Essential Oil Safety

A Toxicology for Essential Oils in Aromatherapy, Massage, Cosmetics, Fragrance and Flavour

Defining what is safe when it comes to Essential Oils?

Application: The safe use of essential oils is dependant on the intended application of the oil. For instance, applied to the skin membrane, ingested orally , diffused for aroma into the air. One or some methods maybe safe, all the the dosage needs to be monitor with care, and some essential oils are toxic to humans, so special protection should be worn when dealing with them. These last types of oils will be completely avoided in therapeutic, cosmetic situations.

Dosage: Be mindful of the recommended dosage of the oil used. Dilutions vary greatly in toxicology and test first on a small area if you are applying to the body.

Understanding Essential Oils and Toxicology: If you are need greater accuracy with your essential oil toxicology, I recommend consulting back issues of Brian Lawrence's, Journal of Essential Oils (they have a searchable database on the website) or Robert Tisserand and Tony Balac's, Essential Oils Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals, the later I would consider essential for any serious about therapy, fragrance and flavouring with essential oils.

Index

Defining what is safe when it comes to Essential Oils?

"8 Safety Tips with Essential Oils for the Average Human Being"

Essential Oil Safety Resources

Glossary of Definitions

Alphabetical Essential Oils Safety Chart
A - C |

"8 Safety Tips with Essential Oils for the Average Human Being "

1. Consult your qualified medicinal practitioner when using essential oils for any therapy.

2. Combined effects of essential oils and other drugs being taking could cause unforeseen problems, discuss this with a qualified medical practitioner.

3. Don't ingesting essential oils, resins, concretes or absolutes without a detailed understanding of the dosages consider safe. Swallowing some oils ,even diluted is consider very dangerous. There are some expectations in the case of food flavouring, however for therapeutic purposes don't swallow essential oils.

4. Test the dosage on a small area of your skin. If you plan to apply some Tea Tree Oil to your skin, read the dosage on the bottle, and dilute as needed. Everyone's skin is different, if you react, reduce the dosage again. Always start with the recommended dosage or less, if you are unsure.

5. Dilution recommendations are normally measure by the kilogram weight of an adult, for people or children who weight less, reduce the dosage accordingly. Some Essential oils should not be taken during pregnancy, given to pets or young children.

6. Keep essential oils away from your eyes and sensitive skin. If you develop any kind of reaction to the oil on your skin, discontinue use immediately and consult your medical practitioner.

7. Purchase Essential Oils in secure bottle, labeled clearly.

8. Buy Essential Oils with child proof lids and keep the locked away and out of reach of curious youngsters.

Essential Oil Safety Resources

There is plenty of literature on the subject of essential oil safety and toxicology these publications I can personally recommend:

1. Advanced Aromatherapy, Schnaubelt, Kurt

2. Essential Oil Safety, Robert Tisserand and Tony Balacs

3. Journal Of Essential Oils, Brian Lawrence

Glossary of Definitions

Alphabetical List of Essential Oils Toxicology

A - C | D -

Abies Alba Oil (cones)
abies alba
Non toxic taken orally. Mild skin irritation. Use fresh.

Abies Alba Oil (needles)
Abies alba
Non toxic taken orally. Skin safe. Use fresh.

Ale Oil
Pine species
Non toxic taken orally. Skin safe. Use fresh.

Almond, Bitter Oil (unrectified)
Prunus amygdalus var. amara
Toxic, best avoided. Toxic taken orally. No skin irriation. Can be Neurotoxic.

Almond, Bitter Oil (rectified)
Prunus amygdalus var. amara
Mildly toxic taken orally. No skin irritation. Use fresh.

Ambrette Seed Oil
Hibiscus abelmoshus
Orally non toxic. Skin safe. Use fresh.

Angelica Root Oil
Angelica archangelica
Orally non-toxic. Mild skin irritant. Phototoxic.

Angelica Seed Oil
Angelica archangelica
Orally non toxic. Very mild skin irritant.

Anise Oil
Pimpinella anisum
Some caution advised, avoid using orally. Very mild skin irritant.

Armoise Oil
Artemisia herba-alba
Toxic, best avoided. Toxic orally. Very mild skin irritant.

Basil Oil
Ocimum basilicum
Mildly toxic Orally. Very low skin irritant. Potentially carcinogenic. Use only if very low estragole. Avoid oral use.

Bay - West Indian Oil
Ocimum basilicum
Mildly toxic. Some caution, irritant on the mucous membrane

Benzoin Resinous
Styrax benzoin
Orally non toxic. Some skin sensitivity from styrax oil.

Bergamot Oil (P)
Citrus bergamia
Phototoxic. Was removed from sunscreen brands.

