Been reading past post on EO absorption/sensitization

[Guest guest]

Wow-it's something trying to figure this all out. Reading the

websites makes using EO's seem so simple but it really is a science!

Is it true to say that using EO's will eventually cause some type of

sensitation? Also, what about those that are putting them in the

vinegar they use as fabric softener? Is that dangerous to

sensitation? I've read the very detailed post about absorption

several times and think I get it-anyone care to give explaining it

another try for the sake of making sure I get it?

[Guest guest]

Is it true to say that using EO's will eventually cause some type of

sensitation?

 

[Dave:] No. What is true is that EOs CAN cause sensitization in SOME

people. And, some EOs are known sensitizers, and some are very safe –

although even these can cause some people to react.

 

 

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Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.5/534 - Release 11/14/2006

 

 

 

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Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.5/534 - Release 11/14/2006

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

>Also, what about those that are putting them in the vinegar they use

as fabric softener?<

 

I guess it depends upon whether you are concerned about the laundry,

the washing machine, or the person doing the laundry! :^}

 

>I've read the very detailed post about absorption

> several times and think I get it-anyone care to give explaining it

> another try for the sake of making sure I get it?

 

May I suggest you start with one essential oil and focus on learning

everything you can about it. Safety, useage, the herb, the essential

oil, etc. Most of us have studied for years and years and years and

are STILL studying.

 

There is no " shortcut " to " getting it " . Sue

[Guest guest]

, " CT HERB " <Email wrote:

 

> >I've read the very detailed post about absorption

> > several times and think I get it-anyone care to give explaining it

> > another try for the sake of making sure I get it?

>

> May I suggest you start with one essential oil and focus on learning

> everything you can about it. Safety, useage, the herb, the essential

> oil, etc. Most of us have studied for years and years and years and

> are STILL studying.

>

> There is no " shortcut " to " getting it " . Sue

>

What I meant by " getting it " was solely to that particular explanation

of EO absorption. I definately don't get much yet when it comes to

understanding EO's and their abilities but that's why I'm here. It's

fascinating to learn all about them and to see what more experienced

people have to say. It's also fustrating reading the simplistic info

and instructions on many of the web sites. I'm trying to also

understand where to get reliable info. Susan

[Guest guest]

, " CT HERB " <Email wrote:

>

> >Also, what about those that are putting them in the vinegar they use

> as fabric softener?<

>

> I guess it depends upon whether you are concerned about the laundry,

> the washing machine, or the person doing the laundry! :^}

>

What I was wondering though is this; is wearing clothing that has been

washed in essential oils (for the sake of adding scent and assuming it

is only a small amount) harmful to your skin to the point of causing a

risk of sensitization or is the concentration of essential oils so low

after running through the wash water that it's OK. I've read this

suggestion for scenting clothes many times on essential oil websites.

[Guest guest]

What I was wondering though is this; is wearing clothing that has been

washed in essential oils (for the sake of adding scent and assuming it

is only a small amount) harmful to your skin to the point of causing a

risk of sensitization or is the concentration of essential oils so low

after running through the wash water that it's OK. I've read this

suggestion for scenting clothes many times on essential oil websites.

 

[Dave:] If you were sensitive enough to be bothered by a small amount of EO

in your wash, you’d know it already. Ordinary things you come in contact

with would already be driving you bonkers. The thing with EOs is to respect

them as the strong botanicals that they are, and use them with common sense.

Most EOs are safe if diluted in a carrier oil – UNLESS someone is sensitive

to it. It is a good rule of thumb to never use EOs neat, that is, directly

on the skin. It is better to dilute them in carrier oils. Soap is a

wash-off product, so very few EOs are likely to actually irritate anyone or

cause a reaction – UNLESS. These same things apply to many synthetic

materials as well. Vinyl and latex in clothing or other items can irritate

some people. Me, I’m more or less immune to things like that, but I’m

lucky. In my years of furniture repairs and restoration work, I frequently

had my hands in lacquer thinner, acetone, alcohol, turpentine, paint

thinner, varnishes and many other chemicals. Some people would have gotten

sick from this. I did not. I don’t know of any EO that I have any kind of

reaction to...but I am not about to do a patch test to find out.

 

EOs that are really quite safe to use around the house, in diffusers,

cleaning products, lotions etc.: lavender, tea tree, rosemary, patchouli,

peppermint, orange, and a few others. Cinnamon, clove, wintergreen,

rosewood and others tend to irritate unless used sparingly. The only EOs

I’d ever use neat are tea tree, lavender and patchouli, and that’s JUST ME.

You might not be able to use those oils without a reaction, unless you

diluted them into a carrier oil like jojoba or almond.

 

It’s hard to give you exact quantities. I can’t see any harm in adding a

Tbs of lavender oil into a load of wash. If I wanted my clothes to smell

like cinnamon or cloves, though, I’d cut back to a tsp or even less. Of

course, I’m a guy, and the first thing I think of is, why would you put EOs

in your wash anyway?

 

I notice that most of the commercials on TV for laundry detergents talk a

lot more about how your clothes smell afterward, than they do about how

clean your clothes will be. I love the one with the guy on the bus,

surrounded by women sniffing his shirt. Personally, I’d like to see a

commercial proclaim: “No chemical residues!” I’d say, if you have an EO in

mind and you have doubts about adding it to your rinse cycle, start on the

low side, and see how you like the results. If you have no reaction and

your blouse smells great, then voilá! The worst that could happen is that

some stranger drops dead while passing you on the sidewalk.

 

Just kidding.

 

 

 

 

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Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.6/535 - Release 11/15/2006

 

 

 

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Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.6/536 - Release 11/16/2006

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

>The worst that could happen is that some stranger drops dead while

passing you on the sidewalk.

>

> Just kidding.<

 

LOVE IT!

 

But seriously, I did almost kill someone once. I sold their daughter

an almond/oil/salt scrub for their feet. The Mom called and asked if

the product could be returned, because the daughter was allergic to

nuts and she bought it without reading the ingredients...and had she

used it, she probably would have died.

 

Seems the kid was SO allergic to almonds, that once she was in a mall

and there was a display of cheap, stuffed Christmas toys from China

and they were stuffed with almond shells...she walked by the display

and dropped to the ground, almost unable to breathe. She had her epi-

pen but it was so severe she ended up in the hospital.

 

Good reason to be very VERY specific on the " oils " you use not just

say " vegetable oil " or " cereal oil " ! Sue www.ctherb.org

[Guest guest]

But seriously, I did almost kill someone once. I sold their daughter

an almond/oil/salt scrub for their feet.-..and had she

used it, she probably would have died.

 

[Dave:] Scary story. Yes, such things can happen. It’s also true that

they hardly ever happen. But they do.

 

 

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Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.6/536 - Release 11/16/2006

 

 

 

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Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.6/536 - Release 11/16/2006