The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
worse
Posted by Riya (Bangalore, India) on 03/30/2008
I read about the remedy oil of oregano and purchased it from an online seller last year. This is really powerful stuff and I've been using it for my son's recurring viral infections with dramatic results. However, the oil actually made my sinus infection much worse. I thought the severity of my symptoms warranted around 8 drops a day under my tongue every 3-4 hours and continued the dose for 4 days. Every day I experienced a worsening of symptoms including asthma and stuffed nose with thick greenish-yellow discharge of mucous. I believe the oregano was responsible for it firstly, because the symptoms eased off when I stopped it and second, I read somewhere that yeast infections are typically exacerbated with good bacteria die-offs which is probably what the oregano was doing in those big doses. I wasn't eating enough yoghurt to compensate either. Just a note to everyone out there to be careful with overdoing the oregano oil. I'm doing far better with 2 cloves of garlic 5-6 times a day, lots of water, the homeopathic remedy arsenicum album 30X every 2-3 hours, and drastic reduction of refined carbs in my diet.
Burns
Posted by Kelly (Bennington, Vermont) on 12/01/2008
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Be careful about putting 100% tea tree on your scalp. I know that in one of Ted's remedies he speaks about putting pure 100% tea tree oil in scalp. I caution you about this. I tried this, (put a small puddle of tea tree and rubbed through entire scalp, to get rid of dandruff, and an itchiness, and my scalp, months later is still very red and inflamed, sore and burnt. (and am losing alot of hair). I do not want this to happen to any one else. So, please, please, make sure you only use tea tree if it is mixed with a carrier oil like olive oil so you do not burn your scalp. (maybe some people can put the 100% tea tree onto their scalp, but, I am still suffering the aftermath). So spot test first!!!
Liver Problems
Posted by Eve (Sydney, Australia ) on 08/08/2021 16 posts
Be careful using essential oils. Twice, I have developed liver problems from using essential oils. I was told that the effect on the liver is accumulative.
Gynecomastia
Posted by Boobed (Spain) on 06/29/2017
An important note to add to the cautions on Lavender: be aware that it can cause gynecomastia in men, ie breast growth - check Wikipedia. They also mention tea tree oil and dong quai as other possible herbal causes.
For info, I'm 66, slim build and have a healthy lifestyle and diet. After moving to a new flat a few months ago we were plagued for several days by small flies, and to avoid possible bites at night, for a week or so I spread a few drops of lavender oil on the back of my neck and up to below my ears before going to bed.
Later I noticed a growing lump beneath each nipple, which had also become quite sensitive, and the subsequent medical checks confirmed it as gynecomastia. At the time I had no idea what had caused this, but looking back over the previous few months, I had made no other changes in diet or medications etc - and when I read the Wikipedia article I was shocked to realise my lavender application was very likely the culprit....
So be warned guys - please be aware of the above link, and if you want to use lavender on your skin directly, I suggest you use it sparingly - if at all.
Now my question is: how can I reverse this L?
Burns
Posted by London (Sandusky, Ohio) on 10/08/2008
Yes, it's true. Putting raw undiluted essential oil on your skin is a disaster. I put grapefruit oil and orange oil in the bath, BIG MISTAKE. It burned my skin and actually left welts. Couldn't wash it off very easily either. I also made the bitter error of putting tea tree oil directly in my ear canal for an infection. I was up all night with the burning pain. Couldn't wash that out very easily, none the less. Don't underestimate pure essential oil. Cheers
