Essential Oil & Safety

When I got my Aromatherapist Certification in 2016, I had to write a research paper. I decided to write my research paper on safety since it is so often overlooked. It is scary the recommendations I sometimes see and I encourage everyone to do their own research before doing something, like taking Essential Oil internally or putting something on your baby just because someone else said it was safe. Is the person who recommended this to you a Clinical Aromatherapist? Do they sell Essential Oils? Who told them it was safe, their upline? I know many, if not all, of these people giving unsafe information and advice, are well-intentioned and only want to help others, but the truth is, much of this advice is unsafe. Here is my research paper, please keep in mind that this was written when I was a budding aromatherapist and have since done a lot more research and am now finishing my herbalist training as well. Much of the information I gathered came from an amazing book written by Robert Tisserand. It's called Essential Oil Safety. It's a really big book loaded with information! I highly recommend you get it if you are interested in essential oils! 

It’s extremely difficult to know what and who to trust when learning and searching for information on essential oils! There is a lot of misinformation out there in the cyber world spreading unsafe practices and that is very scary. Google “essential oils” + “any ailment imaginable” and you’ll come up with some blog about how to cure said ailment often utilizing unsafe practices of essential oils. How do you know if this information is reliable?

I’m very passionate about spreading the information on safe practices of using essential oils to everyone who uses them. They can be so wonderful for you and your family if used properly, and they can be extremely dangerous for you and your family if used improperly. Just because they are “natural” does not mean they can’t cause damage. 

So, what kind of “damage” can an essential oil do if used improperly? A toxic reaction is any adverse event that occurs following the contact of an external agent with the body. Toxicity in essential oils is an attribute we welcome when we want them to kill viruses, bacteria, fungi or lice, and human cells share some characteristics with these very small organisms. So it should not be totally surprising that some of the most useful antimicrobial essential oils possess a degree of human toxicity. Adverse reactions include abortion or abnormalities in pregnancy, neurotoxicity manifesting as seizures or retardation of infant development, a variety of skin reactions, bronchial hyper-reactivity, hepatoxicity and more. Interactions with chemotherapeutic or other prescribed drugs are a particular concern. Most accidents with essential oils involve young children and are preventable. It would be ideal if open-topped bottles of undiluted essential oils were banned and appropriate warnings printed on labels. 

I will be covering a wide variety of safety concern topics in my research paper that I feel need to be addressed and spread throughout the population of people using and/or interested in using essential oils for themselves and their families.

Inhalation: Inhalation is a widely utilized method of absorption of essential oils. The mucus membranes, in the nose, gives easy access to the bloodstream making inhalation a wonderful and easy way to absorb oils. It also has a pretty low level of risk to MOST people. It’s relatively unlikely that concentration of most essential oil will reach a dangerous level using inhalation. It’s relatively easy for essential oil constituents to enter the bloodstream and reach the central nervous system which can be good and bad. Easy access to the central nervous system can come with some safety risks, especially with certain oils. You’ll need to be especially careful if you have any central nervous system pathologies, such as epilepsy. 

Be careful with dosage however. Too much oil inhaled can cause headaches, dizziness and can irritate the membranes of the nose and the lungs. Oils to be particularly careful with are: clove, thyme, lemongrass, Melissa, black pepper & nutmeg; they can be irritating to the mucous membranes and/or the lungs.

Topical Use: Topical use of essential oils is a fantastic way to use oils! It’s especially a fantastic way to use oils for skin issues. It is important, however, to note safety issues using them topically. They should always be diluted when applied to the skin! Especially with young children and elderly people. 1%-3% is the ideal dilution in most cases. ‘Some essential oils are more likely to cause adverse reactions than others.’ Some oils are skin nourishing, such as Lavender, and are less likely to sensitize the skin. There are also some oils that have a higher risk of sensitizing the skin and they are generally higher in phenols, aldehydes and monoterpenes. It is best to use these oils in lower dilutions and, if possible, add a skin nourishing oil in as well.

<Plant Therapy Dilution Guide>

Sensitization or Contact Dermatitis is another safety concern of using essential oils topically. It is an allergic reaction of the immune system and the reaction may actually appear in other places than where you applied the oil. Signs of sensitization are typically a rash and/or presence of a headache. Using something repeatedly over time can sensitize you when you hadn’t been sensitive before. A patch test is a good test to perform on someone to see if they may be sensitive to an essential oil. Apply the oil to a small area and leave for 24-48 hours and then recheck the area for sensitization. If irritation occurs it is recommended to wash with soap and water and apply carrier oil (such as coconut oil) to the affected area. Do not put essential oils in or around the eyes. If you get essential oil in your eye flush it with carrier oil NOT water! Oil is not water soluble and flushing with water will push the oil further into the eye. 

