Many people are very concerned about whether or not they can or should use aromatherapy and essential oils during pregnancy. I recently wrote about what to avoid during pregnancy, so this article is about positive ways of using aromatherapy safely to help & benefit you in pregnancy.
We often
see such long lists of essential oils to avoid, that you would be forgiven for asking if there are any left that are safe to use. The answer is definitely yes. Essential oils generally considered safe during pregnancy are -frankincense, ginger, grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, sweet orange, petitgrain, sandalwood, spearmint, tea tree and ylang ylang.
Also generally considered safe but best avoided in the first trimester, especially if you have a history of miscarriage, are roman chamomile, geranium and lavender.
Now, how do you use the oils?
Firstly remember that you always use a carrier. The simplest carrier is air – which is what is used when you inhale the essential oil vapour – the oil is diluted by the air. Inhaling or using a vaporiser (or “oil burner”) is a very safe method to use when pregnant as less of the oil is taken in.
You can add essential oils to baths for a great way to relax. When pregnant, use no more than 4 drops in a full bath & remember to mix them in well just before getting in (essential oils do not dissolve in water but can be dispersed in water by this method.)
You can also blend essential oils into carrier oils, such as jojoba or sweet almond, to make your own massage or body oils. For during pregnancy I recommend a concentration of .5 to 1.5% essential oil. If you find your sense of smell has become more acute during your pregnancy, opt for the lower amount. A 1% dilution equals approximately 20 drops of essential oil in every 100ml of carrier oil.
Some specific remedies that may come in useful are –
Morning Sickness (spearmint, ginger, petitgrain, sweet orange) Put 1-2 drops of any one oil on a tissue and inhale vapours. Or use 3 drops in a vaporiser overnight as you sleep. (Use an electric vaporiser for safety.)
Backache (lavender, lemon, roman chamomile) Add 10 drops lavender, 2 drops roman chamomile and 4 drops lemon to 50ml sweet almond oil and use for massage.
Oedema (swelling) (lime, orange, grapefruit, geranium) Place 2-3 drops in total of one or more of these oils in a footbath of warm water.
Stretch Marks (to help prevent) (lavender, mandarin, frankincense, roman chamomile) Mix 50 ml apricot kernel oil, 15ml calendula oil, 15ml hypericum oil, 20ml rosehip oil with 10 drops lavender, 12 drops mandarin, 6 drops, frankincense and 2 drops roman chamomile. Massage daily into abdomen from breasts to top of thighs.
Leg Cramps (geranium, lavender) Add 1 drop of each oil to a footbath of warm water.
Heartburn (sandalwood, petitgrain, roman chamomile, sweet orange, lemon, mandarin, lavender) Add 1 drop sandalwood, 3 drops petitgrain and 5 drops mandarin to 30 mls sweet almond oil and use to massage abdomen in clockwise direction.
Insomnia (sandalwood, ylang ylang) Add 1 drop of each oil on a tissue & tuck inside pillow case to aid sleep through the night.
Stress and emotional imbalance (geranium and mandarin) Combine 2 drops of each in a vaporiser to help to relax and calm the whole household.
Remember never to take essential oils internally. Always dilute them before applying to the skin. Also if you have a personal or family history of miscarriage or have been advised that your pregnancy is at all fragile, then I strongly recommend that you seek the advice of a professional aromatherapist regarding using essential oils during your pregnancy. They can advise you on the oils that would be safe for you to use. In fact anyone who wants to use essential oils during pregnancy would be wise to consult a qualified aromatherapist regarding using essential oils.
(You can read more on this subject as well as other articles about aromatherapy on my website.)
Wendy Mackay MIFA
(February 2008) (
