The essential oil market is on the rise. New oils and fragrances appear daily, but people are unaware of whether they are safe for their wellness. Essential oil safety depends on many factors, including age, health conditions, medication use, and others. Essential oils are not regulated in the USA, so there are no official statements about their components’ safety and quality. To assess their safety, people should consider factors like the oil’s purity and chemical composition, dosage, application method, and duration of use.
Essential Oils: Outlook
Essential oils are extracts from leaves, roots, or flowers obtained through distillation or pressing. They are a unique blend of chemicals and maintain the plant’s natural smell. Essential oils are common supplements for healing practices, relaxation, mood enhancement, and stress relief.
They complement a range of methods, but the main ones are inhaling, diffusing, and topical application. You can use the oil personally, or fall under their influence reflexively. Regardless of the case, it is essential to explore the topic before facing any consequences, whether positive or negative.
Essential Oils: Possible Negative Effects on Your Health
To know what oils to try and what to avoid, you should never forget the possible side effects that may appear. Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts, so direct inhalation may irritate the respiratory tract, resulting in coughing, shortness of breath, and nose and throat irritation. People with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may be susceptible to these symptoms.
Moreover, essential oils may cause allergic reactions if applied topically or inhaled. It may result in skin irritations, contact dermatitis, burning, and other complications. Some symptoms, like tongue swelling, throat narrowing, intense rashes, and problems with breathing, are more severe and require an urgent call to the doctor. Further, you can read what risks and complications some popular essential oils may cause:
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Anise: It can lower the antidepressant effects of some medications and increase the effects of drugs that impact the central nervous system.
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Nutmeg: If applied topically, this oil may cause a rash or burn on the skin. If ingested in high concentrations, it may lead to hallucinations or even coma.
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Tea Tree: If applied topically, it may cause skin irritation. Ingestion may cause loss of muscle coordination.
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Cinnamon: If inhaled without dilution, this oil may cause contact dermatitis, nausea, vomiting, and mucus membrane irritation.
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Lavender: Topical application can affect hormonal rates in males who have not reached puberty.
Safety Guidelines
It is crucial to keep to safety measures regardless of the method of essential oil usage. They will help you reach the required result without harming your health.
Topical application
People often choose essential oils for topical application to relieve pain, heal the skin, or conduct beauty procedures. Some essential oils are poisonous or phototoxic if exposed to the sun.
Because pure essential oils are potent, diluting them in a carrier oil is the best way to avoid a bad reaction from direct skin contact. Carrier oils typically come from vegetable oils and have a neutral smell. Examples of these oils are jojoba, coconut, and almond oils. They help to apply essential oil carefully onto the skin and are safe for covering large skin areas.
Patch tests can help determine whether you are allergic to a particular oil. Before performing a complete application, you may use patches for 24 hours to see how your skin reacts to the essential oil. You should stop using the oil immediately if the skin under a patch becomes red, swollen, itchy, or blistered.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is probably the most researched area related to essential oil usage. According to scientific studies, certain essential oils can ease symptoms of anxiety and stress, while others improve sleep quality, enhance focus and productivity, and so on.
Aromatherapy is beneficial for treating respiratory issues (inhaling) and enhancing moods (diffusing). Before diffusing or inhaling aromatic oils, make sure you use them in a well-ventilated area. It’s better to diffuse oils intermittently, making regular pauses up to 60 minutes. Try to use oils without potential risks to you, your kids, and your pets(if any). Lavender, citrus blends, and cedarwood are the safest choices for this. Avoid mucous membrane irritants: cinnamon bark or leaf, bay, peppermint, thyme, lemongrass, and clove.
Are Essential Oils Safe for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding?
Using essential oils during pregnancy and breastfeeding is a controversial issue, as potential risks for the baby may outweigh potential benefits for the mother. Some fragrances are forbidden during these periods, while a few are considered safe. You should never use parsley seed, wintergreen, camphor, tarragon, and hyssop essential oils while pregnant. Birch, wintergreen, sage, peppermint, and rosemary oils are incompatible with breastfeeding.
Final Thoughts
Be cautious before using any essential oil, as it may be equally helpful and harmful for your health and wellness. Profound knowledge and expertise in the topic ensure your safety when applying essential oils on your body, inhaling them, and diffusing them at home or work.
