Essential Oils to Avoid While Taking Medications/Treatments
A more uncommon fact of essential oils is that there are certain essential oils to avoid with certain conditions or medications. But there are several contradictions in the essential oil world and people should know which essential oil is safe for them. We have already covered pregnancy/breastfeeding and kid safe oils here, so now it’s time to cover all of the essential oils that contradict any conditions or medicines. This list will not cover essential oils that should always be avoided, if you want to see that list you can read my blog post on it here. It is also up to you personally to know if your condition or medication applies to this list, if you are unsure please consult your doctor. I can only list the condition or medication contradiction I can not get into specific medicines or specifics of a condition. Let’s dive in.
Essential oils to avoid with medications and certain conditions:
Allspice Pimenta officinalis/Pimenta dioica: This oil is a blood thinner. Do not use with blood thinning medications (even aspirin), bleeding disorders and before/after surgery. Do not use internally if using pethidine, MAOIs or SSRIs.
Anise Pimpinella anisum/Illicium verum: This oil is a blood thinner. Do not use with blooding thinning medications (even Aspirin), bleeding disorders and before/after surgery. This oil is a reproductive hormone modulator. Do not use if you have endometriosis or estrogen dependent cancers.
Arborvitae (Western Red Cedar) Thuja plicata: Potentially a convulsant- do not use with epilepsy.
Balsam poplar Populus balsamifera: Do not use in any form if using drugs metabolized by CYP2D6.
Basil (estragole chemotype) Ocimum basilicum ct estragole: This oil is a blood thinner. Do not use with blood thinning medications (even aspirin), bleeding disorders and before/after surgery.
Basil (Holy) Ocimum tenuiflorum, Ocimum sanctum: This oil is a blood thinner. Do not use with blood thinning medications (even aspirin), bleeding disorders and before/after surgery.
Basil (Lemon) Ocimum x citriodorum: Do not ingest if using diabetes medications or drugs metabolized by CYP2B6.
Basil (Madagascan and Pungent) Ocimum gratissimum, Ocimum viride: This oil is a blood thinner. Do not use with blood thinning medications (even aspirin), bleeding disorders and before/after surgery. Pungent Type: Do not ingest if using pethidine, MAOIs and SSRIs.
Bay (West Indian) Pimenta racemosa var racemosa, Pimenta acris: This oil is a blood thinner. Do not use with blood thinning medications (even aspirin), bleeding disorders and before/after surgery. Do not ingest if using pethidine, MAOIs or SSRIs.
Birch (sweet) Betula lenta: This oil is a blood thinner. Do not use with blood thinning medications (even aspirin), bleeding disorders and before/after surgery. Avoid with salicylate sensitivity or ADD/ADHD. Do not ingest with GERD.
Black Seed Nigella sativa: Do not ingest if using diabetes medications.
Buchu Agathosma betulina, Baromsa betulina, Agathosma crenulata, Barosma crenulata: Potential convulsant do not use with epilepsy.
Cassia Cinnomomum cassia, Cinnomomum aromaticum: This oil is a blood thinner. Do not use with blood thinning medication (even aspirin), bleeding disorders and before/after surgery. Do not use internally with diabetes medication.
Chamomile, German Matricaria chamomilla, Matricaria recutita, Chamomilla recutita: Avoid all methods if using drugs metabolized by CYP2D6, Avoid using internally if using drugs metabolized by CYP1A2, CYP2C9 or CYP3A4
Chaste Tree Vitex agnus castus: This oil is a hormone modulator. Do not use if you are getting progesterone therapy, have endometriosis or estrogen dependent cancers. Do not ingest if you are using hormone replacement therapy, oral contraceptives or drugs metabolized by CYP2D6.
Cinnamon, Bark Cinnomomum verum, Cinnamomum zeylanicum: This oil is a blood thinner. Do no use with blood thinning medication (even aspirin), bleeding disorders and before/after surgery. Do not use internally with diabetes medication.
Cinnamon, Leaf Cinnomomum verum, Cinnomomum zeylanicum: This oil is a blood thinner. Do not use with blood thinning medications (even aspirin), bleeding disorder and before/after surgery. Do not use internally with diabetes medication.
Citronella Cymbopogon winterianus, Cymbopogon nardus: Do not use internally if using drugs metabolized by CYP2B6
Clove Eugenia caryophyllata, Syzygium aromaticum, Eugenia aromaticum: This oil is a blood thinner. Do not use with blood thinning medications (even aspirin), bleeding disorders and before/after surgery. Do not use internally if using pethidine, MAOIs or SSRIs.
Cypress (Blue) Callitris intratropica: Do not ingest if using drugs metabolized by CYP2D6.
Eucalyptus (Macarthurrii) Eucalyptus macarthurii: Do not ingest if with cholestasis.
Fennel (Sweet and bitter) Foeniculum vulgate: This oil is a blood thinner. Do not use with blood thinning medications (even aspirin), bleeding disorders and before/after surgery. This oil is a reproductive hormone modulator, do not use with endometriosis or estrogen dependent cancers.
Garlic Allium sativum: This oil is a blood thinner. Do not use with blood thinning medications (even aspirin), bleeding disorders and before/after surgery.
Geranium Pelargonium graveolens, Pelargonium x asperum: Do not use internally if using drugs metabolized by CYP2B6.
Ho Leaf (Camphor) Cinnamomum camphor ct camphor: Potentially convulsant do not use with epilepsy, do no ingest if using diabetes medications or drugs metabolized by CYP2E1.
Hyssop (Pinocamphone) Hyssopus officinalis ct pinocamphone: Potentially a convulsant do not use with epilepsy.
Jasmine (Sambac) Jasminum sambac: Do not ingest if using drugs metabolized by CYP2D6.
