What Are Essential Oils? Uses And Side Effects - Medical News Today

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Medical News TodaySubscribeEverything you need to know about essential oilsMedically reviewed by Megan Slomka, MSN, APRN, FNP-C — Written by Jon Johnson — Updated on October 21, 2024

Overview
Uses
Are they effective?
Side effects
Risks
Summary

Essential oils are concentrated extracts of various plants. Practitioners use them in natural and alternative health practices, such as aromatherapy and naturopathy.

Many plants contain some potentially helpful compounds. However, in many cases, there is not enough evidence to suggest their use as a treatment or cure for ailments.

In this article, learn more about essential oils’ uses, benefits, and potential side effects.

What are essential oils?

Four clear bottles containing essential oils. — Marc Tran/Stocksy

Essential oils are liquid extracts of various potentially beneficial plants. Manufacturing processes can extract the useful compounds from these plants.

Essential oils often have a much stronger smell than the plants they come from and contain higher levels of active ingredients. This is due to the amount of plant matter required to make essential oils.

There are different ways that manufacturers extract the essential oils, including:

Steam or water distillation. This process passes water or hot steam through the plants, pulling the essential compounds away from the plant matter.
Cold pressing. This process works by mechanically pressing or squeezing plant matter to cause it to release essential juices or oils. A simple example of this would be smelling the fresh scent of lemon after squeezing or zesting a lemon peel.

After extracting the active compounds from the plant matter, some manufacturers may add them to a carrier oil to get more product from the same amount of essential oil. These products would no longer be pure essential oils but a mixture.

Uses

Manufacturers use essential oils to create a range of products. The cosmetic and makeup industry uses essential oils to create perfumes, add fragrance to creams and body washes, and even as sources of natural antioxidants in some beauty care products.

Many natural medicine practitioners, such as aromatherapists, use essential oils. Aromatherapy involves diffusing these essential oils into the air.

Aromatherapists believe breathing in essential oils might allow them to enter the lungs and bloodstream, where some potentially helpful compounds may benefit the body.

Anyone who has used a mentholated vapor rub to help clear their sinuses has used a form of aromatherapy. As the authors of a 2022 study note, inhaling menthol creates a sensation of easier breathing. Combined with other ointments, it may also reduce nasal congestion, cough, and cold-related sleep disturbances.

As well as inhaling them, adding essential oils to a carrier oil and massaging them into the skin may also deliver the active compounds to the body.

People should never apply essential oils directly to the skin without diluting them, unless under the direct guidance of a healthcare professional.

It is also dangerous to swallow essential oils. Not only are essential oils extremely concentrated, but they can also irritate the sensitive cells inside the body.

Some people might take oral capsules containing essential oils. However, people should only do this under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

Typically, however, a person should not put regular commercial essential oils anywhere near their mouth or other places where they may enter the body, such as the eyes, ear, anus, or vagina.

Are they effective?

Some essential oils can be effective, depending on what a person uses them for.

There is a range of plants that contain potentially active compounds. Manufacturers have turned dozens of these plant oils into essential oil products. Some of the most popular essential oils include:

lavender
peppermint
tea tree
lemon
eucalyptus
chamomile
ylang-ylang

According to a 2024 systematic review, essential oils’ health benefits are primarily related to their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cardiovascular properties.

However, more research is needed to confirm these effects in larger, human studies.

Side effects

Many people think that essential oils are natural products and will not cause side effects. This is not true. The potential side effects of essential oils include:

Irritation and burning: Always dilute oils with a carrier oil before applying it to the skin. Apply a small amount to a small area of skin first to test for any reactions. Some people can develop allergic contact dermatitis after direct application or airborne exposure to essential oils.
Asthma attacks: While essential oils may be safe for most people to inhale, some people with asthma may react to breathing in the fumes.
Headaches: Inhaling essential oils may help some people with their headaches, but inhaling too much may lead to a headache in others.

Risks

Accidentally ingesting essential oils can be dangerous and potentially life threatening.

A 2012 case study looked at a near-fatal case of someone who ingested peppermint oil. While most people do not experience such severe reactions, many oils can act as toxins inside the body.

Anyone who has accidentally ingested essential oils should call poison control. Those in the United States should call 1-800-222-1222.

Keep the bottle on hand to describe it to them.

Getting essential oils into the eyes or mucous membranes may also cause burning and damage in the area. If essential oils come into contact with the eyes, a person should rinse them thoroughly with water and contact a doctor.

Store essential oils out of reach of children and keep them apart from other products. Some concentrated essential oils can harm pets, even if a person only uses them in a diffuser. In severe cases, they may even be deadly. Always research which oils are safe to use around pets, or ask a veterinarian.

It is still unclear what effect essential oils have on pregnant or breastfeeding people and their children. While some studies claim they are safe, many doctors advise pregnant people to avoid essential oils.

Summary

Essential oils are the liquid extracts of potentially beneficial plants. People are beginning to use essential oils widely for various common conditions, and some research shows they may help relieve symptoms in some cases.

Essential oils are generally safe when used correctly. A person should always dilute essential oils before applying them to the skin and never ingest them.

Constipation
Depression
Headache / Migraine
Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Aromatherapy extracts produced from plants. (n.d.).https://naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/about-aromatherapy/aromatherapy-extracts-produced-from-plants/
Aromatherapy with essential oils (PDQ®)–Patient version. (2023).https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/aromatherapy-pdq
Bertone AC, et al. (2021). Aromatherapy in obstetrics: A critical review of the literature.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33927109/
Essential oils. (2022).https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/essential-oils
Eye injuries. (n.d.).https://www.poison.org/articles/eye-injuries
Farrar AJ, et al. (2020). Clinical aromatherapy.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7520654/
Guzmán E, et al. (2021). Essential oils and their individual components in cosmetic products.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/8/4/114
Ingestion and neat application of essential oils guidance. (2018).https://ifaroma.org/en_GB/home/public_employers/introduction-to-aromatherapy/ingestion-and-neat-application-essential-oils-guidelines
Most commonly used essential oils. (n.d.).https://naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/about-aromatherapy/most-commonly-used-essential-oils/
Nath SS, et al. (2012). A near fatal case of high dose peppermint oil ingestion- Lessons learnt.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3546250/
Pezantes-Orellana C, et al. (2024). Essential oils: a systematic review on revolutionizing health, nutrition, and omics for optimal well-being.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10905622/
Ramsey JT, et al. (2020). Essential oils and health.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7309671/
Sindle A, et al. (2021). Art of prevention: Essential oils - Natural products not necessarily safe.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352647520301611?via%3Dihub
Smith A, et al. (2022). Aromatic ointments for the common cold: what does the science say?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9354706/
The essentials of essential oils around pets. (2022).https://www.aspca.org/news/essentials-essential-oils-around-pets
Vora LK, et al. (2024). Essential oils for clinical aromatherapy: A comprehensive review.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874124004793

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Medically reviewed by Megan Slomka, MSN, APRN, FNP-C — Written by Jon Johnson — Updated on October 21, 2024

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