People get very worried about the use of aromatherapy and essential oils during pregnancy. Some, including some aromatherapists, even advise to not use any essential oils in any respect. Personally, I think that’s somewhat extreme, as well as a great shame, as many essential oils can be very helpful in assisting the potential mum through this time.
The Reasons
There are a variety of reasons that the subject of aromatherapy and pregnancy is now the subject of so much concern. And often people are left not knowing what, if anything they can use.
Not use in Pregnancy
- Oils that are poisonous or otherwise dangerous and must be avoided at all times, even when pregnant. These include bitter almond, arnica, boldo, broom, buchu, calamus, brown & yellow camphor, cassia, chervil, cinnamon bark, costus, deertongue, elecampane, bitter fennel, horseradish, jaborandi, melitotus, mugwort, mustard, oregano, pennyroyal, dwarf pine, rue, common sage, santolina, sassafras, savin, southernwood, savory, tansy, thuja, tonka, wintergreen, wormseed, wormwood.
- Other oils that require caution for anybody using them (again not only during pregnancy) include ajowan, aniseed and star anise, some kinds of basil, bay, white camphor, carrot seed, some kinds of cedarwood, cinnamon leaf, clove (leaf and bud), coriander, cumin, eucalyptus, sweet fennel, hops, hyssop, juniper, lemongrass, nutmeg, parsley, black pepper, spanish sage, tagetes, tarragon, thyme, tuberose, turmeric, turpentine, valerian.
- Commonly used oils that are normally safe but may have adverse effects when pregnant. These include angelica, basil, birch, calamintha, cedarwood, celery seed, citronella, clary sage, cypress, jasmine, labdanum, lovage, marjoram, melissa, myrrh, nutmeg, parsley, peppermint, lavender, yarrow.
Moreover there are some oils that are generally to be avoided in the first trimester, especially if there’s a history or threat of miscarriage, such as roman chamomile, geranium, lavender and rose.
The first class should be avoided, but in the main aren’t readily available anyway. The next should only be considered under the advice of a professionally qualified aromatherapist and generally utilized in very limited quantities and/or for a limited time period.
But why do some oils just become a risk during pregnancy? Well, some of these oils are emmenogogues and have a stimulating effect on the uterus. Some influence the hormones or have too strong an effect on a specific organ or system of the body. In addition, we don’t know to what extent oils used by the mother may affect the developing foetus, so any oils which might be too powerful for the kid ought to be avoided.
This amount of care is also required because the grade of essential oils can vary widely in the market. But under the guidance of a qualified aromatherapist, amazing benefits can be obtained by utilizing some essential oils during pregnancy.
How much oil should you use?
Never take essential oils internally. Always, but always, dilute essential oils before applying them to the skin. Never use them directly into the skin. If you’re pregnant, then accommodate any recipes by cutting down the amount of drops to kid sized doses, around half that for an adult. This softens the impact and also due to the fact that when pregnant, a woman’s sense of smell is often more acute, so full strength might appear overpowering. For instance if a recipe indicates 5 drops in 10 mls of carrier oil, then use just 2-3 drops. Less is often more in aromatherapy!
Essential oils used in vaporiser will take much less risk than any applied directly to the body, whether in a carrier oil, in a bath or as a compress. But err on the side of caution regarding how much you use.
Some useful and safe remedies for pregnancy
- Nausea – put 2-3 drops of ginger or spearmint oil onto a tissue and inhale.
- Oedema (swelling of feet or hands ) – place 4-6 drops of one of the following oils in a foot or hand bath (sweet orange, geranium, grapefruit) and soak
- Indigestion – dilute 1 drop of spearmint essential oil in 1 teaspoon of sweet almond oil and massage into the abdomen in clockwise direction.
Other oils which are usually safe to use include, lemon, sweet orange, mandarin, frankincense, lavender, sandalwood and tea tree.
Always make certain you’re using true essential oils as opposed to artificial or fragrance oils. See my post on choosing essential oils to find out more.
If you’ve got a family or personal history of miscarriage or your have been advised that your pregnancy is whatsoever brittle, please seek help from a professional aromatherapist regarding your specific situation before using essential oils. Professional advice is a fantastic idea for anybody contemplating using aromatherapy but especially so in pregnancy. And always let your health practitioner, physician, midwife or obstetrician know about anything you’re using or proposing to use.
