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:

Harianto Putra
September 20, 2016 at 8:08 am
Hi Dr. Erika,
3) Do not use vaporizers in a house where a child or adult lives with a respiratory disease
Re your info above, can i still diffuse the EO in the room where my kids are still having cough ?
can i diffuse it for early stage cancer patient as well , particularly lung cancer patient?
tks in advance
brgds
Harianto
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  September 20, 2016 at 6:34 pm
  If kids are otherwise healthy, I think it’s fine to diffuse EO’s during a cough. You can add a drop to your humidifier too and this can be helpful for some kids. Obviously if it makes the cough worse then you’d want to stop.
  Lung cancer I would be very, very cautious with and clear it with the oncologist first.
Meg
September 19, 2016 at 5:12 pm
Hi dr. I am a mom in need. It’s a long story but here’s the short version. My 10 month old is getting 4 teeth at a time. Had a fevery not uncommon. I had applied a headache blend to my self containing LAVENDER, PEPPERMINT, AND TEA TREE. I am usually good about dilutING my hands. But didn’t this time went to go get my baby from his nap and change and nurse him. He had a fever still. After I changed him he had a feriable seizure. Paramedics reassured me it is a common thing for kids when there fever peeks and they cool off to fast. I am worried he had a reaction to my headache blend what should I be looking for?
Thanks a mama in need.
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  September 19, 2016 at 5:15 pm
  Hi Meg,
  It’s really, really hard to tell if the essential oils had anything to do with it, or if it was a normal febrile seizure. Febrile seizures are quite common in kids, and though they are terrifying the research tells us that they are not harmful in any way. If you’re concerned please call his pediatrician or poison control center.
  - Meg
    September 19, 2016 at 5:34 pm
    Thanks for your quick response. So now I am still wondering if he could be reacting to the peppermint oil he rubs his eyes alot. He still has a fever I believe is from teeth or a bug. I am just concerned I’m going to miss something any specific side effect to look for. And any advice on treating a side effect from an oil. He was in contact with me and my headache blend Sat.
    THANKS Again.
  - Meg
    September 19, 2016 at 6:00 pm
    I have a appt today at his pediatrician too.
Julie Davis
September 16, 2016 at 2:15 am
I feel horrible. I’m a mother of a 2.5 year old. She had some bug bites so I applied undeluted peppermint oil on her bug bites. Now I’m all freaked out after reading how bad it is. I was so freaked out I went into her room while she was sleeping and applied coconut oil all over the area I applied peperment oil. Should I wake her up and give her a bath. Please help, I’m so scared she it is going to affect her breathing.
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  September 16, 2016 at 2:10 pm
  Relax! Most kids are just fine! I just wouldn’t do it again 🙂
Danika
September 12, 2016 at 10:37 pm
Hi Dr. Erika,
Thanks for your post. I’m havig a hard time with my research I was considering EOs as an alternative to harsh household chemical cleaners. I’m wondering if Thieves- which is a blend of clove, cinnamon bark, rosemary, lemon, eucalyptus (E. radiata) or orange is safe if diluted eith vinegar/water to clean surfaces or baby toys?
- jzag
  September 21, 2016 at 5:03 pm
  I’m also curious as well! Would love to hear an answer to this. Considering using lemon oil, theives, and tea tea oil diulted with vinegar/water solutions for different cleaning solutions.
Hoosier mama
September 11, 2016 at 11:59 am
I have my eight year old put a drop of peppermint on the roof of her mouth in the morning. Sometimes no matter how much we brush, floss and gargle, we need this extra step. Thoughts?
- Nadia Weiner
  September 13, 2016 at 2:12 am
  peppermint is killing off all the beneficial bacteria in her mouth and gut. This is incredibly dangerous. I would start on probiotics (high dose, Klaire labs adult powder) immediately and never give EO again. You are running the risk of her gut bacteria being obliterated.
