Bitter Almond Essential OilBotanical Nomenclature: Prunus amygdalus Characteristics of Bitter Almond OilEssential oil of bitter almond should be clear and have a definite "almond" smell. It should be slightly sweet and may feel "wet" in the nose.Psychological AromatherapyBecause bitter almond oil is such a strong dermal irritant, it is never recommended for use in aromatherapy. In fact, aromatherapy expert Salvatore Battaglia lists it as a "hazardous" essential oil in his book The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy.Traditional Uses for Bitter AlmondBitter almond oil contains the poison prussic acid. As far as we can tell, bitter almond has never been accepted for medicinal use for any purpose.Serious Studies on Bitter Almond OilIn preparation for this article, we could find no scientific studies looking at bitter almond oil for any medicinal purpose.Safety IssuesUnrefined bitter almond oil contains a highly toxic poison known as prussic acid. Prussic acid is actually so toxic that only a few drops of bitter almond are potentially fatal. So it should come as no surprise that the sale of bitter almond oil is severely restricted in many jurisdictions--including the U.S., where it enjoys the status of a restricted substance.References: Battaglia, S. (2005). The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. FDA. (2007). Code of Federal Regulations. Leave Bitter Almond Essential Oil & return to Hazardous Essential Oils page.
|
