dangers of essential oils

[Pat Robinson]

An herbalist first brought the issue of detoxifying volatile oils up. I used essential oils daily (for a long time) and neat, at that. I didn't realize the risk of toxicity from essential oils. So, I want to understand too. But, this CYP450 enzyme is somewhat new (last 10 years or so with genetic testing) and different people have different ability/impairment of their detoxification system. MTHFR and CYP450 are two biggies.
SSRIs and 80% of pharmaceuticals are detoxified through this pathway. This explains it somewhat clearly for the lay person: http://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/treatments/pharmacological/o...

more complicated biochemistry: http://archive.ahrq.gov/downloads/pub/evidence/pdf/cyp450/cyp450.pdf

Anyway, most essential oils are detoxified through this Phase I pathway in the liver, it seems. And the medication interactions are disturbing, especially internal use. It is the intensity of the plant constituents which are at issue. Some whole herbs have similar drug-to-drug-interaction concerns. (St. John's wort is one of the most researched) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13129991

Other drugs and their detoxification pathways: http://www.psychresidentonline.com/CYP450%20drug%20interactions.htm

thought you might enjoy the biochemistry. There are several of us concerned about liberal use of essential oils.

The issue of detoxifying "volatile oil" in aromatic form was discussed here: http://books.google.com/books?id=rGQps9fQX1YC&pg=PA76&lpg=P...
Specifically the CYP 450 enzyme is a detoxification pathway that is impaired in 50% of Americans and this leads to toxicity issues. The CYP 450 pathway is needed for essential oils use aromatically. This is also the reason that some medication blood levels are altered when essential oils are used. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20807350

Adverse Reactions of essential oils: https://www.facebook.com/NaturesGift/posts/10151837767967646

And this regarding duration of essential oil exposure concerns: http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2012/11/30/essential-oils-aroma...

I found this medical research abstract about genotoxicity of essential oils, after reading the second link -- and learning that in France only Medical Doctors can prescribe essential oils internally. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11313115

Pat

[Pat Robinson]

EO effect on intestinal cells: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16919909

EO effect on (mouse) embryos: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16497088

EO effect on (chick) gut microbials: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16673762

EO effect on (early weaned pig) gut microbials: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15542467
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16971574

EO effect on (pig) gut microbials: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18585810

EO effect on (rabbit) gut microbials: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23661388

EO effect on (pig) gut microbials (Conclusion, page 106.): http://lib.ugent.be/fulltxt/RUG01/001/333/182/RUG01-001333182_2010_...

Pat