There are many essential oils which are not used in aromatherapy. Nature has some great stuff but also has it's nasties - just look at stinging nettles!
So let's look at what we shouldn't use and why! These oils should not be used under any circumstances.
|
Oil
|
Latin Name
|
Reason
|
| Bitter Almond |
Prunus amydalus |
Contains Prussic Acid otherwise known as Cyanide. |
| Boldo Leaf |
Peumus boldos |
Extremely toxic. |
| Calamus |
Acorus calmus |
Possibly carcinogenic. |
| Camphor (brown) |
Cinnamon camphora |
Toxic and carcinogenic. |
| Camphor (yellow) |
Cinnamon camphora |
Toxic and Carcinogenic. |
| Horseradish |
Cochlearia armorica |
Toxic and skin irritant. |
| Jaborandi Leaf |
Pilocarpus jaborandi |
Toxic. |
| Mugwort |
Artemisia vulgaris |
Toxic. |
| Mustard |
Brassica nigra |
Considered one of the most toxic essential oils. |
| Pennyroyal (Euro) |
Mentha pulegium |
Poisonous. |
| Pennyroyal (US) |
Hedeoma pulegioides |
Poisonous. |
| Rue |
Ruta graveolens |
Toxic. |
| Sassafras |
Sassafras albidum |
Poisonous. |
| Sassafras (Brazil) |
Ocotea cymbarum |
Toxic, carcinogenic and a skin irritant. |
| Savin |
Juniperus Sabina |
Toxic. |
| Southernwood |
Artemisia abrotanum |
Toxic. |
| Tansy |
Tana vulgare |
Toxic. |
| Thuja (cedarleaf) |
Thuja occidentalis |
Poisonous. |
| Thuja plicata |
Thuja plicata |
Poisonous. |
| Wintergreen |
Gaultheria procumbens |
Toxic and an irritant. Also considered to be an environmental hazard ans marine pollutant. |
| Wormsmead |
Chenopodium anthelminticum |
Extremely toxic. |
| Wormwood |
Artemisia absinthium |
Toxic. |
These oils should not be used on the skin.
|
Oil
|
Latin Name
|
Reason
|
| Cassia |
Cinnamomum cassia |
Toxic. |
| Clove Bud |
Eugenia caryophyllata |
Strong irritant. |
| Clove Leaf |
Eugenia caryophyllata |
Strong irritant. |
| Clove Stem |
Eugenia caryophyllata |
Strong irritant. |
| Cinnamon Bark |
Cinnamomum zelylanicum |
Strong irritant. |
| Costus |
Saussurea lappa |
Strong irritant. |
| Elecampane |
Inula helenium |
Skin irritant. |
| Fennel (bitter) |
Foeniculum vulgare |
Toxic. |
| Origanum |
Origanum vulgare |
Skin irritant. |
| Origanum (Spain) |
Thymus capitatus |
Skin irritant. |
| Pine (dwarf) |
Pinus pumilio |
Toxic. |
| Savory (summer) |
Satueria hortensis |
Toxic. |
| Savory (winter) |
Satueria Montana |
Toxic. |
To my horror, most of these essential oils are available to the general public. Please do not buy them as the toxicity outweighs any possible therapeutic benefit.
