• This is the use of essential oils on hot compress, in diffusers, or in hot water for inhalation.
• Standard dose is 10 drops.
• Benefits: Best for respiratory, sinus problems, and headaches.
• Caution: prolonged inhalation of concentrated essential oils can cause headaches, vertigo, dizziness, nausea, and lethargy.

Direct Palm Inhalation

• Apply 1-2 drops of oil to the palms, rub together gently and inhale deeply.
• Benefits: Excellent method for quick and easy exposure to the anti-microbial and other therapeutic uses of essential oils.
• Caution: This method of use should only be done with oils that can be safely applied to the skin

Facial Steam

• 1 – 5 drops on hot water in a pot, cover head with a towel, steam face.
• Benefits: Excellent for opening sinuses, headaches, and as a skin treatment.

Topical Use

It takes about 30 seconds for substances applied to the skin to enter the bloodstream.

By diluting and applying essential oils topically, we take advantage of the permeability of our skin and can immediately impact our body on a cellular level.

Because Essential Oils are concentrated powerhouses, as little as a single drop of therapeutic grade essential oil can be beneficial.

Massage can be a beautiful way to experience the healing power of essential oils.

• Many essential oils have beneficial effects on circulation, both through dermal and respiratory absorption. These oils enhance the circulation stimulating effects of massage.
• Jasmine, neroli, rose and vanilla in a base of coconut or jojoba oil makes a lovely massage blend.
• Ginger is warming and promotes blood flow to areas where it is applied.
• Peppermint and Wintergreen are cooling and pain relieving, but caution needs to be exercised on any areas of sensitive skin.  Eyes and face should be avoided.

Since pure essential oils are about 70 times more concentrated than the whole plant they MUST be diluted.

Dilutions are typically 2% – 10%.
For adults, a 2.5% dilution is recommended for most purposes.
For children under 12, 1% is generally safe.
A 2.5% blend for a 1-ounce bottle of carrier oil is 15 drops of essential oil.

1% blend = 6 drops per oz
2% blend = 12 drops per oz
3% blend = 18 drops per oz
5% blend = 30 drops per oz
10% blend = 60 drops per oz

• The best way to use essential oils in the bath is to mix them first with salts or an emulsifier such as milk or sesame oil. Aromatic bath salts disperse the oils safely into the water, while milk and sesame oil emulsify the essential oil so that it disperses. Without salts or an emulsifier, drops of essential oils will float on the water and then get directly on the skin. Combined with the heat of the water, this can cause dermal toxicity, especially if the oils are of a heating nature.
• Recommended Herbs in the Bath: The oils that are generally considered mild and safe for bath are lavender oil, clary sage oil, rose oil, geranium oil, frankincense oil, sandalwood oil, eucalyptus oil, and conifers such as cedar oil, fir oil, pine oil, pinon pine essential oil, spruce oil, and juniper oil to name a few. A generally safe dose is 5 – 10 drops, mixed with ½ to 1 cup of salt or emulsifier.
• Herbs to Avoid in Baths: Oils that should be avoided in the bath include spicy oils such as cinnamon oil, oregano oil, thyme oil, and tulsi; phototoxic oils such as citruses, especially bergamot oil, and those with specific irritant potential such as lemongrass oil.
• Benefits: Aromatic baths are excellent for skin problems, circulatory problems, respiratory symptoms, stress and nervous tension, insomnia, muscular, and menstrual pains.
• Caution: Overuse of essential oils in the bath can cause irritation. Use only mild, non-irritating oils for bath, such as lavender oil and clary sage oil.

In general, essential oils should NOT be internally ingested.

• Avoid using essential oils internally if suggested/”prescribed” by a lay practitioner, especially if the practitioner’s education is primarily from a marketing perspective rather than a clinical one.
• Properly administered dosages of essential oil medications can be prescribed by a licensed physician. European clinics are offering this with growing frequency, but this is not widely available yet in the U.S. 
• Even oils marketed for ingestion deserve caution.  A good example of this is oregano oil. Oregano oil is widely marketed for internal consumption, with claims made about its therapeutic efficacy. In actual practice, the internal consumption of this oil frequently causes extreme gastric hyperacidity. For safety, in cases like this, consider the use of oregano as a fresh herb, lightly steamed and added to food to provide all the benefits of oregano oil but at a biocompatible level, with none of the gastric dangers.

