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Guidelines for Using Aromatherapy Safely at Home  

Increasingly, more and more people are using aromatherapy at home, for their families and
within their work environment. This increasing acceptance of  aromatherapy stems from an
interest in all things natural. 

We are now far more aware of the effects our consumerist  way of living has had on our health
and on our planet.  

While the benefits of Aromatherapy  are widespread, this  article offers are  few simple
guidelines for using Aromatherapy at home in a safe and appropriate manner.  

Aromatherapy  is  an  ancient   science  involving  the  use  of  essential  plant oils as a healing
tool. The  history  of  aromatic  plants  used  in  medicine  dates  back  60, 000 years.  Essential
oils  are derived  from plants, including  flowers, roots, bark, leaves, needles  and  pines, and
have chemical constituents, or properties, that can be used in the therapeutic treatment of a
range of symptoms.  

Some  essential  oils, for  example, have  sedating  properties, and  are  effective  in  promoting
relaxation and stress relief. Other essential oils may have analgesic and disinfectant properties
and can be used in pain relief and minimising the risk of infection.

By following a few basic guidelines, aromatherapy can be safely & effectively used at home to
treat a range of common symptoms.

1.            Essential oils are best used diluted - do not use essential oils undiluted
   directly on the skin. 

Most essential oils are best used diluted in carrier oil, such as Sweet Almond, Apricot, or even
Olive Oil, or an unscented base cream. 

Carrier oils assist the transportation of essential oils into the skin. Using a carrier oil also helps
minimize any allergic or sensitive reactions to the highly concentrated essential oils.

The two exceptions to this rule are Lavender & Tea Tree oil which can be safely applied, in very
small quantities, directly onto the skin to treat small and minor burns, stings or tiny wounds. 

2.            Use only high quality, 100% pure essential oils for effective health care 

High quality  essential  oils  are  more  expensive  than  fragrant  oils, because  of  the  cost  in
extracting essential oils from their plant source. Fragrant oils have no therapeutic properties,
and are usually made up of man-made, synthetic ingredients.  

The best way to identify a good quality essential oil is through its labelling. Ensure that the
label clearly  states that  you  are  buying 100%  essential oil. A high  quality  essential  oil is
sold in dark (amber or  blue) bottles  to prevent deterioration  and  will usually  include the
following features
on the label:

o  Common Name (e.g. Lavender) 

o  Botanical Name (e.g. Lavandula angustifolia) 

o  Use by date (all natural products have an expiry date) 

o A government  approved  code  to  indicate  that  it  has  passed  through rigorous
assessment  standards. In  Australia, all  products  making  therapeutic   claims
need  to go through the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) process. These
are  identified with a code that usually looks like AUST L plus a number. 

o Indications and contraindications-these are appropriate uses and situations
where these oils are best avoided

3.            Use essential oils only in the correct dilutions or dosages 

Dilutions of 3% are acceptable when using essential oils  on healthy adults. That is,
1 drop for every 2 ml of carrier oil. For example, if you are making up 10 ml of  bath
oil, use no more than 5 drops of essential oil. 

Remember the simple rule of less is best – should you use too much essential oil, this
can result in skin irritations, headaches, general feeling of unease and nausea.

For children and the elderly, use no more than 1.5% dilution. That is, 1 drop of essential oil
for every 4 mls of carrier.    

4.            Some oils can cause an allergic or sensitive reaction   

As some essential  oils may cause an  allergic reaction on  hypersensitive  skins, it is wise to do
a small patch test prior to using a specific essential oil for the first time. The best way is to add
1-2 drops of  essential oil  to a small  amount of  carrier (such as olive  oil or an unscented hand
cream) and apply to the inside of your wrist or elbow. 

If there is an irritation or reaction (such as a rash or spots), do not use this essential oil.  

5.            Some essential oils are hazardous and are best avoided 

There are  some well known  essential oils  that are considered  toxic or hazardous  and are
best avoided. These are usually considered  toxic or hazardous as  they may lead to dermal
or mucous irritation. 

The  most  common  essential  oils  to  avoid  are  camphor, cinnamon bark, clove, mustard,
pennyroyal, rue, sassafras, wintergreen  and  wormwood. It  is  important  to  note though,
that while many of the plants from  which the stated  hazardous essential  oils are derived
are still  used safely  in herbal medicine. 

6.            Essentials oils should never be ingested (taken orally) unless specified by a qualified
herbalist 

As essential oils are highly  concentrated, it is not advisable  to take  essential  oils internally
unless  prescribed  by  a fully  qualified and  professional  herbalist or naturopath. At present,
while this may not be the case  elsewhere in the  world, Aromatherapists  trained in Australia
are not  qualified to prescribe essential oils for ingestion, unless  they have additional herbal
medicine training.

7.            Some essential oils are best avoided during pregnancy or by those with epilepsy and
other health conditions 

As essential oils contain powerful chemical properties, there are some essential oils best
avoided during  pregnancy  and/or epilepsy. It is important to note  that as long as  certain
essential  oils are  avoided, aromatherapy is a safe and beneficial therapy  to enhance and
promote good health during pregnancy. 

As some essential oils may promote uterine contractions and others are used to regulate poor menstruation, some of these oils are best avoided throughout the pregnancy.

The  following  essential  oils are best  avoided  during  pregnancy: aniseed, basil, clary  sage,
cedarwood, cypress, fennel, jasmine, juniper, sweet marjoram, myrrh, nutmeg, peppermint,
rose and rosemary.   

Any person prone to epilepsy is advised to avoid hyssop, sage, fennel, and rosemary. 

Always carefully read the instructions on the label and, if in doubt, please consult a qualified Aromatherapist. 

8.            Store essential oils in a cool, dark place and out of reach place 

As essential oils are highly volatile, they  should be stored  in a cool, dark place to avoid
deterioration. Essential  oils should be  treated as  medicines and  should not  be within
easy reach of children.  Ingestion of essential oils can lead to poisoning because of their
high concentration. 

9.            Some essential oils should not be used before going into the sun 

The  citrus  essential  oils  such  as  bergamot, lemon, lime, mandarin, orange, petitgrain and
tangerine may make the skin more sensitive to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.  Do not go into the
sun for at least 12 hours after using these essential oils, to avoid sunburn.  

10.            Use essential oils responsibly and appropriately around children 

When using essential oils on children, it is important to use no more than 1.5% dilutions. That
is, use no more than 1 drop of essential oil for every 2 ml of carrier oil or base cream. 

The safest essential oils for children include the citrus oils such as grapefruit, lemon, mandarin,
orange, lime and petitgrain (though be aware of these oils may make the skin more vulnerable
to the sun’s ultraviolet rays), as well  as  roman  and german  chamomiles, eucalyptus, lavender, spearmint, tea tree and thyme.  

References: 

Battaglia, Salvatore                                                         The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy 

Tisserand, Robert and Tony Balacs                           Essential Oil Safety 

Worwood, Valerie Ann                                                  Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child 

© Rosa Ghidella, 2011  

Rosa Ghidella  is the  Director  of  the  Haberfield Naturopathic  Centre in  Sydney, Australia. She
is a qualified  Aromatherapist, Remedial Massage Therapist and  Reflexologist. Rosa also has a
Bachelor of Social Work and a Masters  in Management. She has  written numerous  articles for
a number of publications on health and wellbeing & has run a number of  corporate workshops
on motivation and health using complementary health care.