Essential Oils and Pregnancy
Essential oils and pregnancy have stirred a lot of debate, and it can be quite confusing to decide whether or not they should be used during pregnancy.
Some Facts About Using Essential Oils During Pregnancy
There are some essential oils that should never be used during pregnancy, these essential oils have the propensity to be toxic when not pregnant so when there is a pregnancy the harm to the fetus is unknown. Using essential oils during pregnancy should be approached with caution.
There are oils that are safe to use during pregnancy and can alleviate many of the negative symptoms of pregnancy.
Safe Essential Oils and Safe Practices
Chamomile, Lavender, Ginger, Tea Tree, Mandarin all can be used safely during pregnancy. There are a few good rules of thumb to follow to avoid any complications:
- Do not use any essential oils during the first trimester of pregnancy, this will reduce the potential harm that can be caused.
- Cut the recipe in half. If the recipe calls for four drops only use two. This will also reduce the likelihood of their being any side effects.
- Using a diffuser or a humidifier will also greatly reduce any potentially harmful side effects as opposed to applying it directly to the skin.
A woman’s sense of smell increases when she is pregnant so cutting back on the amount of essential oil that is used probably will not even be noticed.
Warnings for Pregnant Women
Essential oils and pregnancy can be perfectly safe, but there are some oils that should never be used to include:
- Sweet Birch Oil
- Pennyroyal
- Camphor
- Mustard
- Nutmeg
- Wormwood
- Wormseed
- Parsley
- Boldo
- Ajuwan
This is only a partial list for a complete list see a professional practitioner.
Using essential oils during pregnancy can be safe, but it should be approached with caution. If in doubt about an essential oil than just don’t use it. It is always better to err on the side of caution than to use something that may cause problems for you or your baby.
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Related Pages
German Chamomile Essential Oil
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