As a widely used tool, essential oils are not paid much attention to how to use them correctly. In fact, essential oils are similar to traditional Chinese medicine and have certain medicinal effects. Therefore, you need to pay attention to some things when using essential oils to avoid its toxicity or avoid some things that need to be avoided. Let's discuss whether direct application of essential oils is harmful. We mainly need to follow the following principles:
Eight rules for safe use
1. It must be diluted
Essential oils are highly concentrated and must be diluted for most uses. As far as the use of essential oils is concerned, diffusing essential oils with air is a dilution method. If they are directly absorbed by the skin, vegetable oil must be added to dilute them. In short, remember to dilute them first.
Of course, essential oils cannot be applied with pure oil. Generally speaking, except for phenols or some essential oils that are more irritating to the skin, it is okay to use a small amount of 1 to 2 drops. In emergencies or When it is temporarily inconvenient to mix oil for use, you can also use pure oil, but don't make it a habit, and don't use too much at one time. 1 to 2 drops is acceptable. The most suitable pure oils are lavender and tea tree. Some aromatherapy experts believe that only these two essential oils can be used as pure oils.
2. Oral use must be directed by experts or aromatherapists
High-quality essential oils can be taken internally, but not all essential oils are suitable for internal use, and the essential oils in the market are mixed. If you cannot To determine the quality of essential oils, it is best not to take them orally. Some aromatherapy schools even believe that essential oils should not be taken orally and are more cautious. Of course, aromatherapists with rich academic knowledge and practical experience can recommend oral administration according to actual needs, but unless there is expert guidance, it is better to avoid oral administration!
3. Do not contact the eyes
The concentration of essential oil is extremely high, so it should not come into contact with the eyes. If used around the eyes, the dosage should be adjusted to about 1%, and do not get too close to the eyes. . Hydrosols can also be used instead of essential oils to avoid accidental contact with the eyes.
4. Do a skin test before use
Some essential oils can cause allergies or irritate the skin, and some people are prone to allergies to essential oils. Therefore, testing before use is very important. . First adjust the essential oil with a concentration of 3% and use it on the armpits or chest. You can only use this essential oil after there is no allergic reaction for at least 24 hours. If there are no problems after testing several essential oils in the future, and you have a preliminary understanding of the essential oils, you can omit the testing step.
5. When there are wounds on the skin
Avoid using essential oils on wounds. Therefore, when there are wounds on the skin, do not apply essential oils directly. However, if it is a small knife wound, small For wounds, you can use essential oils to help the skin heal faster!
6. Do not use photosensitive essential oils in areas exposed to the sun
Some essential oils contain ingredients that can cause photosensitivity. If exposed to the sun after use, the skin will darken. It can even cause skin cancer. Photosensitivity also varies in severity. For mild ones, such as grapefruit, if you use it in low doses at night, it will be fine if you are exposed to the sun the next day. But like lemon verbena, photosensitivity may last for a long time, so you should avoid using it in places where it will be exposed to the sun. Generally speaking, citrus (Citrus of the Rutaceae family) essential oils, such as lemon, bergamot, tangerine, sweet orange, lime, etc., are photosensitive, as well as angelica root, lemon verbena, turnip, etc., are all photosensitive. Essential oils for sex.
7. A single essential oil cannot be used continuously for too long
The same essential oil should not be used continuously for more than 3 weeks at most. Avoid using a single essential oil every day because the same essential oil should be used every day. Essential oils, on the one hand, the body becomes accustomed to this kind of essential oils, which makes the effect worse; here, if the essential oils used are toxic, they will cause damage to the liver and kidneys over a long period of time. In comparison, the use of compound essential oils is safer than single use. If it is for conditioning, compound essential oils can be used continuously for about 3 months, and the longest time should not exceed half a year. However, it is safer to consult an expert before use!
8. Do not use too high a dose frequently
Using essential oils, if you want to achieve the curative effect, you usually need to use a low dose and continue for a period of time. This way, the effect of adjusting body functions is the best. High-dose essential oils are only used in emergencies, such as fever, diarrhea, etc., or as an auxiliary when certain emergencies occur. For daily use, the concentration is still 3 to 5%; for more dangerous essential oils, the concentration should not exceed 3%. allow.