When I first starting writing for this blog, which wasn’t too long ago, I got a huge lesson on aromatherapy products, which I thought I was familiar with, until I started doing my research. As you will see in this guide I put together, each of the nearly 100 essences available from reputable companies like Young Living and doTERRA, come with their own unique blend of benefits and abilities to aid you from a wide array of mental and physical ailments.
But they come with their risks as well. As you will see, when reading on, that there is no black and white answer to this question. I broke the rest of this piece down into categories so that you will be well informed before starting your own scent practice.
Table of Contents
Children and Babies
There are few things in our lives that are as important to us as our kids. A parent’s first priority is to keep them secure. So, the idea of just putting oils on your infants or including it in a meal for your family, it’s best to know the best route to take.
According to research, the oils that are safe for you might not be so safe for your offspring. It is recommended that you never let your child consume them internally. It is okay to use them topically, although it is suggested that the chosen scent be diluted well with a carrier oil and put on the feet. Make sure your baby doesn’t put her/his feet in his mouth.
Breathing oils are fine, as long as they are diluted well. That would be one drop of essence to four teaspoons of a good carrier substance, like coconut oil, jojoba, and almond. Some oils that are safe to use with children are frankincense, chamomile, and patchouli. It is important to research each oil thoroughly because some contact with tea tree and lavender have caused young boys developing breasts. The condition cleared up when they stopped using the oils, but you don’t want to take chances.
Pregnant
Before we give birth, our offspring live in the bellies of their mothers for nine months. This is a crucial period of development, and as the host parent, it is important for women to create a healthy shelter for their fetus. That said, using extracts during your first trimester is not recommended.
There are a few that you can use in your second and third trimester, but there are some you shouldn’t use at all so you should do your research and check out what a few sights say. Some that are ok to use include roman chamomile, lemongrass, sandalwood, and ylang-ylang. Hazardous oils for pregnancy include basil, cinnamon, clove, coriander, juniper berry, pine, rosemary, thyme, and wintergreen.
Of course, it is always recommended that you consult a healthcare professional before using anything when you are pregnant.
Folks With Health Issues
If you have asthma or heart problems, then you might want to talk to your doctor before touching, tasting, or smelling anything. In fact, no matter what your condition might be, it would be best to consult your healthcare professional and let them know of your interest in aromatherapy. There may be a scent that can help you, but there might very well be an essence that can do you more harm than good so do your homework and ask questions first.
Can You Ingest Them?
This is a good question. Some folks swear by it while others say that eating these pure extracts is not safe. I have a friend who swears by a few drops of lavender oil in her lemonade, and she is doing just fine. For your peace of mind, if you are interested in cooking with a particular aroma, research it thoroughly and follow the suggested guidelines. Reputable manufacturers like doTERRA and Young Living have a wealth of information on all their products.
You might be interested in:
22 Essential Oils That Will Help You Balance Those Hormones- Click Here
Pets
Some of us didn’t breed but have what we like to call fur babies. Cats, dogs, birds, and fish are members of our families, and some of us even have horses, goats, pigs, and chickens. For the sake of this piece, we will focus on house pets. These animals are important to us but sometimes what is good for us isn’t always good for our animals.
For example, lavender oil is great for your skin, pain relief, healthy digestion, and stress among many other things. But, did you know that the loveliest scent in the world, at least in my opinion, isn’t so safe for your cats? I didn’t know that and, as it turns out, there are some scents that you shouldn’t use around your animals, and there are ways to introduce certain aromas to pets without compromising their health.
Aromas you should keep away from your animals include tea tree, wintergreen, cinnamon, eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, and lemon. You should never use a diffuser around birds or reptiles. As with anything else, check with your vet before using them on or around your pet.
Conclusion
Now you have a little more insight into essential oils and that they should only be used as directed and with caution. These products are gifts from the earth and have been used in the water people bathe in and the food that they eat for centuries. Their benefits are evident in Eastern medicines.
As lovers of aromatherapy and holistic remedies, we want to ensure that our readers are always protected and well informed. Of course, any negative reactions to products are not the responsibility of BetterMindBodySoul.com. If you would like an extensive view on all of the scents, check out our guide.
To reiterate, before you use any product be sure to:
- Research
- Ask a professional
- Know the risks
- Stay within recommended guidelines
I hope that this article was informative and fun to read. If you have any comments feel free to leave them for us below. Share this article with your friends as well.
