The safe use of essential oils is of key importance in the practice of aromatherapy. Based on up-to-date research findings, this practical, comprehensive guide gives detailed profiles of essential oils, safety guidelines for practitioners, cautions and contradictions and extensive referencing. Essential Oil Safety is written for everyone who needs to be thoroughly familiar with the appropriate and safe use of essential oils in therapy, whether researchers, pharmacists, nurses, clinicians, aromatherapists or retailers. Detailed profiles of 95 essential oils, including constituents, hazards, dosage, toxicity data and contraindications Brief safety profiles of 311 essential oils and 135 essential oil components Safety guidelines for practitioners, retailers and consumers Details of essential oil absorption, metabolism and excretion Description of essential oil toxicity with regard to the skin, mucous membrane, the central nervous system and the major organs Essential oils which may react adversely with certain drugs Cautions and contraindications for the therapeutic use of essential oils by all methods of administration Guidelines on the safe and appropriate administration of essential oils in pregnancy, cancer, epilepsy, heart disease and many other conditions Extensive references throughout the text in addition to a separate reference section.