Wild As The Wind Essential Oils

Pure Natural Skincare & Essential Oils

How To Use Essential Oils

How To Use Essential Oils

Essential Oils Electric

This is a comprehensive guide to using essential oils. It provides detailed instructions on how to use essential oils safely and effectively to restore and enhance your health and well being.

Essential oils are safely used every day by millions of people. Nevertheless, it is really important to remember that essential oils are powerful substances which, when used improperly, can be harmful.

This is because pure therapeutic grade essential oils in their undiluted form are between 50 and 100 times more concentrated than when they are found in their natural state within the plants and trees they originate from. This, of course, means that the safety concerns applicable to essential oils usually do not apply when consuming the whole plant or when using a herbal extract.

This article only focuses on the correct usage of therapeutic grade essential oils, and does not highlight all of the potential harms of using substandard aromatherapy oils. Sadly, there are many essential oil suppliers who are selling adulterated essential oils, which are potentially dangerous no matter how well we use them, simply because they are impure, and often contain noxious artificial substances.

Please click here to understand the dangers of using substandard essential oils: Essential Oil Adulteration

Article Contents List

Introductory Information

10 Different Ways Of Using Essential Oils

  1. Inhaling Undiluted Essential Oils
  2. Diffusing Essential Oils
  3. Bathing With Essential Oils
  4. Local Topical Application Of Essential Oils (including pulse points and Vagus Nerve points)
  5. Taking Essential Oils Internally
  6. Aromatherapy Massage
  7. Steaming Essential Oils The Old Fashioned Way
  8. Cooking With Essential Oils
  9. Using Pre-Blended Essential Oil Products
  10. Spotting Essential Oils On Your Pillow
  11. Bonus: Applying Essential Oils To Your Clothes

Methods & Guidelines For Using Essential Oils

Introductory Information

This section is for complete aromatherapy beginners, but is also useful for experienced essential oil users who wish to recap on their knowledge.

Always Proceed With Caution

This article is designed to give you a very basic introduction to using essential oils safely, but it has it’s limitations. If you feel essential oils are going to become a regular part of your practice, then getting yourself a good essential oil book is important. Plus, with a wealth of information at your fingertips, you are going to feel more confident about using your essential oils, and your knowledge base will grow.

When you have a better understanding of the basics you will start to appreciate the scope of what can be achieved by using essential oils. Aromatherapy truly offers a multitude of applications, so the more you know, the more you will be able to make best use of your oils.

Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young have written the essential oil ‘safety bible’, but this is not a book I would recommend you buy for yourself. However, Robert Tisserand has published a good amount of very accessible and valuable information online that you can search for.

And, of course, it is really easy to access information on this website via the individual essential oil product pages, as well as on the many essential oil profile pages on the Wild As The Wind Information Website. Just use the search box at the top of any page to find what you are looking for.

Every essential oil is different to the next, and so whilst you can apply a few ‘general rules of thumb’ to using essential oils, you are much better off knowing the specifics of each oil you are working with.

Plus, you are an individual. So, ultimately, the best approach to using aromatherapy oils is to employ the ones which you naturally gravitate towards, rather than use the essential oils that seem to work for others.

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Great Essential Oil Books For Beginners

The Illustrated Encyclopedia Essential Oils

Author: Julia Lawless

Aromatherapy An A-Z

Patricia Davis

The Complete Book Of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy

Author: Valerie Ann Worwood

Complete Aromatherapy & Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness

Authors: Nerys Purchon and Lora Cantele

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Essential Oil Cautions & Contraindications

Special rules apply to using essential oils if you:

  • have a skin condition
  • are pregnant or are nursing
  • have epilepsy or asthma
  • are taking prescription medication
  • own pets

If you are in any doubt about using essential oils due to a pre-existing condition you are advised to seek the advice of a doctor or suitable healthcare practitioner before attempting to use essential oils.

If you don’t have any of the above contraindications, but are still in any doubt about using essential oils after reading this article in full, then please refrain from using your aromatherapy oils until you have sought advice from other resources.

Important notice: The following information provides you with general safety guidelines to help you use essential oils with minimal risk. However, Wild As The Wind cannot take responsibility for any outcomes, either positive or negative, of your use of essential oils. It is imperative that you to do all of the necessary research, prior to your use of essential oils, to ensure you are satisfied you are using your essential oils safely. This includes consulting with your healthcare professionals if necessary.

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Safe Storage Of Essential Oils

All essential oils must be stored in a cool, dry, dark place. Keeping them cold will extend their shelf life and help to ensure they don’t oxidise.

Some essential oils present a fire hazard, which is another reason to store them safely in a really cool place.

