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How To Use Essential Oils Safely

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Essential Oil Safety Tips

Here are some basics on how to use essential oils safely. As a Certified Essential Oil and Wellness Coach, essential oil safety is my number one concern. Essential oils are amazing natural alternatives as long as you keep a few safety tips in mind.

  1. Always dilute – I recommend diluting essential oils always to minimize skin irritations. Usually a teaspoon or two of a carrier oil will do. I prefer fractionated coconut oil or sweet almond oil. doTERRA offers essential oil roller bottles already diluted for convenience and safety. This is one of my favorite kits for families. It comes with the most important essential oils as well as fractionated coconut oil for diluting as well as a FREE training on how to use the oils for your whole family.
  2. Less is more – start with one drop and go from there. For children and babies you want to be extra careful. If you are looking to use essential oils for babies and children, please contact me and I can give you further guidance. As a rule of thumb, always dilute and start with 1 drop. I can give you further guidance on usage depending on the situation and the age of the child so please feel free to contact me. If you are part of my tribe of oil users, you will receive resources that will help you use your oils safely and effectively. You will also get an access to exclusive Facebook group.
  3. Only purchase high quality oils – I can’t stress this enough. Many essential oils sold in stores and online are not 100% pure (even if the package says so) or certified therapeutic grade. They can be filled with chemicals and additives causing potential negative health consequences and allergic reactions. A package can state 100% pure and only contain 25% essential oils and rest fillers and additives. I only use and recommend doTERRA essential oils for my clients because of their quality and the fact that they are certified therapeutic grade. You wouldn’t want to be using sub par essential oils and risk potential health consequences as a result, especially if you have children and pets around.
  4. Essential Oils generally considered safe (always check with your own doctor prior to using) during pregnancy: Bergamot, Cilantro, Coriander, Fir Needle, Frankincense, Ginger, Grapefruit, Helicrysum, Juniper Berry, Lavender, Lemon, Lime, Wild Orange, Patchouli, Peppermint, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang
  5. Essential Oils NOT SAFE during pregnancy –  Basil, Birch, Black Pepper, Cedarwood, Cardamom, Cassia, Cinnamon, Citronella, Clary Sage, Clove, Cumin, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Geranium (not considered safe during first trimester), Hyssop, Jasmine, Lemongrass, Manuka, Marjoram, Melissa, Myrrh, Oregano, Tea tree, Roman Chamomile, Rose, Rosemary, Spikenard, Thyme, Wintergreen.
  6. Essential oils during breastfeeding – Avoid excessive use of peppermint or cassia essential oils which can cause your milk supply to drop. Fennel is great for supporting milk supply along with Basil and Clary Sage. Avoid fennel if you have history of seizures or epilepsy.
  7. Essential oils and photosensitivity – Avoid using citrus essential oil topically (on the skin) before going in the sun. Allow at least 12 hours from the time of application before exposure to sun to avoid possible adverse reactions.
  8. Internal use – Use caution and less is more approach with internal use of essential oils. I only recommend doTERRA oils for internal usage because most essential oils on the market are not pure enough for internal use. The doTERRA oils that are ok for internal use will have supplemental facts printed on the bottle but use caution if pregnant or you have medical concerns. Not all essential oils can be taken internally regardless of the brand such as Wintergreen, Birch etc. The general rule of thumb is start with 1 drop and take it in 4 oz of liquid or in a doTERRA vegetable capsule preferably with food. Certain essential oils shouldn’t be used longer than 10 days in a row internally, for example oregano is one of those oils. Avoid using frankincense internally if you have blood clotting issues. Always check with your doctor if you have existing medical concerns prior to taking essential oils internally. If you have any questions on internal use of essential oils, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
  9. Diffusing – use about 2-6 drops of essential oil depending on the size of the room. Diffuse around 30-45 minutes at a time. Use caution if diffusing essential oils for prolonged periods of time such as thyme, clove, cinnamon bark and lemongrass because they can irritate the mucous membranes. Use an essential oil diffuser that has a timer or auto-shut off when the water runs out.
  10. Essential oils and pets – Always dilute and start with 1 drop and watch for reactions. Do not lock a pet in a room if a diffuser is running, usually pets know the get out if something is not agreeing with them.
  11. Essential oils for cats – The following oils are considered generally safe for cats: Frankincense, Helicrysum, Lavender, Lemon, Melissa, Oregano, Peppermint, doTERRA Immortelle Blend, doTERRA Peace blend, doTERRA Zendocrine, doTERRA Digestzen, doTERRA Balance, doTERRA Aromatouch, doTERRA Onguard, doTERRA Breathe and doTERRA Deep Blue (Always check with your vet if your pet has medical concerns)
  12. Essential oils for dogs – The following oils are considered generally safe for dogs (I have personally used these for our dogs as well): doTERRA Breathe, doTERRA Onguard, Frankincense, Oregano, doTERRA Digestzen, doTERRA Balance, doTERRA Peace, doTERRA Deep Blue, lavender, peppermint, Ginger, Fennel, Bergamot, Basil, Cedarwood, Lemongrass, Marjoram, Melaleuca, Roman Chamomille, Myrrh (Always check with your vet if your pet has medical concerns)

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This post and products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Here are a few videos on the quality of doTERRA oils and why I only recommend doTERRA brand to my clients as a certified essential oil coach.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=0risDwfU3m8

https://youtu.be/OwLbPaIwrow

https://youtu.be/QEg5enpN0p4

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