When to NOT use essential oils (Essential oils can cause seizures in kids)

September 8, 2014

1/3/2015. Update from Dr. Erika: DON’T THROW OUT YOUR ESSENTIAL OILS! I’ve been getting a lot of comments from folks who read this article and are terrified to use essential oils now. Please, read the article carefully – topical or diffused essential oils can be very safe and effective in kids when used correctly! Remember to adjust dose to your child’s weight – if 1-2 drops is effective for an adult, then 1/2, 1/5, or 1/10 of a drop may be effective (and safe) for your child.

When to NOT use essential oils

Are you an essential oil user? Chances are the answer is yes!

Recently there has been a huge rise in the use of essential oils from some popular MLM companies like Young Living and Doterra. BUT – with every new craze comes some good news and bad news…

The good news:

I love the fact that so many families have thrown out their Glade Plug-in air fresheners, or other synthetic spray air fresheners. Synthetic air fresheners are notoriously horrible products, in my opinion. The Environmental Working Group (ewg.org) rated 150 products with a grade D for safety, and 78 products with a grade F. (Only 11 got a grade A, and one of those was baking soda!) They even have a warning on their website saying “Avoid air fresheners: they can cause allergies and only cover up bad odors.” I really, really, really, really, really don’t like synthetic air fresheners. They are known to have phthalates and other substances which interfere with our hormones and are known to cause cancer. Using a vaporizer for essential oils is a much better way to diffuse fragrance and naturally reduce odor-causing bacteria.

The second piece of good news: I love it when patients have essential oils on hand. I do actually use essential oils a lot in my practice, usually topically or in steam inhalations. Lavender, tea tree, and thyme are my favorite three to have on hand. These are what I usually recommend families to keep in their herbal first aid kit. (Frankincense would be next.)

Okay, on to the bad news.

As a physician, I am very concerned about the rise in inappropriate use of essential oils.

Did you know that essential oils can cause seizures in children?

Essential oils are the distilled volatile aromatic constituents of the plant that are highly concentrated. Remember that one drop of essential oil is equivalent to 15-40 cups of medicinal tea, or up to 10 teaspoons of tincture. Would you ever give a child 40 cups of tea, or 10 teaspoons of tincture? My goodness, I hope not.

There have been several documented cases of seizures in children (and a few in adults) who have taken essential oils inappropriately. (You can check out case reports here, here, here, and here).

The bottom line is: essential oils can be neurotoxic to children. I never recommend internal use of essential oils in kids. Even in adults I save internal use of essential oils for serious infections or other conditions that are unresponsive to normal doses of herbs (in tincture or tea form). Topical or vaporized essential oils can be safe and very effective in children when used correctly!

So here are some guidelines for using essential oils in kids:

1) Always use a carrier oil when applying essential oils to the skin. A “carrier oil” is a type of base oil, to slightly dilute the essential oil and protect the skin against direct contact with the essential oil. Essential oils should never be applied “neat” (undiluted) to the skin. I cannot tell you the number of times I have seen allergic contact dermatitis (big ugly skin rash) with undiluted oils! Mix 1-2 drops of essential oil in 1-3 teaspoons of a carrier oil like olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil, avocado oil, or other mild, gentle, skin-friendly oil. Mix essential oils with carrier oils immediately before applying them. This prevents rancidity.

2) Keep oils away from airways (nose and mouth). One thing I really like about DoTerra’s recommendations is that they usually tell parents to apply essential oils to the feet of children and babies. This is a great idea, because it provides space between the airways and the source of the essential oil. Just make sure your baby doesn’t then put his feet in his mouth! Also make sure the essential oils are mixed with a carrier oil first.

3) Do not use vaporizers in a house where a child or adult lives with a respiratory disease. I have seen a number of asthma patients who were constantly having their airways aggravated from aerosolized essential oils. Use extreme caution when using essential oils in kids with asthma. Most essential oils will inflame a sensitive respiratory tract. I have heard from some of my naturopathic colleagues who have seen frightening cases of children completely unable to breathe because of essential oil-induced asthma attacks.