Essential oils are very concentrated.

Dilute all essential oils before applying to the skin, either in a fatty oil or in water as when used on a compress.

There are two exceptions to this rule:

1. The first is the use of attars as natural perfumes. In this case, the floral essences are distilled into a base of sandalwood oil, the sandalwood oil acts as a carrier, which dilutes the potency of the pure essential oil.
2. The second is the reasonable use of mild essential oils that have a well-documented history of safety. The best example of this is lavender; however, even lavender can still be problematic for some people.

Dilution With Carrier Oils

Measurements/conversions (by volume)

• 30 mL = 1 fl oz = 600 drops = 2 tablespoons
• 15 mL = ½ fl oz = 300 drops = 1 tablespoon
• 5 mL = ⅙ fl oz = 100 drops = 1 teaspoon
• 1 mL = 1/30 fl oz = 20 drops = ⅕ teaspoon

TO ACHIEVE A SPECIFIC DILUTION

For one fluid (1 oz) ounce of Carrier Oil:

• 1% of 600 drops (1 fl oz) = 6 drops
• 2% of 600 drops (1 fl oz) = 12 drops
• 2.5% of 600 drops (1 fl oz) = 15 drops
• 5% of 600 drops (1 fl oz) = 30 drops
• 10% of 600 drops (1 fl oz) = 60 drops

A general rule is to never apply more than one to two drops of undiluted oil to the skin.

Patch testing is always advisable.

• For people with sensitive skin, always test a small area with a diluted oil before applying over a larger area.

For general non-medical use, avoid essential oils with highly sensitive skin and with any instances of skin allergies, severe inflammation, and dermatitis. 

Skin reactions are dependent on:

• the type of oil
• the concentration of the oil
• the condition of the skin.

It is best to consult with your aromatherapist to discuss any prior history of skin reactions before using oils, either for dermal or respiratory applications. 

Skin reactions to essential oils can take three forms:

1. Irritation: A small number of oils are strongly or severely irritant. These include horseradish, mustard, garlic, and onion (which are rarely used in aromatherapy practice). Some oils used in massage practice can be moderately irritant, such as cinnamon bark oil, clove, fennel, and verbena. These oils should be used cautiously or avoided in cases of skin sensitivity.
2. Sensitization: Skin sensitization means an allergic skin reaction; this usually manifests as a rash. There are relatively few oils used in a typical massage practice that will produce sensitization under normal applications in a carrier oil. However, there are a number of reports on Pubmed of allergic reactions to essential oils. These include contact dermatitis, eczema, asthma, and pruritic erythematous eruptions. These cases were predominantly among those who used essential oils professionally for long periods of time, such as massage therapists and estheticians. The cases frequently involved exposure to numerous essential oils, and it is also likely that the quality of the oils was poor.
3. Phototoxicity: Some essential oils can strongly increase sensitivity to sunlight when applied to the skin. This is especially dangerous when applied undiluted to the skin, but even low concentrations in a carrier oil can cause problems if followed by exposure to sun or tanning lamps.  Phototoxicity will be much stronger directly after application of the oil and will gradually decrease over an eight to twelve hour period; if higher than normal concentrations are used, it can be longer. Most of the phototoxic oils are also photocarcinogenic. The most common oils which cause phototoxicity are the citruses; bergamot oil is the most reactive. Some citruses are phototoxic if expressed, but not if distilled, such as lemon oil and lime oil. Other oils include marigold oil (tagetes), verbena, and angelica oil.

The best practice is to use proper dilutions, avoid direct exposure to UV rays after application, and avoid the use of citrus oils if the exposure will be occurring after treatment.

The best treatment for skin irritation from essential oils is to apply a carrier oil, such as coconut, which will dilute the impact of the essential oils. Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes. If an essential oil gets into the eye, do not rub it. Saturate a cotton ball with milk or vegetable oil and wipe over the area affected. In severe instances, flood the eye area with lukewarm water for fifteen minutes.

Essential oils generally have a shelf life of one to three years.

• Some get better with age, such as sandalwood oil, vetiver oil, and patchouli oil.
• The citrus oils are most prone to degradation and should be used within one year.

Old and oxidized oils are more prone to cause reactions, especially rashes.

Refrigerate fatty carrier oils to prevent rancidity.