Traditional medicated oil is still commonly used today as a topical remedy to treat colds and relieve pain. However, some people, in an attempt to recover quickly, mix medicated oil with water and drink it. This causes the essential oils to be absorbed into the bloodstream, leading to complications such as blood vessel congestion, blood clotting disorders, and even very rapid death right after ingestion.

Doctors from the Emergency Department of 115 People’s Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City) reported: Not long ago, Mrs. KH. (from Binh Phuoc) was admitted to 115 People’s Hospital in a state of exhaustion, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Her family said that she had stomach pain, so she mixed medicated oil with water and drank it to "warm her stomach." After that, she developed symptoms of exhaustion, fatigue, and shortness of breath, so she was first taken to a local hospital. Due to her critical condition, she was then transferred to 115 People’s Hospital.

The diagnosis revealed that Mrs. KH. suffered from respiratory depression and circulatory depression. The amount of essential oil absorbed into her body was excessive, causing metabolic acidosis, which made her tired, short of breath, and breathe rapidly. Due to severe respiratory and circulatory failure, Mrs. KH. passed away shortly afterward.

According to the doctors: Medicated oil has pain-relieving properties, but it should only be applied externally on bruised, non-bleeding areas. If applied to an open wound, the essential oils can be absorbed into the bloodstream and cause serious complications such as blood vessel congestion, clotting disorders, and very rapid death.

Previously, 115 People’s Hospital had recorded several cases where patients were in critical condition after applying medicated oil to bleeding wounds. However, because they were brought to the hospital and treated in time, all of them were saved.