Pregnancy & Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy essential oils can be added to the bath, massaged into the skin, inhaled directly or diffused to scent an entire room. They can be uplifting, relaxing, disinfecting. Some have medicinal properties such as pain and inflammation reduction. However, to use these oils safely during pregnancy, you must follow some guidelines.

Safe Oils

• The following oils are safe to use during pregnancy: bergamot, chamomile, eucalyptus, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, neroli, patchouli, rosewood, sandalwood, tea tree and Ylang Ylang.

Benefits

• Eucalyptus is useful for nasal congestion; lavender can help reduce anxiety and assist with sleep; rosewood and lavender are calming; sandalwood is an anti-inflammatory and antidepressant; tea tree is an excellent disinfectant; Ylang Ylang is an antidepressant and sedative that may lower blood pressure.

Warning

• The following oils should not be used during pregnancy: basil, cedar wood, cinnamon, clary sage, clove, cypress, fennel, hyssop, jasmine, juniper, lemongrass, myrrh, parsley and pennyroyal. Some have hormone-like properties that could cause miscarriage or early labor, while others may be toxic to the baby.

Dilution

• Except for lavender and tea tree oils, which can be applied directly, all other oils need to be diluted in carrier oil such as jajoba or grapeseed. A 2.5 percent dilution is ideal: Add 15 drops of essential oil to 1 ounce of carrier oil.

Final Thoughts

• Essential oils are not the same as fragrance oils. Fragrance oils smell nice, however, they do not offer the same benefits as essential oils.