4) Do not use essential oils in teething recipes. No, no no. This is not safe! Stick with chamomile or lemon-balm tea popsicles. (Super yummy and babies love them!) Clove oil can be used topically (cloves infused in olive oil, not clove essential oil), but use with caution, because if a baby swallows clove oil or any numbing agent it has the potential to numb the gag reflex, and babies can end up aspirating their own saliva.

5) Do not give children essential oils internally. I highly recommend limiting internal use of essential oils to use under physician supervision only, for kids OR for adults. Once again, I have heard from colleagues who have seen everything from ulcers, to chronic gastroenteritis, to asthma, flaring of skin lesions (eczema, acne, psoriasis, you name it), migraines, chronic heartburn, and many more, from taking internal essential oils. Again – remember that one drop of essential oil is equivalent to 15-40 cups of medicinal tea, or up to 10 teaspoons of tincture. Products that have mixtures of essential oils and herbs tend to be safer. The exception to this rule: essential oils that are used for flavoring only tend to be safe (e.g., orange essential oil to flavor ice cream) – in this case the total amount of essential oil is very, very low.

6) Never ever take essential oils internally if you are pregnant. I recommend using extreme caution with topical essential oils and vaporized essential oils. Remember, essential oils very easily end up in the blood stream from topical or vaporized (and inhaled) use. (Topical by fat absorption through the skin, vaporized by diffusion in the alveoli of the lung.) Essential oils do cross the placenta and a fetus is extremely susceptible to the neurotoxic components. Most of the time this ends up being a non-issue though – pregnancy makes women so sensitive to smells that I know very few women who would use too much essential oil – our bodies do a great job of telling us when to stop!

At this point I am sure I will get hundreds of hate e-mails from avid essential oil users telling me how great they are and how much they helped their own personal health. I am in no way denying the fabulous benefits of essential oils! And they can be used internally – with caution!! But for every great success story of how much essential oils have helped, I get to see the other story, of how essential oils have worsened. So please, coming from Dr. Erika here, please use essential oils wisely, and save yourself a trip to my office – or worse, the Emergency Department.

Another note from Dr. Erika: Regarding the comments section – I’m trying, but I just can’t get to every comment anymore. If you are asking a specific treatment question (like “What EO can I use for _______ symptom) – I cannot answer those, you will need to ask your physician for guidance. Remember that symptoms are just symptoms of a bigger problem! If you need to find a naturopathic physician near you who has experience with essential oils, I recommend checking out the Pediatric Association of Naturopathic Physicians, or the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.

Comments:

