Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum)



Updated 27 January 2024

Botanical characteristics

  • Kingdom: Plantae 
  • Division: Magnoliophyta 
  • Class: Magnoliopsida 
  • Order: Ericales
  • Family: Ericaceae 
  • Genus: Rhododendron
  • Part used: Flowering twigs
  • Country of origin: Canada

Precautions for use

Caution! Labrador tea essential oil should be used with caution.

In fact, it can only be used by adults and adolescents, and certain forms of use should be avoided.

Topical application is the best tolerated form, but always with a 20% dilution in a vegetable oil.

Oral use is only possible under medical supervision.

Other precautions

Warning:

  • People with asthma or epilepsy should seek medical advice before using Labrador tea essential oil.
  • Consult a doctor for advice on prolonged use of this essential oil.
  • Consult a therapist before using your essential oil by ingestion.

Cutaneous use:

  • Labrador tea essential oil is irritating to the skin and should be diluted to 20% in vegetable oil before use.
  • Children over the age of 3 can use this essential oil on their skin, but only in very diluted form and on the advice of a doctor.

Allergenic components:

Labrador tea essential oil contains biochemical allergenic components:

  • Limonene (≤15%)
  • Linalool (≤1%)

Note: It is best to test the essential oil before use (two drops on the crease of the elbow for at least 24 hours to check for a reaction).

Authorised users

 Adults and adolescents

Children under 6 years

 Pregnant and breastfeeding women

 Pregnant women younger than 3 months

 Infants under 3 years old

How to use

 Inhalation

 Cutaneous

 Oral

 Diffusion

Risks of use

 Respiratory irritant

 Cortisone-like

Properties

  • Digestive stimulant, carminative, stomachic 
  • Decongestant and liver regenerator 
  • Anti-inflammatory, analgesic 
  • Antispasmodic 
  • Anti-allergic 
  • Antidepressant 
  • Soothing for the nervous system 
  • Air antiseptic 

Indications

​Directions for use/usual dosage

  • Local application: 4 diluted drops 3 times daily on the target organ to be treated. 
  • Oral use: 3 diluted drops 3 times daily.
  • Diffusion: in combination with other EOs

Find out more

This is a highly effective essential oil that deserves to be better known and studied. However, its high cost means that it has to be set aside in favour of less expensive, but often less effective, essential oils...