Some essential oils, such as tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, and pennyroyal oil, are highly toxic and can cause life threatening symptoms if someone ingests them, but this is not an exhaustive list.
Potential risks:
Inhalation of certain essential oils can trigger asthma symptoms in sensitive individuals. Strong odors, such as those from essential oils, may act as irritants and lead to bronchoconstriction (tightening of the smooth muscles around the airways), coughing, or shortness of breath.
Ingesting essential oils can be dangerous and should only be done under professional guidance. Many essential oils are highly concentrated and toxic when consumed, leading to nausea, vomiting, dizziness, liver damage, or even poisoning. Some oils, like tea tree or eucalyptus, can be particularly harmful.
The test can be done by applying a small amount of oil to your skin for a few days while monitoring for signs of an allergic reaction. This way you slowly introduce the oil to your body and limit the area of a potential reaction.
The answer to this question depends on various factors, including the type of essential oil, the method of application, and individual metabolism. In general, essential oils can stay in your bloodstream for up to 24 hours.
Even when diluted, an essential oil can cause a bad reaction if you use too much or use it too often. That's true even if you're not allergic or unusually sensitive to them.
Toxicologist Ron Kirschner, MD, also warns of their danger. "Ingesting essential oils like camphor, eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil or pine oil has been associated with changes in mental states and seizures. Ingesting lavender oil can cause severe allergic reactions and pennyroyal oil can give you toxic liver damage."
The membrane of your skin allows some things to pass through (such as essential oil molecules), where the capillaries carry them into your bloodstream. Since skin is much thicker than mucous membranes, it takes a longer time for essential oils to be absorbed in this way.
As for essential oil diffusers and nebulizers, which release these fragrant molecules into our air, they come with a theoretical risk: lipoid pneumonia, where molecules of fat enter the lower respiratory tract and cause fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.
When it comes to determining how many drops of essential oil to use depending on the size of the space you want to scent, 3-5 is considered standard guideline. But if you have a large size of space you want to scent, you will need more drops so that the essential oil diffusion can fully cover it.
Symptoms usually occur within 30 minutes of exposure but may be delayed for hours. Patients will typically present with coughing, choking, or vomiting with aspiration. They may have findings of hypoxia and increased work of breathing.
Lavender oil is an oil made from the flowers of lavender plants. Lavender poisoning can occur when someone swallows large amounts of lavender oil. This can be by accident or on purpose.
Important safety advice. Once essential oils enter the bloodstream, they can have a profound effect on the kidneys, as our blood passes through the kidneys twice every hour. Care should therefore be taken to ensure that we do not overload the kidneys and cause damage.
Hyssop essential oil should be avoided, as it has isopinocamphones, which are known to raise blood pressure. It would also make sense for people with high blood pressure to avoid stimulating essential oils, such as rosemary and citrus (lemon and grapefruit) oils.
Olive oil improved insulin resistance, increased the release of TG from the liver and decreased the flux of FFAs from peripheral adipose tissue back to the liver[45]. A study from Spain showed that treatment with a balanced diet rich in olive oil contributed to the recovery of the liver from hepatic steatosis[46].
Examples of essential oils that are effective in anti-aging are Frankincense, Lavender, Rose, Neroli, Geranium, Sandalwood, Citrus, Carrot seed, Ylang Ylang, and Rosemary.
Essential oils can cause allergic reactions, especially in people prone to skin rashes and those who have pollen allergies. Reactions to essential oils may include skin rashes, itchy and runny nose, and difficulty breathing.
Many people think essential oils are harmless because they are natural and have been used for a long time. However, many essential oils can cause rashes if used on the skin and some can be poisonous if they are absorbed through the skin or swallowed.
When it comes to blending essential oils by note it is a good idea to follow the 30/50/20 rule. This makes it easier to find the right balance between the oils used in your blend, with 30% being top note, 50% middle note and 20% base note.