The safe use of essential oils

By Karen Malkin

Essential oils have soared in popularity in the past decade and are commonly found in people’s medicine cabinets, but how can they be used to promote wellness? And more importantly, how can practitioners use them safely in a therapeutic setting?

According to the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy, essential oil therapy is “the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize, and promote the health of body, mind, and spirit.” The therapy’s aim is to unify physiological, psychological, and spiritual processes to enhance one’s innate healing potential.

In the early ’80s, the Fragrance Research Fund began a collaboration with Yale University’s psychophysiology department to study ways in which aroma impacts behavior. One study followed 2,000-plus people over two decades. The disorders researched include fatigue, migraines, pain, cravings, insomnia, anxiety and depression, sexual dysfunction, memory loss, and more. They found fragrance works naturally, imparting few if any side effects.

More recent studies set out to show aroma’s positive physiological effects on the nervous system, blood pressure, heart rate, brain waves, and more. Further advanced research on the endocrine, immunological, and pharmacological effects of aromas is underway.

What Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are highly aromatic substances found in specialized cells or glands of certain plants. These essential oils are used by the plant for protection from predators and to attract pollinators. Essential oils may be found in virtually any part of the plant: seeds, flowers, fruit, leaves, stems, roots, bark, wood, needles, and resins. After the distillation of a plant, the aromatic substance is referred to as an essential oil.

Blending Considerations

When crafting an essential oil blend for yourself, a family member, or patient, here are the considerations to keep in mind:

• Therapeutics — Based on chemical components and the physical effect on the body.

• Aroma — Which scents appeal?

• Energetics — How do the oils elicit sensations such as “cooling,” “grounding,” “warming,” or “uplifting.” Plant parts (roots, leaves, seeds, flowers) play a role here.

• Safety — Who is the oil for? Are you formulating for a pregnant woman? A child? An older person? This will impact which oils you select in your blend.   

Safety, Dilution, and Storage

It takes a lot of plant material to make a small amount of essential oil—they are highly concentrated. For example, it takes 50-60 roses to produce one drop of rose essential oil. By extension, you only need a very small amount to achieve a desired therapeutic effect. Very few, if any, essential oils should be ingested or applied directly to the skin. In virtually all cases, it is advisable to dilute essential oils into a carrier oil or substance. You do this by combining the oils with “carriers” (such as vegetable, seed, or nut oils) before applying them to the skin.

Here are some general guidelines for dilution:

• 1 percent Dilution — Use for children under 12, people older than 65, pregnant women, and people with long-term illnesses or immune system disorders. A 1 percent dilution is also a good place to start with those who are sensitive to fragrances, chemicals, or environmental pollutants.
• 2 percent Dilution — Use for general health-supporting blends for skin care, bath oils, cleaning solutions, and blends you like to use daily.
• 3 percent Dilution — Use when creating a blend for a specific, acute health concern, such as pain relief or a cold or flu.

Essential oils are volatile, meaning they evaporate easily. They must be stored in dark, airtight, glass bottles. Exposure to light, oxygen, and heat will break down the oils and they can become “oxidized” and skin irritating. If oils are stored properly, they may last 6–8 months longer than at room temperature. All oils need to be kept cold. The ideal temperature is 65 degrees Fahrenheit, although between 45-65 degrees Fahrenheit is adequate.   

Purchasing unadulterated, organic essential oils from reputable manufacturers helps ensure you are using the purest plant constituents while ensuring ethical and sustainable harvesting methods.

Popular Oils & Their Therapeutic Benefits

• Lavender — The most widely used essential oil due to its broad range of properties; antidepressant, decongestant, sedative, promotes calming, relieves headaches and muscle aches, healing for burns. Very safe, non-toxic, non-irritant; can use with children. A few drops on the pillow can help kids go to sleep, but don’t overdo it, as it can be stimulating. 

• Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) — Great for green cleaning products and first aid; antifungal, antiseptic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, decongestant, expectorant, stimulating to the immune system, good for acne; can put directly on the skin. But may cause skin irritation if the oil is older and oxidized. 

• Peppermint — Found in 1000 BC in Egyptian tombs, widely used; anti-inflammatory, antifungal, circulation stimulant, pain relief, nausea, headaches, digestive upset (settles the stomach, but may have the opposite effect with GERD), because energetically cooling, relieves anger. Strong! Dilute at a maximum of 5 percent or less. Avoid using with children younger than five years old. Contraindicated with cardiac fibrillation and the genetic deficiency G6PD. May interfere with homeopathic remedies.  

• Frankincense — Extracted from the resin / gum of the Boswellia tree, grown in the Middle East and Africa; antiseptic, wound healing, expectorant, pain-relieving, relaxing to the nervous system, used to enhance spirituality. May cause skin irritation in those with sensitive skin. To be safe, use in low dilution when applying to the skin. 

·         Eucalyptus — Uplifting aroma useful for all respiratory conditions, decongestant inhalant for colds, antiviral, antibacterial; not only eases nasal congestion associated with a cold, it inhibits proliferation of the virus causing the cold; useful as an air spray in the house for protection when other are sick. Relieves pain, muscle aches, and headaches. Non-toxic and non-irritating but should not be used on children younger than 10 years old. Do not apply to or near the face of infants. May interfere with homeopathic remedies, and care must be taken when using with asthmatics.  

References

• National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy. Exploring Aromatherapy. https://naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/about-aromatherapy/what-is-aromatherapy 
• Keville, Kathi. The Aromatherapy Garden: Growing Fragrant Plants for Happiness and Well-Being. Timber Press, 2016.
• Hongratanaworakit, Tapanee. Physiological effects in aromatherapy. http://rdo.psu.ac.th/sjstweb/journal/26-1/12aromatherapy.pdf
• Tisserand, Robert and Young, Rodney. Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals, 2^nd edition. Churchill Livingstone, 2013.