Plant Scents And Seizures: A Link To Epilepsy?

Essential oils have been used to treat seizures for thousands of years. In ancient Persia, for example, lavender oil was used to treat epilepsy. However, there is relatively little research into the benefits of essential oils for seizures. Some essential oils are believed to be harmless for people with epilepsy, and may even have benefits, but others can cause seizures.

According to a 2019 review, some essential oils have anticonvulsant activity and might benefit people with epilepsy. These include lemongrass, lavender, clove, dill, and other essential oils containing constituents such as asarone, carvone, citral, eugenol, or linalool. However, some essential oils have convulsant effects and may trigger seizures in both epileptic and healthy individuals. The internal use of essential oils such as sage, hyssop, rosemary, camphor, pennyroyal, eucalyptus, cedar, thuja, and fennel can cause epileptic seizures because they contain thujone, 1,8-cineole, camphor, or pinocamphone, which have been identified as convulsive agents.

Some people with epilepsy report that certain scents can trigger seizures. These include perfumes, hairspray, and essential oils. However, it is important to note that everyone is different, and not all individuals will be affected by the same scents.

Can plant fragrances cause seizures?

Plant fragrances or essential oils have been used to treat seizures for thousands of years. In ancient Persia, for example, lavender oil was used by doctors to treat epilepsy. However, there is relatively little research into the benefits of essential oils for seizures.

The Pros

One study in the UK found that aromatherapy massages with certain essential oils helped prevent seizures in people with epilepsy. Another review article from 2019 found that there were potential benefits to using essential oils for epilepsy, and that some of them reduce excitability in brain cells. Essential oils can also help people feel relaxed, and since stress is a major cause of epileptic seizures, smelling pleasant aromas or receiving massages with essential oils could help reduce stress.

The Cons

Although most essential oils are believed to be harmless for people with epilepsy, there are certain essential oils that could be seizure triggers. These include oils of sage, thuja, cedar, hyssop, eucalyptus, camphor, pennyroyal, and fennel, as well as the constituents 1,8-cineole, camphor, thujone, and pinocamphone.

Weighing Up the Evidence

Although there are a number of essential oils that can cause seizures, most of these products are harmless and may even benefit people with epilepsy. If you are interested in using essential oils and you have epilepsy, speak with your doctor first so they can double-check that the oil is safe for you to use. Essential oils should not replace your anti-epilepsy medication, because there is a high risk of having a breakthrough seizure.

What are some plant fragrances that can cause seizures?

Certain plant fragrances can trigger epileptic seizures in some individuals. While plant fragrances are often used in alternative medicine, such as aromatherapy, to help reduce stress and promote relaxation, they can also have adverse effects on those with epilepsy.

Some plant fragrances that may cause seizures include:

• Lavender
• Thyme
• Sage
• Hyssop
• Eucalyptus
• Camphor
• Pennyroyal
• Fennel
• Rosemary
• Clove
• Lemongrass
• Dill

It is important to note that the impact of plant fragrances on seizures can vary from person to person. While some individuals may be affected by certain fragrances, others may not experience any negative effects. Therefore, it is always advisable to consult a doctor before using any alternative treatments, especially for those with epilepsy.

What are some plant fragrances that can prevent seizures?

While some plant fragrances can cause seizures, there are also essential oils that have anticonvulsant properties and can help prevent seizures.

Essential oils (EOs) are natural medicines obtained by distilling plant material to obtain a volatile, hydrophobic extract. Many EOs have anticonvulsant activity and might benefit people with epilepsy.

Lemongrass

Lemongrass essential oil has anticonvulsant properties and is a good candidate for evaluation as an antiepileptic drug.

Lavender

Lavender essential oil has been found to have strong anticonvulsant effects in animal models of seizure. In one experiment, inhalation of lavender oil vapour prevented convulsions in 100% of the animals and resulted in a 100% survival rate.

Clove

Clove essential oil, with its primary constituent eugenol, has been found to prevent convulsions and increase the threshold for seizures.

Dill

Dill essential oil, which contains the compound carvone, has anticonvulsant properties. The S (+) enantiomer of carvone has been found to significantly increase the latency of convulsions.

Citral

Citral is a compound found in essential oils obtained from plants of the genus Cymbopogon. It has been found to increase latency and decrease tonic convulsions in various models of acute seizure.

Linalool

Linalool is a monoterpene alcohol that has been found to potentiate GABAA function in mammalian electrophysiology experiments. It has also been found to suppress spontaneous activity and induce epileptiform activity at higher concentrations.

Other Plant Fragrances with Anticonvulsant Effects

Other plant fragrances with anticonvulsant effects include cumin essential oil, trans-caryophyllene, (+)-dehydrofukinone, smyrnium cordifolium EO, terpineol, peppermint oil, and zataria multiflora EO.

What are the effects of plant fragrances on the brain?

Plant fragrances have been shown to have various effects on the brain, and have been used as a form of alternative medicine for thousands of years.

The Positive Effects of Plant Fragrances

Plant fragrances can have a powerful effect on the brain, evoking memories and increasing a sense of place. Scents such as vanilla, for example, are said to make people happy, while lavender can reduce stress and improve sleep quality.

Some essential oils have been found to have anticonvulsant activity and could benefit people with epilepsy. For example, lemongrass, lavender, clove, dill, and other essential oils containing constituents such as asarone, carvone, citral, eugenol, or linalool are good candidates for evaluation as antiepileptic drugs.

The Negative Effects of Plant Fragrances

However, it's important to note that not all plant fragrances are harmless. Some essential oils have been found to have convulsant effects and may trigger seizures in both epileptic and healthy individuals. Internal use of essential oils such as sage, hyssop, rosemary, camphor, pennyroyal, eucalyptus, cedar, thuja, and fennel can cause epileptic seizures as they contain thujone, 1,8-cineole, camphor, or pinocamphone, which are known convulsive agents.

Additionally, strong fumes from things like paint, hair colour, nail polish, car exhaust, and air pollution can also trigger seizures in some individuals.

It's always recommended to speak with a doctor before using essential oils, especially for seizure management, as there is a risk of having a breakthrough seizure.

What are the historical uses of plant fragrances in treating seizures?

The use of plant fragrances to treat seizures has a long history. In ancient Persia, for example, lavender oil was used by doctors to treat epilepsy. However, there is little research into the benefits of essential oils for seizures.

Essential oils are hydrophobic extracts obtained through the distillation of plant material. They have been used as anticonvulsants in traditional medicine in many cultures worldwide, especially in the Middle East, India, China, and Brazil.

Essential oils with anticonvulsant properties include lemongrass, lavender, clove, dill, and other essential oils containing constituents such as asarone, carvone, citral, eugenol, or linalool.

Some essential oils have been found to have convulsant effects and may trigger seizures in both epileptic and healthy individuals. These include oils such as sage, hyssop, rosemary, camphor, pennyroyal, eucalyptus, cedar, thuja, and fennel, as well as constituents like thujone, 1,8-cineole, camphor, and pinocamphone.

While the mechanisms of action are still being studied, the anticonvulsant properties of essential oils are believed to be due to their ability to modulate the GABAergic system of neurotransmission and alter ionic currents through ion channels.

Essential oils have been documented to have anxiolytic, sedative, neuroprotective, and anticonvulsive properties. They can be administered through inhalation or applied to the skin.

It is important to consult a doctor before using essential oils for seizure management, as they should not replace anti-epilepsy medication.

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