Essential Oil Precautions for Young Children

• Anise/Aniseed Pimpinella anisum - avoid using (all routes) on children under 5
• Anise (Star) Illicium verum - avoid using (all routes) on children under 5
• Basil (lemon) Ocimum x citriodorum - avoid topical use on children under 2
• Benzoin Styrax benzoin, Styrax paralleloneurus and Styrax tonkinensis - avoid topical use on children under 2
• Birch (sweet) Betula lenta - avoid using (all routes) on children
• Black Seed Nigella sativa - avoid topical use on children under 2
• *Cajuput Melaleuca cajuputi, Melaleuca leucadendron - avoid using on children under 6
• *Cardamon Elettaria cardamomum - avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
• Cassia Cinnamomum cassia, Cinnamomum aromaticum - avoid topical use on children under 2
• Chaste Tree Vitex agnus castus - avoid using (all routes) on prepubertal children
• Clove Bud, Clove Leaf, Clove Stem Syzygium aromaticum, Eugenia caryophyllata, Eugenia aromatica - avoid topical use on children under 2
• *Cornmint Mentha arvensis, Mentha canadensis - avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
• *Eucalyptus Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus maidenii, Eucalyptus plenissima, Eucalyptus kochii, Eucalyptus polybractea, Eucalyptus radiata, Eucalyptus Autraliana, Eucalyptus phellandra, Eucalyptus smithii - avoid using (all routes) on children under 10
• Fennel (bitter), Fennel (sweet) Foeniculum vulgare - avoid using (all routes) on children under 5
• *Galangal (lesser) Alpinia officinarum, Languas officinarum - avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
• Garlic Allium sativum - avoid topical use on children under 2
• Ginger Lily Hedychium coronarium - avoid topical use on children under 2
• *Ho Leaf/Ravintsara Cinnamomum camphora (cineole chemotype)  – avoid using on children under 6
• Hyssop Hyssopus officinalis (pinocamphone chemptype) - avoid using (all routes) on children under 2
• *Laurel Leaf/Bay Laurel Laurus nobilis- avoid topical use on children under 2; avoid all routes for children under age 6
• Lemon Leaf/Lemon Petitgrain Citrus x limon, Citrus limonum - avoid topical use on children under 2
• Lemongrass Cymbopogon flexuosus, Andropogon flexuosus, Cymbopogon citratus, Andropogon citratus - avoid topical use on children under 2
• *Marjoram (Spanish) Thymus mastichina - avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
• Massoia Cryptocarya massoy, Cryptocaria massoia, Massoia aromatica - avoid using (all routes) on children under 2
• May Chang Litsea cubeba, Litsea citrata, Laura cubeba - avoid topical use on children under 2
• Melissa/Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis - avoid topical use on children under 2
• *Myrtle (red) Myrtus communis - avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
• Myrtle (aniseed) Backhousia anisata - avoid using (all routes) on children under 5
• Myrtle (honey) Melaleuca teretifolia - avoid topical use on children under 2
• Myrtle (lemon)/Sweet Verbena Backhousia citriodora - avoid topical use on children under 2
• *Niaouli (cineole chemotype) Melaleuca quinquinervia – avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
• Oakmoss Evernia prunastri - avoid topical use on children under 2
• Opopanax Commiphora guidottii - avoid topical use on children under 2
• Oregano Origanum onites, Origanum smyrnaeum, Origanum vulgare, Origanum compactum, Origanum hirtum, Thymbra capitata, Thymus capitatus, Coridothymus capitatus, Satureeja capitata - avoid topical use on children under 2
• Peppermint Mentha x Piperita - avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
• Peru Balsam Myroxylon balsamum, Myroxylon pereiraw, Myroxylon peruiferum, Myrospermum pereirae, Toluifera pereirae - avoid topical use on children under 2
• *Rambiazana  Helichrysum gymnocephalum - avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
• *Rosemary (1,8-cineole chemotype) Rosmarinus officinalis  - avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
• Saffron Crocus sativus - avoid topical use on children under 2
• *Sage (Greek), Salvia fruiticosa, Salvia triloba Sage (White) – avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
• *Sage (White) Salvia apiana - avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
• Sage (Wild Mountain) Hemizygia petiolata - avoid topical use on children under 2
• *Sanna Hedychium spicatum - avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
• *Saro Cinnamosma fragrans - avoid using (all routes) on children under 6
• Savory Satureia hortensis, Satureia montana - avoid topical use on children under 2
• Styrax Liquidambar orientalis, Liquidambar styraciflua - avoid topical use on children under 2
• Tea Leaf/Black Tea Camellia sinensis, Thea sinensis - avoid topical use on children under 2
• Tea Tree (lemon-scented) Leptospermum petersonii, Leptospermum citratum, Leptospermum liversidgei,- avoid topical use on children under 2
• Treemoss Pseudevernia furfuracea - avoid topical use on children under 2
• Tuberose Polianthes tuberosa - avoid topical use on children under 2
• Turpentine Pinus ayacahuite, Pinus caribaea, Pinus contorta, Pinus elliottii, Pinus halepensis, Pinus insularis, Pinus kesiya, Pinus merkusii, Pinus palustris, Pinus pinaster, Pinus radiata, Pinus roxburghii, Pinus tabulaeformis, Pinus teocote, Pinus yunnanensis- avoid topical use on children under 2
• Verbena (Lemon) Aloysia triphylla, Aloysia citriodora, Lippa citriodora, Lippa triphylla - avoid topical use on children under 2
• Wintergreen Gaultheria fragrantissima, Gaultheria procumbens – avoid (all routes) on children due to methyl salicylate content
• Ylang-Ylang Cananga odorata - avoid topical use on children under 2

indicates essential oils that are high in 1,8-cineole and can potentially cause respiration to slow in children. If you are looking for age-appropriate anti-congestion suggestions, read this post:

Resources:

Robert Tisserand www.roberttisserand.com

Lea Harris www.learningabouteos.com