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Using Essential Oils Safely Essential oils are highly concentrated, potent medicines. For example: it takes 100kg of thyme to produce 200g of thyme oil and it takes 60 roses to create one drop of Rose Otto essential oil. 1 drop of peppermint oil is said to be equivalent to the amount of peppermint oil in 20 – 30 cups of peppermint tea. Essential oils are potent medicines and, if used, wisely they can produce amazing results; however, if used in a careless manner, they can lead to harm. Is my essential oil of good quality? Ultimately, the most important aspect of safety when it comes to using essential oils is the quality of the oil that you are using.So you should look out for: • amber/darkened bottle to protect from UV rays and sealed to prevent oxidation • name of the oil as well as Latin name with genus and species • country of origin • purity • recommended usage e.g. topical / diffusion • directions for use and recommended dilution rates.  The scent of the essential is a good indicator of the quality. Pure essential oils should smell strong, concentrated and have a clean scent. It does take some practice; however, once you’ve smelled and used oils of good quality, it only takes a sniff to weed out the poorer oils.  One red flag to look out for when purchasing your essential oils is the price range of the oils. If the oils being sold are in a similar price range, then be wary. Pure essential oils vary greatly in their price. For example, rose essential oil is extremely pricey due to the amount of roses needed to produce one drop of oil.  Allergies Before using any essential oil, it is important that you perform a patch test. This involves putting a small amount of the oil on the skin and if your skin turns red, gets itchy or inflamed, then you may have a sensitivity to the oil, and it is best to stay away from it. Photosensitivity There are certain oils whose primary constituents react to the sun, causing hyperpigmentation, blisters or even burns. These oils include:  • bergamot • lemon  • lime  • grapefruit (most citrus oils are notoriously phototoxic).  Do not use these oils on your skin if you are going to be exposing yourself to sunlight for at least 12-72 hours post-application. These oils should also be diluted a little more as a precaution. Oils to avoid with children Some essential oil should not be used on or around children. Infants and children have thinner skin and a less developed immune system. This makes them more vulnerable and susceptible to potential side effects and toxicity.  Here is a list of some common essential oils that should not be used on children.  For a full list please refer to the article on Essential Oils for Children.  • Basil  • Bay  • Birch Sweet  • Camphor  • Cardamom  • Cinnamon (Bark or Leaf) • Citronella  • Clove Bud  • Cumin  • Eucalyptus  • Fennel  • Garlic  • Lemongrass  • Oregano  • Peppermint  • Rosemary  • Sage  • Tarragon  • Thyme  • Wintergreen  Some oils should be avoided completely for those below the age of 5 years e.g. aniseed and peppermint. Eucalyptus should not be used for children below 10 years of age. If the oil that you intend to use is not on this list, bear in mind the oil should be diluted much more for children. If you use oils on yourself or at home that your kids may be sensitive to, be sure that your children are not in the vicinity of the diffusing oils, and air the room for about an hour before they enter the room. For topical applications on yourself, allow at least 15-30 minutes for it to evaporate before getting close to your kids.  Oils to avoid with pets Cats are extremely sensitive animals and are more susceptible, as they lack an enzyme in their liver, and have difficulty metabolising and eliminating certain essential oils. These oils include:  • wintergreen,  • citrus,  • pine,  • cinnamon,  • ylang -ylang  These oils can cause poisoning in pets. Symptoms that develop from toxicity range from vomiting to liver failure. Essential oils that can be used for pets are listed in the article Essential Oils for Pets.  Oils to avoid during pregnancy & breastfeeding.  Certain oils contain specific chemical constituents that should be avoided during pregnancy. These are  • cypress • cinnamon bark • tea tree • sage  • clary sage The first trimester is the most critical period, and it is probably a good idea to avoid most oils during this time, as you would with most medications and supplements. When you do use them, and there are many that are deemed safe during pregnancy, such as ginger, rose and lavender, make sure they are diluted appropriately.  For more information please see How to use essential oils during pregnancy.  Article by: Dr. Carolyn GohIntegrated Health Consultant, BEng., MSc., PhD (DIC)., MBBS

Essential oils can be used in many different ways: aromatically, topically or internally. The recommended usage of the oil should be stated on the bottle.  Inhalation is one of the most popular and effective ways of using essential oils. Essential oils can be inhaled directly, indirectly, via diffusion or even steaming. Direct inhalation of an essential oil involves little more than opening a bottle and inhaling the scent of the oil. The best way to do this is to start from a distance of approximately an arm’s length away from your face and then slowly bring the bottle towards you. Be very careful not to place the bottle directly under your nose as some oils are very intense and can cause your eyes to water and irritate the mucosal area of the nose. If the oil you wish to inhale has been patch-tested and you do not show any signs of being allergic to it, you can place a drop in your hands, rub them together and inhale.  