Epilepsy and Seizure Risk With Herbs and Essential Oils
What case reports, an epilepsy charity and NIH say about essential oils, herbs and supplements that may trigger seizures or weaken seizure medicines, with emergency signs first.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Call 911 for a seizure emergency. MedlinePlus says it is a medical emergency if a seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes. [1] If someone has swallowed an essential oil or herbal product and is unwell, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.
Living with epilepsy means weighing many everyday choices. This page covers two separate risks that sources describe: some plant products may provoke seizures, and some herbs may change how seizure medicines work. It does not tell anyone to change a medicine. The Epilepsy Society (UK) says it is important not to change or stop your medication without consulting the doctor who treats your epilepsy. [2]
Essential oils that sources link to seizures
A 1999 report in the Journal of Neurology described three healthy people, two adults and one child, who had seizures after absorbing several essential oils for therapeutic purposes. [3] The authors' survey of the literature named essential oils from 11 plants as powerful convulsants: eucalyptus, fennel, hyssop, pennyroyal, rosemary, sage, savin, tansy, thuja, turpentine and wormwood. [3]The Epilepsy Society says it is thought that some essential oils may trigger seizures and are not recommended for people with epilepsy, and names rosemary, fennel, sage, eucalyptus, hyssop, wormwood, camphor and spike lavender. [2] A 2019 systematic review says some essential oils have convulsant effects and may trigger seizures in both epileptic and healthy people. [4]
How strong is this evidence?
| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Can some essential oils provoke a seizure? | Case reports and a literature survey in people. [3] | Reported (case reports) |
| Is there a safe oil for people with epilepsy? | Proper evidence not found. The review calls some oils good candidates for evaluation as antiepileptic drugs, which means they have not been proven. [4] | Preclinical (not shown in people) |
| How common are these seizures? | Proper evidence not found in the sources we read. The review notes that poison databases were not searched. [4] | Not known |
Please note that the review's authors are affiliated with an essential oil company, which readers may wish to weigh. [4] We rely mainly on the case reports and the epilepsy charity for the caution. For oil-by-oil details see rosemary oil, eucalyptus oil and essential oil safety. We give no instructions for swallowing essential oils, and none should be taken by mouth without professional advice.
Herbs and supplements that may change seizure medicines
- St. John's wort. NCCIH says it can weaken the effects of many medicines, including some drugs used to prevent seizures such as phenytoin and carbamazepine. [5] See St. John's wort interactions.
- Ashwagandha. NCCIH says it might interact with several medicine groups, including anti-seizure medicines. [6]
- Melatonin. NCCIH says people with epilepsy need medical supervision when taking melatonin supplements. [7] See melatonin for sleep.
- Seizure medicines affect other medicines too. NINDS says some antiseizure medicines can affect how and whether other drugs work, and asks people to make sure their doctor knows about any herbs or supplements they take. [8]
"Proper evidence not found": we looked in NIH, NCCIH and the epilepsy sources above for a list of herbs proven safe with seizure medicines and found none. Lack of a warning is not a safety statement.
Alcohol-containing herbal products
The NHS lists having a seizure among the signs of severe alcohol withdrawal. [9] See alcohol use disorder and alcohol-containing herbal products.What to do
Tell your epilepsy doctor and pharmacist about every oil, herb, tea and supplement, including ones used on the skin or in a diffuser. If a seizure follows a new product, get help first, then report it. See side effects and reporting and talking with a health professional.Frequently asked questions
Can essential oils cause seizures?
Case reports and a literature survey link oils from several plants, including rosemary, sage and eucalyptus, to seizures. [3]
Which oils does an epilepsy charity say to avoid?
The Epilepsy Society names rosemary, fennel, sage, eucalyptus, hyssop, wormwood, camphor and spike lavender. [2]
Can St. John's wort affect seizure medicine?
NCCIH says it can weaken some seizure medicines, including phenytoin and carbamazepine. [5] Ask the prescriber or pharmacist.
Is melatonin okay with epilepsy?
NCCIH says people with epilepsy need medical supervision when using melatonin. [7]
Should I stop my seizure medicine if I use herbs?
No. Ask your epilepsy doctor first. [2]
References
- MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Seizures. Read 2026-10-23.
- Epilepsy Society (UK). Complementary therapies and epilepsy. Read 2026-10-23.
- Burkhard PR, Burkhardt K, Haenggeli CA, Landis T. Plant-induced seizures: reappearance of an old problem. Journal of Neurology, 1999. Abstract read. Read 2026-10-23.
- Bahr TA, Rodriguez D, Beaumont C, Allred K. The Effects of Various Essential Oils on Epilepsy and Acute Seizure: A Systematic Review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019. The authors are affiliated with an essential oil company. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). St. John’s Wort: Usefulness and Safety. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Ashwagandha. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Anxiety and Complementary Health Approaches. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH). Epilepsy and Seizures. Read 2026-10-23.
- NHS (UK). Alcohol misuse. Read 2026-10-23.