Additionally, as some essential oils are rendered toxic if exposed to direct sunlight and excessive heat, this is another reason to store them in a cold place, out of direct sunlight.

Essential oil lids must always be firmly closed after use to prevent oxidation.

The best place to store your essential oils is in the fridge.

Never put undiluted essential oils into plastic containers.

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Pouring Essential Oils

There is a certain knack to pouring essential oils. To get the hang of it, it helps to understand how an essential oil bottle is put together….

The aromatherapy oil actually comes out of a small hole in the crease of the plastic insert. The central hole, which is much bigger, is there to allow air into the bottle so that the oil can slowly escape from the much smaller hole in the recessed part of the insert.

The bottles aren’t designed to be tipped completely upside down. Instead, find the small hole in the crease of the plastic insert, and make sure this is at the bottom when the bottle is in the horizontal pouring position. Gently tilt the bottle until it is horizontal, to allow the oil to start collecting into a drop, at the lower edge of the lip of the bottle.

You can gently elevate the bottle from the horizontal position if your essential oil is very viscous. This may help the air to move into the central hole in the plastic insert more freely, as the plastic inserts extend into the bottle on the inside. The more you gently tilt the bottle downward, the more likely there will be less oil resisting the inlet of air through the central aperture.

Never tilt the bottle more than halfway between the horizontal and the vertical position as this would be counterproductive. Just learn to be a little more patient with the viscous oils.

Allow the drop to form and then fall, into your intended recepticle. If you need more than one drop, keep the bottle in the same position and allow another droplet to slowly collect. Repeat until you have dispensed the correct amount of drops for your purposes.

The angle at which you tilt your bottle will vary depending on how full your bottle is.

The following short video describes the process very well. However, the lady presenting the information uses her hand to collect the droplet of essential oil. My advice where this is concerned is:

Never drop undiluted essential oils into the palm of your hand!

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Performing A Patch Test

It is imperative to perform a patch test prior to using your oil blends on a large area of your skin.

A patch test is also known as a skin test, because it’s the method through which we apply oils, that are suitable for topical application, to a small area of skin before we decide to use the oil more broadly.

The point in doing this is to establish whether we are going to have an adverse reaction to the oil blend, or skincare product.

Many skincare products recommend performing a patch test prior to more universal application.

To perform a patch test simply place a drop or two, of the oil you wish to test, on your inner forearm. Make sure you apply the same kind of pressure you use when massaging other products into your skin.

A severe reaction will occur quickly, usually within ten minutes or so. However, a lesser reaction may take up to 24 hours to emerge.

The severe reactions are usually due to an allergy, and the milder reactions are because we have an intolerance to the substance in question.

The most severe form of allergy is referred to as anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis is essentially a very severe allergy to something, which prompts an extreme reaction in the body, which can be life-threatening. When someone suffers from anaphylaxis it is referred to as anaphylactic shock.

Anaphylaxis requires an antidote to reduce the life-threatening symptoms. Quite often the form that anaphylaxis takes

Anaphylaxis is becoming increasingly common these days. Most of us are now aware of the common causes of anaphylaxis, with the most common causes being nut allergies, and insect stings.

If you have a known nut allergy, then please refrain from using a nut oil in your oil blends. Instead use seed oils, of which there are many.

If you have an extreme reaction to any product you are patch testing, please contact your healthcare provider immediately, and rinse your forearm with mild soap and cold water.

What To Look Out For When Doing A Patch Test

Look for signs of the following:

  • Discolouration
  • Redness / colourlessness
  • Dryness
  • Irritation / itchiness
  • Raised areas of skin
  • Rashes
  • Soreness / sensitivity
  • Urticaria, (aka Hives)

If, after 24 hours, you don’t experience any of these symptoms, then you will be safe to use your blended oils elsewhere on your body, often including your face. However, some oils are contraindicated for use on your face, so it’s important to read the specific information relating to the oils that you are blending, to establish the suitability for the purpose you intend to use them.

Nevertheless, always avoid sensitive areas and inside your ears unless otherwise instructed by your health professional.

This is especially important when you use Wild As The Wind carrier oil as a base for blending essential oils.

