Guide to essential oils during pregnancy

Essential oils are useful in everyday life: well-being, home maintenance, care ... If they are natural, but they are not harmless. They should therefore be handled with care, especially during pregnancy and with a young baby. They are also prohibited for infants under 3 months.

The risks associated with the use of essential oils

In theory, essential oils are totally prohibited during pregnancy, and in the absence of advice from a therapist, it should be avoided. Although this is an excess of precaution, most essential oils are strictly prohibited during the first three months. Why ? Because they risk crossing the barrier of the placenta, posing a danger to the developing fetus and can even cause spontaneous abortions. Since essential oils are lipophilic and fat soluble, they can be found in fetal tissue and in breast milk for nursing mothers. However, some can be used from the 4th month, after consultation with a doctor / pharmacist: these are essential oils that do not close any toxic molecules.

Basic precautions for pregnant and breastfeeding women

• buy your organic essential oils: their quality will depend on their effectiveness as well as their harmlessness
• keep your bottles of essential oils out of the reach of children
• essential oils have powerful active ingredients to be used with discernment and caution, especially on children under 3 years old < / span>
• do not apply essential oil on and near mucous membranes (eyes, mouth, ears, etc.)
• in case of burn with essential oil, do not use water, but oil ( essential oil is not water soluble)
• to use essential oils in bath water, dilute them in a few drops of bubble bath or shampoo
• as far as possible, do not use essential oil without diluting it: mix it with an oil or a vegetable butter. Only a few rare essential oils can be used pure (fine lavender, tea tree, palmarosa, aspic lavender)
• don't have fun making homemade blends, without prior knowledge or medical advice < / li>
• respect the mode of use as well as the recommended dosage: if the essential oil must be used diluted, do not especially not ingest. If it's a drop twice a day, don't take it five times a day.
• do not substitute one essential oil for another. The same aromatic plant can be classified in several categories (called "chemotypes" or "chemical race" in aromatherapy). Different factors such as the place of growth, sunlight, soil, climate ... modify the molecular structure of the plant. Botanically it is the same plant, but chemically it is as if we are dealing with different species. And the danger is to find oneself in front of a plant possessing in itself several chemotypes, from the most harmless to the most toxic! This is the case with thyme, lavender, mint etc ... For example, if field mint is allowed during pregnancy, peppermint is strictly prohibited. It is therefore not a question of buying "mint", but an essential oil with a precise chemotype
• do not apply essential oil to the abdominal belt during pregnancy.

Essential oils authorized from the 2nd trimester of pregnancy (& gt; 4 months)

Many drugs are prohibited during pregnancy, of course.groin essential oils can be helpful in relieving many ailments! They should be used only from the 4th month, and during breastfeeding, always on the advice of a professional. These are essential oils dominated by monoterpenols, monoterpenes and esters that can be used. Here are the least toxic essential oils, which can be used by the expectant mother, but always on medical advice:

Bergamot, Rosewood, Ho wood, Noble chamomile (Roman), Cardamom, Cistus ladanifère, Lemon zest, Eucalyptus radiata, Eucalyptus smithii, Geranium bourbon, Geranium rose, Ginger, Italian Helichrysum, Laurel bay, True lavender (fine), Matricaria (German chamomile), Mandarin zest, Marjoram with shells, Marjoram with thujanol, Niaouli, Neroli, Petitgrain bigarade, Sweet orange, Scots pine, Ravintsara, Tea tree, Thyme thujanol, Lemon verbena.

Ideas for using essential oils:

• respiratory tract: ravintsara, radiated eucalyptus
• relaxation, sleep: true lavender, sweet orange,
  tangerine zest, Roman chamomile, bigarade petit grain, neroli
• nausea: lemon zest
• impurities: true lavender, tea tree
• itch: noble chamomile

During pregnancy, use essential oils only by diffusion or massage, never orally. In massage, do not exceed 6 drops daily.

Essential oils prohibited for pregnant and breastfeeding women

Essential oils rich in ketones (neurotoxic in high doses), phenols (powerful but irritating anti-infectious molecules) or aldehydes are prohibited during pregnancy and throughout duration of breastfeeding. Here is the non-exhaustive list of essential oils to be avoided:

A il, B asilic, C Ceylon ringlet, C Atlas Cedar, C itronnelle (lemongrass), < b> C lou de clove, C yprès , E stragon, E lemon ucalyptus, E ucalyptus globulus, E mentholated ucalyptus, G February, M enthe fields, M peppery enthe, M green enthe, N nutmeg, O compact and vulgar rigan, P almarosa, R camphor omarin, R omarin officinal, R verbenone omarin, S auge officinale, T hyme with linalool, T hym with thymol.

For babies: