What Exactly is Lipid Pneumonia?

Lipid pneumonia, also referred to as lipoid pneumonia, occurs when lipids (fats) enter the bronchial system, causing lung inflammation.

Can Essential Oils Lead to Lipid Pneumonia?

The answer is a firm ‘No.’ Essential oils have never been linked to this type of lung inflammation. A thorough review of numerous case reports of lipid pneumonia yielded no instances where essential oils were cited as a cause.

Various factors can lead to lipid pneumonia. Research indicates several potential culprits, including:

• Ingested cod liver oil
• Ingested mineral oil
• Topical application of petrolatum jelly
• Intravenous olive oil
• Use of emulsifiers in lung lavage
• Lubricant oils for tracheostomy care
• Unspecified nasal drops
• Inhaled insecticides with mineral oil
• Ingested liquid paraffin
• Folk remedies involving animal or vegetable oils
• Oil pulling with sesame oil
• The drug amiodarone
• Nasal application of baby oil
• Ingestion of black seed oil
• Accumulation of lipids in the body (like cholesterol)
• Aspiration of machine oil
• Occupational exposure to fatty oils (e.g., teppanyaki chefs)
• Inhalation of herbicides
• Ingestion of a ketogenic diet
• Other rare causes like Niemann-Pick disease or specific lung infections

Notably, none of these cases attribute lipid pneumonia to essential oils unless they are combined with a fatty substance. To date, there has not been a single documented case where essential oils alone caused this type of lung inflammation.

But What About Reports of Children Affected by Essential Oils?

Some may point to a case where a 4-month-old child developed lipid pneumonia after inhaling an aerosolized Gomenol® solution. While this has sparked concern regarding niaouli essential oil (Melaleuca quinquenervia), it’s crucial to recognize that Gomenol® is a blend containing niaouli, glycerol, castor oil, and salts. The sensational headlines often fail to clarify that isolated essential oils do not cause lipid pneumonia without the presence of fatty oils.

Where Do These Fears Originate?

In 2014, the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Foundation responded to a teenager's research project discussing Pseudomonas infections in CF lungs. They stated that while peppermint oil may be safe when ingested, it could pose risks of lipid pneumonia, advising against its use in CF patients without providing supporting evidence.

The Chemistry Behind This Argument

Moreover, the chemical structure of essential oils does not support the idea of accumulation. Consider the last time you spilled essential oil—did it linger or evaporate? Essential oils are defined as small, fat-soluble molecules that evaporate rapidly. Substances that are volatile and evaporate quickly do not accumulate in the body.

In conclusion, there is no evidence suggesting that essential oils have ever built up in bodily tissues. This is simply a matter of basic chemistry.

Final Thoughts

Do not be swayed by the misconception that essential oils can cause lipid pneumonia; they have not been shown to do so. For more insights into the truths and myths surrounding essential oils, please Join the Club.

Invitation for Further Discussion

I do not claim to be the ultimate authority on essential oils. If you are a healthcare professional and have encountered a case of lipid pneumonia solely due to essential oil use, I invite you to reach out. Likewise, if you possess research that contradicts the findings presented here, please get in touch.

References

Originally published on lindseyelmore.com on May 8, 2018.

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