Farah Abid
November 2, 2015 at 11:06 pm
Hi Dr. Krumbeck…I wanted to use essential oils to make solid perfume as a craft activity for my 12 year old daughter’s birthday party.The ingredients include a combination of essential oils, bees wax, and a carrier oil….Do you think it would be dilute enough to be safe for children to use or apply?
Thank you!
Farah
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  November 2, 2015 at 11:40 pm
  That sounds like fun! I’m sure that would be fine – just check to make sure none of the girls are super sensitive to essential oils.
Deann
October 29, 2015 at 1:58 pm
I have students come to school wearing essential oils. It gives me severe headaches and sometimes even migraines. I am sure there are also students who have the same issues as me. Parents think that since they are all natural products they can’t have this effect on you. Some schools are even using them in their classrooms. How do I address this?
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  November 2, 2015 at 6:20 pm
  Hi Deann,
  A lot of schools have a “fragrance-free” policy. Could you request such a policy to be enforced? I would simply state that some people have severe reactions to fragrances, even natural ones, and let parents and students know the policy.
Amie
October 25, 2015 at 1:21 am
Hi! Do you have any advice on use of essential oils (topically on mom) during breastfeeding? I was planning to use Lavender, Cedarwood, Rosemary and Thyme (with a carrier) on my scalp for alopecia. I have a one month old and I’m now worried that the EO’s could be excreted through my milk.
Elizabeth
October 22, 2015 at 8:50 pm
Dr Erika,
I would love your opinion and advise in regard to the best way to utilize EOs to assist healthy sleep in toddlers. I have read a number of recommendations ranging from lavender oil to cedar wood oil. What is your opinion/expertise on this matter? I am new to EO use and want to use it in a healthy and responsible manner.
Thank you!
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  October 23, 2015 at 4:53 pm
  Hi Elizabeth,
  I’m so sorry but I cannot give out specific medical advice over the internet. Malpractice lawyers really hate that stuff. 🙂
  I’ll try to work on a general sleep blog post for you for the future, though. In the meantime please consult a naturopathic physician, aromatherapist or clinical herbalist for help. Sorry!
Heather
October 20, 2015 at 5:58 pm
Dr. Krumbeck, I am curious – I have wanted to use EOs in my house for a long while now. My husband suffers from almost every allergy under the sun. He has several airborne irritants and has allergy induced asthma. I finally purchased an ultrasonic diffuser and a “Clear the Air” blend, plus Tea Tree. After running it all night last night, my husband says his breathing is worse, though over the course of several days he has been having issues because of weather changes and such. We also still have a cat (which is his most severe airborne allergen) so he is battling allergies daily. I wanted to use EOs in hopes to ease his suffering, but now after reading your article, I’m not sure, or maybe I dosed too high in the diffuser or if it’s a combination of other things that is making his breathing worse today. And I know that 95% of his issues would be solved by “getting rid of the cat” (trust me, I think everyone in the world I’ve talked to about his allergies has said it), but Snowball has been a part of our family for 20 years and we all love him, so that’s not an option. His time is limited anyway at his old age, so I was just hoping to find something that will naturally help in some way to ease my husband’s symptoms.
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  October 20, 2015 at 7:09 pm
  Yes, either the EO’s were dosed too high, or they are irritating his airways and causing inflammation (which will always make things worse) – or both. Make sure that he IS able to breathe – if he’s getting acute asthma then you’ve got to stop. Otherwise talk to his physician (to make sure it’s okay!) and change the dose or the blend. I wouldn’t recommend Tea Tree generally for asthma anyways.
  - Heather
    October 20, 2015 at 7:46 pm
    I got the Tea Tree more for freshening our home. With a cat, a 4 year old, a nearly 2 year old and 3.5 month old, and our oldest still in nighttime diapers, it doesn’t seem to matter how often we take out the trash (even multiple times daily!), our house always seems to have a musty smell to it and it starts to get worse during this time of year, especially once we stop using our AC. We live in an apartment and our carpets are old/management refuses to change them and we know that a big part of the musty smell is from that (which also does NOT help my husband’s symptoms as we were told previous tenants had dogs – his 2nd highest allergen). I hate using synthetic air fresheners because they smell horribly full of chemicals (since that’s what they are!), they only mask odors, even the ones to claim they kill odor causing bacteria, and they exacerbate my husband’s allergies anyway.
