Almonds can be made into two kinds of oil: sweet and bitter almond oil. When you see the words “pure almond oil” this actually stands for bitter almond oil, not the sweet kind. You have to be careful, as the bitter type is poisonous and should only be used internally in certain circumstances.
The bitter form of almond oil is light yellow in color and doesn’t have a discernable scent like sweet almond oil does. It has amaygdalin in it, which is a glycoside. When the almond oil is added to water, it turns into prussic acid, which is also called cyanide.
Some Cautions Apply to Bitter Almond Oil
However, due to the cyanide being present, it may still contain traces and that is why the consumption of bitter almond oil is not allowed. In addition, it is illegal to sell it in the U.S., but it can still be purchased in Europe.
If a product says on it, “pure almond oil” it means that it contains bitter almond oil.
Where does almond oil come from?
The almonds come from a tree that is grown in Western Asia and North Africa. It is also grown and cultivated in Spain, Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, and Tunisia. It takes about five pounds of almonds to get a half of an ounce of almond oil.
What is almond oil used for?
This type of almond oil is used in cuisine as a food flavoring agent, in some cosmetics as an emollient and in some types of alternative medicine. The majority of the medical uses are external due to its possible poisonous properties. It is also used as a lubricant in the repair of watches.
Here are some of the properties of almond oil that can be beneficial for various reasons:
- Reduction of Fever: The fact that bitter almond oil has toxic properties makes it able to be used to inhibit the growth of infections. This makes it have properties that can reduce fever. That is why it can be used as a fever reducer. However, even though this seems beneficial, it can still sometimes cause adverse effects.
- Dewormer: Since the oil is bitter and can be poisonous, it also can work well as a dewormer, but it must be used in very small quantities.
- Bacteria, fungus and virus fighting agent: The two ingredients of the bitter oil — Hydrogen Cyanide and Benzaldehyde, are also very poisonous to bacteria, germs, fungus, and viruses, so it can sometimes be used to fight infection.
- Sedative or Anesthetic: The toxic ingredient of Glycoside Amygdalin is also found in the oil. This agent affects the nervous system and makes it so the recipient can’t feel sensation or pain. For this reason, it should be used as a local anaesthetic and not as an oral one.
- Anti Spasmodic or Anti Hydrophobic: This oil has also been used to treat Hydrophobi, which is the rabies virus. Since the bitter oil is both poisonous and anti-viral, it was thought it would work well in fighting rabies. Plus, it was known to stop the convulsions and cramps seen with rabies.
- Aperient: Bitter oil is not digestible and so it can be given in low doses as a purgative to make someone throw up. However, the dose needs to be very small so it won’t cause other adverse reactions.
- Diuretic: When taken in very small amounts, it can work as a diuretic since the body tends to try to get rid of an irritant through urination. However, there are of course, safer methods for this purpose.
- Fights Cancer: Some research in almond oil has discovered that it may inhibit the growth of cancer cells in some kinds of cancer. More studies are being down in this field of research.
Due to its toxic properties, bitter almond oil can never be fed to children or used on old or debilitated people.
Other instances of almond oil use
Almond oil was used in ancient times by the Romans for things such as getting rid of intestinal parasites, and to treat fever. The Romans introduced it to England, where in the Middle Ages it was used both as a laxative and a diuretic. Plus, in various places it was also used as a cough suppressant.
Cancer Treatment Claims
The bitter form of almond oil has amygdalinin it, which can be used to make laetrile. Laetrile has been used all over the world as a treatment for cancer. The American Cancer society does not support this and says that the dangers of it outweigh the possible benefits, as the likely anti-cancer agent comes from the cyanide, which is of course, poisonous. The Food and Drug Administration therefore has banned the use of laetrile and so has Europe. However, it is allowed as a cancer treatment in Mexico.
Studies of laetrile have shown serious side effects such as headache, sleepiness, and dilated pupils, breathing problems, nausea, muscle weakness, dizziness and pain. In one study, a woman took it for five years and ended up with a decreased white cell count, which were restored to normal when she stopped the laetrile.
Another case showed a man who took 18 laetrile tablets all at once because he had missed his normal doses and he went into convulsions and had to get treatment for cyanide poisoning. Yet another case caused the death of an 11 month old child when she ingested five 500 mg laetrile pills, which caused a coma, irregular breathing and she died in four days.
All in all, these cases are perfect examples of why bitter form of almond oil shouldn’t be used as a home remedy since it has so many poisonous qualities. If used at all, it should only be under the direction of your physician.