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10 Different Ways Of Using Essential Oils

There are many different ways in which to effectively use essential oils, but the most common method is inhalation. Learn about inhaling essential oils, and all of the other common ways of using essential oils in this 10 Different Ways Of Using Essential Oils list:

  1. Inhaling Undiluted Essential Oils
  2. Diffusing Essential Oils
  3. Bathing With Essential Oils
  4. Local Topical Application Of Essential Oils (including pulse points and Vagus Nerve points)
  5. Taking Essential Oils Internally
  6. Aromatherapy Massage
  7. Steaming Essential Oils The Old Fashioned Way
  8. Cooking With Essential Oils
  9. Using Pre-Blended Essential Oil Products
  10. Spotting Essential Oils On Your Pillow
  11. Bonus: Applying Essential Oils To Your Clothes

Go To Next Section : Methods & Guidelines For Using Essential Oils

1. Inhaling Undiluted Essential Oils

There is nothing like inhaling deeply from an open essential oil bottle for instant results. We can very quickly influence our emotional state by inhaling aromatherapy oils in this way.

However, repeatedly using our essential oils in this way will expose them to the air and will inevitable lead to oxidation.

For this reason, it is better to place a drop or two on a hanky, for inhalation purposes.

Most essential oils are suitable for this purpose.

Nevertheless, please be aware, it is NOT ADVISABLE to inhale certain essential oils in this way. Avoid inhaling very strong essential oils like Oregano and Thyme, and all other aromatherapy oils that have been known to cause skin irritation in some people, when applied topically.

Otherwise, the only other concern is the possibility of accidental contact with your skin. Direct contact between the skin on the end of your nose and the undiluted essential oils on your hanky should be avoided.

In some cases, undiluted essential oils can cause sensitisation and irritation when applied to the skin. See the section on diluting essential oils, below, for more detail.

Why Inhale Undiluted Essential Oils?

There are many good reasons to inhale undiluted essential oils. It means our essential oils can be taken anywhere and permits usage whilst on the move. There is a minimum of faff involved and so this method is very quick and effective. Plus, it is very cost efficient!

When we inhale essential oils, the aromatic molecules trigger thousands of receptors in the olfactory membrane inside our nose. These molecules then travel along the chemo-sensory pathway, immediately triggering the limbic system, also known as our “emotional brain”.

The limbic region of our brain also directly connects to other areas of our brain, which influence other bodily functions like memory, breathing, hormone balance, blood pressure, stress regulation and heart rate.

Inhaling aromatherapy oils can help to influence physiological and physical changes in our bodies in many positive ways. Some aromatherapy oils reduce tension and balance our emotional state, plus there’s quite a few oils which can help to balance our hormones, further assisting us to maintain a healthy state of relaxation and focus. Others can reduce inflammation and muscular tensions. And some do all of these things.

There are many essential oils which can positively impact mood. Some of the most common essential oils for uplifting our spirits are:

*Please note, there are many varieties of the essential oils listed above in the Wild As The Wind Shop. As well as Organic, Ethically Sourced and Wildcrafted variations there’s also six different types of Lavender Essential Oil, five different types of Ylang Ylang Essential Oil, four different Mint Essential Oils, three Rosemary, two Vetivert, but only one, rather amazing Organic Sweet Orange Essential Oil!

How To Inhale Undiluted Essential Oils

Simply place a drop of pure, undiluted essential oil onto your hanky and waft it gently beneath your nose.

You only need two or three in-breaths of your essential oil to really start feeling the benefits. Ten breaths are sufficient in most circumstances.

After inhaling your chosen essential oil or essential oil blend, just sit quietly and calmly for a few moments, focusing on the benefits of the oil. Allow yourself to be still and calm as you allow the oil to go to work.

Re-Sensitising Our Olfactory Nerves

There is even a scientific basis for inhaling essential oils to recover a loss of smell, aka anosmia.

Research using the following essential oils determined that repetitive use, several times a day, will restore olfactory nerves to proper function in many cases.

As Organic Rose Otto Essential Oil is prohibitively expensive for many, it is possible to use a small bottle of FACIAL OIL No. 2, which contains Organic Rose Otto Essential Oil, lending it’s prevailing scent.

  • Keep your training kit easily accessible throughout the day.
  • Place a drop of your chosen essential oil on your hanky and breathe it in for about 20 seconds whilst focusing on what you are doing. For example, if you’re working with Organic Lemon Essential Oil, try to recall your experience of lemon.
  • After finishing with your first aromatherapy oil, move onto the next, repeating the same process. Continue to do this until you have worked your way through the rest of the essential oils.
  • Repeat several times a day.
  • Continue until your sense of smell returns to a satisfactory level. This may take weeks, months or years depending on how long you had lost your sense of smell at the outset. The longer a sense of smell is absent, the longer the recovery time.

“Smell training is not a far-fetched notion,” explains Nancy Rawson, a cell biologist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center: “It is based on years of learning how the olfactory and nervous systems work, and specifically, how nerve cells — and especially olfactory nerve cells — are generated or maintained.”