  - Dr. Erika Krumbeck
    September 16, 2016 at 2:14 pm
    Interestingly, we often use enteric coated peppermint for dysbiosis, candida or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Peppermint isn’t always dangerous, but should certainly be used with caution, particularly when it is given orally. Bad breath is usually a sign of something else – dental decay, intestinal issues, tonsiliths, infections, etc. It’s always a good idea to figure out what is going on rather than just treat symptomatically.
    Interestingly, a colleague of mine just presented a case of an adult patient who was highly addicted to peppermint – would eat multiple bags of peppermint lifesavers per day, and would get withdrawal symptoms if he stopped. So again, be cautious!!
Lori Myers
September 9, 2016 at 4:20 pm
I diffuse lavendar, cedarwood and scared mountain and it changed (for the Better) my almost 9 year olds sleep and over all general attitude because she is sleeping longer and deeper. My question is for the long term, will breathing in diffused oils hurt her lungs? We do keep her room door opened and the diffuser is on the other side of the room, so it is not next to her head. Any insight would be helpful.
- Lori Myers
  September 19, 2016 at 2:05 pm
  Dr. Erika,
  Curious why you are responding to other peoples questions but you haven’t to mine.
  - erikakrumbeck
    September 19, 2016 at 4:07 pm
    Wow, I must have missed this, sorry Lori! Kids who do not have lung problems are usually fine as long as the dose isn’t too high. It sounds like you’re taking some good common-sense precautions (keeping her door opened). 🙂
Jessica
September 7, 2016 at 11:05 pm
Dear Dr Erika,
We just bought our first diffuser and a few of eden’s gardens blends to diffuse in our home instead of candles,rooms sprays,wax etc. I don’t have any intentions of using the oils in any homemade cleaning products or on any of our skin, just in the diffuser. I just wanted to make sure diffusing oils around a 15month old is okay.
I thought I had done a lot of research and found diffusing to be the safest but have now found some conflicting articles.
I want to make my home as safe as possible for my little one,so we’ve gotten rid of any synthetic fragrances,but now I’m worried oils aren’t safe either.
I really hope someone helps me with this!
Thanks
Jess
Melissa Morris McBride
September 7, 2016 at 9:37 pm
Hello Dr. Erika, thank you so much for your article. I have never used any essential oils, but am very interested. I have a 5 year old son, and I’m wondering about something that could help calm him? He seems to have some anxiety going to school and gets VERY nervous. Is there anything you might recommend for him? I hope to hear from you soon! Thank you so much…
rhondathewriter12
September 7, 2016 at 12:43 pm
Dear Dr. Erika, I’m writing a blog on essential oil diffusers and children. I note all the warnings about oral ingestion–never, basically– and to be careful in children with asthma or other respiratory disorders — but overall, is diffusing (diluted?) oils safe for children and are both ultrasonic and atomizing safe or should one use one over the other? I really hope you can answer my question in detail as I want to write a good, informed article on this– the web needs one!
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  September 7, 2016 at 9:12 pm
  Good question. Yes, in general, I do think that diffusing oils is safe for kids. Certainly it is much, much better than synthetic air fresheners.
  As to the ultrasonic versus atomizing…that I don’t know! I always like the option of humidifying the air as you are diffusing, so I would pick the option that allows for that. (It is my understanding that both have the option, but certain brands don’t always humidify??)
Carol Honey
September 7, 2016 at 3:57 am
Hi Dr Erica
Another question for you please. I have bought some terry cloth diaper wipes from a company that uses them in a container with a mix of few drops of essential oils- mandarin, lavender and tea tree with enough water to leave the cotton wipes damp to use instead of commercial disposable wipes. Will this be safe for my newborn due in October or would I be best leaving the 2 drops of essential oils out of the water. Would appreciate your advice.
Thank you
Carol
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  September 7, 2016 at 9:09 pm
  I think that’s fine. Remember it is pretty dilute at that point. If it smells strong you may want to back off.
Tiffany
September 5, 2016 at 5:55 pm
Thank you so much for your post! It has been very helpful for me as I start into the EO world. My question is about the safety of lavender with boys. I have been reading conflicting studies on whether it is estrogenic if or not. I would love to diffuse it, but I have a 3 year old son. Thank you!