    The “Clear the Air” blend is a blend of four oils, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Hyssop and Rosemary. I haven’t tried Frankincense yet. I have one diffuser and it’s in our living room/kitchen area which is the largest open area in the apartment.
    I’m just trying to find something that might help him.
    - Dr. Erika Krumbeck
      October 20, 2015 at 8:00 pm
      Heather,
      If he has allergic asthma you really, really (really!) need to check your house for mold. I wouldn’t be surprised if that was his main issue. But please, go seek a good naturopathic physician, or at least a knowledgeable allergist for more info.
      - Heather
        October 20, 2015 at 8:20 pm
        We are almost certain that there is mold under our carpets, but our management office will not do anything about it. We have written them formal letters explaining how his health is and they do nothing besides offering to “professionally” clean it. They were cleaned when we moved in (nearly 5 years ago) and we even purchased a commercial grade carpet steam cleaner vacuum. Nothing has helped.
        I honestly don’t know how there aren’t health laws for apartment complexes that should require mandatory carpet replacement between each tenant, but that’s a wholly different issue.
        Thank you so much for the responses and suggestions!
  - christina
    October 21, 2015 at 7:26 pm
    I hope you can find some time to reply to this comment.
    I have two daughters with Mitochondrial Disease and I have been using DoTerra EOs on them for 4 years. They are 4 and 6 years old. I have always applied topically and diffused. I need to keep them healthy and for the most part, I feel EOs have helped them have a better quality of life since their prognosis is so bad. I have never diluted oils (have never been told to) and use 2-3 drops of Frankincense daily. They have a very high chance of losing their vision and I have been recently told to put the Frank near their eyes to help preserve their vision. None of my doctors will talk to me about EOs so that is not an option. I also lather them in 2-3 drops of on guard on their chest to protect them from germs at school.
    After reading your post, I am concerned that I may be harming them in some way. Their disease is horrible and any bacteria or virus can kill them so I have been trying to do everything in my power to keep them healthy. Please contact me if you can help us! I have always felt that the EOs are good, and they have never had a reaction to the oils. I just want to make sure I am not harming them. Like I said, they have been getting them for 4 years, undiluted, topically.
    please help!
    - Dr. Erika Krumbeck
      October 23, 2015 at 4:54 pm
      Wow, I don’t know what to say Christina, that is a tough case. Personally, I am not comfortable doing undiluted oils on kids, and certainly not near their eyes (or airways). I would consult with a naturopathic physician about their mitochondrial disease, though. There are many more things (supplements, especially) that would be helpful for mito disease than essential oils.
Sarah T
October 19, 2015 at 5:06 pm
Dr. Erika-Thanks for writing this! I have diffused EOs for about a year, a few times a month. Do you know of any medication interactions when it comes to diffusing? I am on Synthroid and Birth Control.
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  October 20, 2015 at 7:10 pm
  This is such a great comment! I really wish I had an answer – I don’t know of any interactions, though both birth control and Synthroid can be affected by metabolism through the liver. Synthroid you can easily check to see if your dose is appropriate by getting your TSH checked. (If TSH starts to go up, then EO’s are interfering.) I don’t know of any way to check birth control, though, and that’s not exactly something that you want to be chancy with! My best guess is that EO’s are highly unlikely to affect either.
[email protected]
October 15, 2015 at 8:13 pm
Wow, reading all these comments has been pretty eye opening. My soon to be 3 year old son is very healthy, but I wanted to try a very small amount of frankincense and myrrh mixed with coconut oil and put it on his feet at night for wellness purposes. I would also use it on myself. Is this not a good idea Doctor? Just trying to keep him as healthy as possible and thought this was something that he could benefit from.
Sherri
October 14, 2015 at 8:41 pm
Thank you Dr. Erika. She hasn’t developed any wheezing from what I can observe, just still the lingering cough without production and congestion. I’ve used 5 drops of lemon, 3-4 drops of peppermint and 3 drops of lavender in the Young Living rose bud diffuser, which holds about 4 oz of water and generally I let it run in the living room, but have used in the bedroom several times. I did notice the dosage was high in the bedroom. It sounds like that’s too much; I’ll try using half of that. Thank you!
