Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts made from things found in nature, like lavender, tea tree, and peppermint. They're often used as aromatherapy or applied topically to help with various ailments and conditions.

精油是从自然界中发现的东西，如薰衣草、茶树和薄荷中提取的高浓度提取物。他们经常被用作芳香疗法或局部应用，以帮助各种疾病和情况。

While more scientific research on the use of essential oils is needed, some studies have found that they can help lower cortisol levels, prevent anxiety, and fight microbes (via WebMD). Even though essential oils have been used for centuries, it doesn't mean they don't have associated risks. One significant risk that concerns health experts is related to quality. There are plenty of products on the market with unsubstantiated health claims, and since these products don't require FDA approval, they're not regulated by any governing or medical body. This means that you may not really know what's in that bottle of peppermint oil. Aside from quality issues, ingesting essential oils can be dangerous and pose serious health risks for you and other family members.

虽然需要对精油的使用进行更多的科学研究，但一些研究发现，精油有助于降低皮质醇水平，预防焦虑，对抗微生物。尽管精油已经使用了几个世纪，但这并不意味着它们没有相关的风险。健康专家关注的一个重大风险与质量有关。市场上有大量未经证实的健康产品，由于这些产品不需要FDA批准，因此不受任何管理机构或医疗机构的监管。这意味着你可能不知道那瓶薄荷油里有什么。除了质量问题外，摄入精油可能是危险的，会对您和其他家庭成员构成严重的健康风险。

What happens if you swallow an essential oil?

喝下精油会发生什么?

While some studies show the benefits of using essential oils for aromatherapy or for topical use on the skin, they should not be taken internally, according to the National Capital Poison Center. Potentially harmful effects can occur due to inconsistent plant species, contaminants, drug-interacting ingredients, or allergens. Some particularly dangerous outcomes include seizures, hallucinations, and coma.

根据国家首都毒物中心的说法，虽然一些研究表明使用精油进行芳香疗法或皮肤局部使用有好处，但不应内服。由于不一致的植物种类、污染物、药物相互作用成分或过敏原，可能会产生潜在的有害影响。由此会引发的一些特别危险的结果包括癫痫发作、幻觉和昏迷。

Essential oils can be particularly unsafe for children. Unfortunately, when young children ingest these oils or even use them topically, it can lead to serious health complications. The Vanderbilt University Medical Center saw a rise in children being admitted to their poison center for ingesting essential oils. "The rule of thumb in toxicology is 'the dose makes the poison' so all essential oils are potentially harmful," said Justin Loden, certified specialist in poison information at the Tennessee Poison Center. "In children, poisoning typically occurs when they try to swallow the oil, but choke so that a little of it goes into the lungs which causes pneumonia; it only takes 2 milliliters (less than half a teaspoonful) to do that."

精油对儿童尤其不安全。不幸的是，当幼儿摄入这些油甚至局部使用时，可能会导致严重的健康并发症。范德比尔特大学医学中心发现，因摄入精油而进入中毒中心的儿童人数有所上升。田纳西毒物中心毒物信息认证专家贾斯汀·洛登说：“毒理学的经验法则是‘剂量决定毒性’，因此所有精油都有潜在危害。”。“在儿童中，中毒通常发生在他们试图吞下精油，但呛住了，使一小部分精油进入肺部而引起肺炎，不用多，只要2毫升(不到半茶匙)就足够了。”

If you're starting to use essential oils, keep them securely away from children. Additionally, you may want to consult with your physician to discuss the risks, benefits, and proper usage of them first.

如果你开始使用精油，请将它们远离儿童。此外，您可能希望先咨询您的医生，讨论其风险、益处和正确使用。