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7 Essential Oils You Should Never Be Without
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Essential oils are all the rage right now — and with good reason. Think of essential oils as a natural remedy that contains powerful medicine. Like all things, however, powerful medicine requires responsibility. Some websites make the mistake of making it sound as if essential oils are completely harmless, but the truth is that you do want to take care with how you use them as they can irritate the skin, and can even burn the skin of little ones. Some people are allergic to certain oils and citrus oils. For some people, essential oils make the skin more sensitive to the UV rays of the sun. Internal consumption should be limited to no more than two drops every 12 hours and only from oils that are safe to consume such as lavender and peppermint. NEVER ingest an essential oil unless you are 100 percent certain that it is safe to do so.
One last word regarding using essential oils safely: Pregnant women should never use any oil, no matter how long they may have used them in the past, unless they speak with a doctor first.
Now that we have talked about safety, let’s talk about those top seven essential oils no home should be without. Essential oils are terrific for naturally cleaning the home; for use in beauty recipes (such as homemade lotion bars and homemade toothpastes); for cleaning and cleansing the skin; and they can help with wide variety of everyday health problems, such as headaches and skin problems.
As a general rule, you should dilute most essential oils in a good quality carrier oil such as sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, extra virgin olive oil, or coconut oil. You can dilute most essential oils at three to five drops per every tablespoon of carrier oil. If you have sensitive skin or if you are using it on younger children, you might want to cut it down to one or 2two drops per tablespoon. It’s not a good idea to use essential oils on children under seven, and never use them on children under three years of age.
The list of essential oils that follows are all generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for both food and cosmetic purposes, but this doesn’t mean that you can use unlimited amounts without consequence. There are other common household things that are GRAS, such as salt, baking soda, and vinegar, but you would never dream of using these regularly in large amounts. Anything, even water, can be deadly if you consume huge amounts. Be smart, practice moderation, and if you are unsure, do some research first.
If you are using essential oils for cleaning purposes, you shouldn’t store them in plastic containers for long periods of time. There are numerous essential oils that will eat through plastic containers, especially when stored undiluted. If you cannot find a glass spray bottle, mix up just enough solution for what you plan to use that day, and then rinse out the container when you have finished. Don’t store essential oils in plastic.
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