Olbas Oil is a remedy, of Swiss origin, for congestion in the chest and nose, some hayfever relief (in certain cases) and also for muscle ache via massage. It is made from a mixture of several different essential oils and has been marketed since before 1916. The name is a contraction of ''Oleum Basileum'', "oil from
Basel
, french: link=no, Bâlois(e), it, Basilese
, neighboring_municipalities= Allschwil (BL), Hégenheim (FR-68), Binningen (BL), Birsfelden (BL), Bottmingen (BL), Huningue (FR-68), Münchenstein (BL), Muttenz (BL), Reinach (BL), Riehen (BS ...
".
Risk of eye injury
Olbas Oil's packaging is similar to that of
eye drops
Eye drops or eyedrops are liquid drops applied directly to the surface of the eye usually in small amounts such as a single drop or a few drops. Eye drops usually contain saline to match the salinity of the eye. Drops containing only saline ...
, with the result that people occasionally administer it onto their eyes in error, causing injury.
The introduction of Olbas Oil into a child's eye contrary to the product's instructions for use, was noted to result in a range of adverse effects including
cornea
The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. Along with the anterior chamber and lens, the cornea refracts light, accounting for approximately two-thirds of the eye's total optical power ...
l scarring.
Available as
There are several trademarked olbas oil products available
* Olbas Oil
* Olbas for children
* Olbas inhaler
* Olbas Pastilles
* Olbas Menthol Lozenges
* Olbas bath
Active ingredients
Active ingredients are listed as;
*
Cajeput oil
Cajuput oil is a volatile oil obtained by distillation from the leaves of the myrtaceous trees '' Melaleuca leucadendra'', '' Melaleuca cajuputi'', and probably other '' Melaleuca'' species. The trees yielding the oil are found throughout Mariti ...
*
Clove oil
Oil of clove, also known as clove oil, is an essential oil extracted from the clove plant, ''Syzygium aromaticum''. Clove oil is commonly used in aromatherapy and for flavoring food and some medicines. Madagascar and Indonesia are the main produce ...
*
Eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus oil is the generic name for distilled oil from the leaf of ''Eucalyptus'', a genus of the plant family Myrtaceae native to Australia and cultivated worldwide. Eucalyptus oil has a history of wide application, as a pharmaceutical, ant ...
*
Juniper berry
A juniper berry is the female seed cone produced by the various species of junipers. It is not a true berry, but a cone with unusually fleshy and merged scales, which gives it a berry-like appearance. The cones from a handful of species, especial ...
oil
*
Levomenthol
Menthol is an organic compound, more specifically a monoterpenoid, made synthetically or obtained from the oils of corn mint, peppermint, or other mints. It is a waxy, clear or white crystalline substance, which is solid at room temperature and ...
*
Methyl salicylate
Methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen or wintergreen oil) is an organic compound with the formula C8H8O3. It is the methyl ester of salicylic acid. It is a colorless, viscous liquid with a sweet, fruity odor reminiscent of root beer, but often a ...
(
Wintergreen
Wintergreen is a group of aromatic plants. The term "wintergreen" once commonly referred to plants that remain green (continue photosynthesis) throughout the winter. The term "evergreen" is now more commonly used for this characteristic.
Mos ...
oil)
*
Peppermint oil Peppermint extract is an herbal extract of peppermint (''Mentha × piperita'') made from the essential oils of peppermint leaves. Peppermint is a hybrid of water mint and spearmint and was indigenous to Europe and the Middle East before it became c ...
References
Essential oils
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