All About Aromatherapy - Hazardous Essential Oils

There are hundred's of essential oils for sale these days and one might think every oil you come across should be safe. But that is not the case. Many oils can be very dangerous when used for aromatherapy and should only be used by a qualified aromatherapy practioner. Others on these lists should be avoided altogether. Common essential oil names are followed by their botanical names to assist with identification.

*This list may not be complete and although you do not find an essential oil listed here, you should not assume that it is 100% safe.

Oils which should never be used in any form of therapy
Ajowan Trachyspermum copticum	Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris
Almond, Bitter Prunus dulcis var. amara	Mustard Brassica nigra
Arnica Arnica Montana	Onion Allium cepa
Birch, Sweet Betula lenta	Pennyroyal (European) Mentha pulegium
Boldo Leaf Peumus boldus	Pennyroyal (N. American) Hedeoma pulegioides
Broom, Spanish Sparticum junceum	Rue Ruta graveolens
Calamus Acorus calamus var. angustatus	Sassafras Sassafras albidum
Camphor Cinnamomum camphora	Sassafras (Brazilian) Ocotea cymbarum
Deertongue Carphephorus odoratissimus	Savin Juniperus sabina
Garlic Allium sativum	Thuja (Cedarleaf) Thuja occidentalis
Horseradish Armoracia rusticana	Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens
Jaborandi Pilocarpus jaborandi	Wormseed Chenopodium ambrosioides var. anthelminticum
Melilotus Melilotus officinalis	Wormwood Artemisia absinthium

 

Oils which should never be used on the skin but may be used when highly diluted in fragrances
Aniseed (Anise Seed) (Slight dermal toxicity) Pimpinella anisum	Origanum Origanum vulgare
Cassia Cinnamomum cassia	Origanum (Spanish) Thymus capitatus
Cinnamon Leaf/Bark Cinnamomum zeylanicum	Pine (Dwarf) Pinus pumilio
Costus Saussurea lappa	Savory (Summer) Satureia hortensis
Elecampane Inula helenium	Savory (Winter) Satureia montana
Fennel, Bitter Foeniculum vulgare