Essential Oil Safety Information

We do not recommend the internal use of any Essential Oils or Absolutes.

Never use essential oils as a substitute for necessary medical care. Always consult a qualified health professional.

Only the finest quality pure essential oils should be used in aromatherapy.

Use less rather than more.

Always keep all essential oils out of the reach of children.

Do not use essential oils on or near the eyes.

Do not apply essential oils neat (or undiluted) to the skin or mucus membranes.

If any sort of skin rash develops, discontinue use. Try another oil.

For further information on using essential oils safely, we recommend the following books:

Schnaubelt, Kurt. Advanced Aromatherapy. Healing Arts Press, Rochester, VT, 1998. ISBN: 0-89281-743-7

Sheppard-Hanger, Sylla. The Aromatherapy Practitioner Reference Manual. The Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy, Tampa FL, 1995. ISBN: 0-9643141-O-X

Tisserand, Robert. Essential Oil Safety. Churchill Livinstone, Edinburgh, 1995. ISBN: 0-443-05260-3

Watt, Martin. Plant Aromatics. The Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy, Tampa, FL, 1994. NO LONGER AVAILABLE. For other information, visit www.aromamedical.org/

 


Definitions

 

Carcinogenic Producing cancer.

Convulsant Producing or causing convulsions.

Hepatoxic Toxic to liver cells.

Low level Less than 2% (10 drops per 30 ml diluant) dilution.

Neurotoxic Poisonous or destructive to nerve tissue.

Phototoxic A harmful effect produced or promoted by exposure to ultra-violet light. Can cause redness or burning of the skin. Increases the reaction of the skin to sunlight or tanning lights.

Sensitization An immune reaction in response to contact with an allergen. A delayed hypersensitivity escalating with continued use of an oil that can cause areas of the skin (including other than where topically applied) and other parts of the body to react in an adverse way.

Toxic Poison.

 


The Oils

 

Common Name

Latin Name

Safety Cautions

Ammi Visnaga

Ammi Visnaga

Avoid when pregnant and with blood thinning medications. Not for children. Phototoxic. Potentially hepatoxic at high doses.

Angelica

Angelica archangelica

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Somewhat phototoxic. Possible skin irritant, sensitizing. Avoid in pregnancy, epilepsy.

Aniseed

Pimpinella anisum

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Should not be used when pregnant or by children. Possible skin irritant, sensitizing.

Basil (Sweet)

Ocimum basilicum

Not for small children. Avoid sensitive skin. Possible carcinogenic, hepatoxic.

Bay

Laurus nobilis

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid when pregnant. Possible skin irritant. Potentially sensitizing.

Benzoin Absolute

Styrax benzoin

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Potential strong sensitizer.

Bergamot

Citrus bergamia

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Phototoxic. Possible carcinogenic. Slight possible skin irritant.

Birch (Yellow)

Betula alleghaniensis

Potentially toxic. Use sparingly and highly diluted. Should not be used when pregnant/lactating or by children or babies.

Black Pepper

Piper nigrum

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Possible skin irritant. Large levels may damage kidneys.

Cajeput`

Melaleuca leucadendron L

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Possible skin irritant.

Camphor (White Fraction)

Cinnamomum camphora

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Potential toxic reaction. Possible convulsant, neurotoxic. Avoid when pregnant.

Cardamon

Elettaria cardamomum Maton

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Possible skin irritation.

Carrot

Daucus carota

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid when pregnant.

Cayenne Oleoresin

Capsicum annum

No information available. Use with caution.

Cedarwood (Atlas)

Cedrus atlantica

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid when pregnant. Potentially irritating at high levels.

Cedarwood (Red)

Juniperus virginiana

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid when pregnant. Possible skin irritant, phototoxic, sensitizing.

Chamomile (German)

Matricaria recutita (M. chamomilla)

Tested non-toxic at low levels.

Chamomile (Roman)

Anthemis noblis L

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid in early pregnancy

Common Name

Latin Name

Safety Cautions

Chamomile (Wild)

Chamaemelum mixtum (Ormenis m.)

Potentially sensitizing. Should not be used when pregnant or by children.

Cinnamon Bark

Cinnamomum zeylanicum

Skin, mucus membrane irritant, sensitizing. Should not be used when pregnant, with ulcers or by children. Use highly diluted.

Cinnamon Leaf

Cinnamomum zeylanicurr J. Presl

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Potential skin, mucus membrane irritant, sensitizing. Should not be used when pregnant or by children.

Citronella (Standardized)

Cymbopogon nardus Rendle

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Potentially sensitizing.

Clary Sage

Salvia sclarea

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid when pregnant, with endometriosis and cancer. Potentially sensitizing. Sedative.

Clove

Eugenia caryophyllus

Skin and mucus membrane irritant, Potentially sensitizing. Use only highly diluted. Possible hepatoxic.

Cypress

Cupressus sempervirens

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid when pregnant, with high blood pressure and with cancer.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus globulus

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid with high blood pressure and epilepsy. Not for small children.

Fennel (Sweet)

Feoniculum dulce

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid in pregnancy, epilepsy. Potentially sensitizing.

Fir (Balsam)

Abies balsamea

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Potential skin irritant.

Frankincense

Boswellia frereana

Tested non-toxic at low levels.