When working with the Rose Otto aroma in FACIAL OIL No. 2, simply place one drop of face oil on your fingertips and rub them gently together, directly beneath your nose, and inhale deeply for 20 seconds. Then apply to your face.

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2. Diffusing Essential Oils

Diffusing essential oils has grown in popularity immensely in recent years.

Hopefully this marks a permanent departure from such a strong reliance on harmful synthetic chemicals and fragrances to fumigate and scent our homes.

Caution is advised around pets, however. Cats are intolerant of essential oils owing to the absence of an enzyme, (lucuronyl transferase), needed to assimilate essential oils, and dogs have issues with certain essential oils as well.

*Please be aware that, whilst certain essential oils are not suitable for use around cats and dogs, there are no synthetic fragrances which are suitable for use around your pets, your children, your partner, and yourself. They are toxic to everyone.

Dr. Robert Tisserand is the leading authority on essential oil safety. He states, that despite the fact that cats don’t have the lucuronyl transferase enzyme required for metabolising essential oils, and because some oils are toxic for dogs, we can still use essential oils safely within our homes. We simply need to leave the door ajar so that pets can leave the room!

*Essential oils should always be diffused in a well ventilated space anyway.

I certainly don’t advocate dousing your cat in large quantities of neat essential oils – ever. And cats are quite susceptible to toxicity from Nutmeg Oil and Tea Tree Oil. But, a small amount of any essential oil, and a moderate amount of most, will not harm your cat.

Dr. Robert Tisserand

The glucuronyl transferase enzyme is needed for the Cytochrome p450 liver metabolism pathway. The absence of this enzyme in cats makes them susceptible to all manner of toxic substances, including; pesticides, prescription drugs, painkillers, paint, detergents, cleaning fluids, plants, heavy metals, chocolate, and caffeine etc…

Please read Essential Oil Toxicity For Pets for more information.

Using A Diffuser

Using an essential oil diffuser is very straightforward; simply add water and a few drops of your favourite essential oils and switch on.

Essential oil diffusers vaporise your essential oils after you have placed them with a good amount of water in the reservoir inside your diffuser. Essential oil diffusers also ionize the atmosphere.

The beauty of diffusers is that you can add several aromatherapy oils at one time, making it preferable to inhalation if you want to work with more than one essential oil at a time.

Because essential oils can be antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral, diffusing them means that these properties are carried to the nooks and crannies of your home, helping to keep infectious elements under control.

Ambient inhalation is a great way of de-stressing and supporting good immune function, but is not the best way to treat a cold or the flu. It is best to diffuse essential oils intermittently rather than constantly, for hours on end. Ideally, limit diffusing time to up to one hour at a time, giving yourself an hour or two off in between.

According to Robert Tisserand:

This is not only safer, but it’s also more effective, as both our bodies and our nervous system habituate to essential oils after this period of time.

It is also necessary to diffuse oils in a well ventilated room away from pets. Always give pets, especially cats, an escape route when diffusing essential oils.

Cats do not have the enzymes needed to process essential oils, but again, according to Robert Tisserand:

You can diffuse essential oils around cats safely, so long as there’s good ventilation, you only diffuse small amounts for limited periods of time, and your cat has the freedom to leave the room if it wants. A few parts per million of aromatic vapor in the air is not likely to be harmful, but be careful to avoid build-up of vapors over many hours.

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3. Bathing With Essential Oils

Most people believe that adding ten or so drops of essential oil to your bath, as you are drawing it, will do the trick. This isn’t the case.

By the time you enter your bath most of the essential oil will have gone up in a puff of steam. This is why I advise people to add their essential oils to their bath once they are in it.

But that’s not all. You need a good organic base oil to anchor your aromatherapy oils to ensure they deliver their benefits to your skin. Plus, essential oils are not suitable for topical use until they are properly diluted. So, adding undiluted essential oils to your bath is a no-no!

Only diluting essential oils in a good carrier oil is considered safe. Diluting them in water is not.

Please refer to Diluting Essential Oils below for more information.

Some of the ‘hot’ essential oils are not really suitable for use in the bath. Avoid using the following aromatherapy oils in your bath:

*Please use the search box at the top of every page to access the organic and wildcrafted versions of the oils in this list.

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4. Local Topical Application Of Essential Oils

Applying concentrated aromatherapy dilutions to small areas of the skin is a great way of remedying certain topical and internal conditions.

