General Safety Considerations for Essential Oil Use
(courtesy Sylla Sheppard-Hanger, Copyright 1994, see book review below)

• Keep essential oils out of reach of children. Do not leave a bottle which has no fixed integral dropper where a child could take off the cap and consume contents.
• Do not use directly on or near the eyes; ensure caution with compresses. Most diluted essential oils will sting the eyes; if accidents happen, flush with clean warm water; if NEAT oils get is the eye, immediately flush with cold full fat milk, or vegetable oil to dilute. If stinging is not alleviated, seek medical assistance.
• Do not, unless otherwise advised by an expert, apply neat essential oil onto the skin.
• To remove neat oil spills on hands, use cream or vegetable oil to dilute, apply soap, wash with warm water; may need to be repeated.
• Never assume that an essential oil will have the same properties as credited to the whole plant from which it is obtained.
• Ingesting any oil should only be undertaken under the supervision of a professional health advisor and never exceed the suggested amount.
• Essential oils should always be used diluted over a large body area.
• Excess (of EOs) can cause headaches, nausea and general feeling of uneasiness; drink plenty of water, get fresh air, take frequent breaks.
• Do not drive a motor vehicle (or allow client to) immediately following a relaxation treatment or after using soporific oils (e.g., clary sage)
• Regulate the frequency when using essential oils. If used daily over a two week period, give a week's grace before recommencing treatment.
• Reduce the chance of acquiring a sensitivity reaction from constant use of same oil(s) over several years by varying choices. This gives the body a break from constant use.
• If any kind of skin rash is observed when using a particular essential oil, stop using it immediately and try another oil.

When working daily with essential oils, follow these precautions:

• Use only safe essential oils in dilution, aoid contact with neat oils (by wearing gloves when bottling)
• Ensure adequate ventilation
• Take frequent breaks
• Tolerance increase with time
• Avoid transferring oils to sensitive areas (nose, face, neck)
• Vary the essential ols worked with (or diffused) daily
• Avoid sensitizing oils if hands become cracked or sore

The Aromatherapy Practitioner Reference Manual

A Complete Reference Book of Over 350 Aromatic Plant Extracts,
Index of Biologically Active Phytochemicals,
Clinical Index and Taxonomical Index

by Sylla Sheppard-Hanger

* The Aromatherapy Chart of APRM is a quick overview of 350 essential oils. It contains easy-to-read, easier-to-follow sections covering each aspect of an essential oil, including Botanical Name, Biochemical Class, Traditional & Esoteric uses, Systems effected (including Respiratory, Muscular/Skeletal, Cardiovascular, Immune, Digestive, etc.) and Safety Data. Each of these areas are further broken down, providing information both common and exotic.

From the book:

"This book allows a practitioner to look up a problematic indication, understand the required bio-chemicals necessary to effect treatment, and find the essential oils for use. Included are over 340 botanical species with all known common names, their commercial availability, their predominant bio-chemical classes, as well as predominant bio-chemicals inherent therein. Anyone could easily start with the essential oil name, and find out what particular treatments could be effected with the information provided. In the Chart, one could immediately find the traditional uses and actions, the purposes and methods of delivery applications, toxicity and contra-indications, along with their traditional uses in perfumery. Also, morphologic and character types are included, as well as all relevant esoteric relations. Although there may be criticism from the scientific community that esoteric uses have been included, the authors feel that to truly treat in a holistic manner, this information needed to be included."

About Sylla Sheppard-Hanger

Sylla Sheppard-Hanger speaks with the wisdom of 20 years experience and research in aromatherapy. She has worked with the most knowledgeable people in the fields of aromatherapy, essential oils, herbology and aromatic medicine. She is the founder and Director of the Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy located in Tampa, Florida.