Contra-indications for essential oils - what are they?

contra means opposite or against plus indicated - so indicated against i.e not recommended for certain conditions;

essential oils are extracted from the essence of plants, flowers and herbs so they are highly concentrated and therefore may disagree with some people or have a negative effect on them;

in the pharmaceutical industry, the active part of a plant is harvested in a concentrated way and used for specific illnesses/conditions - but - they leave behind all the other components of the plant that make up the whole... this is why there are so many side effects with drugs;

with aromatherapy, the whole plant/flower/herb is used so literally providing an holistic remedy to the user; as nature intended; this means little or no side effects;

if you have a reaction to an oil - it generally may be down to the oils potency or the sensitivities you have, or pre-existing conditions or illnesses you suffer from; it is very important for the user to take responsibility and check for any possible contraindications before using a particular oil;

the following conditions require extra caution and you should avoid some essential oils if suffering from the following:

*pregnancy

*sensitive Skin

*high Blood Pressure

*epilepsy

*pre existing medical condition

internal use is not generally recommended, although the french did it and some oils like herbs and fruits work very well in food; usually it is the practitioner or supplier having to 'cover themselves' so as a rule - you are advised not to ingest essential oils;

here is a basic list of oils to be aware of for contraindications - it is not complete so it is essential for you to check your personal needs/conditions before use;

*citrus oils are phototoxic so do not use when exposing skin to sunlight

*rosemary, red thyme, pine, rosemary, sage raise blood pressure so do not use if you have high blood pressure

*marjoram lowers blood pressure so do not use if you have low blood pressure

*some oils can cause skin irritations - check

*Clary Sage has a euphoric effect so do not drive, drink when using

*geranium - do not use if hypoglycemic (blood sugar levels)

*juniper - do not use if kidney problems

*most oils are not recommended if pregnant - check

*rosemary, basil, eucalyptus, fennel, sage – use extreme caution if suffering from epilepsy

so always check - use your own judgement and discernment with using these powerful oils, but enjoy!

check my other post on my special blended roller bottles which make great perfumes and gifts, while having great benefits at the same time.