"Essential oils need to be handled with care and respect, specially by those people less experienced.
So, before trying any oils or blends for the first time, its important to visit a professional or credited aromatherapist".

And this is specially important, in what regards the following people:

• epileptics, babies, toddlers, pregnant women, asthmatics, people with high blood pressure, thick varicose veins, serious liver problems, cancer etc.

What is a professional aromatherapist?

A professional aromatherapist is someone skilled, that has a broad knowledge of essential and carrier oils, blending techniques, and knows how to apply mixes in a different number of ways ( ex: in massages, baths, inhalations, etc).

A professional aromatherapist is also someone, that has an insight into different health problems and about our human anatomy, possessing in-depth knowledge about the best oils to treat both physical, emotional, mental and spiritual problems.

He/She is also someone, that has in-depth knowledge about the intrinsic properties of oils, from a chemical and healing perspective.

Finally, a professional aromatherapist knows which blends are best suited for a particular person, for a specific problem and can be used as medicine, as cosmetics or for ingestion.

What happens during an aromatherapy session?

• Firstly, the professional aromatherapist carries out a detailed consultation with the client, about the persons' past medical history, diet, lifestyle, current general health, allergies, career etc. This intake is vital for the aromatherapist, allowing him/her to carry out any blending or aromatherapy treatment;

• Secondly, the information gathered about the client aims to help the professional aromatherapist to select the best oils and treatments to treat a specific problem;

• Thirdly, the blend is put together and applied directly by the professional aromatherapist on the client, or by the person at home. The aromatherapy blend is always unique, exclusive and client tailored;

• Fourthly, the aromatherapy treatment is often applied during a time frame of days/ weeks/ months.
  And the results of a particular treatment are always carefully analysed and studied by the professional aromatherapist.

Aromatherapy is a great field of expertise and has many hidden wonders. Although best know as part of the holistic world, this field of healing can be safely used by most people at home, work and on a medical level by professionals in hospitals, clinics and hospices. 
And as long as people respect aromatherapy and its recommendations, this field represents no threat for humans or animals, being very pleasant to use and apply.

Essential oils general safety

Before making use of any essential oils or blends, its important to know the following safety rules:

1. Essential oils can be used as a complement to conventional medicine, but do not replace it in any way or manner;

2. Self-diagnosis and self-treatments are not advisable by Sharehealing, specially if the person is under medical treatment;

3. When misused, essential oils can cause severe skin irritation and allergies;

4. People should never use undiluted essential oils directly in the skin;

5. People should not take essential oils internally (although, there are a few oils that can be taken internally, they are diluted beforehand and recommend by a professional aromatherapist. Most essential oils need to be blended with carrier oils, for external use);

6. People should keep essential oils and blends away from children and pets. When applied to babies, children and elderly people these oils can be harmful, needing to be mixed in extremely low doses;

7. People should never apply essential oils directly in the eyes. In case one does, it needs to be washed off as quick as possible, preferably with warm water;

8. In case one wishes to try a new oil at home, its important to make first a "skin patch".
   The person can apply pure essential oils in an elbow or wrist with cotton. Then the elbow or wrist needs to be covered with a bandage. The person needs to wait 2 h for the final result.
   After 2 hours, the person needs to check if the skin handles the oil well or not. In case of irritation, its advisable to wash off as soon as possible the skin or area where the oil was applied.

9. People should never forget to close the caps of the essential oil bottles, storing them preferably in brown bottles, in cold and dark places!!!

Essential oils safety information for specific health problems

The information gathered below, is both meant  for professional aromatherapists and for the general public.