Which pair of oils is associated with increased brain activity and contraindicated in epilepsy?

• A. Sweet fennel and rosemary oils
• B. Basil and clary sage oils
• C. Cedarwood and sandalwood oils
• D. Frankincense and myrrh oils

Answer: (A)

The main concept here is recognizing oils that act as nervous system stimulants and can lower the seizure threshold. Sweet fennel and rosemary are classic examples of oils that heighten brain activity and alertness. Rosemary contains constituents like camphor and 1,8-cineole that strongly stimulate the central nervous system, while sweet fennel has compounds such as estragole that can be activating. In people with epilepsy, such CNS stimulation can increase the risk of seizures, so these oils are generally contraindicated.

The other pairs are more aligned with calming, grounding, or less activating effects on the nervous system, so they’re not typically flagged for epilepsy in the same way.