Using a 3% dilution of Peppermint Essential Oil, within a good carrier oil, to rub into your abdomen to help ease indigestion is ideal. Switch to Oregano if parasites or bacterial infection are suspected. Learn more here :: Organic Nigella Sativa Oil

A 5% dilution, of something like Thieves 2022 Essential Oil Blend, is ideal for use on smaller areas of skin, to disinfect a wound or help with a bacterial or fungal infection etc. Switch to Lavender Aromatherapy Oil for small cooking burns etc.

A 3% to 5% dilution is ideal for applying to pulse points and Vagus Nerve points to calm our systems down.

Pulse points are on the inside of our wrist, occupying the space between the end of a long sleeved garment and before the beginning of your hand. They are called pulse points because this is the most accessible place on the body where blood vessels are closest to the surface of the skin.

Applying blended essential oils to your pulse point allows the oils to penetrate quickly into your blood supply, where they can be ferried around your body, delivering their benefits.

Applying essential oil blends to your Vagus Nerve points is an excellent way of helping to restore immune function and reducing anxieties.

Our Vagus Nerve controls the stress response within our bodies. It is essentially the flip switch between the fight or flight response and our rest and digest response, aka the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system responses. When we are in fight or flight response all non-essential bodily functions shut down which don’t contribute to our ability to fight or flee. This includes our digestion being switched off. And, somewhat disastrously for us in the modern world, it means our immune systems are shut down too. As stress is all pervasive in the 21st century, many of us spend much of our lives within the sympathetic, fight or flight response. This is especially true for women because of the different way in which we produce the stress hormone Cortisol.

Apply a couple of drops of your blended essential oil(s) to the tips of your fingers and rub them together until warm. Then apply to your Vagus Nerve points directly behind your ear lobes, where the edge of your jaw bone meets your neck.

Continue to gently massage this area for a couple of minutes until all of the oil has been absorbed. The warmer the oil is the quicker it will be absorbed.

Repeat up to three times a day.

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5. Taking Essential Oils Internally

A good number of essential oils can be taken internally, but some aromatherapy oils absolutely cannot! Do not use essential oils internally until you have a good working knowledge of essential oils.

Citrus essential oils are some of the safest for internal consumption. I advocate adding a drop of Organic Orange Essential Oil to your drinking water 20 minutes before a meal to aid your digestion. It tastes delicious too.

Some people prefer to address inflammatory issues by taking aromatherapy oils like Copaiba Balsam Essential Oil, Gurjum Essential Oil or Hemp Essential Oil internally.

But there are many conditions which benefit from the internal consumption of essential oils. Please refer to Essential Oils For Internal Consumption for more information.

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6. Aromatherapy Massage

Using relaxing oil blends for full body massages, or partial body massages, are an ideal way to absorb the healing benefits of the essential oils used.

Because massage oils are used over broad areas of the body it is usual to restrict them to a 1% or 2% dilution.

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7. Steaming Essential Oils The Old Fashioned Way

Adding 4 or 5 drops of essential oils to a near boiling bowl of water before placing your face about 12 inches / 25 centimetres above the bowl, with a towel over your head, is ideal if you have a cold or flu, a headache or sinusitis.

Thieves 2022 Essential Oil Blend would be ideal for most of the above, but switch to Frankincense Serata Essential Oil or German Chamomile Essential Oil for easing headaches.

Caution: It’s not advisable to intensively inhale essential oils for longer than 15 to 20 minutes at a time.

8. Cooking With Essential Oils

Most people have used the odd citrus essential oil in their baking, but many haven’t ventured further than this.

However, using a drop of Citronella Essential Oil or Lemongrass Essential Oil instead of the spice is a quick workaround which works really well.

The same is true of using Rosemary Essential Oil. However, when it comes to using Thyme Essential Oil and especially Oregano Essential Oil caution is advised. These oils are tremendously potent and can easily overpower a dish. Sometimes it’s a lot safer and, to be quite honest, better to use the actual herbs and spices rather than essential oils.

If you are determined to experiment, however, it pays to research your recipe well before reaching for your aromatherapy oils.

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9. Pre-Blended Essential Oil Products

Much of what is written in point 4, re the local topical application of essential oils, applies here. The only difference is you don’t have to worry about getting the dilutions of essential oils right. Plus pre-blended essential oil products come with usage instructions and so there’s less scope for misusing them than with your own blends.

the drawback is that pre-blended oils tend to be more expensive than the cost of the ingredients, and you may only need a small amount of the product which can lead to waste and unnecessary expense,

On balance, it is far better to blend your own essential oils as and when you need them, but a good solid basic understanding of blending oils is vital. But don’t worry, it’s all pretty straightforward. It really isn’t rocket science!

