Essential Oils Toxicity - An Overview

Introduction:

Essential oils are volatile and aromatic liquids derived from plant extract. Essential oils are available in supermarkets, health food stores, pharmacies, and online. They are widely used in perfumes, soaps, and incense burners. They have the potential to cause toxicity when taken in a higher proportion than usual. Essential oil often involves vomiting, nausea, and seizure as its common symptoms. Common essential oils are tea tree, nutmeg, lavender, peppermint, wintergreen, camphor, cinnamon, clove, bergamot, and sandalwood oil. Essential oils can be toxic when inhaled or used in higher than normal doses.

What Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are derived from plants and have a history of medicinal uses. Essential oils are used for medical, cleaning, and aromatic household purposes. The toxicity of essential oil depends on the oil ingested and the dose taken. Essential oils can be inhaled or immersed in water, applied, and massaged over the skin. Many people assume that essential oils are obtained naturally and are harmless, but in reality, the essential oil can cause rashes when used on the skin and can be poisonous when swallowed or absorbed. Aspiration of essential oil can cause pneumonia (a respiratory infection that affects the lungs).

What Are Common Types of Essential Oils?

The common types of essential oils are as follows:

• Camphor Oil: It is used as an ingredient in skin preparations and moth repellent.

• Lavender Oil: It is used for treating bed bugs and minor burns. It may affect male hormones during puberty.

• Peppermint Oil: It is used to provide relief from gastrointestinal discomfort. Sometimes it can be poisonous to the liver.

• Sandalwood Oil: It is used to treat digestive problems, mental disorders, common colds, and muscle pain.

• Cinnamon Oil: It is used in cosmetics and food coloring. It can cause contact dermatitis, mucus membrane irritation, double vision, vomiting, nausea, and facial flushing.

• Tea Tree Oil: It is used for treating fungal infections. It can cause skin irritation and rashes.

• Bergamot Oil: It is used for anxiety, body pain, and mental alertness. It can cause skin sensitivity and burning.

• Eucalyptus Oil: It has a soothing effect when inhaled. If swallowed, it can lead to a seizure (uncontrolled sudden electrical disturbance in the brain).

• Clove Oil: Itis used for relieving pain, digestive discomfort, and certain respiratory conditions.

• Wintergreen Oil: It is used over the skin to relieve pain and provides warmth to the skin. It can be dangerous if swallowed.

• Sage Oil: It is used as a remedy, scent, and seasoning. Swallowing sage oil can cause seizures (uncontrolled sudden electrical disturbance in the brain) in children.

• Nutmeg Oil: It is used in food preparation but, if taken in large quantities, can cause coma (refers to a medical condition with prolonged unconsciousness due to any injury) and hallucinations (a medical condition that involves sensing things such as smells, sound, and vision that seems to be virtual).

What Are the Dangers Associated With Essential Oil?

Essential oils can be unsafe when consumed in greater than desired quantity and have the potential to cause poisoning if ingested even in small amounts. If the essential oil is undiluted, it can make the skin sensitive, burn or irritate the nostril. Skin rash and allergic reactions are also common signs of essential oil toxicity.

What Are the Symptoms of Essential Oil Toxicity?

The symptoms of essential oil toxicity are:

• Seizure (uncontrolled sudden electrical disturbance in the brain).

• Drowsiness (refers to the feeling of sleepiness).

• Coma (refers to a medical condition with prolonged unconsciousness due to any injury).

• Coughing.

• Wheezing (high-pitched sound while breathing).

• Shortness of breath.

• Nausea.

• Vomiting.

• Diarrhea (watery loose stool that occurs more frequently than usual).

• Eye irritation, redness, and pain.

What Are Investigation for Essential Oil Toxicity?

The various investigation recommended for essential oil toxicity are:

• Chest x-ray and blood gas to assess the chances of aspiration pneumonitis (infection of the lungs caused by inhaling certain particles, food, or liquid).

• Liver function test (LFT) and urea electrolyte and creatinine (UEC) to detect any significant illness.

How to Manage Essential Oil Toxicity?

• In case of ingestion of essential oils, rinse immediately from the mouth; oral fluid should be avoided as it can increase the risk of aspiration and vomiting of fluid into the lungs.

• During an eye exposure to essential oil, the person should immediately rinse the eyes under running water for almost 15 minutes.

• If skin irritation occurs during the application of essential oils, then the contaminated clothing should be removed, and the skin should be washed immediately with soap and water.

• If a person inhales the essential oil, he should be taken to an area with fresh air.

What Are Precautions To Be Taken While Using Essential Oil?

Precautions taken while using essential oils are

• Dosage: Dose is the most important factor for the safety of essential oils. Essential drugs, when used in too high or wrong concentration, contribute to harmful changes in the body.

• Purity: Sometimes, chemicals are added to the essential oils that can make the essential oils unsafe.

• Application Method: The essential oils should be used only in the method recommended as they can be hazardous when used incorrectly.

What Are General Safety Recommended for Essential Oil Use?

The general safety recommended for essential oil use are :

• Research about oil on the internet before using it.

• Adhere to all cautions mentioned for the product use.

• Ensure that the oil is diluted.

• Always avoid swallowing the oil directly.

• Essential oils should be stored out of children's reach.

• In case of allergic reactions, the usage of essential oils should be stopped.

Conclusion:

Essential oils are volatile compounds extracted from plants. The toxicity onset can be rapid and has the potential to cause life-threatening toxicity, especially in children. Death from essential oils has a rare occurrence. Safe storage and knowledge of recommendations are very important before using any drug. Aspiration pneumonitis (infection of the lungs caused by inhaling certain particles, food, or liquid) is considered a major risk factor for using essential oils in higher proportion or by inhaling or swallowing them. The toxicity of essential oils often depends on the dose and the quantity of essential oils ingested.