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  September 7, 2016 at 9:07 pm
  This is a really, really, really good question. Actually tea tree oil has been shown to have some estrogenic effects too. I really wish I knew the official answer, though. There really aren’t great studies on either tea tree or lavender for boys. My best guess is that they are both safe in limited doses. C
  - Tiffany Reed
    September 11, 2016 at 1:02 am
    Thank you!
Gina Pasquale
September 4, 2016 at 3:24 am
Hi, Dr. Erika! I really, really appreciated your article and then your responses to questions. Here’s mine…My daughter is 13 mos old and has Cystic Fibrosis. So far, so good…we’ve been extremely lucky that she hasn’t been sick yet. I’ve been researching essential oils like crazy and am very anxious to start a safe regimen for her as an adjunct to her treatment plan put in place by the CF clinic. I’ve read so much about their antimicrobial properties and was planning to start diffusing EO’s as a preventative measure against illness. Now I’m wondering if that’s ok. Maybe not in her room?? Have you worked with CF kids? Do you think they are safe and effective if diffused or would you suggest topical application instead? Thank you!!
Gina
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  September 4, 2016 at 5:40 pm
  EO’s would be a great idea for CF! I would clear it with her doctor first, and of course start with low dosages, but that sounds like a great idea to me.
- Rachael M Keener
  September 14, 2016 at 3:17 pm
  Hi Gina! I’m a clinical herbalist and your post made me recall the work of a fellow herbalist and researcher I know who is living with CF. Much of what she writes on her site is geared toward adults, but you still may find it a helpful resource over time. Also, she does do consultations. Here it is (specifically her writing on essentials oils–again keeping in mind it’s geared toward adults!!) http://www.cfnaturalhealth.com/blog/category/essential-oils
  And, Dr. Erika, thanks so much for this post! Essential oil education is so necessary in this time of MLM essential oil companies!
  Cheers,
  Rachael
Lynda
September 1, 2016 at 11:21 am
Hi Dr. Erika,
My 15 month old has sleeping issues and I’ve heard about the product Wink Naturals claiming to be a safe product to use on infants . I was considering using the infant salve that contains lavender, Shea , coconut oil and eucalyptus radiates. Would this be a safe product for a child this young? It’s gotten great reviews , but wanted a doctors opinion.
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  September 4, 2016 at 5:38 pm
  Eucalyptus can cause respiratory depression in young kids. The other ingredients sound safe to me, but of course I have no idea how concentrated it is.
  - Bhumika
    September 30, 2016 at 2:03 am
    Dr Erica.
    Can Eucalyptus be used in diffuser for a 3 year old who has bad cold cough ? As a kid, I used to put Eucalyptus oil directly on a cloth and smell during a cold. never had any side effect but new guidelines are causing me question it.
    - Dr. Erika Krumbeck
      September 30, 2016 at 2:31 pm
      Hi Bhumika – check out my response to Paula. Eucalyptus can cause respiratory depression in kids, so I don’t recommend it.
Crystal
August 29, 2016 at 10:10 pm
So, I was trained by a Doterra consultant and I feel like your article has provided some conflicted information to what they and the big book of Essential Oils says is “safe”. I have done things with my children and oils that I now feel were possibly unsafe but was not aware by the info I was given. For a time, I was putting a couple drops of lemon or orange in their water, I once used lavender on my infant for teething, I gave my eldest a peppermint bath when he had the flu (screams came after that one. :/), I’ve used diluted respiratory blend on my infants chest, and have frequently diffused breath in very close proximity to my children. I have never, aside from the peppermint bath noticed any adverse reactions, but of course, I want to be as safe as possible in the future and have put a halt to all of this activity. I honestly feel really dumb. I did check the “book” every time, but it just seems like that wasn’t enough. Should I worry about permanent damage with oils? Stuff that can creep up in the future? I have literally not used oils in months (just because we’re kind’ve phased out of it) and my children are happy healthy, and normal, but should I be concerned for their future in any way? Sorry.. I”m sure you can tell I’m a bit anxious. :/
- Crystal
  August 29, 2016 at 10:12 pm
  Breathe is Doterra’s respiratory blend
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  August 29, 2016 at 10:26 pm
  Hi Crystal,
  I know, it’s always scary to learn about these things. Remember, the vast (vast!) majority of children are going to be just fine. If they don’t have any symptoms now I wouldn’t imagine they would get any.
