“Essential Oils: More Harmful Than Helpful?”
Compilation of articles/
14.12.24
“Essential Oils: More Harmful Than Helpful?”
This is a response to the inaccurate article on the site below. A request for right of reply has not been answered. https://www.lung.org/getmedia/23b010a7-d921-4237-bad1-92e91d6520f4
“Essential oils should be used with caution by individuals with respiratory conditions”. “by Editorial Staff January 8, 2024” “Essential oils are not regulated in the United States”. This is not true, medical claims by suppliers are regulated but quality of the oils is not.
“These highly concentrated and potent essential oils can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The inhalation of VOCs commonly has negative effects on the respiratory system”. This is highly misleading chemistry by people that seem to have little knowledge of natural sources of VOCs. If you peel an orange you are inhaling VOCs in the form of a range of aromatic molecules. Aromatic herbs and fruit are used in food and cooking worldwide and emit natural VOCS. In addition, humans have been inhaling natural VOCs for millions of years in the form of their fires, forest air, etc. Forest air VOCs are proven to have a beneficial effect. The Mass Spectrometry Society of Japan 2015.Vol. 4 (2015), A0042. Fires in confined spaces or atmospheric pollution are a cause of lung disorders. Long term burning of incense in temples has also been shown to be harmful, but such use is not advocated by most professional therapists.
“According to the Public Health Law Center, A relatively new fad in the commercial tobacco realm is vaping essential oils. Essential oil vaping devices (also called diffuser sticks, personal diffusers, or aromatherapy vape pens) heat a liquid mixture of essential oil, water, and vegetable glycerin into an inhalable vapor. If this sounds like electronic cigarettes, that's because they are practically the same thing”. With nicotine-type Vapes this is a concern as the essential oil may be converted by the heating process into undesirable substances where continuous inhalation may be harmful. In the case of the synthetic fragrances used in vapes there is not enough clinical data on their safety when used this way. This paragraph fails to clearly distinguish between the short term use of an essential oil inhaler or the potentially lifetime daily use of vape cigarettes.
Essential Oil Health Claims- Fact or Fiction?
“Be cautious about broad health claims about essential oils. Scientific research on the efficacy and safety of essential oils for specific health conditions is limited and more evidence is needed”. This is incorrect. Clearly the writers know nothing about the medicinal use of some essential oils going back at least 150 years. The evidence of efficacy is there if people can be bothered to read old medical books and modern research journals rather than rely on internet searches.
“Some research even shows adverse health outcomes from essential oil use. For example, a 2022 study of 200 individuals demonstrated the negative association between the use of essential oils and cardiopulmonary health. Study participants who inhaled essential oils one hour or more each day had increased heart rate and blood pressure and a decreased lung function rate”. The 2022 study is extremely weak as it gives no indication of which essential oils were used or if they had been analysed - vital to know that with any such study. That puts question marks over their conclusions. Ref. 13 was a study on air pollution from an industrial incinerator, hardly relevant to this article.
“Aromatherapy is one of the oldest …......uses of essential oils”. This is incorrect, the oldest use was by the medical profession prior to around the 1950s and they are listed in older US and UK pharmacopoeias.
“It is well known that when some VOCs are combined, secondary pollutants such as formaldehyde (a known nose, throat, and lung irritant) may be produced”. The pollutant formaldehyde is not in essential oils. It can only form by combining with ozone in the household environment. This statement fails to take account of the commonest use of essential oil bearing plants in cooking foods. High concentrations of VOCs are emitted and are harmless or beneficial.
“Though some essential oils, such as tea tree oil, have antimicrobial properties, the benefits are minimal”. So why are there numerous papers from highly reputable medical researchers proving the opposite?
“Research suggests that the antimicrobial effect of essential oils could only be found during the first 30-60 min after the evaporation began”. What research? On the other hand there are numerous trials on humans of antimicrobial effects of using certain essential oils for many different conditions.
“This was especially in the case of tea tree oil and means that continued use or diffusion for the purpose of disinfection is ineffective”. No Reference? Most therapists do not advocate long term use and what is meant by 'continuous'?
Essential Oils Can Negatively Affect Your Health
“Essential oils are highly concentrated, so inhaling them directly can irritate the respiratory tract”. One of the oldest medical uses is to help improve air intake by thinning mucus. “This may lead to symptoms such as coughing, nose and throat irritation or shortness of breath”. Possibly in some, but on the other hand how many benefit from the decongestant effects? “Individuals with respiratory conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be particularly susceptible to these symptoms”. Such warnings are fine, but a professional therapist would ascertain if the client has such problems and warn them to be cautious. Information on social media and chat sites can be very dangerous and is frequently a selling exercise, so beware.
