What's An Essential Oil?
Aromatic, naturally-occurring compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. They have long been used for food "spicing", beauty regimens, and health care uses. How long have essential oils been used? Thousands of years.
Are you into watching videos? Click HERE for a short video explaining, "What is an essential oil?"
Are you into watching videos? Click HERE for a short video explaining, "What is an essential oil?"
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Photo by: Josh Felise (words mine).
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It is important to keep in mind that therapeutic-grade essential oils are
highly-concentrated plant extracts. Please use with reasonable care.
Some things to keep in mind when using Essential Oils:
Some things to keep in mind when using Essential Oils:
- Be sure to use only pure therapeutic-grade essential oils and follow all label warnings and instructions.
- Keep out of reach of children.
- Keep essential oils away from the eyes, ear canal, or open wounds. If you get into the eye, DO NOT use water. Use a vegetable oil to dilute.
- Same thing if redness or irritation occurs when using essential oils topically. Apply a vegetable oil such as fractionated coconut oil or olive oil to the affected area.
- Keep essential oils away from child's hands. They may rub eyes with them. If you apply to children, applying to the feet is a great option! Also, a good idea with children is to apply a very small amount of oil to test skin or other sensitivity. This also applies to those with sensitive skin.
- Do NOT consume an essential oil internally unless the product is FDA-approved as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) and labeled with a Supplement Facts box with specific dietary supplement use instructions and warnings.
- Some oils such as Cassia, Cinnamon and Oregano are considered "hot" and may burn you. Use caution and dilute these oils with a chosen carrier oil such as Fractionated Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, or Almond Oil.
- Oils diluted down to 1-3% are just as effective on children and those with sensitive skin. 5-10% for adults is effective as well. A good rule of thumb if you want to dilute is use less to start. You can always add more drops if you don't see the desired effect.
- Internal use of essential oils should be limited. The recommended limit is no more than 25-30 drops per day. Use your own discretion.
- Avoid the sun after using citrus oils which cause sun sensitivity.
- Consult your physician before using essential oils if you are pregnant or under a doctor's care or have other safety questions regarding essential oils.
- If Pregnant, I would suggest to refrain from using essential oils without doing further research.
What can I use to dilute with?
The most popular oils to dilute your essential oils with are:
*Fractionated Coconut Oil
*JoJoba Oil
*Almond Oil
*Grapeseed Oil (Check out this site for Certified Organic: Wildtree)
*Olive Oil (word of warning: this may leave an oil residue on clothes)
Here is a Dilution Chart I found online. This will help guide you and help you to decide how much you would like to dilute your oils if using topically:
*Fractionated Coconut Oil
*JoJoba Oil
*Almond Oil
*Grapeseed Oil (Check out this site for Certified Organic: Wildtree)
*Olive Oil (word of warning: this may leave an oil residue on clothes)
Here is a Dilution Chart I found online. This will help guide you and help you to decide how much you would like to dilute your oils if using topically:
How do you use essential oils? CLICK HERE.