Essential Oil Safety Introduction Workshop. 2_10_2020

An Introduction to Using Essential Oils Safely
Workshop
https://www.judithguerra.com/

Aromatica la Vida
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My intention for sharing the knowledge I have about
Essential Oils is to provide an ‘out of the box’
approach to enhancing your wellness regimen, which
will complement a personal healthful experience for your
spirit, body, and mind.
Sincerely, Judith L. Guerra
Certified Aromatherapist, Consultant

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Special Thanks
to the
New York Institute of Aromatic Studies

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Table of Contents
Aromatherapy Defined ............................................................... 6
What Are Essential Oils? ............................................................. 7
Essential Oils Are Not Fragrance Oils ......................................... 9
Carrier Oils and Essential Oil Storage ....................................... 10
How to Dilute Essential Oils ...................................................... 11
Cautions to Take with Children and Pets ................................. 13
Phototoxic Essential Oils .......................................................... 14
Therapeutic Benefits of Essential Oils ...................................... 15
Diffusing Essential Oils .............................................................. 16
Suggestions ............................................................................... 17
Popular Essential Oils ............................................................... 18
Do Essential Oils Expire? ........................................................... 21
Mindfulness Smelling ............................................................... 22
Alternative Wellness Tips ......................................................... 24
Exploring Aromatherapy .......................................................... 25
Aromatherapy Information ...................................................... 26
Certified Aromatherapist, Consultant Services ........................ 27
Thank You ................................................................................. 28

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Aromatherapy, also referred to as Essential Oil
therapy, can be defined as the art and science of utilizing
naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to
balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind
and spirit. It seeks to unify physiological, psychological and
spiritual processes to enhance an individual’s innate healing
and living processes.
"Aromatherapy is... the skilled and controlled use of
essential oils for physical and emotional health and well
being." Valerie Cooksley
"Aromatherapy is a caring, hands-on therapy which
seeks to induce relaxation, to increase energy, to reduce
the effects of stress and to restore lost balance to mind,
body and soul." Robert Tisserand
"Aromatherapy can be defined as the controlled use of
essential oils to maintain and promote physical,
psychological, and spiritual wellbeing." Gabriel Mojay
Source: National Association for Holistic
Aromatherapy - https://naha.org/

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What are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are not perfumes.
1. Essential oils
come from various
plants, seeds,
leaves, and herbs.
For example:
Lavender,
Peppermint, Lemon.
2. Two major
ways essential oils
are extracted are:
steam distillation or
expressed.
Distillation is the
most prominent
method used to
extract
aromatherapy oils.
3. Makers of
essential oils do this
worldwide.

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Precious Plants – Require careful use
Some Facts about Essential Oils
Approximately three pounds of lavender flowers are
required to produce just 15mL of lavender essential oil.
Read more about this at:
Source: https://www.doterra.com/US/en/essential-oilsafety-and-application-plant-perspective
Note: 15ml = approximately ½ ounce of liquid.

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Essential Oils are not the same as Fragrance Oils
Some Facts about Essential Oils
• The task of ascertaining “authenticity” in this product is
formidable because, given the circumstances in today’s
USA market, these oils are not regulated by the USDA
unless they are ‘certified organic’.
Source https://www.ams.usda.gov/rulesregulations/organic/labeling)
• As a starter conclusion in this formidable task about
“authenticity” in essential oils is that these oils are not
synthetically produced.
• When you are purchasing essential oils look for the
‘botanical‘ name along with the common name. For
example: Lavender (common name), has the botanical
name Lavandula angustifolia –this essential oil has
calming therapeutic benefits - helps with anxiety, stress
and sleep.
• The botanical name is important because each plant
provides different ‘therapeutic’ benefits
An example of a different lavender essential oil is Spike
Lavender (Lavandula latifolia), which has different
therapeutic benefits for example: energizing, promotes
concentration, and focus. Eases aches and pains.
You can read more about this on my blog
https://hairblues.me/2019/11/08/is-your-essential-oil-authentic/

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Carrier Oils and Essential Oil Storage
Some Facts about Essential Oils and Dilutions:
✓ Unless you are working with a certified
aromatherapist, it is recommended that you dilute
your essential oils with a carrier/base oil when
applying them to your skin.
✓ Examples of carrier/base oils: Jojoba, Olive Oil,
Avocado Oil, Fractionated Coconut Oil
Put a label on
the essential oil
bottle Aaa top to
easily find an oil
in your storage
box.
✓ Store essential oils away from the heat and light.
✓ Keep the lid on at all times when not in use.
✓ Never store essential oils in plastic bottles unless
they are PET plastic bottles.
Read more about carrier oils at: Exploring Aromatherapy | NAHA

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How do I know what dilution to use?
Some Facts about Essential Oils and Dilutions
Dilution Rates – for Carrier
Oils
For general body care oil, it’s
recommended that a 2.5-5%
dilution. For treatment body oil
(e.g. acute muscular aches
and pains, acute tension, etc.),
It’s recommended that 5-10%
dilution be used.

