The Safe Use of Aromatherapy

Ever wonder why the scent of grapefruit seems to wake you in the morning? The scent of roses is often related to funerals?  Many grandmothers used a drop of clove oil for toothaches?  Somehow individuals have learned the positive effects of Aromatherapy for healing and balancing the body. 

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils from plants for balancing the body, mind and the emotions.  Aromatherapy, although relatively new to the U.S., has been used since the early ages for medicinal purposes.

Unfortunately, the popularity, thus financial profits, of Aromatherapy in the U.S. has promoted a focus on essential oil sales without supporting the knowledge to use them safely. Due to specific side effects of certain essential oils, France limits the use to only physicians and pharmacists.

Aromatherapy can be used safely when a few guidelines are followed.  First, many of the essential oils in the United States are not pure.  There is no regulating agency in the United States that supports quality assurance for essential oils.  Gas Chromatography, sometimes known as GC testing, is the test for the purity of essential oils.  Only essential oils that have been GC tested prior to bottling should be used.  Buyer Beware!  Essential oil companies are simply bottlers of the products that are derived from plants.

Beware of "creative advertising".  Many Aromatherapy companies advertise the products they sell as GC tested. This may simply mean that 1 of every 500 "batches" of essential oil they buy is actually GC tested.    For safety and purity standards, each "batch" of essential oil must be GC tested prior to bottling.  Essential oils that are not GC tested may be adulterated (diluted) with other products that may decrease the therapeutic effect of the essential oil or worse yet, incorporate the addition of harmful chemicals.

Another safety feature is the proper application of essential oils. Aromatherapy is primarily administered in one of two ways.  One involves the inhalation or "smelling" of the essential oil that can affect the brain chemicals, thus result in a shift in emotions. In addition, as the molecules of the essential oil enter the body, healthful changes can occur.  For example, inhaling lavender (Lavendula officinalis) can promote relaxation and sleep, inhaling peppermint (Mentha piperita) may relieve nausea.  Please be aware that the essential oil of peppermint should not be used in pregnancy or in children under 7 years of age.   These precautions apply to the essential oil of peppermint due to the fact that an essential oil is much more potent than the herb itself. 

Essential oils are very concentrated products and may be up to 70 - 80 times more potent in various chemical constituents than the dried herb itself.  This concentration factor leads to the safety issues around the application of essential oils.  Unless under the direction of an adequately trained Certified Clinical Aromatherapist or other adequately trained health practitioner, always dilute the essential oils prior to applying them to the skin.   Due to the potency of certain chemicals in the essential oils direct application to the skin can cause irritation or even severe chemical burns.  In addition, the use of essential oils directly on the body can be toxic to the liver as it forces the liver to filter high doses of chemicals that may be harmful in large quantities. 

To apply Aromatherapy oils safely to the body, the following formulas can be used:

Mix 3 drops of essential oil with 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil. (safflower, almond, olive, etc.) or

Mix 15 - 30 drops of essential oil with 4 ounces of vegetable oil.

This will assure that safe amounts of the essential oil are being applied to the body. 

About the Author

Patti McCormick, R.N., Ph.D., is Founder and President of the Ohio Academy of Holistic Health, inc.,(OAHH), one of the only state approved and federally accredited Holistic Health Schools in the  United States. OAHH also houses the Ohio Wellness Center, the clinical division, which offers

holistic health care services through physicians and additional health practitioners. Call 937-708-3232 for more information.

This is the first of a two part series on the safe use of Aromatherapy to promote wellness and health safely. Click here for Safe Use of Aromatherapy Part II.

The information in this article is not to take the place of the care and knowledge offered by your health care practitioner.  Please discuss with your physician / health care practitioner your individual health issues.

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