Stephanie Barfield
October 11, 2015 at 6:49 pm
And by the way, he does not have any breathing problems, or asthma.
- Sherri
  October 14, 2015 at 7:00 pm
  Dr. Erika – I just started using essential oils after looking into options to find a natural way to help my daughter get through cough and congestion that’s already started in the cold/flu season. I was diffusing lemon, lavender and peppermint and it appears to really help my husband with his allergies and seems to help with my daughter’s cough/congestion, but then she was congested again which prompted me to do additional research on the use of peppermint and eucalyptus oils. What would be a safe amount for use in a diffuser for a 3 year old, and as I’ve been using it for a couple of weeks, mostly in the afternoons and occasionally at night, have you seen any long-term adverse effects that would prompt a trip to her pediatrician?
  - Dr. Erika Krumbeck
    October 14, 2015 at 7:38 pm
    Hi Sherri,
    It depends upon the diffuser – usually just a few drops. (Remember if it smells good to you it may be a little too strong for the kids.) Some kids do really well with diffused essential oils, so if you haven’t seen any problems she is probably fine. (Kids who have problems tend to develop a wheeze.) I would stick with the lemon and lavender oils for safety, and low amounts of peppermint. I know some aromatherapy practitioners are concerned about eucalyptus oils in children under 10. (Personally I haven’t seen any problem, but you know me, I do very low doses with kids.)
Stephanie Barfield
October 11, 2015 at 6:48 pm
Anytime me and my husband have had a stomach virus, we open up a bottle of peppermint essential oil and just breathe straight from the bottle while we sit in the bathroom. Talk about a miracle worker when you think your gonna throw up! I was wondering, in the event if my almost 5 year old ever gets a stomach virus, would it be ok for him to do the same? I know how miserable it is when you have nausea, so I am trying to be proactive so that if he does get one, I know if I can help him with that!
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  October 14, 2015 at 7:41 pm
  I do not recommend peppermint essential oil in kids, except when used in very small doses. A whole bottle open in the bathroom is a pretty hefty dose of inhaled EO. I would stick to 1-2 drops in a diffuser for a 5-year old, or better yet use a safer oil like lavender or lemon or orange EO.
Nichole Yoder
September 25, 2015 at 7:02 am
Hello Dr. Erika Krumbeck,
I was wondering if it’s safe and okay to rub a little lavender oil diluted with coconut oil(of course) on a two month old legs where they got their vaccines at.
I have people lashing out at me because they said I’m harming my child by putting diluted lavender oil on my two month old. I could use some help on what I could say to inform them that I’m not harming my baby by doing so.
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  September 25, 2015 at 9:22 pm
  Hi Nichole,
  Honestly, I think 2 months is pretty young to be applying essential oils topically. A safer option would probably be a Calendula-based cream or ointment, or a washcloth soaked in Epsom salts held over the area.
  - Rosanne RN CCAP
    September 30, 2015 at 6:32 am
    Dr. Erika Krumbeck. overall an excellent article, however you omitted one very important point and that is it best to see a Certified Aromatherapist or Clinical Aromatherapy Practitioner. Also, you not state your diplomas in aromatherapy or your background in Aromatherapy.
    Rosanne R.N., Aromatherapist and Clinical Aromatherapy Practitioner
    - Dr. Erika Krumbeck
      October 8, 2015 at 4:22 pm
      Hi Rosanne,
      Excellent point. Yes, I would much prefer patients to see a Certified Aromatherapist, who I am sure (or I hope!) would not make these mistakes in treating children. Actually, even more than this, I would prefer patients to see a Naturopathic Physician or clinical herbalist. As I’ve stated before I much prefer to use whole plant extracts (teas, tinctures), as many helpful constituents of plants are NOT the aromatic compounds, and you potentially lose much of the beneficial effect by distilling the plant. (Like Geranium, whose primary action is found in its tannins, which are water-soluble.)
      I am not a Certified Aromatherapist, simply a concerned physician who got tired of seeing her patients have so many side effects from essential oils. Though yes, I do have extensive training in herbalism part of my naturopathic medical degree, including pharmacognosy and aromatherapy.
Tracy
September 16, 2015 at 4:56 pm