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10. Spotting Essential Oils On Your Pillow

This is one of the quickest and easiest ways of working with essential oils. And, it’s great for kids.

Dropping a single drop of Lavender Essential Oil onto a child’s pillow at bedtime will really help them relax and fall asleep.

Pure Lavender Essential Oil will not stain your pillowcases. Because aromatherapy oils are made up of volatile oils many of them evaporate leaving no trace. This is certainly true of a pure Organic Lavender Essential Oil.

However, another aromatherapy oil which is very popular for aiding relaxation and sleep, Vetivert Essential Oil, is viscous and very dark in colour. This resinous oil will stain if you use it on your bed linen. It always pays to check which essential oils will stain and which ones won’t prior to applying them to pillows and clothing.

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11. Bonus: Applying Essential Oils To Your Clothes

Patchouli Essential Oil is as popular as ever for its seductive aroma. Many of us remember that ‘Bikers’ used to put Patchouli Essential Oil on their leather jackets back in the 70’s and 80’s, but this practice still continues to this day… And, it’s not just bikers… many women apply this oil to their handbags, and men add it to their wallets and the lining of jackets made of fabric. (Patchouli Essential Oil stains.)

Other essential oils with a lingering aroma are the very alluring Sandalwood Mysore Essential Oil and Myrrh Essential Oil.

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Methods & Guidelines For Using Essential Oils

Diluting Essential Oils

Essential oils can seem a little pricey until we realise that all we need is a 1% to 5% essential oil dilution to achieve the health giving benefits of any essential oil.

But, what is diluting essential oils all about?

Aromatherapy oils need to be diluted in a good Organic Carrier Oil before they can safely be applied topically. Some pure essential oils will actually burn our skin if applied undiluted, and others cause sensitivities and allergic reactions.

Using undiluted essential oils on our skin can sensitise us to these essential oils over time. Sensitisation means that we become intolerant to these essential oils and cannot safely use them in any form after sensitisation has taken place. This must be avoided at all costs!

Some essential oils are so antibacterial that they will kill antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. For this reason alone it is important to use aromatherapy oils with respect, and avoid sensitisation… one day you may need them to save your life!

Besides… essential oils are costly. The making of essential oils requires the use of a lot of plant matter, and so there’s an environmental cost to making aromatherapy oils. Why would we want to waste our money, as well as potentially cause negative environmental consequences, by using excessive amounts of essential oil, even if it were safe to do so?

Using a sparing amount will do the job perfectly!

Here is some really sage advice that has been taken from an important Robert Tisserand article which is published online.


Some essential oils, such as lemongrass, clove or cinnamon bark, are more likely to cause skin reactions than others. However, people frequently have bad reactions to essential oils that are relatively safe because they are used undiluted. This is not because these essential oils contain impurities. The same companies that tell us genuine essential oils can’t cause adverse reactions are the same brands causing most of the reactions. The simple fact is, dilution and risk are directly linked, and this is a well-known phenomenon in dermatology and toxicology. If you have an allergic reaction to an essential oil, your immune system has been primed, usually for life, so you might need to avoid that oil indefinitely.

What Carrier Oils Should I use To Dilute Essential Oils?

The most commonly used carrier oil for diluting essential oils is Organic Sweet Almond Essential Oil, Sweet Almond is ideal for dilutions for general use.

If you are making a facial cleanser/ makeup remover, the best carrier oil for this purpose is Organic Jojoba Oil.

Read how to make the best Makeup Remover ever.

This article mentions some of the specific uses of the most popular carrier oils: 10 Carrier Oils We Need In Our Bathroom Cabinet

Another really helpful resource is: Carrier Oils For UV Protection

Best Carrier Oils For Facial Use

Some of the most nourishing carrier oils to use for diluting essential oils for facial use are:

**You only need a 10% dilution of Sea Buckthorn Oil or Organic Rosehip Oil for optimal benefit.

*** Sea Buckthorn Oil is a deep amber colour and will stain your skin if used at more than a 20% concentration.

You will also need to use other oils in conjunction with Organic Pomegranate Seed Oil.

Problem Skin Carrier Oils

Some of the best carrier oils to use for facial application if you have problem skin, and in particular acne, are:

Best Carrier Oils For Full Body Use

Some of the best carrier oils to use for diluting essential oils for full body use are:

Best Carrier Oils For Roller Ball Bottles

My absolute favourite carrier oil for Roller Ball Bottles is the super light-weight Organic Safflower Oil. This is because Organic Safflower Oil disappears into the pulse points on our wrists and Vagus points on our necks very easily, without leaving an oily residue.

