A few quick safety tips!

​Safety is important when it comes to using essential oils. It's easy to get overwhelmed with all of the information available, but using common sense and starting gradually will help ease any sort of intimidation you might feel as you begin using essential oils in your everyday life.


1. When storing essential oils (EOs), it's important to keep them in a cool, dark place with lids tightly closed (and always out of reach of children). You'll also want to keep carrier oils (like coconut, olive, vitamin e, sweet almond oil, etc.) on hand for dilution. Always use and store EOs in glass containers, especially when drinking them in water, since most plastic products  contain chemicals that can be broken down by the oil.


2. Many EOs are safe for use during pregnancy, but need to be used with common sense. As with any health program, you may want to consult with a health care professional beforehand. Check out these articles about oils during pregnancy here and here. 


3. Citrus oils are photosensitive and when applied to skin, they may cause a rash or dark pigmentation on skin exposed to UV rays or direct sunlight within 1-2 days after application of citrus oils.


4. Keep EOs away from eyes and never put them directly into the ears.Should irritation or accidental contact with eyes occur, never use water to clear the EO (they are not water-soluble). Instead use a carrier oil such as coconut oil or sweet almond oil to cleanse the area and reduce discomfort.


5. Epileptics and people with high blood pressure should use extra caution when using EOs with high ketones like basil, rosemary, sage, or tansy. You should consult your doctor when deciding to use oils. 


6. For people with allergies or sensitive skin, it's best to test a small area (like the inside of the upper arm) then wait 30 minutes before applying to other areas. In general, the bottoms of the feet are safe for topical application.


7. Direct inhalation (not the same as diffusing) can be a deep and intensive application method, particularly for respiratory congestion and illness. This method should not be used more than 10-15 times throughout the day without first consulting a health care professional.


8. When adding EOs to bath water, start with 1-3 drops first mixed with Epsom salt to help disperse the oil. If a dispersing agent is not used, serious discomfort can be caused because the oil tends to float undiluted on top of the water.


9. Young Living states right on the bottles if an oil is able to be consumed as a food additive. Also, they now have a "Vitality Line" that provides oils labeled for consumption.Please do not use any Essential Oil internally until you check to make sure it is an oil that can be ingested.


10. When in doubt, read your labels!

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