Aromatherapy & Pregnancy

Many women have used Essential Oils during the last two trimesters of pregnancy and childbirth with wonderful stories to tell. With the many benefits, there are also essential oils that are best not used during this amazing time.

Essential Oil Descriptions

Essential Oil Blends

Glossary of Terms

Methods of Use

Aromatherapy for Children

Aromatherapy & Pregancy

Generally, these listed essential oils are best avoided during the entire pregnancy:

Aniseed Basil Bay Birch Black Pepper Clary Sage Caraway Cinnamon Cedarwood Clove Cistus Cumin Camphor Fennel Hyssop Hops Juniper Marjoram Mace Myrrh Nutmeg Oregano Peppermint Parsley seed Pimento Berry Sage Spikenard Savoury Tarragon Thyme (Red & Linalol) Rosemary Wintergreen Valerian

The International Federation of Aromatherapists states the following essential oils should not be used:

Aniseed Bitter Almond Boldo Leaf Calamus Yellow Camphor Horseradish Jaborandi Leaf Mugwort Mustard Pennyroyal Rue Sassafras Savin Southernwood Tansy Thuja Wintergreen Wormseed

The essential oils that are generally safe to use during second and third trimester of pregnancy are:

Bergamot Grapefruit Lemon Lavender Mandarin Neroli Orange Petitgraine Rose (third trimester) Roman Chamomile Rosewood Sandalwood Tangerine Ylang-Ylang

It is recommended that essential oils are used after the first trimester of pregnancy, unless otherwise stated and that the amounts used, are to be cut in half of normal adult use.

The information above is a general guide developed for us by a Certified Aromatherapist. If you have questions or concerns you should always consult a certified aromatherapist before using any essential oils during pregnancy.