Home Page > Aromatherapy Articles & Guides > Aromatherapy for Children

Aromatherapy for Children

The aromatherapy recipes and guidelines that you see on AromaWeb and elsewhere are intended for use on average-sized, healthy adults who have consulted with a medical professional. 

Most over-the-counter and prescription drugs list different dosages based on the size of a child or warn not to use the medicine with children. Essential oils used with children must be respected in the same way. Recipes for use on children should have significantly lower dosages of oils than if the same recipe is used by an adult. Additionally, many oils should not be used at all with children.  When in doubt, don’t use it on your child.

Oils that are generally reported to be safe to use on children, in extremely low dilutions, for external uses and for short periods of time include Lavender, Neroli, Roman Chamomile, Rose (Rose Otto – steam distilled rose oil), Sweet Orange, and Tea Tree.

I would love to include many recipes and suggestions for aromatherapy use with children, but children range greatly in their weight, health and needs. As such, it is quite unsafe to supply such “blanket” recommendations or recipes, and it goes way beyond my comfort level to do so.

Having said that, Valerie Ann Worwood has released a new book in early 2000 entitled Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child. This 300+ page book is the most comprehensive book that I have seen so far on using aromatherapy with children. For more information, please look below:

		Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child Finally there is a hefty and comprehensive book that covers aromatherapy for children - it's about time! This huge book covers a multitude of aromatherapy uses for children. Easy enough for beginners to read, this book is also practical for advanced users considering the limited amount of resources available on children's aromatherapy.
		Aromatherapy for Babies and Children Provides brief profiles (monographs) on 20 oils and provides introductory aromatherapy information from the vantage point of use on babies and children.

< Return to Article Archive Index

	This article and the other content that appears on AromaWeb is owned and under copyright by AromaWeb, LLC. Do not plagiarize (reprint/paraphrase) AromaWeb's photos, graphics or other content without express written permission. No exceptions will be permitted, and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. For further information or to seek written permission, click here. If you have witnessed AromaWeb's text on other sites, please report the infringement by using AromaWeb's Contact Form.