CHOOSING AN ESSNTIAL OIL, ALERGY TESTS, AND PRECAUTIONS
Choosing an essential oil
Aromatherapy is a very individual type of therapy. The same essential oil can have a very different effect on different people. This is why it’s necessary to choose only the oil that you think is most pleasant among several oils with similar properties. Never use an oil if you think its scent is unpleasant.
Allergy test
You must always do an allergy test when choosing an essential oil. This is how to do the test:
Apply a small amount of the oil on a patch of skin on the inner side of your arm or lower wrist. If within 4-5 hours the skin doesn’t turn red or become irritable and itchy, and you don’t have any other unpleasant sensation, then the test is successful.
To test the airways and the inner organs – one drop of the oil is applied to a handkerchief and is inhaled deeply 7-10 times (this should be done 4-5 times during the day). If you do not experience any discomfort when inhaling (such as coughing, shortness of breath, sweating, palpitations, etc.) then the test was successful.
Although it’s a very rare occurrence, some people have allergic reactions to certain essential oils. This is why it’s important to test every essential oil before using it.
Precautions:
- Keep all essential oils firmly closed and in a dark place inaccessible to children
- Never exceed the indicated doses
- Keep essential oils away from your eyes
- Do not keep essential oils near sources of heat and fire
- Do not use essential oils internally unless prescribed by a specialist
- Always check the possible negative effects of an essential oil before using it
All of the information provided here is informative only. If you intend to use aromatherapy for medical purposes you should get acquainted with the topic in more detail by reading specialised literature and consulting with an aromatherapist.
