ESSENTIAL OILS: TAKE PRECAUTION
– By Jacklyn Fernandez, RHN
A n essential oil (EO) is the extraction of a plant’s aromatic essence – most commonly done
by steam distillation, or by expression (cold-pressing or expeller pressing, usually used for citrus
oils). Essential oils have been used for thousands of years for their perfumes and for
their medicinal properties.
The essential oils in a bottle can be 100-times more concentrated
than in the plant itself, therefore safety must be followed for their
proper use in order to avoid reactions, including headaches, nausea,
rashes, vomiting, and other irritations.
• Never add EO’s to a bath and then step into it, as EO’s do
not mix with water and float atop.
• Do not ingest EO’s or add them to baking. Use food-grade
extracts for this purpose.
• EO’s are never to be used by pregnant or women who are
nursing, and they are also highly hazardous to children
under two years of age. Consult a professional before use.
• Never apply undiluted EO’s to your skin. For safety, always
dilute using a carrier oil such as Jojoba or Grapeseed, at a
rate of not more than 0.2 to 1.5% max., depending on each
EO’s dermal limits (seek professional help prior to use).
• Some EO’s increase photosensitivity and can cause serious
skin burns, while others have clinical interactions. Certain
oils, like wintergreen, can be deadly if ingested – always
consult with a professional prior to purchase and use.
• Many EO’s can be toxic or even deadly to our animal
friends! These include (but are not limited to) wintergreen,
pine, ylang ylang, cinnamon, eucalyptus, tea tree, to name
a few. If bathing dogs, choose an unscented, pet-specific
dog wash (see article below).
• When using a diffuser, do not exceed 30 minute intervals,
otherwise it can actually create stress on the nervous system.•
Bathing your pup? Read this first!
Next time you’re inspired to give Buddy a bath, consider these tips:
1. First, brush your dog to remove lose hair and smooth out knots
(gather the hair and spread onto the garden – great against rodents,
squirrels and bunnies!)
2. Make sure it’s a warm day and that you have warm water, and if
at all possible, bathe them outdoors – it’ll make for a much more
pleasant bath for you and for him.
3. If bathing in the shower, plug the drain with a piece of steel wool,
and avoid yourself the hassle of clogged drains later. Add a non-
slip matt too, as it can be quite traumatic for Buddy to slip and
slide around the shower floor.
4. Get the right shampoo! NEVER use human shampoo on a dog.
A dog’s pH is higher than a human’s and using human shampoo
can cause them severe itchiness, flakiness, irritability, and hair
loss. Invest in a non-scented dog shampoo, and go easy on it
by diluting it with water – a little goes a long way!
5. You may enjoy them smelling like flowers, but they
do not, and their sense of smell is more
acute than ours. Unscented is best
for them – even if you don’t like it.
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