Jóna K. Valdez 26/02/2020 Aromatherapy Certification Program Final Research Paper
The Guide to Safety Why to use hydrosols in place of essential oils in the weak and compromised.
I have wanted to write about the issues of the safety of essential oils in regards to babies and children, because I’ve felt that it’s been disregarded by a lot of general oil users. There has also been a big push in the essential oils industry in recent years, and I don’t think that safety has caught up with the speed of sales. I have 5 children of my own ranging from 4-19 of age, and when I started to want to use oils on them, I hesitated. I had been using natural remedies like herbal tinctures, homeopathy and such to help support and heal my family for quite a while. Essential oils I had mostly used for myself but not on a large scale though, I had not really used them for my kids at all. I had been introduced to them in England when I was in school for Beauty Therapy, but not much more than that we could use them in our massages. I did write a paper on aromatherapy, which would be fun to dig out now to read. When my interest for essential oils got reignited a few years ago and I wanted to start using them “for real” I started to do some research and found a lot of contradicting information out there. It was quite overwhelming and it really made me more hesitant to use the oils than confident in using them. I had to think about the varied ages of children in my household, our cat, my husband’s medication and so on. So, I just looked at my oils and thought to myself, “I’ll never use them”. I started to read books and information that I had been given, what I had bought, and there seemed to be a lot of contradicting information out there. Now I was getting even more confused but kept searching, which eventually lead me to find Aromahead Institute free online course, which I did right away.
Now I was reading and learning new information that seemed to be logical and consistent. I found out that I had a passion for the oils, but a passion to use them correctly, and a passion to help people use them correctly. I loved the Aromahead teachers and I thought that if I could ever do a certification program it would be the ACP course. But for now, I would just try to self-educate and try to share information I felt was accurate and safe. And living in the State of Utah, the capital of MLM essential oils companies, and other oil companies, there were plenty of oil users around. Now, what was I to do so I would keep my babies safe and not kill the cat? By God’s grace I was able to sign up for the ACP course and the journey began, and I have loved every part of it. After doing some research on this topic I have come to the conclusion that this topic deserves a lot of attention, and people need to be informed. So, should babies and children use essential oils? What about pregnant women, or the elderly? Are there any different guidelines to follow? Are there other options? Are there oils that are not safe and should be avoided?
I think the oils have been marketed unsafely to the young, pregnant and elderly by a few of the oil companies out there. I feel that some of these companies do not train their sales representatives enough and equip them with the knowledge to keep their customers safe. But fortunately, there are really great companies out there and professionals that work hard to keep us all safe. So, if we start from the beginning at conception, there aren’t really any contraindications unless the individual has some existing conditions to take into consideration. Oils can be used to enhance the mood and to create a relaxing atmosphere, Sandalwood (Santalum album), Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) can help with that, and some floral oils like Ylang-Ylang (Cananga odorata) and Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum, Jasminum officinale) can act as aphrodisiacs. Now if pregnancy has occurred different rules apply, like for the first trimester no oils should be used except for minimal use of diffusing, 1 hour in a 24-hour period. Oils will be limited to a handful of oils like ginger (Zingiber officinale), peppermint (Mentha piperita), and lemon (Citrus limon) for morning sickness, Lavender for relaxing. After the first trimester gentle oils like Lavender can be used topically for a relaxing massage for example, keeping to about 1%dilution which is about 5-6 drops per ounce of carrier. (1)
There is still a discussion amongst professionals, in books, and amongst users whether essential oils are safe at all during pregnancy. Also, there isn’t enough evidence to know for sure if oils have caused complications during pregnancies, and if those oils had been ingested or used topically. There is some “evidence” that they could be abortifacients, and could cause uterine contractions, the dosage is also unclear in these reports. Most of the research has been done on pregnant animals. Tisserand and Young’s book on essential oil safety is the best source of information on this matter. (2) There is a list of safe oils, and unsafe ones that one should always refer to before choosing an oil while pregnant, as well as when breastfeeding. Unsafe oils during pregnancy, labour, and breastfeeding. Aniseed Pimpinella anisum Basil ct. estragole Ocimum basilicum Birch Betula lenta *Camphor Cinnamomum camphora Hyssop Hyssopus officinalis Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris Parsley seed or leaf Petroselinum sativum Pennyroyal Mentha pulegium Sage Salvia officinalis Tansy Tanacetum vulgare Tarragon Artemisia dracunculus Thuja Thuja occidentalis Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens Wormwood Artemisia absinthium *Note that this is not the same as Ho Wood/Ho Leaf chemotype Linalool (Cinnamomum camphora ct. Linalool), which has no known contraindications. (3)
