AromaTherapy: Cautions
Description
This article is from the Alternative
Medicine Therapies guide.
AromaTherapy: Cautions
- Essential
oils should never be taken internally.
- To prevent
allergic reactions, first test any essential oil on a small patch
of clean skin. Mix a drop of the essential oil with a few drops
of an unscented carrier oil, such as safflower oil. Place a bandage
over the area and wait 24 hours. If no irritation occurs, you
can use the oil. If you develop a rash, try another essential
oil.
- If you become
sensitive to an oil after using it for a while, stop using it.
- If you have
asthma, consult your doctor before doing aromatherapy, because
certain aromatherapy oils can trigger bronchial spasms.
- Unless you're
very familiar with aromatherapy, it's best to avoid using it during
pregnancy. The essential oils of basil, thyme, clary sage, calamus,
mugwort, pennyroyal, sage, rosemary, juniper, and wintergreen
can all harm the fetus or induce miscarriage if taken internally,
or even possibly if applied externally.
 
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