I have a passionate belief that we can change the way people think by educating our children on aromatherapy – they are the adults of tomorrow. Instead of teaching children to reach for a chemical pill when their head hurts, why not have them ask for some lavender and peppermint? If they are angry or upset, surely it is a good thing to burn some oils to help with their emotional healing.

When children are taught at a young age, they grow up with the view already a part of their inherent nature. This, then, can be passed on to future generations.

When mixing pure essential oils for children, the following dosages should apply:

In 15ml carrier oil or base cream, add:
0-2 year old, 1-2 drops
3-12 year old, up to 4 drops

A carrier oil is something such as almond oil or grapeseed oil that carries the essential oils into the skin. A base cream is an unscented, preferably non-toxic plain cream that the oils can be mixed in.

Because children should have lower dosages than adults, it can be easier to mix larger quantities of the essential oils into a blend and store them in a dark bottle in a cool cupboard. For instance, if you wanted a mixture that would help a child sleep, you could mix lavender, frankincense and mandarin. If you mixed 12 drops of mandarin, 7 drops of lavender and 5 drops of frankincense into a bottle, this is then called a blend.

You can then use the blend to put either 1-2 drops for a young child, or up to 4 drops for a child who is older into the base or carrier and apply (or you could add the essential oils to an electric burner).

I would like to stress to adults, that pure essential oils are therapeutic by nature, and are not just “nice smelly little oils” in bottles. They are therapeutic and work synergistically on all levels – physical, emotional and mental to help harmonize the body, mind and spirit.

Children should not be left alone with the bottles of oils – especially if they can undo the lids. Whilst pure essential oils are very safe if used properly and as intended, they can also be given bad publicity if misused – and that is not the fault of the oil.

Due to the therapeutic nature of oils used in aromatherapy, if your children have any pre-existing conditions such as epilepsy or diabetes or any other illnesses and you aren’t sure about using essential oils, it is most important that you consult with a qualified professional who can help you.

I look forward to the day that people reach for natural pure essential oils that work synergistically within their body instead of toxic pills and potions, and teach their children to do the same.