The following properly diluted essential oils appear to be safe for use during pregnancy: Benzoin (Styrax benzoin) Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) Black pepper (Piperita nigrum) Chamomile (German & Roman) (Matricaria recutita, Chamaemelum nobile) Clary sage (Salvia sclarea) Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) Frankincense (Boswellia carterii) Geranium (Pelargonium x asperum) Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) Juniper (Juniperus communis) Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Lemon (Citrus limon) Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) Marjoram (sweet) (Origanum marjorama) Neroli (Citrus aurantium var. amara) Petitgrain (Citrus aurantium ssp. amara) Rose (Rosa x damascena) Sandalwood (Santalum album) Orange (sweet) (Citrus sinensis) Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) Ylang-Ylang (Cananga odorata) (4)
Now, the question still remains should we use oils on babies and young children? From what I have come to understand from my studies and my research, oils should really be the last option for the little ones. There are so many other options out there to choose from that are so much safer. Hydrosols are one of them where you’re using the same plants as the oils but they are perfectly safe, herbs and homeopathic pellets are another option that are safe for babies and young children. There just isn’t enough research out there on how essential oils affect babies, I guess there just aren’t enough parents out there that are willing to put their babies into a research group 😉 Essential oils are volatile plant compounds, and even though naturally occurring they have chemical compounds that can affect the bodies systems in a major way. So, for little developing bodies with a more sensitive immune system the oils could have negative effects on them. Through steam distillation, cold pressing and other extraction methods the oils are released from various parts of the plant. The oils that come out of these plants are highly concentrated, making them highly potent. So, since the oils are marketed as all natural it is easy to assume that they’re completely safe to use. As always when using oils there are some safety guidelines to consider, so when using on or around babies and young children one should be extra careful. Toxic exposure to oils has more than doubled in recent years, with 4 out of 5 cases being children (5)Some oils are just too potent for babies, so be sure you’ve done your research before using them on your babies. Oils should never be ingested by babies or children, essential oils are greatly overused, incorrect use of oils is common, oil quality and purity also are a factor when using them. When a decision has been made to use oils, knowing that you should not use oils on or around babies before the age of six months is important, after that use a diffuser for the oils. Avoid topical use until the age of two and be sure to take a break from the oils, and not have the diffuser running all day, for that can lead to systemic sensitization. Another thing is to keep essential oils away from babies’ airways, and don’t use oils in a diffuser if the infant has asthma or if there’s a risk for asthma because of family history (6) It has also been taught to people to put the oils on the bottom of the babies’ feet, but there is a concern there, babies tend to put their feet in their mouths. If the caretaker isn’t super vigilant the baby could accidentally ingest the oils, and cause injury to themselves. The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians don’t recommend using oils on babies under 3 months, and if using oils according to NAHA dilute to 0.5-2.5 into sunflower, grapeseed, or coconut oil. But, 0.25 would be more appropriate dilution.
List of generally considered safe oils for diffusing and occasional topical use for two and under.
