Disclaimer & Safety
The additional information provided by Oliemeesters on our e-commerce site (groothandelolie.nl) and via other Social Media Channels is for personal information and interest only. It is not intended to provide professional medical advice or treatment for any condition. You should not use our site or the advice on our site for the treatment of health problems or for self-diagnosis. We recommend that you consult your GP or nurse if you are concerned about your health.
Please note that Oliemeesters accepts no liability for misuse of essential oils or other products that it produces, packages or supplies or for any reliance on the information provided by us via our e-commerce site or other Social Media channels.
Additional Safety Advice
Essential oils are highly concentrated, powerful liquids. Their potency must be respected and they can be toxic if used incorrectly. The way you handle and use essential oils is very important. Read the following advice to ensure you use essential oils safely and effectively. Please note: this list is not a complete safety reference. If you are unsure, please read carefully before processing the oils.
Certain essential oils are flammable liquids.
Always keep out of the reach of children.
If you have a medical condition and are taking medications or undergoing medical treatment, you should consult with your doctor and a qualified aromatherapist to determine whether it is safe to use aromatherapy in combination with the prescribed treatment.
Certain essential oils should be avoided during pregnancy
Always consult a qualified aromatherapist before using essential oils on babies and children.
Never take essential oils directly orally and avoid any contact with the mouth area and eyes.
Essential oils should never be applied undiluted to the skin as they can cause irritation (there are only a few exceptions to this rule, namely Lavender and Tea Tree).
Certain essential oils (e.g. herbs) can cause skin irritation in people with sensitive skin. If you have sensitive skin, we recommend that you do a small patch test before using a new oil or product.
A number of essential oils such as Bergamot and other citrus oils are phototoxic, meaning that they can cause skin sensitization and skin discoloration in bright sunlight. These oils should not be applied to the skin before direct exposure to sunlight.
Flammability
Many essential oils are flammable, so never use or place your essential oil bottles near an open flame, fire, or other ignition source.
Undiluted essential oils
Never use essential oils on children under 3. Their underdeveloped and fragile organs cannot excrete the oils properly or process their metabolites efficiently.
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, you should seek advice from a doctor, midwife or aromatherapist before using essential oils.
Much of this misinformation is based on the internal use of the plant in herbal preparations, and this is certainly not the same as the external use of a diluted essential oil in massage. Most essential oil experts state that many of the contraindicated essential oils are used as additives in food and therefore can hardly be considered dangerous.
If you have a history of miscarriage, do not use essential oils at any time during your pregnancy.
Essential oils to avoid during pregnancy include:
Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora)
Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis)
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Savin oil (Juniperus sabina) - Never use in aromatherapy
Babies, toddlers and young children
As already mentioned, never use undiluted essential oils on babies up to 3 years old.
Internal use
Never take essential oils internally.
You may read magazine articles and books extolling the virtues of taking essential oils internally, but you should absolutely never attempt this without expert guidance.
Irritants and sensitizers
Some essential oils can irritate the skin if used in too high a concentration or over a long period of time. The essential oils below are the most well-known from this group.
Laurierbladolie (Racemosa pepper)
Cinnamon bark oil (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
Clove oil (stem, leaf, bud) Syzygium aromaticum
Litsea Cubeba aka May Chang olie (Litsea cubeba)
Origanumolie (Origanum vulgaris)
Tagetes oil (Tagetes minuta)
Thyme white and red oil (Thymus vulgaris)
Light sensitivity
Photosensitivity, also known as photoirritation or phototoxicity, is a chemically induced skin irritation that can occur when you apply certain essential oils topically and expose your skin to UV light too quickly.
Some examples of the irritation you may experience are:
Redness
Burning
Itch
Blistering
Discoloration of the skin
Inflammation
Certain essential oils contain furocoumarins (wikipedia). Furocumarines are naturally occurring organic chemical compounds produced by specific plants. These chemical compounds are a defense mechanism that the plant uses to repel small animals or insects in nature. Some of the most common furocoumarins are oxypeucedanine and bergapten, which are found in many citrus fruits and cold-pressed essential oils. Some essential oils are mildly photosensitizing and should be avoided before sunbathing or using a tanning bed. The main photosensitizing oils used in aromatherapy are
Angelica oil (Angelica archangelica)
Bergamot oil expressed (Citrus aurantium ssp. bergamia)
Bitter orange oil (Citrus aurantium)
Komijnolie (Caraway seeds)
Lemon oil, cold pressed (Citrus limonum)
Lime oil pressed (Citrus aurantifolia)
Grapefruitolie (Citrus Paradise)
Tagetes oil (Tagetes minuta)
If you love Bergamot essential oil and want to get out in the sun, use Bergamot FCF, which has had its photosensitizing components removed.
To reduce the effects of photosensitivity, users should avoid the sun, tanning beds or UV light for 12 - 18 hours after applying the oil to exposed skin.
