Oils in pregnacy

[Carlito]

Is there any oils which must be avoided in pregnancy?

 

[As Sa]

Most of them! The simple answer (though no doubt there are other views) is that all should be avoided in the first three months, and only mandarin is safe thereafter. That's what aromatherapy students are taught nowadays, anyway.

 

[Pompal 09.]

even things like tee tree oil i put that onmy face last night had a spot he he! ooh well i will leave them alone for now.

Thanks

 

[shootcolt]

Sorry, as with all things in aromatherapy, I disagree. In the first three months, I was taught you can safely use lavender, tea tree, mandarin, rose and chamomile, so long as you aren't introducing a new oil, and you use small amounts and dilute them well. After that, you can add Frankincense, Sandalwood, Rosewood, lemon...can't remember what else. If in doubt, go and see an aromatherapist!!

My "definitely don't use" list is: Angelica, aniseed, Basil, clove, cinnamon, fennel, hyssop, juniper, lemongrass, nutmeg, oregano, red thyme. (I've left out some rarer ones). Jasmine and Clary sage are best reserved until you're in labour.

I'm sure other people will give you yet more different perspectives!

Nellx

 

[Mistress Mayhem]

That is just the problem, there are so many differing views and in most cases, there won't be a problem, but if there was, the therapist could leave themself vulnerable to blame.

This is the FHT's view on aromatherapy in pregnancy and anyone who uses their particular insurers, would have to follow this to ensure they are covered.

[link=http://www.fht.org.uk/whats/a_aromatherapy_pregnancy.htm]http://www.fht.org.uk/whats/a_aromatherapy_pregnancy.htm[/link]

Lesley

 

[hanoverianluvr95]

I think i will just play it save and avoid all oils for the time being as i dont want to chance it and there are a lot of diffrent views out there. I do not feel its worth the risk and i am only 5 weeks just now.

Thanks for all your comments i am very grateful.

Liz xxx

 

[icrxfxnh]

Im 5 months pregnant and an aromatherapist full time .i have used most oils in my treatments except for clary sage as i want it to be potent in my labour and hyssop as i feel this should be avoided due to its high ketone content.I dont feel i am using essential oils in such high concentrations to cause any problems? But then i dont know of any other pregnant aromatherapists so i have just played it by ear? or by nose!

 

[Bubbles]

I agree that most oils can be used safely in pregnancy but use at a 1% blend (i.e. 5 drops in 25 mls base oil) and I would probably avoid neat use simply because the skin tends to increase its sensitivity during pregnancy. I have just completed a post-grad pregnancy course with Neals Yard and we were given the following info:

"Robert Tisserand has thoroughly investigated all the published research on the safety of essential oils........there is no reason for pregnant women to avoid them as long as they are not taken orally, and with the exception of the following:

Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora)
Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)
Indian dill seed (Anethum sowa)
Parsley leaf (Petrosilenum sativum)
Parsleyseed ( " ")
Sage (Dalmation) Salvia officinalis
Sage (Spanish) Salvia lavandulifolia
Savin (Juniperus sabina)"

No essential oils or essential oil components have ever been known to cause abortion in humans unless they were ingested.

Only one essential, pennyroyal oil, has ever been known to cause abortion in humans, in one single case.

No commercially available essential oils has ever been known to cause fetal malformations, either in humans or animals.

I understand your concern. I began studying aromatherapy when I was pregnant with my second child and was very concerned as I had previously suffered two miscarriages (I was not using oils at all during those two pregnancies). The only advice I can offer is work safely with the oils at a low dosage and personally, I would avoid clary sage, jasmine and rose until the final week or so of pregnancy when you may want to use them to help get things going or as someone else said, to strengthen their effect during labour. During my time at the Tisserand Institute, 5 of my colleagues were pregnant and we all continued using oils throughout, to good effect.

Enjoy your pregnancy and please dont worry about the oils - in my experience, they enhance what is already a wonderful period in your life

 

[Mrs.Ploughe]

Thansk for all the advice i think i will use some of my oils during this pregnancy as they realy help me relax and get a good sleep but at the moment i am not sleeping well so i really need to do something to help.

Thanks for putting my mind at ease, i think there is alot of niews on this so its just finding a balance to suit the person really the things is anyway is i do not use oils all the time anyway but do enjoy burning some in the evening now and again to help relax after hard day in the office.

Thanks so much