The Essentials on Essential Oils
Essential oils have been in practice for many years, but it was only fairly recently that they became so popular. They are incredibly refreshing and grounding, and there is significant evidence to suggest that some of them may help with all sorts of aches and pains such as headaches, muscle pains, insomnia and more. Numerous studies have suggested that stimulating your sense of smell may play a role in cognition, mood, and social behavior
While some doctors do not recommend the use of essential oils on the skin, or in a diffuser during pregnancy, other doctors may encourage it. Instances like these can be incredibly confusing for Mammas. Our mission is to decode and present reputable research in a short, easy-to read fashion, to arm women with knowledge, so that they can work with their health care providers to make a decision that is best for themselves and for their families.
If you and your doctor decide that using essential oils is beneficial for you, whether on the skin through a carrier oil (such as coconut oil or grape seed oil), or in a diffuser…here is some research-based information about which oils are best to use in what situation. It should also be noted that most doctors who recommend the use of essential oils during pregnancy suggest using them during the second and third trimesters.
*A carrier oil is a neutral oil that you add a few drops of the essential oil to. Most of the time, you do not put essential oils directly on the skin, but rather apply them through a carrier oil such as coconut oil or grape seed oil. Simply melt some coconut oil and drop a few drops of your high-grade essential oil and rub on places such as your temples, your feet, or your back.
The Healing Power Of Essential Oils:
1. Eucalyptus: May help with decreasing body aches and blood pressure
Lemon: May help with sleep, drowsiness, daydreaming, as well as creativity.
Orange: May promote positivity and calmness
Ylang Ylang: May help with calming and relaxing
Peppermint: May help reduce fatigue. The roller can also be great to roll on your temples and neck when you have a headache!
Here are some essential oils to stay away from during pregnancy:
Fennel, clary sage, clove, rosemary, marjoram, tarragon, caraway, cinnamon, thuja, mugwort, birch, wintergreen, basil (estragole CT), aniseed, sage, tansy, wormwood, parsley seed or leaf, willow bark.
*The majority of the information for this post is based off of a research article called the “Influence of Fragrances on Human Psychophysiological Activity: With Special Reference to Human Electroencephalographic Response” (Sowndhararajan & Kim, 2016).