My 2.5 year old rubbed himself down in perhaps 5mL or more of DoTerra’s DigestZen (peppermint plant, ginger rhizome/root, caraway seed, coriander seed, anise seed, tarragon plant, fennel seed) about 90 minutes ago. Called Poison Control and local DoTerra Rep. They think he’ll be OK. I have my concerns and wonder how long I should monitor him for seizures, respiratory distress, or other problems. He’s been bathed, outside for fresh air, fed and is currently fine. Thank you.
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  September 16, 2015 at 9:09 pm
  Yikes that’s a lot.
  My understanding is that seizures typically occur pretty quickly, at least with oral ingestion. It would depend upon how fast the essential oils were absorbed – basically once the oils are out of his system then it is unlikely that seizures would occur.
  Deep breath! He’ll probably be fine, but keep those oils out of his reach! (They really should have a child-safe cap on them, don’t you think?)
  - Tracy
    September 16, 2015 at 9:40 pm
    Thank you for taking the time to ease my concerns! He seems to be fine. Ears may have been more red than normal while he was napping. Perhaps a phenol issue? Perhaps me just noticing? Great idea about child-safe caps! I’ll e-mail the company AND keep them out of his reach! Thanks again!
Aurora Hamm
September 5, 2015 at 6:23 pm
I’m thinking about using essential oils via a diffuser in my classroom. (We need some help calming down and getting focused. 🙂 I do not have any students with asthma but I want to make sure it’s safe for my kids. I’m wanting to use peppermint, lemon, and lavender. Suggestions?
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  September 5, 2015 at 7:48 pm
  Those three oils are usually quite safe. I would check with the parents first, though, to make sure none of the children has sensory problems or allergies. Also, if the smell is strong for you it is likely way to strong for the kids – remember to use a little less than you’d think when the oils are used around small children.
Valerie
September 4, 2015 at 5:21 pm
Hi, this post has been very helpful. I’d like to ask this about my 2year old son:
1. I dilute a blend consisting of hot oils (clove bud, cinnamon bud, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, among other oils) 3drops to 1oz carrier oil and apply to my son’s feet before nap and before bedtime when he is sick. He has no adverse reaction to this diluted oil. Usually it helps him get better faster or prevents his condition from getting worse. But I read that overdoing any particular oil can create many problems for a child internally, not just skin sensitivities. The liver and kidneys process much of what goes in and if there is too much of something in there, it can cause damage to one of those organs. This is an effect that is not noticeable at first. It only builds up over time.
Does this mean that even if there are no adverse reactions now, (and only positive reactions), that damage (that I cannot see) could be building up in his liver and kidney?
2. I have been another blend of oil consisting of Eucalyptus and peppermint 3drops :130ml water in my diffuser with positive results for my son when he has nasal congestion. Can I assume that this blend will work for him all the time? Or does the concern about the high percentage of 1,8 Cineole still apply?
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  September 5, 2015 at 7:50 pm
  Valerie,
  It sounds like you are doing everything right – diluting with carrier oil, applying to his feet, keeping away from airways, etc. I know many have concerns with Eucalyptus in small children, but I believe it is really the DOSE that makes the difference. 3 drops in water is highly unlikely to cause a significant reaction.
  Thank you for being responsible with oils!!
LIna
September 4, 2015 at 12:44 pm
HI there i am nursing my son and i gave message to my mom because she had shoulder pain and i used essential oils. i washed my hands after but can that go into my system then to the milk. is it bad for my son who is nursing.
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  September 5, 2015 at 7:51 pm
  Unless your son is a newborn or preemie, I doubt you will have a problem. Your body has to absorb the oils first, then they would be diluted in breastmilk, so the amount he would consume would be very small. Unless, for some reason you were using toxic oils…(I’m assuming no?)
sgh
August 27, 2015 at 1:32 pm
I’m worried that essential oils cause mental instability in people. I know someone who used essential oils for over 6months on face to treat pimples and now she became much more religious than before. before she was totally NON religious.
I know another person who uses essential oils all the time and now she has paranoid thoughts that the government is involved in conspiracies to doom everyone. the person also gargled with essential oils in mouth and now person has tooth bone damage
jtluan
August 12, 2015 at 8:26 pm