Additionally, essential oils may cause allergic reactions when the oils are used on the skin or inhaled. It is important to be aware of any allergies or sensitivities to specific oils before usage”. Of course, and not relying on social media for such safety information.
Safety Tips:
1. “Ask Your Healthcare Professional:If you are considering using essential oils for specific health concerns, it is crucial to prioritize safety. Consult with your healthcare professionals to provide personalized advice based on your health history and individual needs”. Depends on the healthcare provider, most doctors have no idea on the safety issues of essential oils and some even use google to find articles of little merit.
2. “Proper dilution: When using essential oils for inhalation it is important to dilute them properly”. You cannot dilute them in water as used in some inhalers - they float on it. “Avoid inhaling undiluted oils directly, as this can lead to irritation”. Short term use in a medical inhaler for bronchial congestion (due to thick mucus) is one of the oldest uses and generally considered safe.
3. “Diffuser safely: If using a diffuser, follow the manufacturer's instructions and ensure that the space is well ventilated. Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of essential oils is associated with negative heart issues and lung symptoms”. Evidence for this claim is not clear from the 2022 study mentioned above.
4. “Individual response varies: People's responses to essential oils can vary and what works well for one person may cause irritation to another person. Pay attention to how your body reacts and adjust usage accordingly”. OK
5. “Patch Testing: Before using essential oils on the skin, perform a small patch test to check for any allergic reactions or skin sensitivities”. OK
6. “Observe and Adjust: Monitor how your body responds to essential oils. If you experience any adverse reactions, stop using it and seek guidance from your healthcare professional”. OK
Asthma and COPD
“The use of essential oils in individuals with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requires careful consideration with a healthcare professional. There are claims that essential oils reduce inflammation thus reducing symptoms such as wheezing, congestion and difficulty breathing. However, these studies have focused on individuals without underlying respiratory chronic diseases, like asthma and COPD. Very little evidence exists to support the use of essential oils for anti-inflammatory effects in humans”. There is if you look at older studies and many done on animals. Here is just one: Inhalations of essential oils in combined treatment of patients with chronic bronchitis. Shunina L P, Siurin S A, Savchenko V M. 1990 Vrach Delo May(5):66-7, and there are others.
Potential risks:
“Essential oils with menthol may provide the false perception that airways are opening, which could lead to masking the signs of a respiratory emergency”. This is another example of these authors twisting the facts to suit their agenda. The numbers of reports of such adverse effects in adults are minute although wise to be cautious in those with asthma. The known warnings for such effects are in infants.
COPD:
Possible benefits:
“Some essential oils are believed to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that may benefit individuals with COPD. However scientific evidence supporting these claims is limited”. Specifically for COPD maybe, but if you can be bothered to do your searches in the right places there are hundreds of scientific research papers on the actions of essential oils including anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial actions.
Potential risks:
“Individuals with COPD often have sensitivity to irritants and risk of respiratory distress. Strong odors could trigger exacerbations of COPD symptoms”. So why no warnings here about perfumes, household sprays, washing products etc?
“COPD comes from permanent damage to lung tissue from inhaling smoke and/or noxious gases. Inhaling essential oils directly or in high concentrations can trigger symptoms in the damaged lung tissues”. Yes but most professional therapists do not advocate high levels and continuous use.
“Individuals with asthma or COPD should consult their healthcare professional before using essential oils”. See item 1 under 'safety tips'.
“The American Lung Association recommends that best method of managing your asthma or COPD is to follow the advice of your healthcare professional, including medicines and environmental trigger reduction. Ensuring clean indoor and outdoor air is always the best course of action. Adding anything including essential oils to the air you breathe is not recommended. Fresh, clean air is best”. So where in cities can you get 'fresh clean air'. What about the proven effects of the natural VOCs in forest air? What about the research showing an improvement in emotional wellbeing when essential oils are used in the air? Plenty of research refs. for those that can be bothered to check.
“If someone swallows an essential oil, or a product containing essential oils, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away. Poison Control will help you determine the risk and will share actions needed”. Correct.
My summary: In my opinion, this article by the ALA was written by staff with little knowledge of the subject and relying on internet searches. Warnings on safety are fine as long as they are based on sound data. This article fails in that respect seemingly lumping all sources of VOCs – which most scientific reports do- into one pot and making conclusions based on this false generalisation.