Geranium

Pelargonium graveolens

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid in early pregnancy.

Ginger

Zingiber officinale

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Potential skin irritant, sensitizing, phototoxic.

Grapefruit

Citrus paradisi, pink

Potential skin irritant, sensitizing. Possibly mildly phototoxic.

Helichrysum (Immortelle)

Helichrysum italicum

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid with anti-coagulation medication.

Hyssop

Hyssopus officinale

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid with high blood pressure, epilepsy. Possible neurotoxic. Should not be used when pregnant or by children.

Jasmine Absolute

Jasminum grandiflorum

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Potentially sensitizing.

Juniper

Juniperus communis

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid extensive use on delicate skin, in kidney or bladder disease, when pregnant. Potentially sensitizing. Strong diuretic.

Common Name

Latin Name

Safety Cautions

Lavender

Lavendula angustifolia

Tested non-toxic at low levels.

Lemon

Citrus limonum

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Potential skin irritant, sensitizing. Phototoxic.

Lemongrass

Cymbopogon citratus

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Should not be used when pregnant or by children. Possible skin irritant, sensitizing.

Lemon Verbena

Lippia citriodora

Avoid when pregnant. Phototoxic. Skin irritant. Strong sensitizer.

Lemon Verbena (Standardized)

Nature Identical

Phototoxic. Skin irritant. Strong sensitizer.

Lime

Citrus latifolia

Should not be used when pregnant or by children. Phototoxic. Possible skin irritation.

Marjoram

Origanum majorana, sweet

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid when pregnant, with asthma, low blood pressure, depression. Sedative.

Melissa

Melissa officinalis

Possible skin irritation. Avoid when pregnant.

Melissa (Standardized)

Nature Identical

Possible skin irritation. Avoid when pregnant.

Mugwort

Artemisia herba alba

Potentially toxic. Should not be used when pregnant, with epilepsy or by children. Possible neurotoxic.

Myrrh

Commiphora myrrha

Avoid when pregnant. Possibly toxic in high levels.

Neroli

Citrus aurantium var. amara

Tested non-toxic at low levels.

Niaouli

Melaluca viridiflora

Should not be used when pregnant or by children.

Nutmeg

Myristica frangrans

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Possible skin irritant. Avoid when pregnant.

Oak Moss Absolute

Evernia furfuracea

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Potentially sensitizing.

Orange

Citrus sinensis

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Potentially sensitizing, phototoxic.

Oregano

Origanum vulgare L

Should not be used when pregnant or by children. Possible skin, mucus membrane irritant. Possible hepatoxic in large levels.

Palmarosa

Cymbopogon martini

Tested non-toxic at low levels.

Patchouli

Pogostemon patchouli

Tested non-toxic at low levels.

Common Name

Latin Name

Safety Cautions

Peppermint

Mentha piperita

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid when pregnant, lactating. Skin irritant. Keep away from infants.

Petitgrain

Citrus aurantium

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Potentially sensitizing.

Pine

Pinus kessia

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Potentially sensitizing. Avoid with allergenic conditions, cancer.

Ravensara Aromatica

Ravensara Aromatica

Should not be used when pregnant or by children.

Rose Absolute

Rosa damascena

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Potentially irritating at high levels.

Rose Otto

Rosa damascena

Tested non-toxic at low levels.

Rosemary (Cineole)

Rosmarinus officinalis

Should not be used when pregnant, with epilepsy or by children. Possible neurotoxic.

Rosewood

Aniba rosaeodora

Tested non-toxic at low levels.

Sage

Salvia officinalis

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Possibly toxic at high levels. Should not be used when pregnant/lactating or by children. Possible neurotoxic.

Sandalwood

Santalum album

Tested non-toxic at low levels.

Spearmint

Mentha spicata

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Avoid when pregnant. Potential skin, mucus membrane irritant, sensitizing.

Spikenard

Nardostachys jatamansi

Should not be used when pregnant or by children.

Spruce (Black)

Picea mariana

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Potential skin irritant, sensitizing.

Tagetes

Tagetes bipinata

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Phototoxic. Possible neurotoxic. Should not be used when pregnant or by children.

Tanacetum Annuum

Tanacetum Annuum

Should not be used when pregnant or by children.

Tangerine

Citrus reticulata

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Phototoxic.

Tea Tree

Melaleuca altemifolia

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Possible skin irritant.

Thyme (Linalol)

Thymus vulgaris L

Should not be used when pregnant or by children. Possible skin irritant.

Common Name

Latin Name

Safety Cautions

Thyme (Red Thymol)

Thymus vulgaris L

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Skin, mucus membrane irritant. Avoid with high blood pressure, pregnancy. Potential hepatoxic at high levels.

Vanilla

Vanilla planifolia

Should not be used when pregnant or by children.

Vetivert

Andropogon zizanoides

Tested non-toxic at low levels.

Wintergreen

Gaultheria procumbens

Potentially toxic, skin irritant, sensitizing. Should not be used when pregnant or by children.

Yarrow

Achilea millefolium

Should not be used when pregnant or by children. Possible neurotoxic.

Ylang Ylang Extra

Cananga odorata

Tested non-toxic at low levels. Potentially sensitizing. Do not use on inflamed skin. Excess may cause headache, nausea.