Chenopodium Oil: Uses, Safety, and How to Use It

Chenopodium oil comes from plants in the Chenopodium family, most commonly Chenopodium ambrosioides (epazote). It’s a pungent, herb-like essential oil used traditionally as an insect control, a folk anthelmintic (to treat intestinal worms), and sometimes in topical blends. The oil works because it contains strong compounds like ascaridole, so you need to handle it with care.

The oil is usually made by steam distilling leaves and flowering tops. Main chemicals are ascaridole, p-cymene, and limonene. Ascaridole is the most active ingredient but also the one linked to toxicity when the oil is misused — that’s why dosing and dilution matter.

Practical uses and safe dosing

For home use, chenopodium oil is safest as a diluted topical or as a surface insect repellent. Typical topical dilution: 0.5–2% in a carrier oil. That equals about 3–12 drops of essential oil per 30 ml (1 oz) of carrier oil. Always do a patch test: apply a small diluted drop behind your ear or on the inner forearm and wait 24 hours to watch for redness, itching, or burning.

For pest control, mix 10–15 drops of chenopodium oil with 100 ml water and a little mild liquid soap in a spray bottle. Use on cracks, baseboards, or non-food surfaces. Don’t spray directly on food, open wounds, or near children and pets. Run a short diffusion cycle (10–15 minutes) if you want the scent indoors, but keep children and pets out of the room while diffusing.

People used chenopodium oil internally in older folk medicine for parasites. Modern safety guidance discourages unsupervised ingestion. Oral use can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or worse effects on the liver and nervous system if overdosed. If a medical professional recommends internal use, follow exact dosing and supervision only.

Safety, side effects, and buying tips

Chenopodium oil can be toxic at high doses. Avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Do not give it to infants or young children. If you have liver disease, epilepsy, or take medication that affects the liver or nervous system, check with your doctor before use. Common side effects: skin irritation, headache, stomach upset.

When buying, pick suppliers that offer a GC-MS report (a lab test showing the oil’s chemical profile) and clear dilution guidance. Look for pure, steam‑distilled oils in dark glass bottles. Store away from heat and sunlight and keep out of reach of kids. If accidental ingestion or heavy exposure happens, contact emergency services or your local poison control center right away.

If you want to use chenopodium oil, start with low dilutions, do a patch test, and ask a healthcare professional before internal use or use around vulnerable people. Treated with respect, it can help with some home tasks, but it’s not a casual remedy — safety first.