question for martin watt re: dangerous oils info

[Guest guest]

I came across this info on methyl eugenol and the IFRA standards

associated with their use: http://eethomp.com/AT/dangerous_oils.html.

I thought I came across some info about methyl eugenol at

aromamedical and wanted to review it again but I have not been able to

access the site for two days for some reason. Plant Aromatics is

listed as a reference so I was wondering your opinion on this info.

Also wondering if there are guidelines for inhalation use as noted at

this site. You once responded to a post of mine that few cases of

inhalation sensitization have occurred and since I have so far seen

most info about toxicity or sensitization relating only to topical use

I was curious about any inhalation guidelines. Thank you, Susan

[Guest guest]

Thanks for letting me know about my web site. It looks like it has

been offline for 3 days so just sent the server a message asking why.

 

I don't think Elaine's website has been updated in a while so not

sure about what she says on the subject.

 

I go along with most of the data on essential oils that IFRA publish,

but I am cautious at extrapolating tests on individual chemicals back

to their natural occurrence in an essential oil. One always has to

consider that what is often used with testing of chemicals are

synthetic analogues and not the natural chemical extracted from an

oil. Not withstanding that caution, there clearly are certain

chemicals which can make essential oils dangerous in a number of

ways. Several oils contain methyl eugenol and I am happy to go along

with the testing of the whole oil and observing the IFRA guidelines

on the oil, which indicate most are not sensitizing agents at the

levels of use they recommend. One must though take account of an

individuals allergy status as some people will react at lower levels

of use than the average.

 

>I was curious about any inhalation guidelines

There are none that I am aware of. This is really a case of using

good sense and not sitting in a badly ventilated room with an oil

diffuser going none stop. As I keep saying, everything has to be

related back to the volumes used, whether that be a chemical or an

essential oil.

 

Martin Watt

 

, " susan " <ripple95 wrote:

>

> I came across this info on methyl eugenol and the IFRA standards

> associated with their use:

http://eethomp.com/AT/dangerous_oils.html.

> I thought I came across some info about methyl eugenol at

> aromamedical and wanted to review it again but I have not been able

to

> access the site for two days for some reason. Plant Aromatics is

> listed as a reference so I was wondering your opinion on this info.

> Also wondering if there are guidelines for inhalation use as noted

at

> this site. You once responded to a post of mine that few cases of

> inhalation sensitization have occurred and since I have so far seen

> most info about toxicity or sensitization relating only to topical

use

> I was curious about any inhalation guidelines. Thank you, Susan

>

[Guest guest]

>

> >I was curious about any inhalation guidelines

>

There are none that I am aware of. This is really a case of using

> good sense and not sitting in a badly ventilated room with an oil

> diffuser going none stop. As I keep saying, everything has to be

> related back to the volumes used, whether that be a chemical or an

> essential oil.

>

> Martin Watt

>

I am going to apoligize in advance if this is a repetitive or naive

question but: just as there are dilution guidelines for applying eo's

to the skin, must one dilute eo's for inhalation? I know some inhale

right from the bottle or apply eo's to cottonballs or cloths and

inhale for therapeutic reasons (for example-the recent topic here of

using lavender for a restful night's sleep). But, when using in

aromalamps or burners the eo's are diluted in water. Is that simply

for the purpose of dispersing the scent or should we just not be

inhaling eo's straight, just like we shouldn't be sniffing glue or

permanent markers? Thank you, Susan

[Guest guest]

The oils are diluted by their use in most diffusers or in the air.

You can't possibly get a full hit of undiluted oil unless you sniffed

the stuff up your nose which I would not suggest-ouch!!

 

Sniffing oil from a bottle is also ok for the odd short use such as a

cold, etc, but long term that way is not advisable. However, I would

qualify that by saying it depends on which oil, to do that with

cinnamon bark oil would be nuts, and peppermint is painful if you hit

the bottle with your nose. For things like sleep it is better and

safer to dilute the oil somehow even if it is by putting a few drops

on the bedding itself, but well away from the possibility of eye

contact.

 

Martin

 

, " susan " <ripple95 wrote:

> I am going to apoligize in advance if this is a repetitive or naive

> question but: just as there are dilution guidelines for applying

eo's

> to the skin, must one dilute eo's for inhalation? I know some

inhale

> right from the bottle or apply eo's to cottonballs or cloths and

> inhale for therapeutic reasons (for example-the recent topic here of

> using lavender for a restful night's sleep). But, when using in

> aromalamps or burners the eo's are diluted in water. Is that simply

> for the purpose of dispersing the scent or should we just not be

> inhaling eo's straight, just like we shouldn't be sniffing glue or

> permanent markers? Thank you, Susan

>