Study urges caution on use of essential oils
LAVENDER, TEA TREE OIL MAY DISRUPT HORMONES
Essential oils are often marketed as a way to soothe your mind, rejuvenate your skin or alleviate pain. But according to researchers, these products have some unwanted side-effects — at least for young boys.
New research by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) shows how some essential oils — specifically lavender and tea tree — could disrupt hormones and lead to abnormal breast growth in prepubescent boys. The findings were presented on Saturday by scientists Jeffrey Tyler Ramsey and Dr. Kenneth Korach at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago.
WHAT DID THEY FIND?
Ramsey and Korach studied eight chemicals found in both lavender and tea tree oil that are also found in at least 65 other essential oils. They tested these chemicals on human cells in the laboratory to see how they affected estrogen and testosterone receptors. The duo found the chemicals affected the cells in a way that would encourage prepubertal gynecomastia — breast growth in prepubescent males.
“Our society deems essential oils as safe, however they possess a diverse amount of chemicals and should be used with caution because some of these chemicals are potential (hormone) disrupters,” Ramsey said in a statement.
IS THIS THE FIRST TIME ESSENTIAL OILS HAVE BEEN LINKED TO BREAST GROWTH?
Researchers at NIEHS first found evidence of this phenomenon in 2007. The team studied three young boys who had started to develop breasts prior to puberty. The boys didn’t have any underlying medical conditions, but they all had one thing in common: each used topical over-thecounter products that contained lavender oil and tea tree oil. When the boys were instructed to stop using the products, their breast growth halted. The hypothesis was that chemicals found in these essential oils were disrupting hormones — specifically increasing levels of estrogen and lowering levels of testosterone, thereby promoting breast growth.
WHAT IS LAVENDER OIL USED FOR?
Countless blogs and natural remedy websites suggest lavender is the only essential oil you need in your life. Derived from the lavender flower, the oil is probably best known for its supposed relaxing and calming effects on the body. It’s been said to help people fall asleep and is marketed as an aromatherapy tool to reduce pain and swelling of sore muscles or joints. Some studies have claimed it is also anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antibacterial. It’s sometimes used to control dandruff, ward off motion sickness and even help nosebleeds, but the scientific evidence on this is lacking. The oil is also used in cosmetic products.
WHAT ABOUT TEA TREE OIL?
As the name suggests, tea tree oil comes from the tea tree, which is native to Australia. It’s known primarily for its antibacterial properties. People use it to help control acne, treat athlete’s foot and to get rid of fungal infections. It’s also been touted as a natural remedy for dandruff and lice, and can be found in some household cleaning products. But don’t confuse natural to mean non-toxic. Tea tree oil is only for topical use. According to the National Capital Poison Center in the U.S., more than 10 per cent of people who ingested tea tree oil had to seek medical attention in 2011. In one case, a man who swallowed a teaspoon of the oil felt dizzy, had slurred speech and was vomiting. SHOULD WE STOP USING ESSENTIAL OILS?
The science isn’t conclusive, with only a handful of studies suggesting oils like lavender and tea tree have negative health effects when they’re used correctly. In fact, whether or not these forms of “natural” therapy even offer positive effects is still up for debate.
These products are sold over-the-counter and their regulation varies by country. In Canada, essential oils are regulated by Health Canada, but in the United States there is no official regulating body.
“Lavender oil and tea tree oil pose potential environmental health concerns and should be investigated further,” Ramsey said.
But others aren’t convinced. A 2013 letter in the journal Reproductive Toxicology notes that the supposed connection between tea tree oil and increased levels of estrogen is, “a putative link that has been made and is being overstated and perpetuated.” It also refers to the 2007 study, noting that while the three boys certainly provide some evidence to this argument, “(case studies) are not definitive in their own right.”