Can Peppermint Oil Cause Breathing Problems?

Menthol, which is in peppermint oil, should not be inhaled by or applied to the face of an infant or small child because it may negatively affect their breathing.

What happens if you breathe in too much peppermint oil?

Large Doses Lead To Risk Of Seizures
If you are experiencing nausea, difficulty in breathing, slowed heartbeat, dizziness, and/or convulsions, then it could be because of using peppermint oil. Call in for medical care at the earliest to avoid complications.

Can essential oils cause shortness of breath?

Neha Solanki, MD, a pulmonologist with the Cleveland Clinic Asthma Center in Ohio, “Specifically, diffused eucalyptus and lavender release terpene, toluene and benzene. We know that these compounds have respiratory side effects. For example, terpene can cause shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheezing.”

What are the side effects of peppermint oil?

What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Peppermint Oil?

• allergic reactions.
• burning mouth syndrome.
• diarrhea with anal burning.
• flushing.
• headache.
• heartburn.
• mouth ulcers.
• rash.

Who should not use peppermint oil?

People with a specific enzyme deficiency, called G6PD deficiency, should avoid using peppermint as an extract or oil in aromatherapy. People taking certain medications. Peppermint oil aromatherapy can inhibit an enzyme called CYP3A4, which is responsible for breaking down many types of medication.

Is peppermint oil toxic to humans?

Like many essential oils, peppermint oil can be toxic and even lethal at excessive dosages; it has been associated with interstitial nephritis and acute renal failure.

Can essential oils cause respiratory distress?

There have been anecdotal claims of respiratory issues for people with or without asthma due to airborne irritants from a variety of diffused essential oils. VOCs within the diffused oils can affect indoor air quality causing a similar pollutant effect as air fresheners, scented candles, and incense.

Can essential oils damage your lungs?

Researcher Kai-Jen Chuang, PhD, of Taipei Medical University, points out that aromatherapy oils are also volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a kind of indoor air pollution that can irritate the eyes, throat, and lungs.

What is the most common cause of shortness of breath?

Most cases of shortness of breath are due to heart or lung conditions. Your heart and lungs are involved in transporting oxygen to your tissues and removing carbon dioxide, and problems with either of these processes affect your breathing.

What medications does peppermint interfere with?

Peppermint may interact with some drugs, including:

• cyclosporine, taken by transplant recipients to prevent organ rejection.
• drugs that reduce stomach acid.
• ulcer medications.
• calcium channel blockers and other drugs used for hypertension or high blood pressure.

Does peppermint increase heart rate?

It seems that peppermint has a lowering effect on the heart rate and the systolic blood pressure. Yet in another study, peppermint aroma was administered by nose but no significant effect in both heart rate and blood pressure was observed.

How do you counteract peppermint oil?

Saturate a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol if you accidentally spill essential oil on your skin or on the floor, then rub the spot with it. The rubbing alcohol removes the oils and then evaporates in the air quickly.

What essential oil is good for shortness of breath?

Clove essential oil may help reduce symptoms such as wheezing, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.

Can you be allergic to peppermint oil?

Peppermint oil can indeed cause an allergic reaction in those sensitive to it, whether used internally or externally. In rare cases it can even cause anaphylactic shock when taken internally, causing difficulty swallowing and breathing, tongue and lip swelling, and ulcers or blisters in the mouth.

How much peppermint is too much?

Ingesting about 20 candies in one sitting will add about 400 calories and 100 grams of carbohydrates to your daily intake. Doing that multiple times a week can easily add up to the 3,500 excess calories it takes to gain a pound of fat within a month.

Does peppermint oil help you sleep?

(2017) regarding the effects of aromatherapy on insomnia, the results showed that peppermint essential oil had positive effects on improving insomnia. On the other hand, a study has indicated that aromatherapy with peppermint could be potentially effective in improving sleep quality (Lillehei & Halcon, 2014).

Does peppermint oil help congestion?

Peppermint oil is used as a natural decongestant and fever-reducer. It contains menthol, an ingredient found in topical rubs that helps relieve congestion. A 2003 in vitro study demonstrated the viral activity of peppermint oil. Menthol is also used in many cough drops to help soothe sore throats and quiet coughs.

Is inhaling essential oils safe?

The answer is yes it is safe, but even more than that, breathing in essential oils can be good for you. Inhaling essential oils isn’t just pleasant because of their gorgeous scents and aromas they release, but it can actually positively affect your mental and physical wellbeing too.

Which essential oils trigger asthma?

These studies have found that diffused essential oils such as lavender, eucalyptus, and tea tree, were found to release terpenes, toluene, and benzene, among other VOCs, into the air.

Is peppermint good for asthma?

Is peppermint good for asthma? Peppermint oil is definitely another top choice of essential oils for breathing difficulties. With its purifying and enlivening scent, peppermint oil is often used to cleanse the lungs and open up the bronchial passages.

What are the negative effects of essential oils?

Symptoms of toxicity include:

• drowsiness, slow/shallow breathing, coma (after large ingestion)
• seizures.
• persistent cough, gagging/choking, shortness of breath, wheezing.
• nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea.
• skin irritation (skin exposure)
• eye redness, irritation or pain (eye exposures).