Safety precautions

Always check with specific SAFETY DATA before using a new oil, especially with regard to toxicity levels, phototoxicity, dermal irritation and sensitisation.

Contra-indications: Take note of any contra-indications when using particular oils. For example fennel, hyssop and sage should be avoided by epileptics; clary sage should not be used while drinking alcohol; hops should not be used by anyone suffering from depression. See full summary below.

High blood pressure: Avoid the following oils in cases of high blood pressure: hyssop, rosemary, sage (all types) and thyme.

Homeopathy: Homeopathic treatment is not compatible with the following oils: black pepper, camphor, eucalyptus and the mint oils.

Pregnancy: During pregnancy use essential oils in half the usual stated amount. Take note of those oils which are contra-indicated in pregnancy.

Babies and children: use with care, in accordance with age.

• Babies (0–12 months) – use 1 drop of lavender, rose, chamomile or mandarin diluted in 1 tsp base oil for massage or bathing.
• Infants (1–5 years) use 2–3 drops of ‘safe’ essential oils (non-toxic and non irritant to the skin), diluted in 1 tsp base oil for massage or bathing.
• Children (6–12 years) – use as for adults but in half the stated amount. Teenagers (over 12 years) – use as directed for adults.

Diluting essential oils

Essential oils are highly concentrated plant essences, so as a general rule they should always be used diluted in a base oil, lotion, ointment or balm, or bath. In addition, while diluted oils can be used as mouthwashes and gargles, they should never be swallowed without the advice of a medically trained practitioner.

Even when diluted, most leave-on-essential oil skin preparations should avoid delicate areas of the body, such as the eyes and mucous membranes. If you have sensitive skin, or suffer from allergies, it is always good to perform a patch test of your chosen oil first. Never apply essential oils neat on babies or children. Before using an oil, carefully check the safety advice and make sure you follow the recommendations for dilution.

Summary of Cautions and Contra-indications

Contra-indications of essential oils used in aromatherapy are likely to create debate. The following list should be used as a guide to the safe use of essential oils.

Never use

The following essential oils are considered to be hazardous and have a very high oral and dermal toxicity. They should never be used.

Almond bitter (unrectified), basie ct methyl chavicol, birch (sweet), buchu (B. crenulata), cade (unrectified), camphor (brown and yellow), cassia, cinnamon bark, costus, elecampane, fig leaf, horseradish, Melaleuca bracteata, mustard, mugwort, pennyroyal, rue, sage (Dalmatian), sassafras, tansy, tarragon, tea absolute, thuja, verbena, wintergreen, wormseed, wormwood¹.

Never use on hypersensitive, diseased or damaged skin

Tisserand and Balacs state that the following essential oils should not be used on hypersensitive, damaged or diseased skin such as in (normal) infants, or in eczema, dermatitis or psoriasis:

Garlic, oakmoss absolute, treemoss absolute, verbena absolute¹.

Use with caution on hypersensitive, diseased or damaged skin

Tisserand and Balacs state that the following essential oils should be used with caution because they can be irritating and sensitising on hypersensitive, damaged or diseased skin, such as in (normal) infants, or in eczema, dermatitis or psoriasis:

Ajowan, anise, cade (rectified), citronella, clove bud, clove leaf, clove stem, lemon scented eucalyptus, lemon myrtle, laurel, lemongrass, may chang, melissa, onoin, oregano, perilla, savory, star anise, thyme¹.

Do not use orally

The following essential oils should not be taken orally (we personally suggest not to do any, and at own risk if you choose to do so):

Annual wormwood, basil, fennel, ho leaf (camphor/safrole ct), hyssop, Indian dill, lavender cotton, mace, East Indian nutmeg, parsley leaf, parsley seed¹.

Do not use at all on mucous membrane

These essential oils may irritate the skin when used in baths or massage. Do not use at all on anyone who is known to have sensitive skin, or who is susceptible to skin reactions.

Basil (all varieties), cinnamon leaf, sweet fennel, fir needle, lemongrass, lemon, lemon verbena, melissa, bitter orange, peppermint, red and wild thyme¹.

Use with caution on mucous membrane

Tisserand and Balacs recommend that the following essential oils not be used at more than 1% on mucous membrane (inhalation, rectal or vaginal administration):

Ajowan, cade (rectified), clove leaf, clove stem, oregano, pimento leaf, savory, thyme¹.

Tisserand and Balacs recommend that the following essential oils not be used at more than 3% on mucous membrane (inhalation, recta; pr vaginal administration):

West Indian bay, betel leaf, caraway, cinnamon leaf, clove bud, cornmint, laurel, Ocimum gratissimum, peppermint, pimento better, spearmint¹.

Anticoagulants – Caution only

Tisserand and Balacs recommend that the following essential oils should not be used internally by any individual who takes aspirin, heparin or warfarin:

West Indian bay, betel leaf, cinnamon leaf, clove bud, clove stem, clove leaf, garlic, Ocimum gratissimum, onion, pimento berry, pimento leaf¹.

Epilepsy

Tisserand and Balacs recommend that the following essential oils should not be used with caution by persons with epilepsy:

Camphor (white), lavandin, Lavandula stoechas, lavender cotton, peppermint, rosemary, rue, sage (Dalmatian), sage (Spanish), spike lavender, yarrow (camphor ct)¹.

These essential oils may stimulate an epileptic seizure in people who have epilepsy.

Davis recommends that the following essential oils showed not to be used by people with epilepsy:

Fennel (sweet), hyssop, rosemary, sage, wormwood².

Fever

The following essential oils should never be used by anyone suffering from a fever:

Wormwood, camphor (white), ho leaf (camphor/safrole ct), hyssop, lavender cotton¹.

Tisserand and Balacs also suggest that the following essential oils are contra-indicated orally by anyone with a fever.

Wormwood, camphor (white), hyssop, lavandin, Lavandula stoechas, spike lavender, rosemary, Spanish sage, yarrow (camphor ct)¹.

High blood pressure

Davis recommends that the following essential oils should not be used by anyone suffering from high blood pressure:

Hyssop, rosemary, sage².

Liver disease – caution only

Indian dill, parsley leaf, parsley seed¹.

Kidney disease – caution only

Indian dill, parsley leaf, parsley seed¹.

Photosensitisation

If the following oils have been used topically, do not expose the skin to sunlight or sunbed rays for 12 hours:

Angelica root, bergamot, cumin, grapefruit, lemon, cold-pressed lime, opopanax, bitter orange, rue, tagetes.

Pregnancy

Tisserand and Balacs recommend that essential oils in the ‘never us’ section as well as those listed below should not be used throughout pregnancy:

Camphor (white), ho leaf, (camphor/safrole ct), hyssop, Indian dill, parsley leaf, parsley seed, Spanish sage, savin¹.

Tisserand and Balacs recommend that the following essential oils should be used with caustion throughout pregnancy:

Wormwood, Lavandula stoechas, lavender cotton, oakmoss absolute, rue, treemoss absolute.

Davis recommends that the following essential oils should not be used during pregnancy:

Basil birch, Atlas cedarwood, clary sage, cypress, hyssop, jasmine, juniper berry, sweet marjoram, myrrh, peppermint, rosemary, tarragon, thyme².

References

1. Tisserand R, Balacs T. Essential oil safety. Churchill Livingstone, UK, 1995.
2. Dvis P. Aromatherapy: An A-Z, 2nd ed., The C.W. Daniel Company Limited, Great Britain, 1999.