  (But geez, they are recommending peppermint oil in the bath? Ouch!!)
  - Crystal
    August 29, 2016 at 10:33 pm
    Ha! Well the peppermint in the bath was before I learned that water didn’t really dilute oils like coconut and olive oils do.. Had some trial and error with that that one. 🙂 I’m just frustrated with myself. :/
Ana
August 24, 2016 at 4:20 pm
Dear Doctor, I really liked the recommendations you provide when it comes to use EOs around children.
Unfortunately, I felt conflicted when you say you like DoTerra’s oils since they are known to recommend using their “Anti-Bacterial” blend on and around children. That blend contains some oils that could easily trigger dangerous reactions in children. Some of their Facebook pages even promote the diffusing of that blend in classrooms! Can you imagine what that would do to a child with asthma?
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  August 24, 2016 at 5:42 pm
  Maybe I wasn’t as clear as I thought I was: I like DoTerra’s recommendation to put the oils on the child’s feet. I don’t necessarily like their oils better, and I certainly don’t like diffusing potentially dangerous EOs around children. Older children probably could benefit from their anti-bacterial blend, though.
Shenette
August 22, 2016 at 11:02 pm
Hello. My 2 year old son has Hand, Foot and Mouth disease. We have tried Calamine lotion and Benadryl cream with no success in relieving the severe itching that he has. I researched and found that there were essential oils that could help. I already had many of them in my home. Therefore, I made a blend using lavender, chamomile, peppermint, rosemary, tea tree and cedarwood. I did use carrier oils, castor and avocado oils with the blend. I used it on his extremities only. However, after reading this article, I am concerned that it could be too much for him. It seems to really have helped when I applied the Calamine on top of the oil blend. I don’t want to overdose him on the oils. I have used it twice. The smell was kind of strong. I have only used it twice. Both times, he went to sleep right after. Before that, he had been unable to sleep due to the severe itching. What is your opinion?
Cara
August 18, 2016 at 1:00 am
Hi I am new to the essential oil realm. I have a 13 month old and have just started using essential oils in a diffuser and am now wondering how safe it is? If it is how many drops are efficient for a 300ml diffuser?
- Ana
  August 24, 2016 at 4:23 pm
  I found this page that you might find helpful for EOs and children…
  http://www.learningabouteos.com/index.php/2014/02/07/essential-oils-and-children/
Teodora
August 5, 2016 at 7:46 pm
Hi,
Because of an infection I have applied some tea tree oil. I used a cotton bud soaked in tea tree oil inside the nose. I swiped it once on each side. I did this twice during 24 hours. I am in the 7th week of my pregnancy and am worried by what I read on the internet.
Could you please advice if I should worry for the fetus. Of course, I have stopped using it now.
WTanj
August 4, 2016 at 3:33 pm
Hello Dr Erika,
My mum accidentally applied Spearmint EO from YL on my 5 year old child. By the time I came home, 1/2 the bottle was used. Please advise if there are any adverse effects or if this incident will have any implications to my child’s health? TIA
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  August 4, 2016 at 4:53 pm
  I would contact Poison Control Center (Are you in the US? The number here is 1-800-222-1222) just in case, and call your child’s doctor. 1/2 a bottle is a hefty dose.
Lauren B
August 3, 2016 at 10:27 pm
Hi Dr. Erika,
My husband suffers from cluster headaches and we have researched various single and mixed EOs to help alleviate his pain. He plans on using a rolling ball applicator to his temples and the back of his neck. I am 17 weeks pregnant and know that I should stay away from certain EOs that are in these mixtures- basil, marjoram, etc. Do you think it’s okay if he applies it to his skin and I’m in the same room? I don’t plan on going out of my way to smell these oils, nor will I touch them or the areas where he’s placed them. Just want to make sure they don’t have an aromatherapy effect and I can still lay in the same bed with him after he applies them (he often gets the headaches at night)? Thank you!
