Difference between revisions of "Aromatherapy"

Revision as of 14:30, 6 November 2016

Special Precautions of Aromatherapy

• Always seek proper medical consultation from an expert before using essential oils.
• Do not take internally unless working with a qualified and expert practitioner.
• Do not apply undiluted essential oil absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner.
• If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner.
• Use extreme caution when using oils with children and give children only the gentlest oils at extremely low doses. It is safest to consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children.
• There has been an upsurge in the incidence of various forms of cancer, and the carcinogenesis (the stimulation of growth of cancerous cells) effect of various substances are continuously looked at to try and identify any carcinogenic substances and so help people from steering away from them.
• Potentially Carcinogenic Essential Oils : There are some essential oils that are carcinogenic and have already been banned from use in aromatherapy as well as for internal usage. The oils in question are calamus oil (contains asorone), and all oils that contain high amounts of safrole like sassafras oil which is also found in yellow and brown camphor. Other compounds found in essential oils that may be carcinogenic is methyl chavicol (Estragole), which is found in basil oil, fennel, anise and lemon grass. This statement does not make basil a dangerous oil, but care should be taken to select the basil oil with the highest linalool content and lowest methyl chavicol content. It must however be pointed out that studies showed these oils as carcinogenic when applied daily in high concentration over a period of months.
• Using essential oils when you have cancer : If you have cancer there are some points to keep in mind when using essential oils and aromatherapy:Keep massage light, and avoid deep massage over muscles as well as near the lymph glands.Do not massage areas that have been irradiated.Do not massage areas that have skin cancers.Various writers on health, cancer and medical conditions have compiled lists of oils which should not be used when you have cancer.
• Essential oils to avoid when you have cancer: Aniseed, Basil, Bay, Clove, Cinnamon, Fennel, Ho leaf, Laurel, Nutmeg, Star anise, camphor.
• Essential oils to avoid when you have estrogen (oestrogen) dependant cancers: Aniseed, Citronella, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Lemongrass, Star anise, Verbena
• Essential oils to avoid when you have skin cancers and melanomas: Bergamot And all sun sensitizing oils.
• Pregnant women and children should consult their primary health care providers prior to using essential oils.
• Do not store near homeopathy remedies, do not use with homeopathy or flower essence protocols, check with a qualified practitioner if you have any serious and acute health challenges.
• Most essential oils can be used, even if there are strong safety concerns, as long are they are diluted properly (see: Potentially Carcinogenic Essential Oils). But there are some essential oils that are simply best avoided due to their toxicity. According to Essential Oil Safety, the following essential oils “should not be used, either internally or externally.”
  • Almond (Bitter, unrectified) Prunus dulcis, Prunus communis, Prunus amygdalus, Amydalus communis, **Amygdalus dulcis
  • Boldo Peumus boldus, Boldoa fragrans
  • Cade (unrectified) Juniperus exycedrus
  • Camphor (Brown)* Cinnamomum camphora, Laurus camphora : Camphor (Brown), Camphor (White), and Camphor (Yellow) all have the same Latin name of “Cinnamomum camphora.” So how do you tell the difference? If you have a GC/MS report available, check the constituents. Camphor (Brown) contains up to 60% safrole; Camphor (White) contains 40% or more limonene; Camphor (Yellow) contains 20% safrole.
  • Fig Leaf Ficus carica
  • Horseradish Armoracia rusticana, Chochlearia armoracia, Armoracia lapathifolia
  • Mustard Brassica nigra, Brassica juncea
  • Pine (Huon) Dacrydium franklinii, Lagarostrobos franklinii
  • Sassafras Sassafras albidum, Nectandra sanguinea, Ocotea odorifera, Ocotea pretiosa, Cinnamomum porrectum, Cinnamomum rigidissimum
  • Savin Juniperus sabina
  • Snakeroot Asarum canadense
  • Tea Tree (Black) : Melaleuca bracteata : Tea Tree (Black) “Melaleuca bracteata” is not the same as the commonly used Tea Tree “Melaleuca alternifolia” which is safely used. If you are unsure which you have, check the Latin name.
  • Wormseed Chenopodium ambrosioides

The benefits of Aromatherapy are

Alphabetical List of Aromatherapy
Alphabetical List of Essential Oils
Aromatherapy for Cancer treatment

References

Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals-, 2e 2nd Edition by Robert Tisserand (Author), Rodney Young