Indirect inhalation involves the use an object such as a wooden peg, pouch or cotton balls, to obtain a slower, sustained release of the essential oils. In colder climates, dropping a drop of oil on a scarf is a good way of using essential oils via indirect inhalation. Inhalation via steaming is a good way of clearing your nasal and sinus passageways when you have the flu, a cold or blocked ears. Simply, place some hot water in a bowl, put a drop of oil in the water - eucalyptus works well for colds and flus – then drape a towel over your head to prevent the steam from escaping and then inhale.  Diffusion is one of the most popular methods of using essential oils in a large space or room. A diffuser uses steam to spread the essential oil particles in the air and can be programmed to go on for as long as 8 hours. It is important to remember to clean out your diffuser after use and ensure it is dry before putting it away. Leaving it damp may lead to fungal growth, which would pose a health risk when used to diffuse your essential oils.  Topical application involves placing the oil directly onto the skin. The oil is absorbed into the body penetrating the layer of skin and affecting the surrounding tissue. From here the oil particles pass into the blood stream and lymphatics to the organs in the body and are then excreted via the lung, kidneys and skin. Essential oils can be applied on pulse points – wrist, behind ears, ankles-, specific locations that require soothing e.g. back pain, neck pain, on the soles of your feet or on acupressure points. Most oils must be diluted with a carrier oil before applying directly on the skin. Essential oils are very highly concentrated and can cause burns. Some examples of carrier oils are coconut/MCT oil, Jojoba oil, Moringa oil and Tamanu oil.  The dilution ratios vary for children, adults and also where you will be using the oil.  For example, the recommended dilution for children is 0.5%-1%.  And for adults, the normal range is between 2-3%. This means that for every 100ml of carrier oil, add 2 drops of essential oil for a 2% dilution. Similarly, to achieve a 0.5% dilution ratio for children, it would be 1 drop of essential oil to 200ml of carrier oil. For dilution ratios, please refer to the Dilution Method.  Ingestion of essential oils is a controversial issue, with vastly differing opinions from different schools of aromatherapy, and essential oil users and producers. Some dangers that have been reported from ingesting essential oils are internal burns, respiratory issues. Essential oils are hydrophobic and do not dissolve in water, making them more difficult to dilute and digest. If you do decide to ingest these potent oils, mix them with an oil or honey or use a hydrolipid, which is an emulsified form of essential oil. I do not feel there is a need to ingest essential oils, as the amazing benefits can be harnessed via many other methods that are safe and highly-effective.    Article by: Dr. Carolyn GohIntegrated Health Consultant, BEng., MSc., PhD (DIC)., MBBS

What Are Essential Oils? Essential oils are compounds extracted from plants through distillation via steam and/or water, or mechanical methods, such as cold pressing. Cold pressing is most commonly used to obtain essential oils from citrus fruits such as oranges, bergamot, grapefruits, lemons, and limes. The oils capture the plant's unique scent and flavour, or "essence." In ancient times, essential oils were known as the soul of the plant.  The History Of Essential Oils Ancient Egypt was the true birthplace of essential oils. The Egyptians cultivated plants for their oils and used them extensively in their religion, in cosmetics, as well as for medicinal purposes.  Aromatic essence and resins were also used in the embalming process.  China and India were exploring herbs and aromatic plants too, which would become an integral part of the Indian Ayurvedic medical system.  Essential Oils As Medicine The term “aromatherapy” as it is known today was first coined in 1937 by the French chemist and perfumer Rene Maurice Gattefosse.  In 1910 he burnt his hand badly in his laboratory, and being the first compound available, he treated his hand with pure undiluted lavender oil.  This not only immediately eased the pain, but helped heal the hand without any sign of infection or scarring. Dr. Jean Valnet, a French medical doctor, used essential oils to treat conditions ranging from eczema to diabetes with great success. Dr. Valnet was the first to record the specific properties, indications, and dosages of essential oils useful in medical practice.  His work is credited for being the foundation of two great trends we see today: the clinical and scientific methods, and the more popular trend of aromatherapy geared towards wellness and a healthy lifestyle. How Does Our Bodies Utilise Essential Oils? Essential oils are volatile in nature and evaporate quickly. When the essential oils particles are inhaled, they travel up the nasal passageway to the lungs and the olfactory system of the brain. The olfactory system is what controls our sense of smell. The olfactory receptors send signals to the part of the brain called the limbic system. The limbic system is known as the emotional brain because it forms and stores memories. Essential oils largely affect the hypothalamus and pituitary gland which are part of the limbic system and are responsible for sleep and hormonal balance. When used topically, the essential oils are absorbed via the pores in the skin and affect the surrounding muscles and tissues. They then seep into the bloodstream and lymphatic system, and from there reach all the internal organs. Once their work is done, the oils are excreted via the lungs, kidneys and skin. Because of the ability of these oils to enter the bloodstream and parts of the brain so rapidly, they have a huge impact on many different areas, ranging from emotions, to hormonal imbalance, and aches and pains.  Article by: Dr. Carolyn GohIntegrated Health Consultant, BEng., MSc., PhD (DIC)., MBBS