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Medical Oddities: Essential Oil, Deadly Consequences

A cabinet mix-up, a chatty heart, a violet catheter bag, stressed kids, and tea that won’t save the brain—just another week.

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A tragic case involved a 36-year-old male who accidentally ingested eucalyptus oil, mistaking it for cough syrup. Despite immediate medical intervention, he experienced severe complications including seizures, cardiac arrest, and ultimately death due to the toxic effects of 1,8-cineole, the primary component of eucalyptus oil. Additionally, studies highlighted the physiological responses of the heart to perceptual errors, the often-overlooked purple urine bag syndrome in catheterized patients, the impact of adverse childhood experiences on children's BMI, and the lack of evidence linking tea consumption to reduced brain tumor risk.

Original Source(s)

Medical Oddities: Essential Oil, Deadly Consequences

A cabinet mix-up, a chatty heart, a violet catheter bag, stressed kids, and tea that won’t save the brain—just another week.

  • by Teraya Smith

  • February 18, 2026

  • 5 min

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