I am not surprised by the negative comments regarding this article. I have over 25 years experience in holistic health, herbs and aromatherapy. The doctor is correct, the use of essential oils as we are now seeing it is a craze, so to speak. With lots of people jumping on a bandwagon and they know little about essential oils, except what the MLM company is telling them. Many are telling people they are safe to use internally because of they are “therapeutic grade”, which is a marketing term that one of the MLM’s came up with and it is their own standard.
I use essential oils. I respect essential oils. They are powerful medicine. Which is the very concern the doctor is addressing. Yes one dropper full of essential oil can equal up to 100 cups of an herbal tea ( using 1 tsp per cup). Do the research, it is true. The internal use of essential oils should NEVER be used unless under the supervision of a highly trained professional. Even with my experience, I would never give my children or grandchildren essential oils for internal use unless under supervision, and then only in rare instances. Essential oils were and are intended for external use and to be diluted. I see wonderful results by rubbing it on the soles of their feet, the base of the spine, the bronchi area. The need for internal use is rare. I use gentle teas and tinctures for internal use. No need to shock the body more. We prefer gentle healing.
One of my big concerns is what is happening to the children that are being given essential oils, internally, on a regular basis. Yes some will be fine, others will not. Toxicity occurs with natural things just like it does with those that are man made. There are some herbs you would not take over long periods of time because you can build up toxicity. Think of the potency of essential oils and then say this can not happen!
The other issue is purity and pricing. I know several small companies that produce outstanding essential oils. Pure, high quality and very therapeutic. The pricing is less than the MLM companies and the product is at least as good. Just because it is a high quality oil does not mean it is better to take internally. It actually means it is stronger too.
One more thing. Those complaining about the doctors sweeping comments seem to be willing to make your own. Not everyone will react to essential oils the same. No your company isn’t the only one making pure oils. No you are not qualified to recommend internal use because you sell an oil. No therapeutic grade does not mean it is safe for internal use. Please, please know that many people would not even know if they were having toxicity issues with an oil. Essential oil reactions tend to be under reported. Similar to vaccine reactions. Treat the oils with the respect they deserve and know that your body deserves the same respect. Sometimes a gentle approach is the best.
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  August 12, 2015 at 10:02 pm
  Wow, thank you for your support jtluan. I totally agree with you.
- Penny
  August 13, 2015 at 12:32 am
  Finally a voice of reason!!!! Amen to all your points! PLEASE, educate yourselves and don’t use an uneducated MLM oil peddler to do it. I have little problem with the quality of MLM oils. It’s there wear it, spray it, eat it attitude that worry me. Don’t fall for marketing terms! Educate yourselves beyond YL or D. Take a REAL class and learn!
- Karen Kaplan
  September 6, 2015 at 5:18 am
  Thank you jtluan – I too have used eo’s as well as herbal supplements for close to 30 years and you said it perfectly!
  Read. Be informed people. Research. Use several different references. EO’s are quite the “in thing” now. There are some great companies with great oils out there. They don’t have to cost a fortune to be good. Unfortunately, there are no governing bodies out there to put a stamp of “pure” on any oil.
  I have over 50 different eo’s. I have researched on how and what to mix. We all react differently. What works for me may not work for someone else. Like all wise doctors, Dr. Krumbeck is not giving specific advise because she doesn’t know history of patient, etc. Thank you Dr. for keeping the conversation general for the health of all of us.
  And finally, please do not use an eo in a wax warmer. The warmers were not meant for oils, and it is a huge fire hazard. Use an oil diffuser.
  - Niki McMillan
    February 9, 2016 at 6:41 pm
    What are the best resources for research? That is what I struggle with. Do you have any other brands that you recommend? I see some in the health food stores, but never know if they are good ones to use.
Sarah
August 3, 2015 at 5:58 pm
I sell young living and am a huge advocate for natural lifestyles.
First of all, how sad you have to end a wonderful article with “I’m sure I will get hate mail”.
Secondly, people need this kind of education! Do research and be talking WITH your doctor. Modern medicine is not evil. Any essential oil should never replace a doctor.
Lastly, well said. Thank you for taking the time to educate. Great article!
Jill
July 23, 2015 at 6:20 pm
