Support your body's natural effort to reduce scars and both external and internal adhesions after surgery.
Internal: Scar Support blend is suitable for internal use within safe parameters if such use is deemed appropriate. We feel that internal use is rarely *needed* and should only be used with respect for how concentrated the oils are. HEO does not advocate internal use of essential oils without appropriate knowledge and understanding of how to administer, for what purpose, how much, which essential oils, safety concerns and so on. In our experience, essential oils are generally more effective used topically with proper dilution or inhaled. Kurt Schnaubelt Ph.D. notes that "French aromatherapy literature contains many references to using oils orally." He goes on to note that "generally 1 drop is always enough when ingesting essential oils." A potential toxicity hazard could occur when untrained people use essential oils orally and ingest too much. Keep in mind that while medical doctors or health care practitioners may prescribe essential oils for internal use, they are trained and experienced in the safe application of essential oils. It is not a matter of using "French aromatherapy" or "British" methods, it's a matter of experience and appropriate application. Click here for information about internal usage.
4. Living in the tropics where skin cancer abounds along with gardening accidents with sharp tools and ocean-related accidents (both of which have resulted in many nasty Staph infections for me), Hopewell's Scar Support Blend has been such a blessing to me in healing many scars to smooth skin!! Thank you Hopewell Oils for all your research and wonderful oils. - Kalinda
Lemongrass is considered non-toxic, but it may cause skin irritation for some because it contains Citral, which is a strong sensitizer. Avoid use on broken skin. Robert Tisserand reported at a Clinical Safety Aromatherapy conference (2013) that there is a possibility that Citral (in Lemongrass) may affect tooth and bone development in the fetus.* Tisserand's recommend dilution for topical use is 4 drops per fluid ounce (0.7%). Use caution on hypersensitive, diseased or damaged skin and with infants and children under 2 years of age. Lemongrass and Antibiotics: Contraindicated by all routes in significant amounts. Dr. Valnet writes that oils high in aldehydes, such as Lemongrass, can "inactivate antibiotics and so limit their use in ointment form." Tisserand does not mention this caution in the 2014 edition of his Essential Oil Safety book. Lemongrass and Pregnancy: Tisserand suggests the use of Lemongrass to be restricted to 0.7% maximum topically during pregnancy. Restrict Lemongrass to a daily oral maximum during pregnancy of 46mg (about a drop). This is due to citral which could affect fetal development in high oral doses. Adequately diluted topical use is not contraindicated during pregnancy. "Citral impairs reproductive performance in female rats by reducing the number of ovarian follicles (Toaff et al 1979). The effect, however, was seen only after a series of six monthly ip injections at a dose of 300 mg/kg. This is equivalent to injecting ~ 25mL of lemongrass oil into a woman's abdomen. Based on other research, we have restricted citral exposure in pregnancy" (Tisserand, page 149).
Lemongrass and Antidepressants: There are some that feel that oils high in citral should be avoided with antidepressants (specifically Bupropion) that inhibits CYP2B6 enzyme. Tisserand states that this risk is considered "theroretical" based on the research. Lemongrass and Diabetes medication: Use with caution orally. Avoid contact with the eyes and other sensitive areas. Essential oils are both lipophilic and hydrophobic. Lipophilic means they are attracted to fat—like the membranes of your eyes and skin. They are also hydrophobic, meaning they do not like water. Flushing with water will only send the essential oil back to the eye's membranes. Applying a carrier oil will create another fat for the essential oil to be attracted to other than the membranes of the eyes or skin. We’ve not known this to cause permanent injury or long-term discomfort, but if you feel concerned, please call your health care provider.