Basil linalool (Ocimum basilicum) – Relaxing, mood lifting, helpful for soothing sore muscles Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) – Bright, clean, uplifting citrus scent. Bergamot is phototoxic unless you purchase one that is filtered to be bergaptine-free. If not using bergaptine-free, a maximum dilution of 0.4% (about 5 drops in 4 tablespoons carrier oil) is recommended to avoid phototoxicity. (source: Essential Oil Safety) Black pepper (Piper nigrum) – Helpful for soothing achy muscles Blue tansy (Tanacetum annuum) -Also called Moroccan blue chamomile, this oil has skin soothing properties. It may also promote feelings of being clear-headed when pollen counts are high. Catnip (Nepeta cataria) – Relaxing. Supports restful sleep. Cedarwood Atlantica (Cedrus atlantica) – Calming, skin soothing. Cedarwood Virginian (Juniperus virginiana) – Lovely woodsy scent, relaxing and beneficial for skin. Chamomile/German (Matricaria chamomilla L) – Relaxing, helpful for sleep, may support clear thinking when pollen counts are high Chamomile/Roman (Chamaemelum nobile) – Relaxing, helpful for sleep, helpful for soothing sore muscles Cinnamon leaf (Cinnamomum verum) – NOT cinnamon bark. Smells lovely when diffused during the holidays. Can have a warming effect when applied to the skin, but it can cause irritation if too high a concentration is used. The maximum recommended dilution in Essential Oil Safety is 0.6% (about 7 drops in four tablespoons carrier oil) Citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus) – Clary sage (Salvia sclarea) – Helpful for relaxation and restful sleep. Copaiba balsam (Copaifera officinalis) – Supports healthy respiratory function and soothes achy muscles. Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) – Soothes upset tummy’s and calms emotions. Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) – Supports healthy respiratory function. Thought to have an emotionally grounding effect during challenging experiences. Dill weed (Anethum graveolens) – Helpful for digestion. Supports immune function. The maximum recommended dilution for this oil is 1.2% (about 7 drops in two tablespoons carrier oil) Fir needle (Abies sibirica) – Supports healthy respiratory function Fragonia (Agonis fragrans) – Smells a lot like eucalyptus and supports healthy respiratory function. Frankincense carterii (Boswellia carterii) – Immune support, helpful for soothing cuts, bruises and other injuries, relaxing, also thought to promote youthful looking skin
Frankincense frereana (Boswellia frereana) – Immune support, helpful for soothing cuts, bruises and other injuries, relaxing, also thought to promote youthful looking skin
Frankincense serrata (Boswellia serrata) – Calming, thought to promote youthful looking skin Geranium bourbon (Pelargonium x asperum) –Ginger root CO2 extract (Zingiber officinalis) – Helpful for digestion and soothing sore muscles Grapefruit/Pink (Citrus x paradisi) – Uplifting. Can cause photosensitivity. Maximum recommended topical use is 4% (4 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil) Helichrysum italicum (Helichrysum italicum) – Considered one of the top oils for promoting youthful skin, helpful for scars, and supportive of the immune system. Rare and somewhat expensive. Helichrysum splendidum (Helichrysum splendidum) – Considered beneficial for skin, but not as much as Helichrysum italicum. Supports healthy respiratory function. Juniper berry (Juniperus communis) – Calming, supports healthy respiratory function Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia) Lavender (Lavandula augustifolia)- Calming, helpful for soothing bug bites, sunburns, and other skin irritations Lemon/expeller-pressed (Citrus x limon) – Mood lifting, supports immune function. Can cause photosensitivity. Maximum recommended topical use is 2% (12 drops in two tablespoons carrier oil) Lime/expeller-pressed (Citrus x aurantifolia) – Uplifting, supports immune function. Can cause photosensitivity. Maximum recommended topical use is 0.7% (about 4 drops in two tablespoons carrier oil) Lemon eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora) – Mood lifting, supports healthy respiratory function Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) – Calming Marjoram/Sweet (Origanum majorana) – Relaxing, helpful for sleep. Neroli (Citrus x aurantium var.amara) – Often used in skincare products due to its ability to promote beautiful skin. Thought to be helpful for easing emotional tension Orange, Blood (Citrus sinensis) – Mood lifting Orange, sweet (Citrus sinensis) – Mood lifting Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii var motia) – Digestive support, skin soothing Patchouli (Pogostemon Cablin) – Thought to promote the appearance of youthful skin. Petitgrain (Citrus x aurantium) – Thought to be beneficial for skin, especially oily skin. Pine (Pinus Sylvestris) – Supports healthy respiratory function and soothes sore muscles
Rosalina (Melaleuca ericifolia) – Supports healthy respiratory function (similar to eucalyptus) Sandalwood/Australian (Santalum Spicatum) – Calming, thought to be helpful for oily skin Spearmint (Mentha spicata) – Similar to peppermint, but safer for use with small children. Helpful for digestion. Maximum recommended topical use is 1.7% (about 10 drops in two tablespoons carrier oil) Spruce/Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) – Supports healthy respiratory function. Tangerine (Citrus reticulata) – Immune support. Bright, uplifting citrus scent Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) – Immune support, helpful for cuts and scrapes. Also considered helpful for acne-prone skin. Turmeric rhizome CO2 extract (Curcuma longa) – Soothes joint discomfort Vanilla CO2 extract (Vanilla planfolia) –Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides) – Relaxing and emotionally grounding.
