Using oils during pregnancy

[kvetbudqiklicleek]

Hi all

Would appreciate some advice on the use of eo's during pregnancy. As yet I've not had to treat anyone while pregnant so not had much experience on that side (apart from knowing which ones to use etc). Thing is I've not long found out I'm pregnant and hate the thought of not being able to use them. I had a miscarriage in january so am really erring on the side of caution so not going to use them in the first three months. However . . . would like to know your opinions on using them. Do you think it is just hype and people being over cautious when they say don't use during pregnancy? When you think of the amount of chemicals we use every day in face creams, body lotions etc would eo's be really that bad? (unless of course didn't use low dilutions). When you read the pregnancy magazines most of them always include aromatherapy remedies in their articles, without stating it may be unsafe to use during pregnancy. My other quesiton is what about products you buy from the shelf that contain for instance lavender (which shouldn't be used in first three months), there isn't generally a statment saying do not use during pregnancy. (or is there?).

My last point is does the use of eo's just apply to using on the skin or will it also be as a burner? Again in some of the magazines it recommends burning lavender to help sleep or perhapss peppermint for headaches but again these are contraindicated during the first three months.

Sorry for ranting, I know I should know all this but I think with having a previous miscarriage would like some better expert advice (which I could pass on to pregnant clients in the future).

Thanks
Tracey

 

[reese]

eo's can help in pregnancy but due to your recent miscarriage you are wise to be cautious.
The one eo which is deemed safe with all pregnant ladies is mandarin. Holistically speaking it breathes a message of happiness, especially to children and the child within each of us. It helps us to get in touch with the inner child. It is relaxing, uplifting and can also aid sleep.
Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[Missy.]

Congratulations! I hope it's an easy pregnancy this time

I think when you are the therapist, you have to be much much much more careful about using essential oils when pregnant than if you are using essential oils on a pregnant client - "safe to use during pregnancy" refers to the client having a treatment every so often, not to the therapist with essential oils all over their hands all day. I've heard of more issues with miscarriages or problems falling pregnant from aromatherapists than massage therapists that don't use essential oils.

Essential oils are chemical compounds, natural chemical compounds, but still chemicals. Reducing exposure to chemicals during pregnancy is a good idea -cleaning products, filling the car up with petrol, not getting the house fumigated, etc and essential oils, are all examples of chemical exposure, some can't be avoided, but some can, either by just not using them or changing to something of less concern (eg not using oven cleaner). I really don't care about essential oils safe/not safe during pregnancy, it's just reducing the chemical load on the body. Oils regarded as safe, I am seeing so many peoplesensitive to lavender these days because of over use, too much of a good thing is not good, too much carrot juice turns you orange.


As for off the shelf products, like hand cream, most of them will not have theraputic grade essential oils, probably EOs adulterated with synthetic bulking compounds (linaloo replacing lavender etc), so less of a concern regarding the essential oils (more of a concern about the synthetic compounds!) Also, for the average purchaser, they'll put it on once a day, maybe twice a day, much less exposure than a therapist treating 4 or 5 clients in a day, plus self care products.

Add the fact that most of the "safe during pregnancy" studies are done by the manufacturer (eg Vicks is safe to use on the chest during pregnancy according to studies paid for by Vicks - you look at the Vicks ingredients and most aromatehrapists would say it's not safe, but used for a week when the mother to be has a bad chest it's probably OK, used by a pregnant therapist for 9months on clients, the effect on the therapist has NOT been studied.)

I have pregnant cleints with swollen feet use an aloe/menthol lotion on their feet, they usually just put it on when they remember when their feet are bad, I'm not concerned by the exposure to menthol during pregnancy -if they were using it all over their bodies 3 times a day, I would be, but it's an expensive foot cream, they're not going to slather it all over.

It's just a balance between modern life and avoiding chemical exposure where possible, and essential oils used on clients is one area you can easily reduce exposure to chemicals that can get in the amniotic sack. [link=http://www.ewg.org/reports/bodyburden2/execsumm.php]http://www.ewg.org/reports/bodyburden2/execsumm.php[/link]is mainly about exposure to obvious nasties, but why add to the chemical load, even if the chemicals are natural?

 

[John Treason]

Hi

Just wanted to say thanks for the advice you have both given. You've made me feel a bit more at eases and have raised a good few points. I've stopped treating people just now for aromatherapy treatments so would only be using the oils on myself, which I might do a little later in pregnancy. Just wasn't too sure about diffusing them in the air etc.

Thanks again.
Tracey