPER DILUTION OF ESSENTIAL OILS

Essential oils, when applied to the skin, must always be diluted to the correct strength in an appropriate carrier oil. This is a fundamental prerequisite for the safety of all oils.

ADULTS: 3% – 4%

FRAIL AND ILL ADULTS: 1 to 1.5%

PREGNANT WOMEN: 1 to 1.5%

BABIES*: 0.5%

INFANTS 1-5 YEARS: 1%

CHILDREN 6-12 YEARS: 1.25%

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