Eucalyptus Oil: Is it Safe?
The Bottom Line
Eucalyptus oil’s medical uses include as a treatment for respiratory and skin conditions, as well as for pain. It is also used in household cleaners and insect repellents. It is usually inhaled or applied to the skin in a diluted form. Pure eucalyptus oil can cause irritation and burning of mouth, digestive tract, skin, and eyes. Eucalyptus oil should never be ingested, and even a small dose can cause seizures, coma, and death.
What are the uses of eucalyptus oil?
Eucalyptus oil is an essential oil obtained from the Eucalyptus globus tree and contains up to 70% eucalyptol (also known as cineole). It has anti-inflammatory, analgesic (pain relief), decongestant, antibacterial, and antiseptic (germicidal) properties. Its many medical uses include acting as a treatment for colds, cough, asthma, sinus and seasonal allergies, muscle pain and sprains, joint pain and arthritis, skin conditions (such as wounds, cuts, burns, insect bites and acne), headache, stress release, and improved energy and focus. It is used in the hair to stimulate hair growth and as a treatment for dandruff and head lice. It is used in dental products to help treat gingivitis and reduce plaque. Eucalyptus oil is also used as a household cleaner and as a natural insect repellent.Depending on the indication, eucalyptus oil is usually inhaled directly, by steam inhalation, or by a diffuser. It may also be applied to the skin as a spray or rub, in a warm or cold compress (soaked into small towels or washcloths and applied to the affected areas), or on a cotton swab or cotton ball. It also can be sprayed in the nose as a decongestant. For most applications, it is mixed with other oils, including other essential oils (such as peppermint oil) and carrier oils such as jojoba, almond, olive, or moringa oil.
Can you put eucalyptus oil on your skin or eye?
You can put eucalyptus oil on your skin but not in your eyes. Eucalyptus oil vapors can irritate the eye. If eucalyptus oil is splashed in the eye, it can cause pain, redness, and possibly corneal injury. For most skin applications, a specified number of drops of eucalyptus oil is combined with other oils or sometimes in compresses with water. Undiluted eucalyptus oil can be irritating to the skin.Eucalyptus oil inhalation toxicity: What are the side effects of inhaling eucalyptus oil?
Eucalyptus oil is most commonly inhaled, although in a diluted form. If it is undiluted or not thoroughly diluted, it can irritate the respiratory tract, resulting in nose and throat irritation, coughing, and difficulty breathing.
Is eucalyptus oil safe during pregnancy?
It is not recommended to use eucalyptus oil during pregnancy or when breast- or chest-feeding.Can eucalyptus oil be used in children?
It is not recommended for use in children under 2 years of age.Eucalyptus oil ingestion: Can I drink eucalyptus oil with hot water?
No, eucalyptus oil should never be ingested. A teaspoonful or less of undiluted eucalyptus oil may be fatal.What to do if you swallow eucalyptus oil.
Swallowing eucalyptus oil is not safe. Depending on the dose, symptoms of swallowing eucalyptus oil include nausea and vomiting, stomachache, difficulty walking, muscle weakness, dizziness, slurred speech, and drowsiness. More serious effects include low blood pressure, high heart rate, lung injury, seizures and coma.Symptoms usually occur quickly (within half an hour) but can sometimes be delayed by up to 4 hours. If you swallow undiluted eucalyptus oil, seek immediate medical attention. If the oil has been heavily diluted, you may not be at risk for toxicity.
If someone swallows eucalyptus oil, gets eucalyptus oil in the eyes, or if you have a question about using eucalyptus oil safely, help from experts is available through the webPOISONCONTROL online tool at www.poison.org and by phone at 1-800-222-1222. Poison Control’s expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.
Clinical Toxicologist
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Poisoned?
Call 1-800-222-1222 or
Prevention Tips
- Store eucalyptus containing medications, hair products, dental products, cleaners, and insect repellants up, away, and out of sight of children.
- Read product labels and use as instructed.
