Some People Are Accidentally Poisoning Themselves with Essential Oils

You’d have to be living under a rock to have missed the resurgence of alternative medicines and essential oils. People everywhere are touting the ability to cure everything from nausea and headaches to the common cold (and, in some cases, more extreme illnesses) using nothing but plant, root, and herb extracts.

Essential oils are volatile chemical compounds extracted from plant materials via a distillation process that typically involves steaming. They’re used in perfumes, soaps, incense, and aromatherapy aids, along with traditional medicine therapies.

And they are known to have some health benefits when inhaled.

Some.

But it turns out that even natural medicines require some research and training (whaaaaat), lest you poison yourself and those you love – and that goes double if you’re going to engage in the dubious practice of applying the oils to your skin, or ingesting them orally.

People are clearly ignoring that fact, though, because a recent study has shown that essential oil poisonings are becoming more frequent in Europe, the U.S., and in Australia.

The study appeared in the Medical Journal of Australia, and it analyzed data from the New South Wales Poisons Information Centre. They received a total of 4412 calls about essential oil poisoning between July 2014 and June 2018, with 2/3 of the cases involving children under 15.

There was a 16% increase between 2015 and 2018, showing a disturbing trend.

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Essential oils are labeled with a warning that they can “cause severe toxicity when ingested,” and the risks increase as the frequency with which the oils are being used goes, the authors explain.

“Clinical effects include vomiting, central nervous system depression or excitation, and aspiration pneumonitis.”

And it’s even worse for kids: Essential oils can also upset a person’s hormonal balance, a more concerning hazard when dealing with children who haven’t yet entered puberty, or who might be in the midst of it.

There has been at least a few cases of prepubescent boys developing enlarged breasts after applying tea tree and lavender oil to their skin.

It’s important to note that a number of the poisoning cases were due to someone mistaking the bottle for something like cough syrup, but others were due to people ingesting them on purpose.

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“Flow restrictors and child-resistant closures would be desirable, but containers are only required to have such closures when the essential oil volume exceeds 15 milliliters.”

Since 5 milliliters is enough to generate a severe toxicity in the product, these cases and others should serve as a warning for you to make sure properly secure any essential oils in your home.

I don’t know about you, but I would feel pretty bad if something I brought into my house to help my kids feel better ended up hurting them instead.

Just sayin’.

The post Some People Are Accidentally Poisoning Themselves with Essential Oils appeared first on UberFacts.

5 DIY Mason Jar Recipes That Will Keep Your Summer Bug-Free

My husband loves to be outdoors – fishing, hiking, mushroom hunting, you name it. Our young son seems to be following in his footsteps, which means I’ve been spending quite a bit of time sitting on my front porch and watching him play (and also saying “we don’t eat rocks/chalk/mulch/etc”).

Being someone who enjoys a warm ray of sunshine and a slight summer breeze myself, I don’t mind. But it sure is more pleasant when I don’t have to spend the entire time either covered in stinky bug spray or constantly swatting pests.

Which is why these 5 DIY, bug-repelling mason jars have saved my summer – and they could do the same for yours, too!

#5. All Bugs Beware

Photo Credit: Pixabay

This concoction can get a little intense, so make sure to lean away from it while you mix it up!

Start with just a Mason jar lid and 1oz of a carrier oil (like coconut or olive), then add 1 drop of the following essential oils: citronella, eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree, cypress, and myrtle. Add water to fill up the Mason jar lid and leave it near where you congregate outside.

#4. DIY Citronella

Photo Credit: Brightside

Fill your mason jar with water, half of a sliced lemon, and half of a sliced lime. Then, add 5 drops of the following essential oils: lemon, eucalyptus, and citronella. Don’t mix them. Then add 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary and a floating candle to the top. Light it and voila! No more mosquitoes!

#3. Woodsy and Effective

Photo Credit: Instagram

Take a whole Mason jar and drip in 10 drops each of cedarwood, lavender, lemon, and catnip essential oils, then add 1 sliced lemon and 1 sliced lime and several sprigs of rosemary. Add your water and candle and watch the bugs – all types – avoid you like the plague for a change!

#2. Lavender Instead

Photo Credit: Pixabay

If you don’t love citrus, try adding 15 drops of lavender essential oil, 3-4 tbsp of vanilla extract, and 3-4 tbsp of lemon juice, then filling your jar with water. Add a floating candle for ambiance if you want!

#1. Got Flies?

Photo Credit: Instagram

Not anymore! Just fill a Mason jar with water, throw in a penny and put it where the jar catches some sunlight. The glinting actually drives away flies by mimicking a threat, so they won’t come near.

Truly.

The post 5 DIY Mason Jar Recipes That Will Keep Your Summer Bug-Free appeared first on UberFacts.