Aromatherapy~The Art of Scent   Essential Question? The Essence of Aromatherapy Essential Oils by Category Aromatherapy Article Archive Aromatherapy to Bring Harmony to Your Home Essential Oils Profiles ~ very important! 50 Ways To Use Essential Oils Essential Oils by Category Essential Oils FAQ Aromatherapy and Post-Natal Care A History of Fragrance Aromatherapy~Creating Love Essential Oils that Can Ease Unpleasant Emotions Mysteries of Scent and How They Heal Aphrodisiacs and Perfumes Therapy and the Scents Oils Index ~A-D  E-J  K-P  Q-Z ESSENTIAL OILS AND SAFETY Essential Oils are very powerful and volatile substances and should never be misused. The oils are generally safe to use, as long as they are respected and used in the recommended and appropriate way. When blending oils, it is generally safe to use 4 drops of Essential Oil in 10ml of Carrier Oil, although some Essential Oils do not fit this rule. The following oils should be used in a 1% dilution (maximum of 2 drops in 10ml of Carrier Oil): Bay, Basil, Black Pepper, Camphor, Cinnamon Leaf, Clary Sage, Sweet Fennel, Ginger, Jasmine Absolute, Juniper, Lemon, Lime, Melissa. The following oils should be used in 1% dilution (1 drop or less in 10ml of Carrier Oil): Clove bud, Nutmeg, Peppermint, Pine and Thyme.   A GUIDE TO USING ESSENTIAL OILS SAFELY  Keep Essential Oils away from children, and store sensibly in a cool, dark place.  DO NOT TAKE ESSENTIAL OILS INTERNALLY.  If taking Homeopathic Remedies, some oils such as Eucalyptus and Peppermint may interfere with the homeopathic treatment. Check with your Homeopath before using these oils.  DO NOT USE the following oils if Pregnant or Breast Feeding: Basil, Bay, Camphor, Clary Sage, Cedar wood, Clove bud, Cinnamon, Cypress, Fennel, Jasmine, Juniper, Marjoram, Melissa, Myrrh, Nutmeg, Parsley, Peppermint, Pine, Rose, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme.  DO NOT USE the following oils in the first 3-4 months of Pregnancy: Chamomile, Geranium, Lavender.  Oils that can cause skin irritation: Basil, Bay, Benzoin, Black Pepper, Camphor, Clove bud, Cinnamon, Cajuput, Fennel, Ginger, Juniper, Lemon, Lime, Nutmeg, Orange, Peppermint, Pine, Rosemary, Tagettes, Thyme and Ylang Ylang.  Some oils are PHOTO TOXIC and should not be used before sunbathing or exposure to Sunbeds/UV rays: All citrus oils, including Bergamot, Lemon, Lime and Orange.  DO NOT USE the following oils if Epileptic: Camphor, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Rosemary and Sage.  DO NOT USE the following oils if suffering from High Blood Pressure: Cypress, Rosemary, Sage and Thyme.  DO NOT USE the following oils if suffering from Low Blood Pressure: Clary Sage, Marjoram and Ylang Ylang.