by Jackie Hart, MD
Q: I am a registered nurse interested in romatherapy and alternative health. Could you please tell me which aromatherapy oils should not be used during pregnancy?
A: Aromatic or essential oils, extracted from plants, flowers, wood resins and citrus peels, have been used therapeutically by Chinese, Indians, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans for nearly six thousand years. In modern-day culture, they are used frequently by massage therapists topically and by people who breathe them in with the use of a vaporizer.
There are many applications for essential oils during labor and delivery. You are right, though, to exercise caution when considering the use of aromatherapy in pregnant women, particularly during the first and second trimesters.
First of all, direct contact of essential oils to the skin should be avoided throughout pregnancy because skin reactions may be more common during this time; it is best to place the oils in a vaporizer and breathe them in through the air. A good time for this is right before falling asleep.
Secondly, essential oils that are not recommended for at least the first five months of pregnancy include Atlas cedarwood, cypress, lavender, myrrh, rose, rosemary, basil, fennel, and marjoram; potential complications include spotting of blood and alteration in blood pressure and, therefore, I believe it is safest to avoid these particular essential oils throughout the entire pregnancy. Clary sage, juniper, and jasmine should not be used during pregnancy until the time of delivery, because they may induce premature labor.
During labor, frankincense, geranium, lavender, rose, ylang-ylang or neroli oils can facilitate relaxation and focus; in addition, studies suggest that frankincense, rose and lavender actually reduce the need for pain medication during delivery. Jasmine and clary sage may also help alleviate pain as delivery approaches at the same time that they strengthen contractions. Ylang-ylang, clary sage, and jasmine may have the added benefit of diminishing post-partum depression.
Any pregnant woman should consult her physician before using any essential oils during pregnancy, labor, or delivery.
Q: I am a registered nurse interested in romatherapy and alternative health. Could you please tell me which aromatherapy oils should not be used during pregnancy?
A: Aromatic or essential oils, extracted from plants, flowers, wood resins and citrus peels, have been used therapeutically by Chinese, Indians, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans for nearly six thousand years. In modern-day culture, they are used frequently by massage therapists topically and by people who breathe them in with the use of a vaporizer.
There are many applications for essential oils during labor and delivery. You are right, though, to exercise caution when considering the use of aromatherapy in pregnant women, particularly during the first and second trimesters.
First of all, direct contact of essential oils to the skin should be avoided throughout pregnancy because skin reactions may be more common during this time; it is best to place the oils in a vaporizer and breathe them in through the air. A good time for this is right before falling asleep.
Secondly, essential oils that are not recommended for at least the first five months of pregnancy include Atlas cedarwood, cypress, lavender, myrrh, rose, rosemary, basil, fennel, and marjoram; potential complications include spotting of blood and alteration in blood pressure and, therefore, I believe it is safest to avoid these particular essential oils throughout the entire pregnancy. Clary sage, juniper, and jasmine should not be used during pregnancy until the time of delivery, because they may induce premature labor.
During labor, frankincense, geranium, lavender, rose, ylang-ylang or neroli oils can facilitate relaxation and focus; in addition, studies suggest that frankincense, rose and lavender actually reduce the need for pain medication during delivery. Jasmine and clary sage may also help alleviate pain as delivery approaches at the same time that they strengthen contractions. Ylang-ylang, clary sage, and jasmine may have the added benefit of diminishing post-partum depression.
Any pregnant woman should consult her physician before using any essential oils during pregnancy, labor, or delivery.