We all know that catching a whiff of something good can bring you an instant, all-over feeling of well-being, so taking advantage of the study that has gone into aromatherapy to find the most beneficial aromas for you seems to make sense as well as scents!
There are some special considerations when using aromatherapy during pregnancy and by following these few, simple safety guidelines you can enjoy all of the benefits of essential oils without any concerns.
No one has run lab tests on pregnant women with essential oils, but oils that can cause cramping, contractions, blood thinning or any other effect that would be considered unsafe during pregnancy are best avoided during pregnancy.
Oils Best avoided during pregnancy include: Basil, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Clove, Fennel, Hyssop, Juniper, Lemongrass, Myrrh, Parsley, Pennyroyal, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sweet Marjoram, Thyme, Cypress (OK after 5 months), Clary sage (OK during labour), Geranium (OK after 3 months), Jasmine (OK during labour).
There are many oils that are considered beneficial during pregnancy for many reasons, but it is recommended that lower dilutions of about 2% essential oil per solution are used. Even in aromatherapy there is such a thing as too much of a good thing!
The following essential oils are said to have beneficial properties during pregnancy: Bergamot, Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Grapefruit, Lavender, Lemon, Mandarin, Neroli, Patchouli, Petitgrain, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Tangerine, Tea Tree, Ylang Ylang.
If you have allergies or a family history of allergies it may pay you to do a patch test of any oil before use.
You don’t have to limit yourself to oil burners or massage oils to enjoy aromotherapy, try a few drops of your favourite oil in the bath, or in the washing machine when you do a load of your maternity clothes or bed linen.