Another risk of topical use is phototoxicity. Phototoxicity is a reaction to a substance that is photoactive and exposure to sunlight, which can cause burning, blistering and discoloration of the skin. The most common reaction is an exaggerated sunburn and blisters. Common phototoxic oils to avoid using on your skin in direct sunlight are bergamot, lime, lemon and grapefruit. Use with caution and with a very low dilution! Please note that most phototoxic oils are citrus, but not all citrus oils are phototoxic.

Oxidation of essential oil is another topical risk. It can create irritation of the skin when essential oil is used that has been oxidized. Some oils that are not a risk will become a risk if and when the oil becomes oxidized. Oxidized oils are oils that have been introduced to oxygen (i.e. – left open for long periods of time) Generally the oils with no oxygen molecules are less stable and more prone to oxidation. 

Internal Use: Although using essential oils internally CAN have positive results, they should always be recommended and monitored by a doctor and/or certified aromatherapist! There are MANY risks involved in using essential oils internally. Just because something is “natural” doesn’t mean it can’t harm you.

Most medical practitioners who favor the oral route are treating infectious diseases that require heavy dosing. However, any hazards are also magnified proportionately. Disadvantages to oral dosing include irritating the gastrointestinal mucosa, which is quite sensitive. Oral administration also carries potential for inducing nausea and vomiting, and the presence of food has unpredictable effects on absorption into the bloodstream. Digestive enzymes can break down essential oil constituents. Most substances then pass directly to the liver where some proportions can actually be made MORE toxic! Virtually all recorded cases of serious poisoning with essential oils have occurred after the ingestion of large amounts of essential oil.

Other ways to use oils internally would be rectal administration and vaginal administration. Again, you will want to use EXTREME caution and be monitored by a doctor and/or certified aromatherapist! The rectum is extremely sensitive to irritation, especially if the oil is unevenly dispersed. The mucous membrane lining the vagina is highly sensitive to irritation and care is needed to ensure that the essential oil is administered in appropriate amounts and is evenly dispersed.

Medical Contraindications: It is difficult to predict the probability of essential oil interactions with drugs, as a wide array of mechanisms could be involved. Essential oils should not be applied to skin on which any medications or drug patches are being used, as the oils may dramatically increase the bioavailability of the drug. It is important to know that some oils can interact with medication in a negative way, so it is recommended to list all medications you are on and see a certified aromatherapist and/or doctor to find out what oils may or may not be safe for you to use. Common medications you’d want to check on are ones that increase or decrease your blood pressure, blood thinners, anti-depressants, blood clotting medication, insulin or other medication for diabetes to name a few. 

People that are vulnerable to epileptic seizures should avoid: Western Red Cedar, Wormwood, Genipi, Hyssop, Sage, Thuja, Pennyroyal, Buchu, Calamint, Tansy, Mugwort, Layana, Ho Leaf, Boldo, Wintergreen, Birch, Rosemary, Yarrow, Lavandin, Feverfew & Spike Lavender.

Cancer & Cancer Treatments: Because of possible and unpredictable effects on the immune mechanisms, it is recommended that essential oils be avoided from one week before to one month after a course of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Since immune competence is important in relation to cancer, it would be prudent to avoid essential oils that compromise the immune response in people with cancers. This ESPECIALLY applies to T cells in patients receiving chemotherapy.

There is no evidence that tumors in humans have ever been induced by the use of essential oils. Nevertheless, a few do contain potentially carcinogenic substances, and there is concern that these oils may not be safe to use in aromatherapy. It is unlikely that a single application of a potentially carcinogenic essential oil in an aromatherapy context will present a negligible risk; it could feasibly contribute to carcinogenesis if used on a regular basis. Therefore it is recommended that the use of certain essential oils be restricted. 

Children/Babies: Great caution is necessary for infants. Since neonatal skin does not mature until three months of age, it is more sensitive and more permeable to essential oils. A newborn is also less equipped to deal with any adverse effects than an adult because of lower metabolic capacity. These cautions apply even MORE to premature babies, and here it would be a good idea to avoid ALL use of essential oils. The essential oil dose applied will be less for babies and children than for adults because of their smaller body size. Children up to three months old are theoretically at greater risk of skin sensitization due to the immaturity of their skin and its barrier function. 

