Dangers of EOs

[madpiano]

I know there are lots of warnings out there about EOs, but has anyone actually checked those warnings in recent times ? And at what usage level is an EO a danger to life and limb ? None of the descriptions say that, it just seems everyone is repeating everyone

Example: Wintergreen - on the Do No Use list, toxic. So how come that it is used in Rubbing Alcohol and Toothpaste ? It can't be THAT toxic ?

Several EOs say do not use when pregnant - does that mean do not ingest ? Do not rub into the skin? Do not smell ? What exactly is the problem if "used" during pregnancy / what effect is it said to have ? And if the warning is about breathing it in, then what about FOs and Perfumes ? You might be pregnant and using a perfume which has this EO as an ingredient ? A lot of FOs are made from EOs (at least partially)....

I really wish there was some proper clarification of side effects rather than "not recommended for...." and also a usage level when this becomes an issue.

 

[Lindy]

MadPiano - Wintergreen is very toxic, I have a cousin that died from drinking it when she was a baby - her sister helped her climb up to the cupboard to get the Wintergreen because it smelled like gum. She took a sip and she died that day. Her sister never got over it. It is one EO I won't carry - that one and Bitter Almond. They are still used, but in such minute amounts that the toxicity is limited. It really is a matter of quantity.

I'm just completing my Clinical Aromatherapist training and there are a lot of cautions with EO's, but most of them are for therapeutic levels which you are unlikely to reach in soaps or lotions. You should be aware of them though. For instance Eucalyptus and Tea Tree EO's can interfere with anaesthetic. That doesn't mean it will, it just means it can. There are also a lot of oils that contain anti-coagulants so people with blood clotting disorders, or using blood thinners shouldn't use them. Essential Oils bypass the placental barrier which is why EO use is not recommended for pregnant women.

It is because of all the contra-indicators that I kept hearing about that I got interested in Aromatherapy. My next is medical herbology because it can also be used in our products (lotions & creams) to help us maintain wellness.....

 

[madpiano]

yes, I know that Wintergreen is very toxic, but it seems weird that it is used in toothpaste, rubbing alcohol and - now that you mention it - bubble gum.

But I would really like something more substantial. We know some EOs are toxic, but is that through ingestion, rubbing onto the skin or just breathing it in. The bottles rarely say, neither do online resources. It just says "not to be used in pregnancy/with high blood pressure...", but not in which way it is not to be used and in which concentration.

Wintergreen is such an example. It is highly toxic at a certain amount (and I know the amount is small), but also beneficial below that and it actually smells quite nice. But it is only toxic when ingested ? Or is there an amount where it would be toxic through skin absorbtion as well ?

I find it frustrating that there are so many wishi-washi warnings out there for something that could potentially cause serious harm. Some warnings may well be for ingesting a litre of EO, but as we don't know, there is just a warning "harmful when ingested" or just "toxic".

 

[Lindy]

I agree there should be proper warnings and info on exactly what the EO does since some of them are serious risk factors so I believe they should be sold with the MSDS sheet sent with it..... It seems that only people who are taking the training learn what the real risks are and they are the ones being trained to use them correctly - somehow that just doesn't make sense...... kwim