Review Article

The Effects of Various Essential Oils on Epilepsy and Acute Seizure: A Systematic Review

Table 2

Essential oils with proconvulsive activity.

EO or ConstituentStudy TypeDosageEffectsReference

1,8-Cineole (isolated constituent)animal0.5 mL/kgInduced tonic-clonic seizures[71]

Blend (rosemary EO and camphor constituent)human adult manunknown, applied topicallyBreakthrough (relapse) seizure in an epileptic patient after 8 years free of seizures[72]

Blend (eucalyptus, pine, and thyme EOs)human (12 months)unknown, applied topicallyThree episodes of tonic convulsions lasting one minute each. Hundreds of similar seizures the next day. As a result, the patient developed long-term status epilepticus and showed developmental delay for at least 4 years following the event.[73]

Camphor (isolated constituent)animal0.5 mL/kgInduced tonic-clonic seizures[71]

Camphor oilhuman (3 years)about 1 teaspoon taken internallyGeneralized tonic-clonic seizure and respiratory depression within 20 minutes[74]

Camphor oilhuman (15 months)about 20 mLGeneralized tonic-clonic seizure after 10 minutes[74]

Fennel oilhuman adult womanunknown but large amountTonic-clonic seizure lasting 45 minutes[75]

Hyssop oilanimal0.13 g/kg; 1.25 g/kgCaused convulsions; lethal dose[76]

Pennyroyal oilhuman infant25 ng/mL blood pulegone content and 41 ng/mL blood menthofuran contentEpileptic encephalopathy in and liver failure[77]

Sage oilanimal0.5g/kg; 3.2 g/kg intraperitoneallyCaused convulsions; lethal dose[76]

Sage oilhuman (53 yrs)10 drops taken internallyTonic-clonic seizure followed by 15-minute coma[73]

Sage oilhuman (54 yrs)mouthful-sized amount taken internallyTonic-clonic seizure, unconscious for 1/2 hour following the seizure[73]

Sage oilhuman (33 days)unknown, taken internally33-day old boy experienced tonic-clonic convulsions lasting 20 minutes[78]

Sage oilhuman (5 1/2 yrs)5 mL taken internallyGeneralized tonic-clonic seizure lasting 10 minutes[78]

Sage, cedar, thuja, hyssophuman (multiple cases)unknown, taken internallyTonic-clonic convulsions in humans[76]

Thuja (arborvitae) oilhuman (7-months)unknown, applied topically8 tonic-clonic seizures at different times[79]

Thujone (isolated constituent)animal25 mg/kg; 50 mg/kgAll animals experienced seizures; all animals died[80]