Enjoying essential oils safely

1. General precautions

Always respect the recommended dose and/or dilution rate given on the product packaging.

• Keep essential oils out of the reach of children and store them in a sealed bottle in cool, dark place!
  
  
• Essential oils are inflammable and volatile. Do not expose them to high temperatures!
  
  
• Patients with epilepsy, asthma and heart conditions can only use essential oils in consultation with their house doctor.
  
  
• The essential oils of thyme, oregano, clove and wintergreen are irritants. Do not ingest, diffuse or massage them into the skin in their undiluted form!
  
  
• Anti-poison centre Belgium: +32 70 245 245
• Anti-poison centre the Netherlands: +31 30 274 88 88

› Read all about essential oils

2. Precautions for external use

1. As a precautionary measure, it is recommended that essential oils should not be used for children younger than 2 years of age or for pregnant or lactating women. True lavender and Eucalyptus radiata are the exceptions to this recommendation.
   
   
2. Never apply undiluted essential oils directly to the skin. The oils must always be diluted in a vegetable oil, cream, gel or shampoo, even for use in the bath! Essential oils in their pure form can only be applied to the skin on the advice of a health professional.
   
   
3. Essential oils (such as citral, d-limonene, linalool, geraniol and citronellol) naturally contain components that can cause allergic reactions in oversensitive people. These components are always named on the product packaging. Before you apply any essential oil to your skin, it is advisable to do an allergy test. Dilute 1 drop of the essential oil in 10 ml of vegetable oil and rub the mixture into the inside of your elbow. If the skin has not become red and/or itchy after 24 hours, you are not allergic.
   
   
4. All citrus essential oils are photosensitising! Photosensitisation is the result of an interaction between UV-rays (e.g. from the sun or tanning beds) and a sensitising substance. This turns the skin red and gives it a burnt appearance. Avoid exposure to UV-rays for at least 12 hours after applying essential oils to your skin!
   
   
5. Contact between essential oils and the eyes, ears, nose and mucus membranes must be avoided! If accidental contact occurs, immediately ‘rinse’ the affected area with a vegetable oil.

3. Precautions for internal use

1. Some essential oils are only suitable for external use and should never be ingested! This is always clearly marked on the product packaging.
   
   
2. Internal use is not suitable for children younger than 12 years and pregnant or lactating women.
   
   
3. Never use essential oils for internal use in their undiluted form. Always use a carrier, such as honey or a herbal infusion.
   
   
4. If a large quantity (more than ½ ml) of an essential oil is accidentally ingested, drink some edible vegetable oil and consult the anti-poison centre.
   
   
5. The continuous internal use of essential oils is not recommended.