Disclaimer & Safety
The additional information provided by oliemeesters on our e-commerce site (groothandelolie.nl) and through other social media channels is for personal information and interest only. It is not intended to offer professional medical advice or treatment for any condition. You should not use our site or the advice on our site to treat health problems or to self-diagnose. We recommend consulting your doctor or nurse if you have health concerns.
Please note that oliemeesters accepts no liability for misuse of essential oils or other products it produces, packages, or supplies, or for any reliance on information provided by us through our e-commerce site or other social media channels.
Additional Safety Advice
Essential oils are highly concentrated, potent liquids. Their strength must be respected, and they can be toxic if used improperly. How you handle and use essential oils is very important. Read the following advice to ensure you use essential oils safely and effectively. Note: this list is not a complete safety reference. If you are unsure, please research thoroughly before using the oils.
Some essential oils are flammable liquids.
Always keep out of reach of children.
If you have a medical condition and are taking medication or undergoing medical treatment, you should consult your doctor and a qualified aromatherapist to determine if it is safe to use aromatherapy alongside your 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 orally and avoid any contact with the mouth 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 doing a small patch test before using a new oil or product.
Some essential oils such as Bergamot and other citrus oils are phototoxic, meaning they can cause skin sensitization and discoloration in bright sunlight. These oils should not be applied to the skin before direct sun exposure.
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 vulnerable organs cannot properly eliminate the oils or efficiently process their metabolites.
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, consult 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, which is definitely 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 products 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 best avoided 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 ingest essential oils.
You may read articles in magazines and books praising the virtues of ingesting essential oils, but you should absolutely never try this without expert guidance.
Irritating and sensitizing substances
Some essential oils can irritate the skin if used in too high a concentration or for a long period. The essential oils below are the most well-known from this group.
Bay leaf oil (Pimenta racemosa)
Cinnamon bark oil (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
Clove oil (stem, leaf, bud) Syzygium aromaticum
Litsea Cubeba aka May Chang oil (Litsea cubeba)
Oregano oil (Origanum vulgaris)
Tagetes oil (Tagetes minuta)
White and red thyme oil (Thymus vulgaris)
Photosensitivity
Photosensitivity, also known as photo-irritation or phototoxicity, is a chemically induced skin irritation that can occur when you apply certain essential oils topically and expose your skin too quickly to UV light.
Some examples of irritation you might experience include:
Redness
Burning
Itching
Blistering
Skin discoloration
Inflammation
Certain essential oils contain furocoumarins (wikipedia). Furocoumarins are naturally occurring organic chemical compounds produced by specific plants. These chemical compounds serve as a defense mechanism the plant uses to repel small animals or insects in nature. Some of the most common furocoumarins are oxypeucedanin and bergapten, 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)
Expressed bergamot oil (Citrus aurantium ssp. bergamia)
Bitter orange oil (Citrus aurantium)
Cumin oil (Cuminum cyminum)
Cold-pressed lemon oil (Citrus limonum)
Pressed lime oil (Citrus aurantifolia)
Grapefruit oil (Citrus paradisi)
Tagetes oil (Tagetes minuta)
If you love Bergamot essential oil and want to be in the sun, use Bergamot FCF, from which the photosensitizing components have been 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.
