Drug & supplement interaction

Aromatherapy + Apixaban

Apixaban brand name: Eliquis.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Aromatherapy and Apixaban in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first.

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Interaction report

Aromatherapy and Apixaban

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Apixaban and Aromatherapy in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Aromatherapy at all — not against Apixaban, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Aromatherapy safety at a glance

Aromatherapy overall Use caution Generally low-risk when inhaled, but essential oils are concentrated and can irritate skin or be toxic if swallowed.
Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe When used orally. Some essential oils can cause severe side effects, including convulsions and kidney failure, when ingested in large amounts. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Use caution Safety is not well studied, so use cautiously and avoid applying oils near the breast or baby.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Apixaban and Aromatherapy? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

What Aromatherapy Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Apixaban. It is the side-effect record for Aromatherapy on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Aromatherapy, this list is the first place to look. 5 entries are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Unsteadiness Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Ingestion of undiluted oils can sometimes result in significant adverse events including convulsions, particularly in children (8,12,19). Essential oils with proconvulsant effects include rosemary oil, eucalyptus, camphor, fennel oil, hyssop oil, pennyroyal, sage oil, cedar, and thuja. Ingestion of camphorated oil 5-30 mL by children 5 years and younger has resulted in twitch, seizure, ataxia, and coma.”

    Aromatherapy · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in epilepsy.

    6 sources cited
    1. 8. Wichtl MW. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Ed. N.M. Bisset. Stuttgart: Medpharm GmbH Scientific Publishers, 1994.
    2. 12. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
    3. 19. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
    4. 105042. Bahr TA, Rodriguez D, Beaumont C, Allred K. The Effects of Various Essential Oils on Epilepsy and Acute Seizure: A Systematic Review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019;2019:6216745. PubMed
    5. 13444. Gouin S, Patel H. Unusual cause of seizure. Pediatr Emerg Care 1996;12:298-300. DOI
    6. 39583. Phelan, W. J., III. Camphor poisoning: over-the-counter dangers. Pediatrics 1976;57(3):428-431. DOI
  • Seizures Worth acting on Additional detail

    “The safety of aromatherapy oils, when used topically or by inhalation, depends on the type of oil used. See individual monographs for specific safety information. The oral use of essential oils is often unsafe.

    Most Common Adverse Effects:

    Topically: Skin irritation, photosensitization.

    Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):

    All routes of administration: Systemic absorption of large quantities of certain essential oils can…”

    Aromatherapy · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in epilepsy.

  • Kidney problems Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Ingestion of undiluted oils can sometimes result in significant adverse events including kidney failure (8, 12, 19). In a case report, a patient applied menthol and methyl salicylate (constituents of wintergreen oil) topically and used a heating pad concurrently. This resulted in increased absorption, leading to interstitial nephritis.”

    Aromatherapy · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in peripheral arterial disease (pad).

    1 source cited
    1. 68552. Heng, M. C. Local necrosis and interstitial nephritis due to topical methyl salicylate and menthol. Cutis 1987;39(5):442-444.
  • Shortness of breath / A higher chance of infection Worth acting on Additional detail

    “In one case report, a 34-year-old Japanese female presented with complaints of dyspnea, cough, and fever 2 weeks after initiating lavender essential oil therapy delivered via humidifier. The patient had an oxygen saturation of 88% and was diagnosed with acute eosinophilic pneumonia. Symptoms improved after a course of corticosteroids and discontinuation of aromatherapy.”

    Aromatherapy · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cough.

    1 source cited
    1. 109979. Kodama T, Watanabe T, Mataki N, Kanoh S, Kichikawa Y. Acute eosinophilic pneumonia following aromatherapy with essential oil. Respir Med Case Rep 2022;37:101657. PubMed
  • Liver problems Worth acting on Additional detail

    Recorded for Aromatherapy in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Seizures above.

  • Sun sensitivity Additional detail

    Recorded for Aromatherapy in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Seizures above.

  • Cough Additional detail

    Recorded for Aromatherapy in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Shortness of breath / A higher chance of infection above.

  • Drowsiness / Anxiety or restlessness Additional detail

    Recorded for Aromatherapy in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Unsteadiness above.

Showing the 10 most notable of 13 recorded effects — ranked by how unusual each one is across medicines generally, with serious effects weighted up.

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Aromatherapy — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We read the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of Apixaban’s FDA label too, and the two lists don’t meaningfully overlap — which is why no Apixaban column appears here.

Special populations

Aromatherapy in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe

When used orally. Some essential oils can cause severe side effects, including convulsions and kidney failure, when ingested in large amounts.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

Overlapping uses

What Apixaban Is Prescribed For, and What Aromatherapy Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Apixaban is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Aromatherapy is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Apixaban is prescribed for: Apixaban is used to reduce the risk of stroke and dangerous clots traveling through the body in adults with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (an irregular heart rhythm not caused by a heart valve problem). It is also used to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT — a blood clot in the leg) in adults after hip or knee replacement surgery, and to treat DVT and pulmonary embolism (PE — a blood clot in the lungs) in adults, including reducing the risk of those clots coming back. Eliquis (the brand-name tablet and kit) is additionally approved to treat venous thromboembolism (VTE — blood clots in the veins) and reduce the risk of recurrent VTE in pediatric patients from birth and older, after at least 5 days of initial anticoagulant treatment. The generic apixaban tablet carries the adult indications only.

Aromatherapy has been studied for:

  • Stroke studied, not established Aromatherapy has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Aromatherapy for stroke

    Although there is interest in using inhaled aromatherapy for hemiplegic shoulder pain in stroke patients, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of aromatherapy for this condition.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Apixaban on your own; if you are taking Aromatherapy for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Aromatherapy or Apixaban

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Aromatherapy or Apixaban, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Apixaban

This page covers Aromatherapy only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Apixaban page lists 285 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Danshen (major), Grapefruit (major), Piracetam (major) and St. John's Wort (major).

