Can TTO be taken orally?
Fact: TTO is toxic if ingested in large enough quantities and is classified in Australia as a Schedule 6 Poison. Apart from data gleaned from the few cases of poisoning that have been reported in the medical and scientific literature, there are no oral toxicity data for TTO and humans so we do not know if, or how much TTO can be ingested safely. Where the literature reports cases of ingestion, effects such as in-coordination, ataxia and even coma have been recorded though in every instance the patient has recovered with no apparent long term harm. In the absence of data clearly showing that something is safe to ingest, the convention in medicine is to recommend that it not be ingested. Since there are no such data for TTO it cannot be recommended. The TTO contained in oral products such as toothpastes and mouthwashes is not considered problematic since it is expelled from the mouth and not swallowed. Special consideration needs to be given to the use of TTO during pregnancy and breast-