Other affordable carrier oils to consider are:

How To Dilute Essential Oils

Diluting essential oils couldn’t be simpler. Just measure out your base oil, (aka carrier oil), and then add your essential oils at the correct dilution for the specific application you require them for.

*It is important to sterilise the bottle you are going to use to store your blended oils, as well as any jugs and bowls you intend to use in the process of creating your blended oils.

Follow the advice in the general rule of thumb section directly below as well as the individual sections beneath this:

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Essential Oil Usage Rules Of Thumb

It is always best to follow the instructions on your essential oil bottles as directions can vary from one essential oil to another. However, it also pays to refer to a trusted reference book or website for additional information on blending specific essential oils.

For example, it is only safe to use Organic Rose Otto Essential Oil in very small amounts owing to its Methyl Eugenol content, but other essential oils, like Tea Tree Essential Oil and Lavender Essential Oil are much safer to use in higher amounts.

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Useful Guidelines For Essential Oil Use

1 ml of essential oil = 20 drops of essential oil

The maximum safe dilution of essential oils to carrier oil is a dilution of 7%

The following measurements are based on the teachings of Jen O’Sullivan, who always makes it clear her measurements are not treatment advice, and are simply a statement of safe usage of essential oils.

It is safe to use 12 drops or less of any combination of essential oils per day.

Up to 40 or 50 drops of any combination of essential oils can be used acutely for one or two days without adverse effects, but then must be stopped.

One drop is usually considered a single serving of essential oils.

What works for one person may not work for another… so, it’s important to experiment within the bounds of safety, as detailed above.

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Using Essential Oils For Prayer

Using aromatherapy oils for prayer, or as a mantra, is an ideal way to supercharge the effects of the essential oils you are using. Essential oils work on an energetic level, and so does prayer, chanting or repeating mantras. Prayers and mantras help us to reach within, and communicate with our Higher Selves. They help us find the best and healthiest answers to the challenges we face. In creating focus, and repeating our intentions, in the form of prayer, or as a mantra, we can connect to the collective unconscious, and creative forces of the Universe, allowing us to draw healing energies to ourselves.

Making Massage Oil

When blending an oil for topical use on a large area of your body it’s important to aim for a 1% dilution or less. This means that the resultant massage oil will be maximally 1% essential oil to 99% carrier oil.

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Making Face Oil

When blending an oil for the exclusive use on your face you should aim for a 2% dilution or less.

However, the Wild As The Wind FACIAL OILS are blended using some very healing, but very expensive essential oils, as well as several nutrient dense expensive base oils. Buying the ingredients separately would cost you several hundred pounds, and would leave you with ingredients which you wouldn’t be able to fully use before their ‘use by’ date was reached.

My advice where face oils are concerned is this:

It’s great to make your own massage and treatment oils, but it’s best leaving the making of your face oil to the experts.

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Making Treatment Oils

When treating a small area of your skin, or finger and toenails etc, you can mix an oil blend containing up to 5% essential oil content.

No oil blend should exceed a 7% dilution, meaning no more than a 7% essential oil concentration within the base oil, for example, if you have a 100ml bottle of treatment oil, the maximum dilution of essential oil within this blend would be 7ml.

However most treatment oils and preparations for using on a small area of the body are diluted at 5%.

This means that a 100ml bottle of blended oil would be 95ml carrier oil and 5% essential oil. For example, Thieves Oil 2020 is 95% Organic Nigella Sativa Oil and the essential oil content is as follows:

  • Organic Rosemary Essential Oil : 1%
  • Organic Thyme Red Essential Oil : 1%
  • Organic Clove Bud Essential Oil : 1%
  • Organic Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil : 1%
  • Organic Oregano Essential Oil : 1%

1ml of essential oil is equivalent to approximately 20 drops of essential oil

Please refer to the disclaimer in the footer for more information about the purpose of this article. Thank you.

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Making Ointments & Salves

Ointments & Salves are principally made in the same way as blended oils. The only difference is that they are thicker, and can be used as a poultice, if needs be. They also may need to be warmed in a bain marie, and whipped with a whisk, so you may need more equipment than you need for making blended oils. However, sometimes it is necessary!

A common salve is one that we use in winter for protecting our lips. Our lip balms need to be a lot more viscous, and less absorbable so that they sit on the top of our lips and shield them from the elements.

Again, ointments are thicker, and tend to sit on the surface of the skin a lot longer than a blended oil. This allows ointments to deliver wound healing benefits to problem skin.

The natural ingredients need to make ointments and salves are oils which are solid at room temperature, and beeswax.