Lavandin Lavandula x intermedia, Lavandula hybrida: This oil is a blood thinner. Do not use with blood thinning medications (even aspirin), bleeding disorders and before/after surgery.
Lavender (Spanish) Lavandula stoechas: This oil is potentially a convulsant do not use with epilepsy.
Lemon Balm (Australian) Eucalyptus staigeriana: Do not ingest if using drugs metabolized by CYP2B6.
Lemon Leaf Citrus lemon, Citrus limonum: Do not ingest if using diabetes medications or drugs metabolized by CYP2B6.
Lemongrass Cymbopogon flexuosus, Andropogon flexuosus (East Indian); Cymbopogon citratus, Andropogon citratus (West Indian): Do not use with all methods if using drugs metabolized by CYP2B6. Do not use internally if using diabetes drugs or if pregnant.
Marjoram (wild) Origanum hortensis ct carvacrol: This oil is a blood thinner. Do not use with blood thinning medications (even aspirin), bleeding disorders and before/after surgery. Do not ingest if using diabetes medications. (Carvacrol chemotype specifically)
May Chang Litsea cube, Litsea citrate, Laurus cubeba: Do not use if using drugs metabolized by CYP2B6. Do not ingest if using diabetes medications.
Melissa Melissa officinalis: Do not use internally if using diabetes medication or on drugs metabolized by CYP2B6.
Mugwort (and Mugwort Great) Artemisia vulgarisms ct camhor/thujone, Artemisia vulgarisms ct chyrsanthenyl acetate, Artemisia arborescens: Potentially a convulsant (Mugwort) do not use with epilepsy. Do not use if using drugs metabolized by CYP2D6 (Mugwort Great) and do not ingest if using drugs metabolized by CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 (Mugwort Great).
Myrtle Myrtus communis: Do not use if using diabetes medications.
Myrtle (Honey,Lemon) Melalueca tertifolia, Backhousia citriodora: Do not use if using drugs metabolized by CYP2B6, do not ingest if taking diabetes medications.
Oregano Origanum vulgare, Origanum onites: This oil is a blood thinner. Do not use with blood thinning medications (even aspirin), bleeding disorders and before/after surgery. Do not use internally if using diabetes medication.
Palmarosa Cymbopogon martinii, Adropogon martinii: Do not ingest if using drugs metabolized by CYP2B6.
Parsley (Leaf and Seed): Petroselimum crispy, Petroselinum sativum: Do not ingest if using pethidine, MAOIs or SSRIs.
Patchouli Pogostemon cablin, Pogostemon patchouly: This oil is a blood thinner. Do not use with blood thinning medications (even aspirin), bleeding disorders and before/after surgery. do no use internally if using diabetes medication.
Peppermint Mentha piperita: Do not use if you have G6PD deficiency or cardiac fibrillation. Do not use internally if you have cholestasis or GERD.
Ravensara (Bark) Ravensara aromatica, Ravensara anisata: This oil is a blood thinner. Do not use with blood thinning medications (even aspirin), bleeding disorders and before/after surgery. Do not ingest if using pethidine, MAOIs or SSRIs.
Sage (Spanish) Salvia lavandulifolia, Salvia hispanorum: Potentially a convulsant do not use with epilepsy.
Sage (Wild mountain) Hemizygia petiolata: Do not ingest if using drugs metabolized by CYP2D6.
Sandalwood (Australian) Santalum spicatum, Santalum cyngnorum, Fusanus spicatus, Eucarya spicata: Do not use internally with drugs metabolized nay CYP2D6.
Tansy, Blue Tanacetum anuum: Do not use if using drugs metabolized by CYP2D6. Do not use internally if using drugs metabolized by CYP1A2 or CYP3A4.
Tarragon Aremisia dracunculus: This oil is a blood thinner. Do not use with blood thinning medications (even aspirin), bleeding disorders and before/after surgery. Do not ever ingest this essential oil.
Tea Tree (Lemon) Leptospermum petersonii, Leptospermum citratum: Do not use if using drugs metabolized by CYP2B6, do not ingest if using diabetes medications.
Thyme Thymus vulgaris ct carcarol, thmol and limonene: This oil is a blood thinner. Do not use with blood thinning medications (even aspirin), bleeding disorders and before/after surgery. Gernaniol chemotype- do not ingest if using drugs metabolized CYP2B6.
Thyme (Borneol, Spike, Zygis) Thymus satureioides,Thymbra spicata, Thymus zygis: This oil is a blood thinner. Do not use with blood thinning medications (even aspirin), bleeding disorders and before/after surgery. Spike- Do not ingest if using diabetes medications.
Turmeric Cucuma longa, Curcuma domestica: Do not ingest if using diabetes medications.
Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens, Gaultheria fragrantissma: This oil is a blood thinner. Do not use with blood thinning medication (even aspirin), bleeding disorders and before/after surgery. Do not use internally if you have GERD.
Yarrow Achillea millefolium: Do not use if using drugs metabolized by CYP2D6, do not ingest if using drugs metabolized by CYP1A2 CYP3A4.
I have these oils listed as a general do not use, or if you simply need to avoid using them with a certain method. So if it says do not use that means all methods, if it mentions a specific method you only need to avoid it with that one method. As a general rule I don’t encourage ingestion anyways so some of these really hold no change for me. And also as a general rule do not every apply essential oils on broken skin but especially do not apply any of these oils on this list to broken skin. As always happy oiling and stay safe! Did you know that any of these held these contradictions? I certainly didn’t when I first started out.
Thank you so much for reading, your support means a lot. If you have any questions feel free to email me at holisticary@gmail.com or call/text me at 641-631-6355This blog post was meant to educate and entertain, it is entirely my opinion and not meant to treat or diagnose anyone or to be taken as absolute unwavering fact. Please seek proper medical care and advice. 