By severity: 5 major · 240 moderate · 40 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Apixaban page

“St. John's wort can weaken apixaban (Eliquis), speeding how the body clears this blood thinner and leaving you less protected from the strokes and clots it is prescribed to prevent.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Apixaban interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Aromatherapy and Apixaban Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Aromatherapy
Top half

#694 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Apixaban
Most looked up

#1 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Aromatherapy reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Aromatherapy and Apixaban records this page draws on were last updated July 11, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Aromatherapy

What is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy
  • Stress and relaxation
  • Anxiety
  • Sleep problems
  • Nausea
  • Headaches
  • Mood support

Aromatherapy uses scented essential oils, usually inhaled or applied to the skin, to support relaxation and well-being. Some studies suggest it may modestly help with stress, anxiety, and nausea, but evidence is limited and it should not replace medical treatment. When used carefully, it is generally low-risk, but essential oils are concentrated and can irritate skin or cause harm if swallowed.

Essential oils distilled or pressed from various plants (flowers, leaves, bark, peel, roots) · Essential oils for diffusers, inhalers, topical blends, massage oils, bath products

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Aromatherapy is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Aromatherapy record says about it on its own.

Aromatherapy: dosing

There is no standardized dose for aromatherapy. The amount used depends on the type of oil, the product, and how it is being used (diffuser, inhaler, skin, or bath).A good general rule is to use the smallest amount that gives the effect you want, and to follow the directions on the product label. When applying oils to the skin, always dilute them in a carrier oil first.

From our Aromatherapy monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Aromatherapy monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Apixaban

What Is Apixaban Used For?

Brand name: Eliquis

Apixaban is used to reduce the risk of stroke and dangerous clots traveling through the body in adults with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (an irregular heart rhythm not caused by a heart valve problem). It is also used to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT — a blood clot in the leg) in adults after hip or knee replacement surgery, and to treat DVT and pulmonary embolism (PE — a blood clot in the lungs) in adults, including reducing the risk of those clots coming back.

Eliquis (the brand-name tablet and kit) is additionally approved to treat venous thromboembolism (VTE — blood clots in the veins) and reduce the risk of recurrent VTE in pediatric patients from birth and older, after at least 5 days of initial anticoagulant treatment. The generic apixaban tablet carries the adult indications only.

See full Apixaban drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Aromatherapy

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Aromatherapy — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Aromatherapy against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Aromatherapy list.

See the full Aromatherapy interactions page
See every supplement checked against Apixaban, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Aromatherapy References

The 23 references that drive our Aromatherapy monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Wichtl MW. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Ed. N.M. Bisset. Stuttgart: Medpharm GmbH Scientific Publishers, 1994.
  2. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  3. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  4. Foster S, Tyler VE. Tyler's Honest Herbal, 4th ed., Binghamton, NY: Haworth Herbal Press, 1999. DOI
  5. Burkhard PR, Burkhardt K, Haenggeli CA, Landis T. Plant-induced seizures: reappearance of an old problem. J Neurol 1999;246:667-70. PubMed
  6. Darben T, Cominos B, Lee CT. Topical eucalyptus oil poisoning. Australas J Dermatol 1998;39:265-7. PubMed
  7. Gouin S, Patel H. Unusual cause of seizure. Pediatr Emerg Care 1996;12:298-300. DOI
  8. Phelan, W. J., III. Camphor poisoning: over-the-counter dangers. Pediatrics 1976;57(3):428-431. DOI
  9. Gibson, D. E., Moore, G. P., and Pfaff, J. A. Camphor ingestion. Am.J.Emerg.Med. 1989;7(1):41-43.
  10. Theis, J. G. and Koren, G. Camphorated oil: still endangering the lives of Canadian children. CMAJ. 6-1-1995;152(11):1821-1824.
  11. Skoglund, R. R., Ware, L. L., Jr., and Schanberger, J. E. Prolonged seizures due to contact and inhalation exposure to camphor. A case report. Clin.Pediatr.(Phila) 1977;16(10):901-902. PubMed
  12. Janes, S. E., Price, C. S., and Thomas, D. Essential oil poisoning: N-acetylcysteine for eugenol-induced hepatic failure and analysis of a national database. Eur.J Pediatr 2005;164(8):520-522. PubMed
  13. Spoerke, D. G., Vandenberg, S. A., Smolinske, S. C., Kulig, K., and Rumack, B. H. Eucalyptus oil: 14 cases of exposure. Vet Hum.Toxicol 1989;31(2):166-168.
  14. Hindle, R. C. Eucalyptus oil ingestion. N.Z.Med J 5-11-1994;107(977):185-186.
  15. Webb, N. J. and Pitt, W. R. Eucalyptus oil poisoning in childhood: 41 cases in south-east Queensland. J Paediatr.Child Health 1993;29(5):368-371. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Aromatherapy and Apixaban Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Aromatherapy with Apixaban?
We do not list a known interaction between Aromatherapy and Apixaban. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Are Aromatherapy and Apixaban used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Aromatherapy in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Apixaban is being adjusted to a target.
Does Apixaban interact with any supplements?
Yes. Apixaban has documented interactions with 285 supplements in our database — Aromatherapy is not one of them. The Apixaban interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Where next

Keep Exploring

Aromatherapy monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Apixaban drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Apixaban supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Apixaban, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 23 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Apixaban and Aromatherapy?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.