ESSENTIAL OIL SAFETY INFO
Essential oils sure are powerful and because of that, we want to make sure you learn how to properly use them. Take a look at this great overview about essential oil safety and remember that all of the content in this group is for Young Living Essential Oils only.
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*Learn to Love your Labels*
Each bottle of Young Living essential oil is wrapped in a colorful label full of important information. On the front of each bottle, you’ll find the oil name and grade. All Young Living oils are 100% pure, therapeutic grade, which is the highest quality essential oil on the market. You will also see the bottle size printed under this information (most come in either a 5ml or 15ml size).
The back of the label (peel up if needed) will give you directions on how the oil can be used – aromatically, topically, and/or as a dietary supplement. Not all essential oils are recommended for all three types of use, so reading and adhering to the information printed on the bottle is important! Within these directions will be suggested dilution ratios. This simply means that it is recommended to mix the essential oil with a carrier oil (your choice of vegetable oil like coconut, jojoba or grapeseed) before applying or ingesting it.
You will also see a batch number stamped on the back of every bottle – that’s right, every single bottle! As part of Young Living’s commitment to quality, they are able to track each bottle back to the batch it was produced from should there ever be a concern.
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*Safety with Children*
Many of us have children and are excited to use essential oils with our beloved little ones! Most essential oils are perfectly safe to use with children as long as they are diluted appropriately.
Two of our favorite resources on the topic of oils and kids are the books Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child by Valerie Worwood and Gentle Babies by Debra Raybern.
You do want to make sure that your essential oils stay out of children’s reach (they can sting and you don’t want them in eyes, little mouths, etc.). There are also a few oils with special child safety caps such as PanAway due to the wintergreen it contains.
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*Citrus Oil Precautions*
It is important to take some extra precautions when using citrus oils because of their ability to dissolve certain plastics. This is great if you want to get a sticky label off of a glass jar, but not so great if the lemon oil you put in your water dissolves your cup! The general rule is that citrus oils should only be used in glass or stainless steel containers – no plastics.
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*Photosensitivity*
Certain essential oils are photosensitive. This means they absorb sunlight or radiant energy more intensely than your skin naturally would. You’ll want to check the label of the oil you’re using to see if it contains this warning and avoid the sun for up to 12 hours after application.
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*Oils & Pregnancy*
Many essential oils are completely safe to use while pregnant and can provide much needed relief for a variety of pregnancy symptoms. There are some oils that should be avoided during pregnancy, however. The Gentle Babies book mentioned above is a fabulous resource for information about using essential oils while pregnant. You should totally check out this group https://www.facebook.com/groups/579069338939288/ for lots of info specific to pregnancy.
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*Start Slowly*
As we said, Young Living’s essential oils are extremely potent and powerful substances. It is recommended to start slowly when you first begin using oils. Choose one oil to try and then build from there. Listen to your body and watch for signs of detoxing.You can usually apply essential oils as needed, but do not overload your system!
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*Storing Your Oils*
Young Living’s essential oils do not expire, but you do need to take care when storing them. You’ll notice that the bottles are a dark, amber color. This is to keep light from reaching the oils. Even though the bottles are dark, you’ll still want to store your oils in a cool environment away from direct sunlight to preserve the therapeutic properties.
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