I have no personal experience with EOs but have several friends who use and love them and other friends that loathe them. The thought crossed my mind to try using a mist diffuser (with Thieves oil as recommended by a friend who swears by her oils) in my Kindergarten classroom to try to curb the spread of germs, especially during cold/flu season. After reading this article, I’m reconsidering because my aide and I both have asthma, and I certainly don’t want to endanger any child in my room with the potential of triggering a reaction to a diffused oil. I’d be interested in your input/suggestions. Thank you!
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  July 23, 2015 at 6:25 pm
  Jill,
  I don’t recommend diffusing oils unless you know the health status of all the kids, unfortunately. It’s too bad, because it would probably be helpful for cold/flu season, but personally I would never want to risk triggering a reaction in a child. Sorry!
  - Jill
    July 23, 2015 at 6:27 pm
    Thanks so much! I appreciate your feedback and honesty. Glad I asked before investing in the materials!
Abby
July 5, 2015 at 2:21 am
I was very grateful to read this article today. I am now aware I was being a little too careless with EOs on my kids. Do you have any comments on adults using EOs internally? I am a low level buyer/seller for one of the big EO companies and have been attracted to the different EO pills they have developed. I do not give these to my children, but what about their safety for myself? Do you have any good internet resources I could trust about this or advice yourself? Thanks.
- Wanda
  December 28, 2015 at 1:27 am
  One of the few MLM products I have used is the “Inner Defense” capsules by Young Living. It was given to me by a niece who is a distributor. I used the capsules for a bronchial infection and it cleared it up in just a few days and I didn’t have to go to the doctor for once. I have COPD and usually have to get an antibiotic when this happens. But … shortly after that I had a severe stomach ache for 4 days and had to go to the doctor for that. He said he thought it was a beginning ulcer. I have taken them once more since then for another bronchial infection but this time I made sure I didn’t take them on an empty stomach and I have had no problems and, again, the infection was gone in just a few days. I will continue to use either these capsules or I will make my own in the future for infections. A lot of antibiotics must be taken with food also and I had much rather use the oils. I believe them to be safer than most prescription medicines. Just my opinion.
Robin G
June 22, 2015 at 6:49 am
Dr. Erika, there are no proteins in (doTERRA) essential oils, so how can essential oils give an allergic reaction (like the skin reaction you mentioned in this article) if there are not proteins in the essential oils? An allergic response comes from a reaction to the proteins, does it not?
However, there is a high possibility that essential oils can cause the body to flush out built up toxins via the skin. They will purge and clean the body….sometimes maybe to fast and dilution and caution may be needed in that case. There are not cases or overdose, or risk of addiction or death from using the essential oils.
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  June 22, 2015 at 4:21 pm
  Robin,
  There is a difference between an allergic (IgE) reaction and contact dermatitis. Oils can still cause chemical irritation which release cytokines and cause a contact dermatitis. Often we say this is an “allergy” but it really is not. Does that makes sense (without going into all the immunology??)
Icha Susanto
June 10, 2015 at 2:22 am
My friend’s niece is a 5yo with brain stem cancer. I was wondering if Frankincense EO is safe enough to give to her? Would it help at all? Thanks
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  June 11, 2015 at 4:08 pm
  Icha,
  We cannot give specific medical advice here on the comments section – please consult her Oncologist or a Naturopathic Physician. (There are integrative Naturopathic Physicians who work closely with Oncologists – you may want to check out this site: http://www.oncanp.org/)
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June 3, 2015 at 1:51 am
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May 20, 2015 at 3:33 pm
Samantha
May 13, 2015 at 7:19 pm
My son has had horrible pains in his stomach. We had an x-ray done and it showed that he was not fully clearing out his system when going to the bathroom. My son was prescribed, by his pediatrician, to take Miralax at night for 30 nights. Once we finished the 30 nights he was fine. When he gets stomach pains we start the Miralax again and his pains go away. I was told, by a EO rep, one drop of lemon oil in water for him. He is 6 years old. I just want a more natural way to keep his system working pain free and not use Miralax. I was also planning to use the lemon oil in water for myself (and I am nursing). Any insight would be helpful!