Bergamot Oil (FCF)
Citrus bergamia
Orally nontoxic. Very low skin irritant.. Use fresh.

Bergamot Mint Oil
Mentha citrata
Orally non toxic. Very mild skin irritant.

Birch Oil (Sweet)
Betula lenta
Toxic best avoided. Mildly toxic orally.

Boldo Leaf Oil (P)
Peumus boldus
NeuroToxic best avoided. Toxic taken orally.

Broom Oil
Spartium junceum
Orally non toxic. Skin safe.

Cabreuva Oil
Myrocarpus fastigiatus
Non toxic orally. Very mild skin irritant.

Cade Oil (rectified)
Juniperus oxycedrus
Avoid rectified oil. Orally non toxic. Strong skin irritant.

Cajeput Oil
Melaleuca leucadendron
Somewhat safe orally. Mild dermal irritant.

Calamus Oil
Acorus calamus
Toxic orally, potentially carcinogenic, best avoided. Skin safe. USA and Canadian sources are reput to be safer.

Camphor Oil (white)
Cinnamomum camphora
Orally non toxic. Very mild skin irritant. Some contraindications.

Camphor Oil (brown)
Cinnamomum camphora
Potentially carcinogenic, best avoided. Somewhat orally safe. Skin safe.

Camphor (yellow)
Cinnamomum camphora
Potentially carcinogenic, best avoided. Orally non-toxic. Very mild skin irritant.

Cananga Oil
Cananga odorata
Orally non toxic. Very mild skin irritant. unknown if phototoxic.

Caraway Oil
Carum carvi
Orally non toxic, however is a mucous membrane irritant. Very mild skin irritation.

Cardamon Oil
Elettaria cardamomum
Orally non-toxic. Skin safe. Is suspect.

Carrot Seed Oil
Daucus carota
Orally non-toxic. Very mild skin irritant.

Cascarilla Oil
Croton eluteria
Orally non-toxic. Very mild skin irritant.

Cassia (P) Oil
Cinnamonmum cassia
Sensitiser and mucous membrane irritant, best avoided. Orally non toxic. Moderate skin irritant.

Cedarwood (Atlas) Oil
Cedarus atlantica
Orally non toxic. Very mild skin irritant.

Cedarwood (Texas) Oil
Juniperus mexicana
Orally non toxic. Very mild skin irritant.

Celery Seed Oil
Apium graveolens
Orally non toxic. Skin safe.

Chamomile Oil, German
Chamomilla recutita
Orally non toxic. Very mild skin irritant.

Chamomile Oil, Roman
Anthemis nobilis
Orally non toxic. Very mild skin irritant.

Cinnamon Bark Oil (P)
Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Sensitising and irritant to the mucous membrane, best avoided. Orally non toxic. Moderate skin irritant.

Cinnamon Leaf Oil (P)
Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Irritant to the mucous membrane, best avoided. Orally non toxic. Moderate skin irritant, some caution recommended.

Citronella Oil (P)
Cymbopogon nardus
Orally non toxic. Very mild skin irritant. Occasional sensitisation.

Clary Sage Oil (French)
Salvia sclarea
Orally non toxic. Very mild skin irritant. unknown Phototoxic. Occasional sensitisation.

Clary Sage Oil (Russian)
Salvia sclarea
Oral toxicity unknown. skin safe. Occasional sensitisation.

Clove Bud Oil (P)
Syzygium aromaticum
Irritant to the mucous membrane, some caution. Possible sensitisation. Orally non toxic. Moderate skin irritant.

Clove Leaf Oil (P)
Syzygium aromaticum
Mildly orally toxic. Irritant to the mucous membrane, some caution. Moderate skin irritant.

Clove Stem Oil (P)
Syzygium aromaticum
Irritant to the mucous membrane, some caution. Orally non toxic. Moderate skin irritant.

Copaiba Oil
Copaifera officianlis
Orally non-toxic. Very mild skin irritant. Unknown Phototoxic.

Coriander Seed Oil
Coriandrum sativum
Orally non-toxic. Very mild skin irritant. Unknown phototoxic.

Cornmint Oil (P)
Mentha arvensis
Mildly orally toxic.. Non skin irritant. Some contraindications.

Costus Oil (P)
Sassurea costus
Skin Sensitiser, best avoided. Orally non-toxic. Very mild skin irritant. Unknown phototoxic.

Cubeb Oil
Peper cubeba
Orally non-toxic. Very mild skin irritant.

Cumin Oil
Cuminum cyminum
Orally non-toxic. Very mild skin irritant. Phototoxic.

Cypress Oil
Cupressus sempervirens
Orally non-toxic. Very mild skin irritant.

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Disclaimer:
This information is a guide and readers should consult their medical practitioner before using essential oils.