What happens if you drink essential oil

It creates a feeling of warmth because it causes blood vessels to enlarge. BUT — a big but — oil of wintergreen is very dangerous if more than a tiny amount is swallowed. Oil of wintergreen is used as a food flavoring in trace amounts, but drinking from the bottle can be deadly. Swallowing oil of wintergreen is like swallowing a large number of adult aspirin.

Tea tree oil is used for some kinds of fungal skin infections. Nutmeg is used in food but, when misused or abused, can cause hallucinations and coma. Eucalyptus is used for its soothing effects when inhaled, for example during a cold or cough.

If swallowed, eucalyptus oil can cause seizures. Sage oil has been used as a scent, seasoning, and remedy. Swallowing more than a very small amount has caused seizures in children. Camphor is used as a moth repellent and as an ingredient in skin preparations. Even a small amount of camphor is dangerous if swallowed. Seizures can begin within only a few minutes. Safely using and storing essential oils is extremely important.

If an essential oil is found in a cosmetic product, use it according to label directions. Stop using it immediately if a rash or other skin reaction occurs and gently wash it off. If it's found in a scent, be sure that it is used and stored where children can't find it. If it's in a medicine, use according to label instructions ONLY.

If, for some reason, you have bottles of essential oils at home, consider discarding them safely if you have young children. A thorough irrigation with water is important call the Poison Center right away for instructions on how to rinse the eyes.

If you find your child with essential oils, do not panic. Take the bottle away from them, wipe out the mouth with a soft, wet cloth and give them some water to drink. If your child is coughing, gagging or choking there may be a risk of aspiration into the lungs so be sure call the Missouri Poison Center right away at for expert instructions.

The poison center is open all day, every day for poisoning emergencies and questions. Call Now. To make sure you are getting the best information for your individual situation, click below to call or chat. It is fast, free, and confidential. Click Here To Call Now. Click Here To Chat Now.

Share this Post. As a chiropractic doctor with a background in biochemistry and certifications in nutrition and aromatherapy , I've rounded up the science on the subject. Here's what you need to know.

Because most of the research has been done on animals rather than humans, the science isn't definitive on ingesting essential oils. What we do know is that ingesting essential oils should be done in a vegetable capsule or gelatin capsule in order to prevent irritation of the digestive lining.

Many people argue that irritation of the mucosa—or the coating that protects our internal digestive tract—will get damaged when ingesting essential oils, but we're not entirely sure. Because the nerve endings are closer to the surface in mucosa than they are in the skin, reactions may be stronger and faster, which can be both a benefit if you want quick results or a curse if you've used an oil that you shouldn't have.

The good news is that the mucosa is inherently protective, continuously secreting more mucus to coat these sensitive areas and quickly diluting the essential oils. While the initial sensation may be stronger than applying oils topically to the skin, the dilution rate happens faster due to the constant production of mucus, leading to longer effects.

The simple answer is yes, you can eat certain essential oils. In fact, you probably already have. When we consider what essential oils are—volatile aromatic compounds extracted from plants—we begin to understand that when we eat certain plants, we have inherently ingested its essential oils. Would you think twice about some fresh cilantro in your salsa or basil on your pizza?

Probably not. In fact, the food and beverage industry has been using essential oils to flavor and preserve foods for years, so you've probably already ingested them in a wide range of products. I would rather ingest these natural compounds than any synthetic flavorings often put in our foods and drinks. The question then becomes one of potency, quantity, and quality:. For example, it takes approximately 50 lemons to make one mL bottle of lemon essential oil. That depends on the person, but generally no.

We wouldn't. And we've probably all had a lemony dessert with lemon zest on it. Then you have to consider the quality of the essential oil that you are ingesting. With many lesser-quality oils being tainted with solvents, additives, and other substances to dilute their potency to offer a cheaper alternative for the general public, we start wading into dangerous waters. If you don't know what's in your bottle of EO, don't consider ingesting it. With little governmental regulation for essential oil quality or production, some of the top oil companies have taken matters into their own hands and set their own safety and quality standards.

Only the highest quality of pure, unadulterated essential oils should even be considered when it comes to ingestion. Austin Clinical Toxicology Service Guideline. Hydrocarbons and Essential Oils. Therapeutic Guidelines. Essential Oil poisoning.

Lee, K et al. Medical of Journal Australia. Specific oils and associated clinical manifestations. Clinical manifestations. Nausea, vomiting, seizure activity, pulmonary oedema. Skin irritation and corrosion.