Martin Watt
This is a response to the inaccurate article on the site below. A request for right of reply has not been answered. https://www.lung.org/getmedia/23b010a7-d921-4237-bad1-92e91d6520f4
“Essential oils should be used with caution by individuals with respiratory conditions”. “by Editorial Staff January 8, 2024” “Essential oils are not regulated in the United States”. This is not true, medical claims by suppliers are regulated but quality of the oils is not.
“These highly concentrated and potent essential oils can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The inhalation of VOCs commonly has negative effects on the respiratory system”. This is highly misleading chemistry by people that seem to have little knowledge of natural sources of VOCs. If you peel an orange you are inhaling VOCs in the form of a range of aromatic molecules. Aromatic herbs and fruit are used in food and cooking worldwide and emit natural VOCS. In addition, humans have been inhaling natural VOCs for millions of years in the form of their fires, forest air, etc. Forest air VOCs are proven to have a beneficial effect. The Mass Spectrometry Society of Japan 2015.Vol. 4 (2015), A0042. Fires in confined spaces or atmospheric pollution are a cause of lung disorders. Long term burning of incense in temples has also been shown to be harmful, but such use is not advocated by most professional therapists.
“According to the Public Health Law Center, A relatively new fad in the commercial tobacco realm is vaping essential oils. Essential oil vaping devices (also called diffuser sticks, personal diffusers, or aromatherapy vape pens) heat a liquid mixture of essential oil, water, and vegetable glycerin into an inhalable vapor. If this sounds like electronic cigarettes, that's because they are practically the same thing”. With nicotine-type Vapes this is a concern as the essential oil may be converted by the heating process into undesirable substances where continuous inhalation may be harmful. In the case of the synthetic fragrances used in vapes there is not enough clinical data on their safety when used this way. This paragraph fails to clearly distinguish between the short term use of an essential oil inhaler or the potentially lifetime daily use of vape cigarettes.
Essential Oil Health Claims- Fact or Fiction?
“Be cautious about broad health claims about essential oils. Scientific research on the efficacy and safety of essential oils for specific health conditions is limited and more evidence is needed”. This is incorrect. Clearly the writers know nothing about the medicinal use of some essential oils going back at least 150 years. The evidence of efficacy is there if people can be bothered to read old medical books and modern research journals rather than rely on internet searches.
“Some research even shows adverse health outcomes from essential oil use. For example, a 2022 study of 200 individuals demonstrated the negative association between the use of essential oils and cardiopulmonary health. Study participants who inhaled essential oils one hour or more each day had increased heart rate and blood pressure and a decreased lung function rate”. The 2022 study is extremely weak as it gives no indication of which essential oils were used or if they had been analysed - vital to know that with any such study. That puts question marks over their conclusions. Ref. 13 was a study on air pollution from an industrial incinerator, hardly relevant to this article.
“Aromatherapy is one of the oldest …......uses of essential oils”. This is incorrect, the oldest use was by the medical profession prior to around the 1950s and they are listed in older US and UK pharmacopoeias.
“It is well known that when some VOCs are combined, secondary pollutants such as formaldehyde (a known nose, throat, and lung irritant) may be produced”. The pollutant formaldehyde is not in essential oils. It can only form by combining with ozone in the household environment. This statement fails to take account of the commonest use of essential oil bearing plants in cooking foods. High concentrations of VOCs are emitted and are harmless or beneficial.
“Though some essential oils, such as tea tree oil, have antimicrobial properties, the benefits are minimal”. So why are there numerous papers from highly reputable medical researchers proving the opposite?
“Research suggests that the antimicrobial effect of essential oils could only be found during the first 30-60 min after the evaporation began”. What research? On the other hand there are numerous trials on humans of antimicrobial effects of using certain essential oils for many different conditions.
“This was especially in the case of tea tree oil and means that continued use or diffusion for the purpose of disinfection is ineffective”. No Reference? Most therapists do not advocate long term use and what is meant by 'continuous'?
Essential Oils Can Negatively Affect Your Health
“Essential oils are highly concentrated, so inhaling them directly can irritate the respiratory tract”. One of the oldest medical uses is to help improve air intake by thinning mucus. “This may lead to symptoms such as coughing, nose and throat irritation or shortness of breath”. Possibly in some, but on the other hand how many benefit from the decongestant effects? “Individuals with respiratory conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be particularly susceptible to these symptoms”. Such warnings are fine, but a professional therapist would ascertain if the client has such problems and warn them to be cautious. Information on social media and chat sites can be very dangerous and is frequently a selling exercise, so beware.