- Use only the recommended dose and concentration.
- Use the appropriate method for administering eucalyptus oil depending on what you are using it for.
- Keep children away from liquid in vaporizer units.
- Buy products with child-resistant closures if available.
- Never ingest eucalyptus oil.
This Really Happened
Case 1. A 6-year-old boy swallowed 2 teaspoonfuls of eucalyptus oil by accident. Within 10 minutes, he experienced a tonic-clonic seizure lasting more than 5 minutes followed by 8 more episodes of tonic-clonic seizures. He was treated with anti-seizure medications. His condition improved within 20 hours, and he was able to be discharged to home (Kumar KJ et al. Toxicol Int.).Case 2. A 6-year-old girl developed a generalized rash and itching. Her parents applied soaked bandages with a home remedy (apple cider vinegar, olive oil, alcohol and eucalyptus oil) on a large area of her body and put plastic wrap over the bandages. This was reapplied every 2-4 hours over a two-day period. She then developed slurred speech and an unsteady gait, followed by drowsiness, and coma. At a doctor’s office the bandages were removed, and her skin was washed with water. She was transferred to a hospital where she was drowsy, vomiting and unable to walk. Her blood pressure was low, and her muscle tone was weak. Her symptoms improved over 6 hours, and 24 hours later she was discharged from the hospital (Darben T et al. Australasian J Derm).
For More Information
References
Day LM, Ozanne-Smith J, Parsons BJ, Dobbin M, Tibbals J. Eucalyptus oil poisoning among young children: mechanisms of access and the potential for prevention. Aust N Z J Public Health. 1997;21(3):297-302. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-842x.1997.tb01703.x. [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-842X.1997.tb01703.x]
Hume SJ, Rotella JA, Gome JJ, Wong AY. Massive eucalyptus oil overdose leading to prolonged coma. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2019;57(9):829-830. doi: 10.1080/15563650.2019.1578368. [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30806522/]
Ittyachen AM, George GR, Radhakrishnan M, Joy Y. Eucalyptus oil poisoning: two case reports. J Med Case Rep. 2019;13(1):326. doi: 10.1186/s13256-019-2260-z. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6827225/]
Kumar KJ, Sonnathi S, Anitha C, Santhoshkumar M. Eucalyptus oil poisoning. Toxicol Int. 2015;22(1):170-171. doi: 10.4103/0971-6580.172259. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4721170/]
Poisoned?
Call 1-800-222-1222 or
Prevention Tips
- Store eucalyptus containing medications, hair products, dental products, cleaners, and insect repellants up, away, and out of sight of children.
- Read product labels and use as instructed.
- Use only the recommended dose and concentration.
- Use the appropriate method for administering eucalyptus oil depending on what you are using it for.
- Keep children away from liquid in vaporizer units.
- Buy products with child-resistant closures if available.
- Never ingest eucalyptus oil.
This Really Happened
Case 1. A 6-year-old boy swallowed 2 teaspoonfuls of eucalyptus oil by accident. Within 10 minutes, he experienced a tonic-clonic seizure lasting more than 5 minutes followed by 8 more episodes of tonic-clonic seizures. He was treated with anti-seizure medications. His condition improved within 20 hours, and he was able to be discharged to home (Kumar KJ et al. Toxicol Int.).Case 2. A 6-year-old girl developed a generalized rash and itching. Her parents applied soaked bandages with a home remedy (apple cider vinegar, olive oil, alcohol and eucalyptus oil) on a large area of her body and put plastic wrap over the bandages. This was reapplied every 2-4 hours over a two-day period. She then developed slurred speech and an unsteady gait, followed by drowsiness, and coma. At a doctor’s office the bandages were removed, and her skin was washed with water. She was transferred to a hospital where she was drowsy, vomiting and unable to walk. Her blood pressure was low, and her muscle tone was weak. Her symptoms improved over 6 hours, and 24 hours later she was discharged from the hospital (Darben T et al. Australasian J Derm).