The majority of cases of essential oil poisoning involve accidents with young children, often between 1 and 3 years of age. Approximately 75% of cases in the USA are in children up to 6 years old. Parents NEED to be aware of the risks. Perhaps contrary to expectation, young children will drink an undiluted essential oil. Their natural inquisitiveness leads them to examine materials by putting them in their mouths. Some unfortunate infants have died because a parent administered the essential oil by mistake. Some died because the essential oil was intentionally administered, either by a parent or a doctor, who was not aware of the toxic consequences. But in most cases, a bottle of essential oil was within reach of a child and they were able to open it. Essential oil poisoning in children is not a new problem. In 1953 in Britain there were 454 deaths from accidental poisoning in childhood that occurred, 54 were caused from essential oils. 

It would be safe to diffuse gentle essential oils around babies and small children and is a good option. Diffusing oil presents little to no risk, especially using the more gentle and kid friendly essential oils such as Lavender and Roman Chamomile. 

Here are some good child safety guidelines: do not allow children to ingest oils; do not add undiluted essential oils to bathwater for children; keep essential oils out of reach of children; if possible, purchase bottles of essential oils with child resistant caps; do not apply essential oils to or near a child’s face; do not place essential oils or preparations containing them into the nose of a child; do not expose children of five years or less to strong essential oil vapors. Please note that Wintergreen and Birch should NOT be used on children in ANY amount due to the risk of developing Reye’s Syndrome. 

Pregnancy/Breastfeeding: Most substances that pass from maternal plasma into breast milk do so by passive diffusion, and this is likely the case for most essential oil constituents. Nearly all drugs are secreted into breast milk to some extent. Volatile compounds from the mother’s diet affect the flavor of breast milk and can positively influence breastfeeding. If present in the maternal circulation, most essential oil constituents would be expected to reach the fetus, where some have the potential to exert toxic effects. Parsley apiole and sabinyl acetate and essential oils containing these compounds present a clear risk of terminating pregnancy. The overall risk from essential oils and miscarriage is very small. Perhaps the greater risk is actually that of physical malformation or developmental toxicity.

There are quite a few oils that should be avoided during pregnancy and when breastfeeding. I am including a list of essential oils that should be avoided by any route throughout pregnancy and lactation from Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand (in alphabetical order): Anise, Anise (star), Araucaria, Artemisia vestita, Atractylis, Birch (sweet), Black seed, Buchu (diosphenol CT), Buchu (pulegone CT), Calamint (lesser), Carrot Seed, Cassia, Chaste tree, Cinnamon bark, Costus, Cypress (blue), Dill seed (Indian), Fennel (bitter), Fennel (sweet), Feverfew, Genipi, Hibawood, Ho leaf (camphor CT), Hyssop (pinocamphone CT), Lanyana, Lavender (Spanish), Mugwort (common, camphor/thujone CT), Mugwort (common, chrysanthenyl acetate CT), Mugwort (great), Myrrh, Myrtle (aniseed), Oregano, Parsley leaf, Parsleyseed, Pennyroyal, Rue, Sage (Dalmation), Sage (Spanish), Savin, Tansy, Thuja, Western red cedar, Wintergreen, Wormwood (all chemotypes), Wormwood (sea), Wormwood (white), Yarrow (green), Zedoary. 

<Plant Therapy Pregnancy/Nursing Safe Chart>

Pets/Animals: It is best to seek out the advice of a certified aromatherapist with additional training in animal aromatherapy. Essential oils are very limited with felines in particular due to the cat’s sensitive metabolic system and their internal organs. Hydrosols are a safe alternative to essential oil for animals and pets; always use under the guidance of a certified aromatherapist though.

Expired/Oxidized: Essential oils are made up of Carbon, Oxygen and Hydrogen molecules. When essential oils become “oxidized” it means that the oil was introduced to oxygen, which changes the chemical makeup of the oil thus changing the therapeutic value of the oil and the toxicity of the oil. Storing bottles in a cool, dark room is ideal to avoid oxidation. Make sure you leave the caps on when not in use and that the bottles are dark. Oils can go “bad” too. Shelf life for essential oils is often 2-3 years; some are more, some are less. It’s important to check with where you purchased the oil on expiration.
Quality: The quality of essential oils is an important issue for anyone using them therapeutically. Confidence in their safe use begins with ensuring that the oils have a known botanical origin and composition. It is recommended to purchase oils that have been tested using the Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method. This is a test performed by a third party that identifies the substances within the essential oil to ensure purity. Some brands provide the test results to consumers (which is ideal), others do not for one reason or another. Essential oils are prone to adulteration and synthetic additives that can increase the toxicity and can decrease the therapeutic properties of the essential oil. 

I would like to end my paper by reiterating that while essential oils can be beneficial, it is very important to make sure you are using the proper safety guidelines. Don’t just Google and try the first recipe you see on some blog. Make sure the oils you are using are right for you and that you are using them in a safe way. 

Feel free to email me if you have any questions. 

Peace.