Epilepsy and Essential Oils

If you have epilepsy, understanding the potential effects of essential oils and aromatherapy on seizures is important. Unfortunately, the research to guide you is sparse.

Although it's possible some essential oils may trigger seizures, sources differ on which oils people with epilepsy should avoid.

In the book Advanced Aromatherapy, Kurt Schnaubelt, Ph.D, recommends that epileptics avoid anise, fennel, hyssop, nutmeg, parsley, and sage essential oils.

In the book Aromatherapy for Dummies, Kathi Keville recommends avoiding hyssop, lavandin, rosemary, sage, spike lavender (not true lavender), and thuja.

Burkhard et al. write in Plant-Induced Seizures: Reappearance of an Old Problem that eleven plants are powerful convulsants because they contain of highly reactive monoterpene ketones, such as camphor, pinocamphone, thujone, cineole, pulegone, sabinylacetate, and fenchone. The plants are

• eucalyptus
• fennel
• hyssop
• pennyroyal
• rosemary
• sage
• savin
• tansy
• thuja
• turpentine
• wormwood.

Note: Pennyroyal, turpentine, wormwood, and thuja are generally considered not safe to use as essential oils.

The study Use of aromatherapy (with or without hypnosis) in the
treatment of intractable epilepsy—a two-year follow-up study looked at the effects of ylang ylang, rosemary, lavender, rose geranium, and chamomile on seizures. Rosemary caused an increase in seizures while the other essential oils decreased the incidence of seizures.

To read about the experience of an aromatherapy student who also has epilepsy, download the paper Living with Epilepsy and Aromatic Oils.

If you have epilepsy and want to use essential oils, working with a qualified professional is a good idea.