Lavender and tea tree oils can cause a female men's bust

Side effects of an aromatherapy?

Exposing boys to certain vegetable oils can trigger abnormal breast growth, also known as prepubertal gynaecomastia. Especially lavender or tea tree oil seem to bring about this effect. These oils are found in cleansing and personal care products, but are also widely used in aromatherapy.

• Vegetable oils can affect boys in development.
• Lavender and tea tree oil promote prepubertal gynecomastia.
• Essential oils are included in many products.
• Some chemicals contained are potential endocrine disruptors.
• Many of the tested substances are contained in at least 65 other essential oils.

Researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) found in their current research that vegetable oils such as lavender or tea tree oil can lead to prepubertal gynecomastia. The experts published the results of their study at the 100th Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society in Chicago (ENDO 2018).

What are lavender or tea tree oil used for?

Lavender or tea tree oil contains certain key chemicals that act as endocrine disruptors in these common vegetable oils. These essential oils are used for medical treatments, as personal care and cleansing products, and in aromatherapy. But various everyday products also contain lavender and tea tree oil, including some soaps, lotions, shampoos, hair styling products and detergents.

Are essential oils harmless?

"Our company considers essential oils to be safe," said study leader J. Tyler Ramsey of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). "However, they contain a variety of chemical compounds and should be used with caution as some of these compounds are potential endocrine disruptors," the expert adds in a press release. An endocrine disruptor is a substance in the environment that interferes with hormones and their actions in the body.

How do essential oils affect puberty??

Male gynecomastia, which occurs before puberty, is actually relatively rare. However, an increasing number of cases have been associated with topical exposure to lavender and tea tree oil. However, this effect disappeared after the boys no longer used the oil-containing products, the researchers explain. Lavender and tea tree oil seem to have estrogen-like properties and cause testosterone-inhibiting activities. That is, these oils compete or hinder the hormones that control male characteristics, which could affect puberty and growth.

What was investigated?

Out of the hundreds of substances contained in lavender and tea tree oil, scientists selected eight components for their analysis. Four of the tested substances are available in both oils: Eucalyptol, 4-Terpineol, Dipenten and Alpha-Terpineol. Other substances were included in each of the oils: linalyl acetate, linalool, alpha-terpinene and gamma-terpinene. The substances were applied to human cancer cells to measure changes in estrogen receptor and androgen receptor target genes and so-called transcriptional activity.

The substances stimulate gynecomastia in boys

All eight substances had different estrogenic and / or antiandrogenic properties, with some showing high or low to no activity, the researchers reported. These changes were consistent with endogenous or physical hormonal conditions that stimulate gynecomastia in prepubertal boys, adds Ramsey.

Harmful substances are also contained in many other oils

Many of the tested substances are found in at least 65 other essential oils, says the study author. Essential oils are available free of charge without a prescription. Therefore, the public should be aware of these results and take into account all evidence before deciding to use essential oils. Lavender oil and tea tree oil are a potential environmental burden, which should be examined more closely, adds the physician. (As)