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  August 3, 2016 at 10:48 pm
  Lauren, I’ll think you’ll be fine! The nice thing about pregnancy is that your sense of smell is SO acute that it protects you from exposure. If it smells too strong it probably is, and I think you’ll know right away.
Jessica
August 2, 2016 at 6:23 pm
Hi, my 6 year old daughter has had several times in her life where she has started to wheeze when she comes down with a cold. We were prescribed albuterol and a couple of doses gets her to calm down. I decided to try out the “Breathe” blend diluted on her feet and chest when she was really congested the other night (this blend has 2 diff kinds of eucalyptus in it). This time was different her congestion turned into full blown wheezing in the night. The albuterol wasn’t working and when I brought her into the dr in the a.m the dr told me It was so bad I should have taken her to the ER in the night…gasp! They were able to stop the wheezing considerably with a breathing treatment and prescribed prednisone. My question is (after reading this article) do you think the eucalyptus could have set her off. Also could there have been permanent damage done?!
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  August 2, 2016 at 8:31 pm
  Hi Jessica,
  I’m so sorry this happened to you.
  So of course we don’t know for sure if the exacerbation was from the “Breathe” blend or from something else. Yes, I definitely agree with the doctor – kids who are having trouble breathing in the middle of the night (which is when asthma is typically at its worst) should be taken to the Emergency Department. We have a good article about this: My child has a cough – when do I call 911?
  I hate to say this because it feels very alarmist, but yes, untreated asthma does have the potential to cause permanent damage. This is exactly why they recommend steroids. In general I DO NOT like steroids (in fact, I strongly, strongly dislike steroids, especially when given to kids), but the inflammation in an asthma attack can cause permanent damage, and steroids will stop this from happening. (Unfortunately steroids have a lot of really negative effects on the body too.) This is why the goal of naturopathic physicians like myself is to always work on figuring out the underlying cause of asthma so we can avoid those middle-of-the-night ER visits and the inevitable steroids.
  You might also want to check out these blog posts that refer to asthma in a few places. Please always speak with your physician before trying anything new, or find a good naturopathic physician near you. (www.pedanp.org or http://www.naturopathic.org)
  Allergies, asthma and eczema: The Th1/Th2 story
  Should your family try an anti-inflammatory (AI) diet?
Jana
July 28, 2016 at 8:36 pm
Hello…I noticed about that you did not recommend eucalyptus on children under 6 years old. I have an almost 3 year old and a 18 month old that I had been using RC on their chest when they have congestion and coughs. It really helps and they typically stop coughing and are able to sleep but I don’t want to cause more issues than they are already experiencing. I typically make a roller bottle that is 10mL and put in 10-5 drops then fill the rest up with olive oil. I also diffuse it in their rooms at night. In your opinion is this too much for their ages. Thanks!
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  July 29, 2016 at 6:03 pm
  Eucalyptus can cause respiratory depression in children under 6. Unfortunately this is probably why it works so well!
  I always am cautious about eucalyptus for this reason. No one really knows if it is “harmful” in real life, though, and I know many parents have been using the EO for decades, and there are no case reports of kids who stop breathing. I’m not sure what to tell you!
Amanda
July 28, 2016 at 2:27 pm
I have a 2 month old baby who has kidney edema, it was seen en utero and has not cleared. He is currently on a low dose antibiotic and monitoring and has no other health concerns at all. I have been researching natural remedies that may help such as frankincense, etc. (I haven’t done anything beyond research at this point) Do you have any suggestions?
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  July 29, 2016 at 2:25 am
  Please speak with your doctor about this!
