Orally, one should not use essential oils in infants and children under 7 years of age, they should be avoided in pregnant or breastfeeding women.
– Because they contain powerfully active ingredients, certain essential oils are simply not recommended for certain subjects. This is the case for oils which contain a large proportion of ketones, molecules potentially highly neurotoxic (toxic for neurons, therefore for the nervous system) and abortive: EO of officinal sage, peppermint or thuja, for example; people with epilepsy, pregnant women and children must absolutely avoid using them by any means. These oils are also often delivered only on medical prescription.
– Others, very antibacterial because they are rich in phenols or aromatic aldehydes, are reserved for adults and older children: thymol thyme, clove, savory, compact oregano, cinnamon (from Ceylon, China) … But, unlike a preconceived idea, babies can also be treated with certain essential oils, “from 3 months, on the advice of an aromatologist or a specialist pharmacist, and under certain specific conditions”, indicates Dr Danièle Festy, pharmacist and aromatologist. For them, we will favor safe oils, such as chamomile (if the baby is angry, make him breathe 3 drops placed on a cloth), true lavender (very versatile, it is antiseptic and healing for sores and at the same time sedative and soothing), Italian helichrysum (apply 2 pure drops on the area where the child has bumped while massaging lightly) or pink geranium (perfect for cleansing the skin: 2 drops in 5 drops of sweet almond oil to be applied locally 2 to 3 times a day for 2 or 3 days).
