Vaping has become increasingly popular as a smoking alternative, with many people picking up e-cigarettes with the mistaken understanding that it is healthier for them. In pursuit of health, some people are taking vaping a step further, by using essential oils as the “e-juice.” Aromatherapy, which utilizes essential oils, is believed to be a more holistic approach to health but, those benefits may not be as prominent as the risks. Previously, we focused on essential oils that are used topically or diffused into the air, but what about inhaling directly into your lungs? Here is what you need to know about this potentially dangerous health trend.
What Are Essential Oil Vapes?
Also known as diffuser sticks, personal diffusers, or aromatherapy vape pens, these battery-operated devices heat a mixture of essential oils, water, and vegetable glycerin into an aerosol or vapor that the user inhales. These are essentially the same as an e-cigarette or vape but use essential oils instead of nicotine. Some vapes can include vitamins and other supplements like melatonin or caffeine.
Why Do People Vape Essential Oils?
Essential oils have been touted for their potential wellness benefits, which may be why some people have taken to vaping them. People may consider vaping essential oils because they want to get more immediate effects, like alleviating stress and promoting relaxation. Manufacturers use health-oriented language that claim these devices are a “safer alternative to vaping [e-cigarettes], use ‘super plants’ to help ‘quitting smoking naturally,’ are a ‘healthier, cleaner’ product to ‘provide a sense of well-being,’ and alter your ‘respiratory diet,’” according to a study done in 2022. But the same study found that there is little evidence to support any of these claims and in fact, the toxicity of some essential oils is very well documented with side effects including hallucinations, seizures, and coma.
What Damage Can Vaping Essential Oils Do?
When essential oils are vaped, the concentrated plant oily extracts are heated to a temperature that allows them to turn into an aerosol, sometimes referred to as a “vapor”. This vapor is then inhaled into the lungs, where it is absorbed into the bloodstream. However, this heating process can alter the chemical composition of the essential oils and create harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These VOCs can have negative effects on the respiratory system and inhaling them directly through a vape pen can be extremely damaging. The vapor can cause inflammation and irritation in the lungs, and lead to symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. In more severe cases, it may result in conditions like lipoid pneumonia, a type of lung inflammation caused by the inhalation of oil-based substances.
Additionally, because essential oils are not regulated in the U.S., there is no way to ensure safety or know exactly what is in each bottle. Other chemicals have been found in essential oils, such as propylene glycol, methyl cyclopentenone, acetyl pyrazine, ethyl vanillin and diacetyl. Diacetyl is the chemical previously used in microwave popcorn to add a strong buttery flavor but found to cause irreversible lung damage and leading to the term “popcorn lung disease.” If vaped in high concentration, these chemicals can cause respiratory stress, lead to cellular damage and an increased risk of respiratory infections and chronic lung diseases.
Because it is a relatively new trend, little research has been done on essential oil vaping. However, a good amount of research has been done on e-cigarettes. One study showed that inhaling vaporized substances can lead to the deposition of fine particles in the lungs, which can impair lung function. This study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, found that e-cigarette use, which involves inhaling vapor, can cause lung inflammation and reduced lung function over time. Although this research primarily focuses on nicotine-based e-cigarettes, the principle applies to vaping essential oils, as the lungs react similarly to the inhalation of foreign particles.
As a rule, inhaling anything other than clean air into your lungs is not good for your health. Essential oils are no exception. To learn more read our previous article about essential oil usages.
Blog last updated: September 17, 2024
