Essential Oils & Pharmaceutical Medication

[Heritage Essential Oils]

Lynette asked: I know licorice root can magnify/ cause high blood pressure, but does Anise essential oil so the same thing? My MIL has had high blood pressure the last couple times she's gone to the doctor (talking meds to reduce it). She drinks Anise in her water daily because she likes the taste.

Linda responded: You cannot equate the use of a whole herb or fruit with the use of an essential oil. Essential oils are only a small fraction of the whole plant. They are only the volatile aromatic molecules, which is typically less than 1% of the plant. Licorice is from the root of the plant, while Anise essential oil is distilled from the seeds of Pimpinella anisum. They are not one and the same.

Also, essential oils, when used within reason (moderation), tend to bring balance rather than exacerbate issues. I have not found data that Anise (Pimpinella anisum) is contradicted with high blood pressure.

Grapefruit is another one that we get questions about, so I'll restate the same information in regard to Grapefruit essential oil:

Research shows that grapefruit juice blocks a special enzyme in the wall of the intestine that prevents many drugs from being absorbed into the body making it easier for these medications to pass from the gut into the body, raising the blood levels of these drugs, which can create dangerous, toxic effects. So the question is asked, "What about the essential oil of Grapefruit?" You cannot equate the use of a whole herb or fruit with the use of an essential oil. Essential oils are only a small fraction of the whole plant. They are only the volatile aromatic molecules, which is typically less than 1% of the plant. Grapefruit juice is from the meat of the fruit, while essential oils are expressed or distilled from the rind. They are not one and the same.

Pharmaceutical Drug Interactions or Contradictions

For those who are taking pharmaceuticals, it is important to know how using natural "remedies" might interact or contradict their effect. I offer the following information from Dr. David Stewart in an effort to help you make an informed, responsible decision about whether or not to use essential oils alongside allopathic medications. 

I quote from Dr. David Stewart's book, The Chemistry of Essential Oils, page 395-396: 

Stewart quotes from Dr. Jean Valnet: [Valnet] mentions that "some essences have been found to complement the action of antibiotics.' He gives niaouli (Melaleuca quinquenervia) as an example of an oil that 'will increase the activity of streptomycin and penicillin." Valnet also mentions that some oils containing aldehydes and ketones can 'inactivate antibiotics.' Other than these examples, Valnet does not discuss any other essential oil/drug interactions. 

Stewart continues: The fact that Valnet only briefly mentions them while Penoel and Friedmann, two other medical doctors, do not mention them at all in their books, suggests that adverse interactions between drugs and oils is not a serious problem - hardly worth mentioning. 

Stewart addresses anticoagulant drugs: Many practicing aromatherapists have thought that oils containing coumarins could be contraindicated when a person is taking anticoagulant drugs on the theory that coumarins are also anticoagulants and might cause too much thinning of the blood that could result in hemorrhages. However, coumarins in essential oils are not anticoagulants and pose no such hazards. 

Stewart continues: Wintergreen and birch oils might pose a risk of excessive blood thinning in combination with anticoagulant drugs, since they are both mainly composed of methyl salicylate, which has aspirin-like properties. However, such an occurrence would only be possible with large oral doses of these oils. They pose no such hazards when inhaled or applied to the skin in moderation. 

Grapefruit? 

Research shows that grapefruit juice blocks a special enzyme in the wall of the intestine that prevents many drugs from being absorbed into the body making it easier for these medications to pass from the gut into the body, raising the blood levels of these drugs, which can create dangerous, toxic effects. So the question is asked, "What about the essential oil of Grapefruit?" You cannot equate the use of a whole herb or fruit with the use of an essential oil. Essential oils are only a small fraction of the whole plant. They are only the volatile aromatic molecules, which is typically less than 1% of the plant. Grapefruit juice is from the meat of the fruit, while essential oils are expressed or distilled from the rind. They are not one and the same. 

Stewart concludes: To conclude our discussion on possible adverse interactions between essential oils and pharmaceutical medicines, we quote from page 82 in Price: "Essential oils are composed of chemicals which are known to be active, gain access to cells by virtue of being fat soluble, and are metabolized by the body. It has been found by experience that some oils are relaxing, some sedative, some sharpen the memory, some promote the circulation and so on. Therefore it may be assumed that, as active agents, they may react with other drugs present in the body. However, there has been no evidence so far which would imply any adverse significant reaction between essential oils and allopathic drugs, and they have been used together successfully in hospitals." 

Stewart's final paragraph on this: While there is scientific evidence that oils can and do sometimes interact with drugs, modifying their effects, there are no human studies with whole therapeutic-grade oil that have ever demonstrated a negative reaction that should be cause for concern. These are the facts. 

I personally have no personal experience using essential oils with pharmaceuticals, but I do know of people who have found that they could use both and then wean themselves off of drugs that they have relied on for years. This territory has many variables, so the responsibility for how to go about using both and/or weaning off has to be with the user. I wish I could be of more help on this issue, but at this point, this is the extent of what I have to offer. 

Blessings, 

Linda