As we know, essential oils are the liquid extracted from different parts of plants like barks, leaves, roots, flowers, buds, and many other parts.
But it is much important that we should know that is essential oil safe or not? Nature has made these oil particles for the benefit of both plants and humans.
In plants, aromatic essential oils are used to attract insects for pollination and also protect parts of plants from predators and herbivores.
Such essentials oils are also very beneficial for humans. These therapeutic natural essential oils will help people reduce their stress, relieve pain, protect from bacteria and fungus, etc.
Essential oils are also beneficial for babies as they facilitate your baby in taking sound sleep or relieving their colic pain.
If you want to know that “whether therapeutic essentials oils are safe or not?” Then!! You have landed at the right place after scrolling many web pages. Here is a complete guide on the safety of essential oils.
Table of Contents
Why Essential oil safety is Important?
Essential oils are the product of Nature. Nature is full of beneficial and harmful plants. Suicide trees, Deadly nightshade, and many other plants are highly poisonous to humans.
As essential oils are obtained from plants, thus it is imperative to use essential oils using human wisdom. Many essential oils are toxic for human use.
You may have heard about almond oil containing cyanide (highly bitter in taste) is fatal for humans. That’s why it is wise to know about the safety of essential oils before actually buying or using them. And when babies are concerned, then the safety of essential oils must be taken into consideration.
Experts strictly warn against the use of essential oils for babies up to 12 months. For your babies older than 12 months, you can use essential oils after taking proper guidance. But remember that you can’t apply every essential oil on your child. Only some essential oils can be used on your kid’s skin. You surely want to know about essential oils that are allowed by scientists to use on your child!!! Here it is:
Which essential oils are safe for kids?
You have to select essential oil for your child sensibly. Suppose you want to soothe your child by using essential oil.
In that case, you must consider the allowed dosage, purity of the oil, possible oil interactions with any other conventional drug that your child is taking, and method of application.
Never overuse any essential oil on your baby.
Following essential oils are considered safe for your baby, but you have to take the right dosage of these oils.
- Bergamot oil
- Blue tansy oil
- Black pepper oil
- Cedarwood oil
- Lavender oil
- Chamomile oil
- Clary Sage oil
- Frankincense oil
- Geranium oil
- Ginger oil
- Helichrysum oil
- Marjoram (Sweet)
- Melissa oil
- Cypress oil
What essential oils should I NOT use around my children?
Don’t use any essential oil mixed with alcohol, as it can irritate your child’s skin. Don’t allow your child to swallow any essential oil.
Always keep bottles of essential oil away from your child. Many cases have been routinely reported in poison centers of the United States due to accidental ingestion of essential oil by the kids as a bottle of oil was placed within their reach.
You must not use the following essential oils for your child.
- Fennel oil
- Peppermint oil
- Rosemary oil
- Verbena oil
- Wintergreen oil
- Star Anise oil
- Eucalyptus globulus oil
- Marjoram (Spanish type) oil
- Oregano oil
Special Case: Eucalyptus Radiata and Eucalyptus Globulus
Eucalyptus is a very beautiful tall tree popular now all around the globe. Many species of Eucalyptus genera are known for their therapeutic effects. Essential oils extracted from at least 500 different genera of Eucalyptus are well-known in the world.
They are used to cure asthma, cancer, diabetes, diarrhea, wounds, fever, flu, and much more. Moreover, the essential oil extracted from Eucalyptus Globulus is most common.
But when you are thinking of taking essential oil for your child!!!!! You must know the important facts. Essential oils extracted from Eucalyptus Globulus contain a large amount of cineole.
Cineole can cause severe respiratory problems in babies by blocking the nasal cavity. It can also cause adverse effects on the nervous system of your child. Painful allergic rashes can appear on the skin of your child.
Accidental ingestion of essential oils extracted from Eucalyptus Globulus can cause vomiting and diarrhea in your baby.
You must choose the right type of essential oil for your baby. Many scientists have warned to use essential oil from Eucalyptus Globulus on your child’s skin.
According to them, parents must not use essential oil of Eucalyptus Globulus on children under the age of 3 years. The essential oil obtained from Eucalyptus Radiata is vital in this regard.
If you want to use Eucalyptus oil for your baby, you can use essential oil extracted from Eucalyptus Radiata in place of oil from Eucalyptus Globulus.
Scientists have allowed the use of Eucalyptus Globulus essential oil but with proper guidance from a registered medical practitioner or a registered aromatherapist.
Ways to assure Essential Oil Safety
You must consider the important tips to assure the safety of essential oil before using them. You must not put any essential oil inside reproductive parts or inside the eyes or mouth. Secondly, you must buy essential oil from a guaranteed producer.
Always check the quality of essential oil by reading the label and checking the type of the bottle. If the essential oil is packaged in a plastic bottle instead of an amber or glass bottle, don’t buy that bottle.
You must read the important details on the label like purity of oil, common and Latin name of the plant, part of the plant from which oil is actually extracted, country of origin, and method of extraction used.
You must not buy any essential oil mixed with peppermint or alcohol for your baby. You must take the correct dose and purity of oil for your child. Never use 100 percent pure essential oil for your child.
Conclusion
To sum up, you should choose an essential oil for your child after taking proper guidance. I highly suggest you to take help from professionals to buy the perfect essential oil.
After all, it is a matter of the health of your child. Don’t do any ignorance in this regard. Buy the right essential oil for your baby and massage it on the skin of your baby.
Your baby will feel your love with your soothing massage on the soft skin of your little angel. So, enjoy these beautiful days of your kid’s childhood!!!!