ESSENTIAL OIL RECIPES: Insect Repellant

Insect Repel
Eucalyptus 12 drops
Peppermint 6 drops
Cedarwood 6 drops

Essential Oil Precautions

Always mix essential oils with a carrier oil when applying onto skin.

Essential oils are not for consumption.

A few drops into the bathwater will enhance your bathing experience. Avoid citrus oils, cinnamon, peppermint, anise, fennel and basil in the bathwater.

Avoid bergamot, lemon, orange, lemon verbena, cumin, angelica, and lime before sun exposure.

There are some essential oils that are safe in pregnancy and on children, but it is better to error on the cautious side. Check safety of oils first before using if pregnant, nursing, or for use on children.

Never use oils with a high phenol content for more then 10 to 12 days, which includes thyme, oregano, savory, clove, caraway, cinnamon, and bay. Never use more then a 3 % solution. Do not use on children.

Use essential oils that are high in ketones with caution as they can cause liver toxicity and have a cumulative effect if used repeatedly. A normal person can metabolize 5 drops of high-ketone essential oil every 24 hours. Especially do not use these oils on children. These oils include rosemary, thuja, hyssop, mugwort, and cumin.

Oils that may cause skin sensitivities include benzoin, bay laurel, basil, fennel, citronella, litsea cubeba, peru balsam, turpentine, ginger, lemongrass, and ylang ylang. (may cause redness, itchy skin, blisters, or welts)

Oils that are skin irritants include allspice, anise, basil, black pepper, cedar, peppermint, thyme, eucalyptus, caraway and cajeput

If you have seizures avoid using fennel, hyssop and rosemary

If you have high blood pressure avoid using rosemary, cedarwood, hyssop, sage and thyme

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Insect Repellant