GENERAL PRECAUTIONS FOR THE USE OF ESSENTIAL OILS
In view of their concentration, the use of essential oils requires the respect of a number of basic rules in order to extract maximum benefits from their properties whilst avoiding any inconvenience that may arise due to misuse.
Although the vast majority of essential oils are of food grade quality, we do not recommend their ingestion without prior medical consultation.
1. We recommend that you first perform a tolerance test by applying pure or diluted essential oil on the inside of the wrist or elbow. Should your skin become red or irritated you should avoid any further application.
2. Essential oils are not water soluble and therefore if added directly to your bath they will float on the surface and may cause severe irritation upon contact with the skin or mucous membranes. What you should do is add the essential oil to a dispersant such as your shower gel, liquid soap or even coarse salt before running your bath. As a general rule, you should allow for a dispersant-to-essential oil ratio of 4-to-1 and should not exceed 10 drops of essential oil per 100 litres of water for adults.
3. You should never apply essential oils directly on mucous membranes, your eyes or eye contours, ears or nose. In case of accidental contact, rinse thoroughly with abundant water and clean the area with a cotton swab moistened with a vegetable oil. Seek medical advice if irritative symptoms persist.
4. Some essential oils are dermocaustic (they act as a skin irritant and can cause burns to skin and mucous membranes) and their use requires systematic dilution in a carrier oil.
5. Avoid the use of photosensitizing essential oils before sun and light (UV) exposure.
6. Peppermint (Mentha piperita) essential oil for example should not be applied over large areas as it activates the cold-sensing nerves making the area go numb. It is not recommended for use in pregnant women, babies or young children as there is a risk of pharyngeal spasms due to its hypertensive properties. More generally, a number of essential oils have special precautions for use that you must be aware of before application.
7. Never use essential oils on young children (under the age of 3) unless prescribed by a medical professional and you should only use essential oils with the utmost caution in children under the age of 12. Their use is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and for people with serious health issues.
8. Do not leave essential oil flasks or droppers within reach of children.
9. Essential oils are not drugs and should not be considered as such. Do not combine essential oil treatments with other drug treatments.
10. If in doubt, always seek medical advice.
USES FOR ESSENTIAL OILS
We invite you to consult our technical data sheets detailing specific uses and precautions for each essential oil. You will also find below a series of general indications that will allow you adopt a correct overall approach in the use of essential oils in aromatherapy.
Obviously, health and well-being depend primarily on the respect of the laws of nature in all areas of life and it is no different with essential oils that may be used to promote the smooth functioning of your body and stimulate individual functions or organs. They do not generate dependence, however due to their extreme concentration, they must be used with the greatest of care and caution, even at low doses. Essential oils are not drugs and should never be considered as such.
Topical use:
Topical administration means application to body surfaces such as the skin or mucous membranes of one or more essential oils (pure or diluted in a carrier oil) to treat ailments. Our Pure Complexes can also be used in massage or mixed with a few drops of vegetable oils.
Some essential oils can be highly dermocaustic. To avoid any risk of irritation and even burns, these essential oils must be diluted in a vegetable oil before they are applied on the skin. Sweet almond oil is neutral and is recommended as the go-to carrier oil, but any vegetable oil can be used. In many cases, the vegetable oil that you choose as a carrier oil will have properties of its own that complement and even reinforce the action of the essential oil; a great example is Everlasting Helichrysum macerate which is added to essential oils when treating circulatory disorders.
So which essential oils require dilution?
Dermocaustic – slightly or not at all:
Bergamot - Rosewood - Cade Juniper- Noble Chamomile - Caraway - Gum Rockrose - Cypress - Eucalyptus globulus - Eucalyptus radiata - Sweet Wintergreen (or Wintergreen) - Juniper - Rose Geranium - Helichrysum – Aspic Lavender - Lavender – Hybrid Lavender - Lemongrass –Peppermint - Myrtle - Palmarosa - Ravintsara - Camphor, cineole or verbenone Rosemary - Saro (or Mandravasarotra) - Tea tree - Ylang-Ylang.
Dermocaustic – possibly:
Dill - Exotic Basil - Lemon - Lemongrass - Tarragon - Ginger - Green Mandarin - Sweet Orange - Marjoram - Niaouli - Siberian Pine - Sandalwood - Thyme linalool or thujanol.
Dilute up to 20% in a carrier oil.
Dermocaustic – highly:
Cinnamon - Clove - Oregano - Savoury - Thyme thymol.
Dilute between 5% minimum and up to 20% in a carrier oil.
Inhalation & diffusion:
The inhalation of the vapours of 2 to 3 drops of essential oil or pure complex applied to the surface of a bowl boiling water or sprinkled on a handkerchief. Our Essential Oil Evaporative Diffusers are able to preserve the therapeutic properties of the essential oils.
Oral use:
Some essential oils are traditionally mixed with honey, sugar, or a vegetable carrier oil and ingested 2 to 3 times a day (1 to 2 drops). Of course, the amounts used depend on the essential oils chosen and you should always be aware of the possible toxic and dermocaustic effects of a number of essential oils. The oral ingestion of essential oils is always recommended for short periods only and always requires medical advice and a prescription.
For bathing:
Relaxing, soothing or purifying essential oils such as our Pure Complexes can always be used for bathing so long as you abide by one simple rule: always use a dispersant!
To safely enjoy the properties of the essential oil you have selected, blend the essential oil with shower gel, bath foam, liquid soap or even coarse salt before running your bath. As a general rule, you should allow for a dispersant to essential oil ratio of 4 to 1 and should not exceed 10 drops of essential oil per 100 litres of water for adults.
Cosmetic & Other Uses:
Dilute 1 or 2 drops in a care cream, in your sauna bucket or in your culinary preparations. Consider deodorization, cleaning, air freshening or as an effective insect repellent….
For further and more detailed information on the properties and uses of essential oils for your health well-being and beauty, please consult our aromatherapy reference books.
PRESERVATION OF ESSENTIAL OILS
Essential oil conservation
Your essential oil may be stored and preserved for many years insofar as you store them correctly in a cool place, away from direct sources of light and heat and in their original containers which must be properly closed to prevent evaporation.
Despite these precautions, it is possible that citrus essential oils (which are more fragile and volatile) may escape from the bottle. Moreover, they may naturally form a slight deposit that does not however affect their qualities. For these oils in particular, compliance with the best-before dates is the most appropriate course of action.
* Disclaimer: the information available here and in our general documentation does not claim to be exhaustive and is made available for information purposes only. In no case does it replace the medical advice necessary in the establishment of a diagnosis and in assessing the severity of a pathology. This information drawn from research conducted by healthcare professionals is the synthesis of our research on aromatherapy and includes reference books by Pierre Franchomme and Dr. Daniel Pénoël: "Precisely Aromatherapy" Roger Jollois Editor, of Aromatherapist pharmacist Dominique Baudoux: "Aromatherapy, healing with essential oils" (Editions Amyris), Dr. Zhiri and Dominique Baudoux: "Scientific aromatherapy - chemotyped essential oils and their synergies" (Editions Inspir), Dr. Jean Valnet: “The Aromatherapy Pocket Book”, Danielle Festy, pharmacist:" My Bible of essential oils ", Fabienne Millet, pharmacist: "The great guide to essential oils", (Marabout.) This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and does not constitute medical or other professional advice. Maison Laget shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary, or other damages arising therefrom.