Additionally, between ages 2-6 these oils can be added to the list. Jasmine absolute (Jasminum sambac) – Max dermal use of 0.7% (about 4 drops in two tablespoons carrier oil) Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) – Max dermal use of 0.6% (about 7 drops in four tablespoons carrier oil) Ylang-Ylang (Cananga odorata) – Max dermal use of 0.8% (about 5 drops in two tablespoons carrier oil)
Now for ages 6-12 you can use all the oils listed above plus the oils below. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is also considered appropriate after age six. Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) dilation ratio 1.5% (1 drop per teaspoon) Eucalyptus radiata (Eucalyptus radiata) Eucalyptus globulus (Eucalyptus globulus)
So, as you can see there are a lot of things you need to keep in mind before you go to the nearest health store or sign up with an MLM essential oil company to get oils. Always remember you’re the ones that are responsible for the wellbeing of these little ones, so be informed. Now the good news! Like I mentioned before you can use an essential oil “byproduct” called a hydrosol to take care of yourself, your babies and your older children without worrying if this is going to harm you all. Hydrosols are simply the leftover distillate water, but they contain minute traces of the essential oil that was being distilled. They absolutely contain therapeutic properties like the oils, but they do not 100% share the same constituents. And the therapeutic properties are in such small amounts that they pose little risk to the user. Hydrosols are liquids with taste and smell, but they’re not like herbal teas or tinctures, or decoctions or infusions, they are distillates, their own unique thing. Another great thing about hydrosols, they don’t need to be diluted because they are so mild already. You can compare them to homeopathic remedies for example, the more you dilute them, the stronger the remedy. If taken internally, for example in your water (and yes hydrosols can be ingested, yay!), it will be like you’re taking multiple microdoses of your “remedy” throughout the day.(7)
You have to be careful when you buy hydrosols to check to see if they’re indeed true hydrosols. Often, they’re marketed as floral waters, but it’s just water with fragrance and synthetic compounds added to it. Also, you can’t make a hydrosol by adding essential oils to water and add a dispersant to it and expect it to work like a hydrosol. The following parameters to follow when selecting and evaluating quality in aromatherapy products are: One single, botanically specific plant Certified organic or biodynamic agriculture Chemical-free agriculture Sustainably wild-crafted and tested for chemical contaminants Distilled or extracted specifically for therapeutic use Stored and transported to maintain therapeutic values So why would we choose hydrosols over essential oils? Like mentioned above essential oils are highly concentrated, and some can contain extremely potent chemicals that should only be used in small amounts to exhibit their anti-infectious effect. And a lot of plant material is needed to make one drop of essential oil, but many of us don’t give that a second thought when we pour those drops on us or our babies. But we don’t always need such potency to treat an issue, especially when dealing with the young, the immune compromised, as well as the elderly. For example, if the body is in real starvation mode and is given a big meal, the body will most likely reject it, since it can no longer process that volume of food any longer. The same goes for depressed immune system, research is showing that depressed immune system may, if overstimulated, just shut down under the strain of responding to medicine. The same is true for infants, whose immune systems are still developing and whose senses, especially smell, are highly sensitive. Now keeping all that in mind, we would never think of giving a baby a kilo of chamomile to help it sleep, or to calm tummy issues. So, why would we give them such a potent drop of oil without thinking about it. And that’s why hydrosols are so great, they are water-soluble for ease of application, absorption, and ingestion, and the amazing part that brings the point above to conclusion, they are dilutable down to homeopathic proportions. They are the obvious choice for these special conditions, they are so gentle, the smell, the chemistry, and the potency, but remain highly effective. Hydrosols don’t replace essential oils they work exceptionally well in synergy with oils for any aromatherapy protocol. (8) I definitely have a newfound love and respect for these wonderful waters, and intend on incorporating them into our daily life much more than I currently do. This has truly been my journey with essential oils and most recently hydrosols. I truly have loved this adventure of learning and using the oils, making blends for friends and family, and truly making a difference. Thank you all for joining me on it.
1.Julia Haywood, Tisserand Aromatherapy Blog, 12th October 2017, https://www.tisserand.com/blog/wellbeing/aromatherapy-conception-pregnancy-birth/
Wendy Robbins, AromaWeb, Aromatherapy during pregnancy, https://www.aromaweb.com/articles/aromatherapyduringpregnancy.asp
NAHA.org, Other Safety Considerations, Exploring Aromatherapy https://naha.org/index.php/explore-aromatherapy/safety/#pregnancy
https://naha.org/index.php/explore-aromatherapy/safety/#pregnancy
Randy Dotinga, WebMD, 2016, More children accidentally poisoned be essential oils, Health Day News, https://www.webmd.com/children/news/20160513/more-children-accidently-poisoned-by-essential-oils
Amanda Barrell, Medical News Today, 2018, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322532
Suzanne Catty. (2001), Hydrosols the Next Aromatherapy. Vermont: Healing Arts Press
Suzanne Catty, (2001), Hydrosols the Next Aromatherapy, Vermont: Healing Arts Press
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