Additionally, essential oils may cause allergic reactions when the oils are used on the skin or inhaled. It is important to be aware of any allergies or sensitivities to specific oils before usage”. Of course, and not relying on social media for such safety information.
Safety Tips:
1. “Ask Your Healthcare Professional:If you are considering using essential oils for specific health concerns, it is crucial to prioritize safety. Consult with your healthcare professionals to provide personalized advice based on your health history and individual needs”. Depends on the healthcare provider, most doctors have no idea on the safety issues of essential oils and some even use google to find articles of little merit.
2. “Proper dilution: When using essential oils for inhalation it is important to dilute them properly”. You cannot dilute them in water as used in some inhalers - they float on it. “Avoid inhaling undiluted oils directly, as this can lead to irritation”. Short term use in a medical inhaler for bronchial congestion (due to thick mucus) is one of the oldest uses and generally considered safe.
3. “Diffuser safely: If using a diffuser, follow the manufacturer's instructions and ensure that the space is well ventilated. Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of essential oils is associated with negative heart issues and lung symptoms”. Evidence for this claim is not clear from the 2022 study mentioned above.
4. “Individual response varies: People's responses to essential oils can vary and what works well for one person may cause irritation to another person. Pay attention to how your body reacts and adjust usage accordingly”. OK
5. “Patch Testing: Before using essential oils on the skin, perform a small patch test to check for any allergic reactions or skin sensitivities”. OK
6. “Observe and Adjust: Monitor how your body responds to essential oils. If you experience any adverse reactions, stop using it and seek guidance from your healthcare professional”. OK
Asthma and COPD
“The use of essential oils in individuals with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requires careful consideration with a healthcare professional. There are claims that essential oils reduce inflammation thus reducing symptoms such as wheezing, congestion and difficulty breathing. However, these studies have focused on individuals without underlying respiratory chronic diseases, like asthma and COPD. Very little evidence exists to support the use of essential oils for anti-inflammatory effects in humans”. There is if you look at older studies and many done on animals. Here is just one: Inhalations of essential oils in combined treatment of patients with chronic bronchitis. Shunina L P, Siurin S A, Savchenko V M. 1990 Vrach Delo May(5):66-7, and there are others.
Potential risks:
“Essential oils with menthol may provide the false perception that airways are opening, which could lead to masking the signs of a respiratory emergency”. This is another example of these authors twisting the facts to suit their agenda. The numbers of reports of such adverse effects in adults are minute although wise to be cautious in those with asthma. The known warnings for such effects are in infants.
COPD:
Possible benefits:
“Some essential oils are believed to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that may benefit individuals with COPD. However scientific evidence supporting these claims is limited”. Specifically for COPD maybe, but if you can be bothered to do your searches in the right places there are hundreds of scientific research papers on the actions of essential oils including anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial actions.
Potential risks:
“Individuals with COPD often have sensitivity to irritants and risk of respiratory distress. Strong odors could trigger exacerbations of COPD symptoms”. So why no warnings here about perfumes, household sprays, washing products etc?
“COPD comes from permanent damage to lung tissue from inhaling smoke and/or noxious gases. Inhaling essential oils directly or in high concentrations can trigger symptoms in the damaged lung tissues”. Yes but most professional therapists do not advocate high levels and continuous use.
“Individuals with asthma or COPD should consult their healthcare professional before using essential oils”. See item 1 under 'safety tips'.
“The American Lung Association recommends that best method of managing your asthma or COPD is to follow the advice of your healthcare professional, including medicines and environmental trigger reduction. Ensuring clean indoor and outdoor air is always the best course of action. Adding anything including essential oils to the air you breathe is not recommended. Fresh, clean air is best”. So where in cities can you get 'fresh clean air'. What about the proven effects of the natural VOCs in forest air? What about the research showing an improvement in emotional wellbeing when essential oils are used in the air? Plenty of research refs. for those that can be bothered to check.
“If someone swallows an essential oil, or a product containing essential oils, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away. Poison Control will help you determine the risk and will share actions needed”. Correct.
My summary: In my opinion, this article by the ALA was written by staff with little knowledge of the subject and relying on internet searches. Warnings on safety are fine as long as they are based on sound data. This article fails in that respect seemingly lumping all sources of VOCs – which most scientific reports do- into one pot and making conclusions based on this false generalisation.
Martin Watt
23
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