Essential Oils: A Cautionary Tale

Wednesday January 9, 2019

So while I’m obsessive about safely when it comes to other people, I tend to not be so cautious when it comes to myself.

After a particularly bad pain day + menstrual cramps + a SUPER stressful/exhausting work day, I decided a soak was in order.

I’ve started running my bath, lit my candles, turned on the fairy lights, added a heap of lavender oil to my Epsom salts, and then remembered I have some peppermint oil kicking around somewhere. I’ll just free-pour about a mL, it’s pretty skin-safe (and my skin is fine with things), it’ll be fine…

[Narrator]: It would not be fine.

I got into my bath around halfway full, and noticed it was smelling more strongly of peppermint than I was expecting. No worries. Oh and a bit of that cool menthol feeling on my legs. Fine. And on my nethers. Ok. And a bit much…

This is the point at which the part of my brain with a chemistry background starts going “watch out for chemical burns!” and grabs some soap. No difference. Bath tap off, shower tap on, more soap. No difference. Anxious brain kicks in. Sneak past my sleeping partner to the proper shower. Shower gel. Soap. More shower gel. More soap. Do I go to the hospital? How embarrassing! More shower gel. More soap. Out and dry, no difference.

Google. Results: “How to treat burns with essential oil!” No! Suggestions on a Q&A board: aloe vera, carrier oil. Don’t wanna go on my balcony naked at 9pm, coconut oil it is.

A little better. Enough that it’s into the realm of “going to be fine” and my anxiety brain is settling down.

So folks, do as I say, not as I do.

Be safe with essential oils.

They may be natural, but that doesn’t mean they’re not strong and (potentially) dangerous chemicals. And this is the friendly end!

Maybe I’ll try again tomorrow night…