Too much of anything is bad, and aromatherapy, a treatment which involves the use of essential oils for stress relief, is no exception. A study conducted by researchers in Taiwan suggests that prolonged exposure to essential oils may be harmful to heart.
The finding was based on a study, which involved 100 healthy workers from various spa (solus por aqua) centers in Taipei, Taiwan. The participants were made to inhale essential oil vapor for two consecutive hours, and the effects of essential oil on their heart rate and blood pressure were recorded. The level of volatile organic compound in the study room was measured during the study period.
According to the researchers, exposure to essential oil for 1 hour was associated with a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure as a relaxation response. However, after exposure for 75 min to 120 min, the participants experienced an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, indicating that exposure to essential oil for more than 1 hour may be harmful to cardiovascular health.
The study is published in the November 29 issue of European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.