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General health

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Original poster

olbas oil dangerous for babies? Has anybody heard about that?

21 replies

emkana · 20/11/2006 22:29

On German websites I have read that you shouldn't use olbas oil and similar products for babies because they can be dangerous - apparently they can lead to a sort of shock reaction where babies even stop breathing sometimes. Or they can "just" lead to increased mucus production, thereby leading to an infection taking hold/getting worse.

Has anybody heard anything about this? I use Olbas Oil for ds all the time and feel a bit bad now, as if I have actually caused his chest infections by letting him breathe Olbas Oil and therefore letting an infection get worse...

OP posts:

popsycal · 20/11/2006 22:29

it is something beginng with a C
someone with a memory will be along soon

popsycal · 20/11/2006 22:30

camphor

popsycal · 20/11/2006 22:31

you won't have caused his problems though

think you can get olbas oil suitable for little ones
karvol is another alternative

Original poster

emkana · 20/11/2006 22:51

So does Olbas Oil contain Camphor?

Thanks for answering btw!

OP posts:

sideways · 20/11/2006 22:53

There is a children's version you can buy.

yeahbutnobut · 20/11/2006 23:01

did a medchem course many years ago..IIRC menthol is an alpha agonist, makes the heart race.

very small babies have no head-turn reflex & we were told one died because a parent broke a Karvol capsule on their pillow.

google menthol & alpha agonist for more info. but I think that's why.

elibumbum · 20/11/2006 23:17

Olbas oil have a version suitable for babies from 3 months.

fortyplus · 21/11/2006 00:03

Don't put olbas oil directly on his pillow - stings like hell if it goes in his eye.

lulumama · 21/11/2006 00:08

emkana...don't blame yourself!

i use junior olbas oil and snuffle babe on DD...olbas oil..a couple of drops on a hanky tied to the top of the cot or a drop on her babygro....

juuule · 21/11/2006 09:20

OMG - I've gone goosebumpy now. When my now 11yo dd was 8wks old we had a terrible experience where she stopped breathing. It took the hospital almost an hour to stabilise her. They did blood tests, lumbar puncture and filled her with antibiotics. They suspected early meningitis but no definite cause was found. It is down on her notes as a near miss cot-death.
Now I know that night I had put a few drops of Olbas oil on a piece of muslin that I pinned to the hood of the carrycot she was sleeping in at the time as she had a bit of a cold and was a bit snuffly. I have always felt it was that which caused a reaction in her. When I mentioned it at the follow up appointment my suggestion was dismissed and I was told that it wasn't that at all. Regardless I have never had Olbas oil in the house since and definitely avoided any of my subsequent babies being in contact with it.
I would never posted a warning against Olbas oil as I thought it was my own fears, with the hospital doctor being so dismissive of my suggestion. Plus I've never seen anything until this thread which would support my fears. But given the title of the thread I thought I would post my experience.
Of course, it may just have been coincidence, but reading the title of this thread brought it all back.

sideways · 21/11/2006 13:42

Thanks for sharing that juule.

So glad your dd is ok!

HaggisSupper · 21/11/2006 13:49

I always use Olbas Oil when my two have a snuffly nose. It actually says on the bottle 'suitable from 3 months' which is why I could never understand why they have a junior one as well.

I might have a bit of a rethink about using it now though

Helennn · 21/11/2006 13:52

In my health visitor's room there is a poster stating that if a baby swallows Olbas oil it can kill them! (Can't remember quantity needed). Therefore warning mums to be very careful where they leave the bottle. Obviously we are not talking about babies having swigged out of the bottle here but there is something obviously very powerful in that little bottle!!

nearlythree · 21/11/2006 23:08

emkana, junior Olbas doesn't contain Camphor, I looked at my bottle! My guess is that the junior one is going to be gentler. It does bring my dd1 out in a rash so we are careful where we put it on her pillow.

juule, how scarey for you!

Original poster

emkana · 22/11/2006 22:57

Juule, that must have been awful!

Nearlythree, it does contain Eucalyptus though, which is bad according to what I read on German sites.

OP posts:

nearlythree · 23/11/2006 08:16

I will have a look for you. In one of my aromatherapy books, a particular type of eucalyptus is said to be good for babies. Hang on.

Okay, it does have eucalyptus, and cajuput, clove, juniperberry and dementholised mint.

I will see later if it is in Karvol but must rush now. How is ds?

nearlythree · 23/11/2006 08:16

Sorry, emkana, I thought you were asking (in a rush as usual)

doyouwantfrieswiththat · 23/11/2006 09:30

interesting info...but breast milk yoghurt(!)

nearlythree · 23/11/2006 09:34

That's interesting. We put Olbas on tissues in their pillowcases for the dds but I've always vapourised it for my babies and do so for ds who is 5 mo.

joelallie · 23/11/2006 11:57

carvol is meant to be for LO's. I've heard that olbas isn't good for them and i've only used it since DS#1 and DD were school age. I don't know why it's dangerous but I do know it hurts like hell if you get it in your eyes or in a cut. Anyway they hate it.

bovvered · 23/11/2006 12:08

What about baby vicks? Anyone know if the same applies?

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