Hyssop EO and whooping cough-new

[Guest guest]

>Perhaps I err on the side of caution,<

 

Fine, I do not have any problems with that. What I have a problem

with is you recommending a variety of hyssop essential oil on which

there is absolutely no safety data and no traditional uses that I am

aware of. With normal hyssop we do know its toxicity (or lack of) if

it is useded sensibly. With var decumbens we know nothing.

 

Don't know how many times I have to tell people that you cannot base

an essential oils safety based on its chemical profile. In

particular on the crazy generalisation in aromatherapy that if an oil

contains a lot of ketones this makes it dangerous. I expect somwhere

in the IDMA archives are the posts I put on there on this subject,

but not spending hours searching unless anyone really wants them.

 

Martin Watt

http://www.aromamedical.com

 

-- In , Kath Koeppen <aromaceu@e...>

wrote:

> What is your justification for saying this variety is safer? There

> is nothing dangerous with using ordinary hyssop as an inhalant

> provided only a drop or two is used.

>

> Martin Watt

>

>

> I completely agree that a drop or two of ordinary hyssop as an

inhalant would not be dangerous. However, I don't personally know the

woman who posted requesting help for her son. I am not familiar with

her level of expertise in using essential oils. Reading carefully

through the post, it sounded as if she was rather desperate for help

and someone who was not very experienced with aromatherapy. She

mentions that her son is 8, and a child's nervous system is not fully

developed until age 12. She does not mention if there are any other

health problems or contraindications. Judging from the post, she is

probably going to use EO's via inhalation, but I can't be sure.

Having this information only, and having to read between the lines, I

feel more comfortable in recommending a hyssop which does not contain

ketones.

>

> Perhaps I err on the side of caution, but I have run into too many

people who misuse essential oils and then have to suffer the

consequences. Case in point: Last year I encountered a woman (with

little aromatherapy experience) who panicked during her 7 year old

daughter's severe asthma attack and poured about 2 milliliters of

hyssop EO directly onto the girl's chest. This was not the course of

action recommended by her naturopath, but she was frightened,

desperate, and did it anyway. The child stopped breathing completely

and had to be rushed to the hospital. It may have been due to the

hyssop, or the situation may have occurred if other respiratory EO's

had been misused in this manner.

>

> This list consists of people who have widely varying levels of

experience with aromatherapy and herbalism, and we don't necessarily

know who's who, especially with the recent influx of new members. I

would hope that everyone could be trusted to use essential oils

responsibly, but I would also be naive to think that was true. Hence

my caution.

>

> Katharine Koeppen

> Aromaceuticals

> Essential Oils From Artisan Distillers

> www.aromaceuticals.com