Essential oils are considered remedies for all kinds of things: from skin problems to mental health problems. However, these oils are not as harmless as they seem.
They might smell nice, but their marketing highly oversells their benefits while downplaying the bad parts.. Which are actually quite negative.
We advocates risk-free wellness and wants to keep you informed about the hidden dangers behind beauty routines.
Don’t forget to check out the bonus section, we discussed the steps that can help you deal with essential oils in a safer way there.
Essential Oils Overdose
5. Poisoning
Studies show thousands of essential oil poisoning incidents in recent years and more than half of them have included children.
The toxicity spreads rapidly and only requires a small amount of oil to create a life-threatening situation. It can cause vomiting, lung damage, and central nervous system depression.
The worst offender is eucalyptus oil, a few drops of which can cause nausea, stomach pain, and convulsions.
Although 80% of the cases were accidental, due to the oils being mistaken for liquid medications, such as cough syrup, there were still several people taking essential oils by mouth due to misinformation.
4. Male Breast Development
There is a phenomenon called gynecomastia: the development of ‘man boobs’. It is rare and often has no obvious cause. Except sometimes it’s triggered by lavender and tea tree oils.
One study showed that essential oils are often to blame for increased breast tissue among children. It was about 3 children who had nothing in common, but suddenly breasts appeared and the use of skin care products with lavender and tea tree oils.
It turns out that oils can mimic female hormones and suppress male behavior. This disrupts the overall hormonal and endocrine balance of the body.
3. Sun-Sensitivity
Some essential oils are photosensitizing, which means that they increase the skin’s vulnerability to sunlight. It includes citrus oils and the biggest culprit: bergamot oil.
Many citrus fruits contain a compound called furocoumarin, which can cause chemical burns when exposed to sunlight. In the most severe cases, even a few minutes in the sun can cause blisters and welts.
And hey, plants produce furanocoumarin as a defense against animals, insects and fungi. Perhaps, we’re not welcome either.
2. Skin Problems
The range of essential oil-induced skin problems ranges from mild irritations to total allergies such as dermatitis.
Allergic reactions can cause hives, rashes, itching, and burning. The skin itself can also become dry, flake, and begin to crack.
It is especially a bad idea to use oils on damaged skin, as it absorbs more oil and your reaction can be unexpected and unpleasant. And you should never use undiluted oil – it can be extremely dangerous for your skin!
1. Risks Of Pregnancy
Some essential oils contain additives and impurities that can be harmful to pregnant women. Its infamous sensitivity to smells and tastes can result in unpleasant side effects of using an essential oil, such as nausea, headache, vomiting, and dizziness.
Even oils applied to the skin can penetrate the placenta and affect the baby. In the worst case, the pregnancy can end in a miscarriage.
Oils Aren’t All That Bad
Ultimately, being essential does not make these oils important or necessary to us. The problem is not how dangerous they can be, but how they are marketed.
Much of the advertising about oils is due to the fact that they are natural products and therefore cannot be harmful. Which is not true, at best.
If we separate hype and branding from reality, we can see that essential oils are neither a “cure-all” good thing nor a “scary dangerous” bad thing.
Some oils have anti-parasitic and antiseptic properties, can help with hair problems, and their calming scents help relieve stress.
However, when used incorrectly, they can lead to all of the things we discussed above.
So the best you can do is:
- Consult your doctor before using oils.
- Observe how your body reacts to them.
- Test a small amount of the oil on your arm or leg. That way you can check if you have any allergies.
- Do not overuse them.
- Don’t be afraid to try them.
Do you use any essential oil? What are they? Have you noticed if it helped or, on the contrary, had a negative effect?
Preview photo credit shutterstock.com, depositphotos.com
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