Essential oils are everywhere. They are added to lotions, diffused into the air, and promoted for everything from better sleep and calmer moods to fewer coughs, headaches, and stomachaches.
We may enjoy the way they smell. But do they really work? Are they safe for children? And does “natural” mean you can use them without worry?
Essential oils may help us relax or cope with symptoms, but they are not proven treatments for most medical conditions. Because they are highly concentrated plant chemicals, they must also be used carefully, especially around children.
What Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are mixtures of aromatic compounds extracted from plants, usually through distillation or cold pressing. Common examples include lavender, peppermint, tea tree, eucalyptus, and citrus oils.
Their strength and chemical makeup vary from one product to another. “Natural” does not automatically mean safe. Important considerations include what a substance does in the body, how much is used, and how someone is exposed to it.
Are Essential Oils Regulated?
Essential oils do not all fall into one regulatory category. How the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates a product depends largely on its intended use and marketing claims.
An oil sold only for fragrance may be considered a cosmetic. A product marketed as treating pain, anxiety, insomnia, or another health condition may meet the definition of a drug.
Most essential-oil products sold as cosmetics do not receive FDA approval before reaching store shelves. Labels like natural, pure, and therapeutic do not mean the FDA has evaluated a product for safety or effectiveness.
Does Aromatherapy Work?
Our sense of smell is closely connected to areas of the brain involved in emotion, memory, and the perception of pain and other symptoms. A pleasant scent helps many people feel more relaxed.
Some healthcare settings offer aromatherapy as a complementary treatment for anxiety, nausea, discomfort, or stress. Research has found promising results, but studies are often small and use different oils and methods. It can be difficult to separate the effect of a fragrance from accompanying items, such as massage, meditation, soothing sounds, and mood lighting.
Enjoying a scent and feeling calm afterward is important. However, this does not prove that the essential oil treats the medical cause of a particular disease or symptom.
Essential oils do not cure colds, ear infections, asthma, fever, or other common childhood illnesses. Laboratory results showing that an oil kills germs in a petri dish do not prove it can safely and effectively treat those germs in a person.
Aromatherapy should be considered a comfort measure instead of a replacement for medical care.
Are Essential Oils Safe for Children?
Essential oils can cause skin irritation, allergic reactions, coughing, wheezing, headaches, eye injuries, and even poisoning. Certain oils can cause seizures or other serious effects when swallowed, even in relatively small amounts.
Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of essential oils because of their small size. If your family chooses to use essential oils, keep these safety tips in mind:
Never let your child swallow an essential oil or add one to food or drinks.
Never apply an undiluted essential oil directly to your child’s skin.
Keep essential oils away from the eyes, nose, and mouth.
Use diffusers only for short periods in well-ventilated areas. Stop using if anyone develops coughing, wheezing, headache, nausea, or skin irritation.
Ask your child’s health care provider before use if your child has asthma, allergies, epilepsy, takes medication, or has another health condition.
Store essential oils in their original containers, locked up, and out of your child’s sight and reach.
If an essential oil is swallowed, do not make your child vomit. In the United States, contact Poison Control immediately at 1-800-222-1222 or visit Poison Control on the web. Call 911 if your child has trouble breathing, experiences a seizure, collapses, or cannot be awakened.
Dr. Mike Patrick is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and Medical Director of Interactive Media for Nationwide Children's Hospital. Since 2006, he has hosted the award-winning PediaCast, a pediatric podcast for parents. Dr. Mike also produces a national podcast for healthcare providers—PediaCast CME, which explores general pediatric and faculty development topics and offers free AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ to listeners.
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