Safety information for essential oils

Safety information on essential oils is given in the following list. The safety information here is based upon: Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995) and Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995). Those herbs labeled "Do not use during Pregnancy" indicates that they are not safe for use while pregnant, generally because they cause injury to the developing baby.

Notes 
Phototoxic ~ substance is a chemical compound which becomes toxic only when exposed to light IE sunlight and sunbathing

Sensitizer ~  Skin irritation is an inflammation caused by a reaction to a certain oil and the severity is normally dependent upon the exposure to the oil. It has been thought by some that it is the terpene content in oils that cause skin irritation, but tests have shown that it is more likely to be caused by a high phenol content in certain oils.

Carcinogenesis There are some essential oils that are carcinogenic and have already been banned from use in aromatherapy as well as for internal usage. The oils in question are calamus oil (contains asorone), and all oils that contain high amounts of safrole like sassafras oil which is also found in yellow and brown camphor.


Angelica
Phototoxic , Do not use during Pregnancy 

Benzoin
Sensitizer 

Bergamot oil also known as Bergamot orange
Phototoxic 

Bitter Almond
Toxic 
 
Arnica 
Toxic 

Basil
Do not use during Pregnancy, Possible Carcinogen 

Bay
Do not use during Pregnancy, Sensitizer 

Bergamot
Phototoxic 

Birch (Sweet)
Toxic 

Broom oil
Toxic 

Cade oil crude also known as prickly juniper and juniper tar
Carcinogenic 

Calamus also known as sweet flag, myrtle flag, sweet rush and sweet sedge
Toxic Carcinogen 

Camphor
Toxic 

Cedar, Atlas
Do not use during Pregnancy 

Cedarwood
Do not use during Pregnancy 

Clove
Irritant 

Cinnamon Bark
Sensitizer 

Costus root also known as kuth
Sensitizer 

Deertongue
Toxic 

Elecampane oil also known as scabwort
Sensitizer 

Eucalyptus oil
Sensitizer, Toxic Orally 

Fennel
Carcinogen 
Sensitizer, Do not use during Pregnancy 

Fig leaf absolute
Sensitizer 

Garlic
Toxic 

Geranium
Do not use during Pregnancy, Irritant 

Ginger
Phototoxic 

Grapefruit
Phototoxic 

Horseradish
Toxic and irritant 

Hyssop
Toxic , Do not use during Pregnancy 

Inula
Toxic 

Juniper Berry
Do not use during Pregnancy 

Lavendin
Do not use during Pregnancy, Toxic 

Lemon 
Phototoxic , Irritant 

Lime
Phototoxic 

Marigold
Phototoxic, Toxic 

Marjoram
Do not use during Pregnancy 

Mugwort
Toxic 

Myrrh
Do not use during Pregnancy 

Mustard
Toxic 

Nutmeg
Possible Carcinogen, Toxic 

Oakmoss
Toxic , Do not use during Pregnancy, Sensitizer, Irritant 

Onion
Toxic 

Oregano
Irritant 

Parsley
Very Dangerous Do not use during Pregnancy, Toxic 

Pennyroyal
Toxic , Carcinogen 

Peppermint
Irritant 

Peru Balsam
Sensitizer 

Rosemary
Do not use during Pregnancy, Toxic 

Rue
Toxic 

Sassafras
Toxic , Carcinogen 

Spearmint
Irritant 

Tansy
Toxic 

Thuja
Toxic 

Thyme
Irritant 

Verbena
Sensitizer 

Wintergreen
Toxic 

Wormseed
Toxic 

Wormwood
Toxic 

Yarrow
Sensitizer, Toxic , Do not use during Pregnancy

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