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How many drops per dilution?
Some Facts about Essential Oils and Dilutions

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Cautions to take with Children and Pets
Look at the recommendations given at the two websites
below on how to protect your children and pets when using
essential oils.
• https://naha.org/assets/uploads/Animal_Aromat
herapy_Safety_NAHA.pdf
• https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/howto-use-essential-oils-around-pets-safely

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Phototoxic Essential Oils
• Photosensitization and phototoxicity can occur when
certain essential oil constituents (natural chemicals
found in particular essential oils), particularly
furocoumarins (FCs), react when exposed to
ultraviolet light. Inflammation, blistering and
reddening/burning of the skin are common.
https://www.aromaweb.com/articles/phototoxici
ty-essential-oils.asp
Citrus essential oils [Lemon, Bergamot] can fall into this
category, and it is recommended to avoid sunlight up to 12
hours after external application.
More information can be found at
https://draxe.com/essential-oils/essential-oil-safety/

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The Versatility and the Therapeutic Benefits
of Essential Oils
• Inhalation is a common and relatively safe way of
using essential oils.
• New research indicates that essential oils can be
used as Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Sources:
(CAM) https://www.cancer.gov/aboutcancer/treatment/cam/patient/aromatherapy-pdq
Integrative Medicine
https://integrativemedicine.arizona.edu/about/definition.html

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Diffusing Essential Oils
How many drops of essential oil should you use?
Look at this website for guidelines:
https://completehomespa.com/essential-oil-diffuser-drops
Source: https://tisserandinstitute.org/learn-more/diffusionguidelines-2/

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Suggestions
• Read aromatherapy blogs to learn more about how
to use essential oils to enhance your quality of
everyday life and to explore ‘natural’ remedies.
• Take a ‘free’ on-line class; there are many to choose
from.

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Popular Essential Oils and their Therapeutic Benefits
* Latin name

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Popular Essential Oils and their Therapeutic Benefits
* Latin name

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Popular Essential Oils and their Therapeutic Benefits
* Latin name
Tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil, is an essential oil
that comes from steaming the leaves of the Australian tea
tree.
When used topically, tea tree oil is believed to be
antibacterial. Tea tree oil is commonly used to treat acne,
athlete's foot, lice, nail fungus and insect bites.
Source: Mayo Clinic Staff

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Do Essential Oils Expire?
In my research, often I found that the consensus is essential
oils do not expire. However, oils can ‘oxidize’. Without going
into the chemistry specifics here, this is where the source of
your essential oil is important. Distillation and the botanical
(plant) are also a factor. Some essential oil retailers do place
an expiration date on the oil bottle.
For more thorough information, I suggest you research at
the website below for specific essential oil safety.
https://www.aromaweb.com/articles/essentialoilshelflife.asp

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Take a Mindfulness Moment to Breathe and Smell
Smell is one of the most primitive senses we have and such a gift.
The olfactory bulbs have a unique position relative to our brain
and the other sensory nerves and deeply connected to our
midbrains. https://www.wheretotalk.org/self-care-through-our-5-
senses/
You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t
hurry, don’t worry. And be sure to smell the flowers
along the way. - Walter Hagen.
For the sense of smell, almost more than any
other, has the power to recall memories and it is a
pity that we use it so little. – Rachel Carson

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Create Mindfulness Moments
Using Your Sense of Smell
Nowadays we hear a lot of talk about mindfulness, and other
opportunities to ‘opt out’ of the constant rush to finish the
next task, for our jobs and daily responsibilities.
Have you thought about taking a ‘time-out’ for yourself? Try
smelling an oil for a mindful break. You will be glad you did.
Aromaweb has several ideas to assist you with generating ways to
incorporate essential oils into your wellness regimen. Look at the
website below.
https://www.aromaweb.com/aromatherapyspirituality/meditatingwithe
ssentialoils.asp

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Try Alternative Wellness Tips
Inhale a few drops of Peppermint essential oil to
relieve a headache.
Inhale a few drops of Lavender essential oil to
help you sleep.
If you burn yourself in the kitchen, put 1 or 2
drops of Lavender essential oil on it to relieve
the pain.
Sources: https://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/migrainesheadaches-essential-oils
https://surginglife.com/wellness/essential-oils/guide/lavender/burns/

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Exploring Aromatherapy
Every time I register for an aromatherapy webinar, I am
pleasantly surprised to learn how many people from all over
the world are exploring and using Aromatherapy for their
wellness regimen. It gives me a sense of pleasure to know
that I have found something worth exploring as a
complementary method to care for my mind, body and spirit.
I am excited to share this information with my family, friends,
and community to provide them with additional options for
their continued well-being.
Aromatherapy Websites
Canadian Federation of Aromatherapists
✓ https://www.cfacanada.com/
International Federation of Aromatherapist
✓ https://ifaroma.org/en_GB/home
National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy
✓ https://naha.org/

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Aromatherapy Info
There are numerous
aromatherapy blogs and websites that one can visit and learn
from. Below are links to some of my favorite sites. I
encourage you to find out more about this wellness gift and
to visit the websites listed below to explore aromatherapy on
your own.
https://aromaticstudies.com/blog/
https://floranella.com/blog/
https://blog.aromahead.com/
https://www.aromaweb.com/

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What does a Certified Aromatherapist, Consultant do?
Inform communities by introducing a
conversation about what the field of Integrative
Medicine thinks Aromatherapy can provide using
essential oils as an addition to one’s wellness
program, and their families.
Introduce the methods for selecting
‘authentic’ essential oils, rather than purchasing
‘fragrance’ oils and identifying the difference.
Introduce the safety methods for utilizing
essential oils to gain therapeutic benefits.
Conduct workshops for exploring using
Essential Oils with Mindfulness smelling exercises.
Conduct workshops for creating personal
items (e.g. inhalers, lotions) with simple methods.

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That’s all for now
Learn more at my Website: https://www.judithguerra.com/