Essential Oils and Epilepsy: My Journey Through Seizure-Like Episodes, EEG Testing and Recovery

Are Essential Oils Safe for Epilepsy? A Clinical Aromatherapist’s Perspective

This is a question I was recently asked by one of our B Calm Ambassadors:

"Are essential oils safe if you have epilepsy?"

It’s such an important question and one that deserves more than a simple yes or no answer.

As a Clinical Aromatherapist, my response is always the same:

Some essential oils may be suitable for many people with epilepsy, but others require caution and individual assessment.

Epilepsy is highly individual. Triggers, medications, sensitivities and experiences vary widely from person to person.

But this topic is also personal to me.

My Own Experience With Seizures and EEG Testing

During one of the most stressful periods of my life, while experiencing chronic migraine, neurological symptoms and relentless head pain, my medical team began investigating whether I might be experiencing epilepsy.

I underwent an EEG (electroencephalogram), a test used to measure electrical activity in the brain.

Thankfully, the results showed I did not have epilepsy.

Instead, I was diagnosed with Non-Epileptic Seizures (NES), linked to severe stress and nervous system overload.

I experienced several episodes that presented like seizures.

I was advised that if I felt an episode coming on, I should lie down safely and allow it to pass.

It was a frightening and confusing time.

But it became a turning point in my understanding of health.

It shifted everything.

I stopped seeing health as something that only happens in a clinic, and started seeing it as something we build every single day.

The Healthcare Pyramid

I often describe health as a pyramid.

At the very top is acute medical care:

• Hospitals

• Emergency treatment

• Medication

• Specialist investigations

These are vital and sometimes lifesaving.

But they sit at the top because the goal is not to live there permanently.

The foundation is where health is built:

• Whole food nutrition

• Quality sleep

• Movement and mobility

• Stress regulation

• Nervous system support

• Hydration

• Connection and community

• Time outdoors

• Daily wellbeing rituals (including aromatherapy)

When the foundation is strong, everything above it becomes more stable.

For me, rebuilding those foundations changed my life.

Through nutrition, sleep, movement, stress reduction and holistic therapies including acupuncture, reflexology, breathwork and aromatherapy, my health slowly improved.

It took time.

But eventually my chronic migraines became episodic.

My seizure-like episodes stopped.

Today I occasionally experience manageable migraine symptoms, but I understand how to support my body early before things escalate.

Think of Health Like a Game of Jenga

Imagine your health as a tower of Jenga blocks. Every stressor removes a block:

• Poor sleep

• Skipped meals

• Chronic stress

• Illness

• Hormonal shifts

• Overwhelm

At first, nothing seems to happen. But over time, the structure becomes less stable. Then one small event can feel like it causes everything to collapse. But it was never just one thing. It was the accumulation of many. Wellness works in reverse. Every nourishing action adds a block back:

• Restful sleep

• Nutritious meals

• Movement

• Time in nature

• Calm moments

• Daily rituals

Essential oils sit within this foundation layer.

They are not a cure.

They are a supportive tool within a wider lifestyle approach.

Consistency is what matters most.

Why Some Essential Oils Require Caution in Epilepsy

Some essential oils contain naturally occurring compounds that may stimulate the central nervous system in sensitive individuals.

These include:

• Camphor

• Thujone

• Pinocamphone

• 1,8-Cineole (Eucalyptol)

Research and case reports have linked certain high-concentration oils to seizure activity in susceptible individuals.

This does not mean essential oils are unsafe for everyone.

It means caution and individual guidance are important.

Essential Oils Commonly Advised to Use With Caution

• Eucalyptus

• Rosemary

• Sage

• Hyssop

• Fennel

• Camphor

• Wormwood

• Spike Lavender (Lavandula latifolia)

Essential Oils Generally Considered Gentler Options

• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

• Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)

• Sweet Orange  (Citrus Aurantium Dulcis)

• Geranium (Pelargonium Graveolens)

• Roman Chamomile

• Ylang Ylang

Stress is one of the most commonly reported seizure triggers, which is why nervous system support is often discussed alongside epilepsy care.

B Calm Essential Oils and Blends

Breathe Calm

Sweet Orange, Lavender, Frankincense

A gentle blend often used for relaxation and emotional support.

Rest Calm

Geranium, Lavender, Frankincense

A calming blend for evening routines and sleep support.

Live Calm

Eucalyptus, Lemon, Peppermint

Because this blend contains more stimulating oils, I would recommend speaking with your healthcare professional before use if you have epilepsy or a history of seizures.

My Biggest Takeaway

Health is rarely created through one big intervention.

It is built through small, consistent choices made daily.

• How we sleep

• What we eat

• How we manage stress

• How we move

• What we expose ourselves to

• The rituals we repeat

Essential oils are not a cure.

But they can be part of a preventative wellbeing toolkit that supports daily nervous system balance.

That is the heart of B Calm.

Helping busy women create small, sustainable moments of calm in everyday life.

References & Trusted Sources

• Epilepsy Society (UK) – Complementary therapies and epilepsy
  https://epilepsysociety.org.uk/living-epilepsy/wellbeing/complementary-therapies

• Epilepsy Action UK – Complementary therapies
  https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/treatment/complementary

• Essential Oil-Related Seizures: Multicentre Study (2021)
  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0920121121000796

• Systematic Review: Essential Oils and Seizure Activity
  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6556313/

• International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists (IFPA)
  https://ifparoma.org

Frequently Asked Questions

Can essential oils trigger seizures?

Some oils containing camphor, thujone or high levels of eucalyptol may potentially lower seizure threshold in sensitive individuals.

Is lavender safe for epilepsy?

True lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is generally considered one of the gentler essential oils.

Can people with epilepsy use diffusers?

Many people can, but individual triggers vary, so medical guidance is recommended.

Which oils should be avoided?

Common caution oils include eucalyptus, rosemary, sage, hyssop, fennel and camphor-containing oils.

Are essential oils a cure for epilepsy?

No. They should never replace medical care or prescribed treatment.

Becky Pope
Founder of B Calm
IFPA Registered Clinical Aromatherapist
Advocate for preventative wellbeing and nervous system health