Victoria
July 25, 2016 at 4:05 pm
Hi Dr Erika thank you for your article. I would be so grateful and thankful if you could reply me on my problem: for the last 3 nights I have been putting two- three drops of peppermint oil ( undiluted) onto a piece of cotton wool and swiped it on the soles of my 3 year old. 3 nights ago I very foolishly even dabbed the cotton wool (one dab only) onto his nose- it was of course hot and he cried and I rubbed some olive oil onto his nose to dilute it.
I also (using the same cotton wool) dab one/ two spots on his t shirt so he can smell it while sleeping.
I did all that because many people tell me it’s good to relieve his sinus and blocked nose. ( this is the first time I am using peppermint oil on him) I know I am very foolish to not do my own research and I am very angry with myself for this- I know now peppermint is dangerous for young kids and can cause seizures/ breathing problems including sudden breathing stoppages! I am so freaked out now- I will not use this oil in any way ard my child now, but I cannot take away the last 3 nights of usage. ( the last swipe under his feet was only a couple of hours ago- I have changed his t shirt and aired his room to get rid of any smell but I cannot get rid of what was applied to his feet as he’s fast asleep) My question is can the effect be delayed? He has not displayed any problems, So if I stop using it from now on, can the last 3 nights of oil in his system cause any dangerous effects?
Do I need to be on the look out the next few days? I am so worried he will have breathing problems when he’s sleeping ( apnea, glottal constriction…all these have been mentioned under dangers of peppermint oil on young ones), I cannot go to bed, I am so worried I have done him harm instead of any good.
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  July 25, 2016 at 5:23 pm
  Deep breath! He will probably be fine 🙂
  Contact your physician if you have any serious concerns.
Jocelyn
July 19, 2016 at 3:02 pm
Hello. If you could respond to my comment I would be forever grateful.
I recently just got several essential oil diffusers for our house as I have a 3 year old who will only use a training potty, and I don’t always catch when she uses it to empty it right away, I have a cloth diapered 9 month old, and I have a dog. So I started diffusing to limit odors. I’ve been diffusing Lavender at night with my now 3 y/o since she was around 1 to help her sleep at night and it helped tremendously! But recently a friend of mine was telling me that diffusing oils around the house to help with odor could be harmful to my children, especially my baby. While I have been enjoying diffusing the oils (I use a citrus blend during the day I have two different kinds, and lavender come evening I can get the exact oils blended in the first if it helps) and my house smells LOVELY I do not want to harm my children. Do you think diffusing oils daily would be harmful for them?
- Dr. Erika Krumbeck
  July 19, 2016 at 9:15 pm
  Lavender and citrus are pretty safe, in my opinion. Of course I like parents to keep diffused essential oils out of the baby’s bedroom, avoid diffusing if a child or baby has asthma or another respiratory illness, and just make sure you aren’t over-doing it. Remember if it smells strong to you it is MUCH too strong for a baby or a child.
  At least essential oils are much safer than scented candles and Glade Plug-ins!
  - Jocelyn
    July 20, 2016 at 2:02 am
    Ok. Niether child has any illnesses. I put 1-2 drops of lavender in my toddlers room at night. In your opinion is that ok for a 3 year old? Other than that they’re just diffused in the “common” rooms of the house during the day. And the hall way upstairs.
    And one more question. I know Eucalyptus is a big no-no for the baby, but if my 3 year old gets congested is she old enough for it? And what’s your opinion on adding Lavender or Eucalyptus to children’s baths? Again no illnesses other than the common cold or stomach bug.
    Again thank you for your response! I appreciate it!
    - Dr. Erika Krumbeck
      July 20, 2016 at 2:42 am
      1-2 drops sounds appropriate to me for a toddler.
      I usually don’t recommend Eucalyptus until kids are older than 6. The chances of it causing a problem are probably very, very low, but that’s just me being extremely cautious. Lavender in the bath would be fine, though EO’s and water don’t mix very well, so it might not work anyways! I often recommend a baby/toddler massage with lavender lotion after the bath. You can also make a little sachet of lavender (the whole herb) and put it in the tub. Remember that the whole plant has many beneficial properties that are not in the essential oil!