You can find excellent recipes for lip balms, salves and ointments by searching the internet. Alternatively, get yourself a great book on how to make your cosmetics and personal care products at home. Look for ‘green’ or ‘natural’ and ‘apothecary’ in the title to make sure you’re going to be getting essential oil and carrier oil based recipes to work from.

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Phototoxic Essential Oils

There are a number of phototoxic essential oils which can cause severe burns if your skin is exposed to the sun after use. For example, many of the citrus essential oils, including Lemon Essential Oil, Lime Essential Oil and Grapefruit Essential Oil are all Phototoxic.

Organic Sweet Orange Essential Oil is not naturally phototoxic, however. This is why it has been added to FACIAL OIL No. 2, as it is excellent at reducing oxidative stress and very healing for our skin, like many of the citrus essential oils.

Another essential oil which is safe to use regardless of sun exposure is Organic Bergamot FCF Essential Oil. But, Bergamot Essential Oil in its natural state IS phototoxic. It’s only Bergamot FCF Essential Oil which has had the phototoxic furocoumarin constituent removed via steam distillation; known as bergaptene

Bergaptene free Bergamot Essential Oil is known as Bergamot FCF Essential Oil.

**Wild As The Wind does not sell the phototoxic forms of Bergamot Essential Oil.

Phototoxic Aromatherapy Oils List

***The steam distillation of the the peel / rind of citrus fruits removes the phototoxic constituents from these oils. However, citrus oils are normally extracted via a process of cold pressing.

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Essential Oils & Pregnancy

Certain essential oils are not suitable for use during pregnancy and breast feeding.

This is often due to there being insufficient research to support the safe use of these essential oils during pregnancy and lactation. However, in most cases there is also no evidence to suggest that the essential oils are in any way detrimental to the health of mother and baby.

General Essential Oils To Be Avoided During Pregnancy

This list is comprised of essential oils that may cause issues for a foetus or embryo, or that have been insufficiently studied to know whether they are safe during pregnancy or not.

This list is NOT exhaustive

Common Emmenagogue Essential Oils

Emmenagogues are substances which increase pelvic bleeding. Emmenagogic essential oils are excellent for difficult periods and menstrual pain as they help with the expulsion of blood.

A lot of period pain is caused by clotted blood trying to make it’s way out of the Uterus. The Cervix is the exit point. But the Cervix is only the size of a pin prick, and so clotted blood causes pain.

However, Emmenagogues MUST be avoided during pregnancy.

Abortifacient Essential Oils

KEY:

* toxic

** high in apiol and toxic

*** convulsant

**** carcinogenic

***** neurotoxin

  • Mugwort Essential Oil*
  • Parsley Seed Essential Oil**
  • Pennyroyal Essential Oil*
  • Rue Essential Oil*
  • Sage Essential Oil***
  • Sassafras Essential Oil* ****
  • Savin Essential Oil*
  • Thuja Essential Oil* *****
  • Tansy Essential Oil* *****
  • Wormwood Essential Oil* *** *****

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Essential Oil Safety For Babies & Children

Essential oil safety for the under 14’s is a very important consideration. It is not wise to expose young children to any substances and traumas that will interfere with their normal development.

There are many substances which will interfere with the proper development of a child’s natural immune system.

Many household chemicals, found in household cleaners etc, and prescription medicines, such as antibiotics, severely interfere with the normal development of a child’s natural immune system. Essential oils will be less disruptive, but any disruption to normal development should be avoided wherever possible.

Over use and over-exposure to essential oils is also to be avoided as too much of a good thing is always bad for us.

The recommended usage amounts of essential oils varies considerably within different age bands among the under 14’s.

I have written a separate article dedicated to this subject.

Essential Oil Safety For Babies & Children

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Disclaimer

The information provided is not intended to replace the medical directives of your healthcare provider. This information is not meant for the diagnosis of health issues. If you are pregnant, have serious or multiple health concerns, consult with your healthcare provider before using essential oils or associated products. If you experience any complications or adverse reactions contact your healthcare provider.

Deepen your knowledge by using the Wild As The Wind Recommended Resources

Another resource you may find useful is :: Best Healthcare and Skincare Information Sources.

Wild As The Wind use a number of resources when deciding which essential oil formulas to put together for optimal healing and efficacy, as well as to support any health claims we may make.

We use the industry ‘bible’ on essential oil safety: Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals [2nd Edition] by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, to establish the safety of the Wild As The Wind formulations.

Other resources include:

  • PubMed
  • WebMD
  • Robert Tisserand & Rodney Young
  • Dr. Robert Pappas
  • Dr. Maria Lis-Balchin
  • Robbi Zeck
  • Dr. Axe

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