Essential oils during pregnancy :
Self Achievement

Essential oils during pregnancy: What use, what possibilities? Contrary to popular belief, not all essential oils are prohibited during pregnancy. By respecting certain precautions; the use of a few well-chosen essential oils can even help the pregnant woman to fight against certain pregnancy ailments. Regulations and details with Françoise Couic-Marinier, doctor of pharmacy specializing in aromatherapy.

What is an essential oil (EO)?

Essential; oils have been on the rise since the last century: many people rely on aromatherapy and the natural powers of plants to improve a situation; boost their health, or even fight against the little sores of everyday life. The arrival of a child marks a little more time: the desire for more natural products is emerging among many pregnant women. But what is an essential oil? An oil? Alcohol from a plant? Nothing of the sort.

“An essential oil is simply a volatile fragrant fraction of plants. Each essential oil is unique: it has its smell and specific characteristics,” says Françoise Couic-Marinier, doctor of pharmacy specializing in aromatherapy and author with Rachel Frély, journalist, of Essential oils for pregnant women (Solar). This essence thus obtained, ultra-concentrated, contains many active ingredients, specific to plants.

Why do we say that essential oils are prohibited during pregnancy?

The sentence is not exact: no law prohibits essential oils for pregnant women, but a principle of prevention. “Scientific studies have not done on pregnant women to attest to a dangerous effect of essential oils (as with many therapies)”, specifies the professional, “it is, therefore, a measure of caution. We have the caution to do not give essential oil (except that of lemon, see below) especially before 3 months of pregnancy because we know that the placenta is very permeable at this time. As a precaution, we avoid putting the fetus at risk.

There is therefore no ban, but recommendations, such as that of the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF) since 2019 which “advises against” it in pregnant or breastfeeding women, for the precautionary principle. Nevertheless; there are many essential oils accessible to pregnant women; nursing mothers or even babies when one is in the subject. Others are total to be avoided, because dangerous because of their molecules. “You can also opt for distilled waters, also called aromatic hydrosols, which are softer than essential oils” recalls the professional.

Mint, rosemary, spike lavender… Which essential oils should you not use while pregnant?

Faced with the supply of essential oils on the market, there are however some to know that the pregnant woman must avoid, because we know their harmful power on pregnancy. These are also well-known products and often present in homes (like spike lavender) so be careful:

• All oils before the 4th month of pregnancy (except lemon EO);
• oils containing menthol: field mint, peppermint.
• Essential oils containing camphor: aspic lavender, camphor tree, lavender, rosemary, etc.
• Essential oils containing 1,8-cineole or eucalyptol: globular eucalyptus, radiate, ravintsara, niaouli, etc.
• And Essential oils containing ketones (names ending in “one”).

“These molecules have long been known to be abortifacient; so they are completely for pregnant women”, insists Françoise Couic-Marinier.

The case of peppermint: an abortifacient essential oil?

In recent studies, peppermint essential oil is often to calm nausea by inhalation during pregnancy. For the doctor of pharmacy, this is far from being sound advice: “The presence of menthol, menthone, and other ketones in their composition can cause miscarriages in pregnant women and epileptic seizures in infants. embryo.” Better to skip it.

Which essential oils can be by pregnant women?

The good news, however, there are essential oils that can indeed help you during your pregnancy if you are a fan of natural remedies. “These are the ones whose molecules we have been able to study and which prove to be harmless for pregnant women” And there are a few all the same on which you can count.

• Lemon essential oil, the only essential oil authorized in the first trimester.
• Citrus essential oils: sweet orange, mandarin, bergamot.
• Petitgrains: bigarade, mandarin, clementine, neroli.
• Quality Roman chamomile.
• The rose geranium.
• Lavender officinale.
• Vanilla.
• Ho wood.
• Lemon eucalyptus.
• Damascus rose.
• Ylang-ylang.

Aromatic hydrosols as alternatives:

Do you want to trust plants but have some reservations about essential oils during your pregnancy? Turn to distilled waters to pamper yourself. “The aromatic hydrosol is recognized as a gentle product that is well tolerated by the body and has no drug interactions.” says Françoise Couic Marinier. It is characterized by a high proportion of water (nearly 98%) and can be used pure or diluted.

How to use essential oils ? What precautions should be taken?

The use of essential oils, even harmless, responds to rules that are all the more important when they are used by pregnant women;

Orally:

With the exception of lemon essential oil, essential oils are not taken orally during pregnancy.

By olfactory route (by diffusion, by inhalation):

Diffusion, also called nebulation of an HE, in its place of life is only possible for certain essential oils thanks to a simple diffuser: citrus zest, lavender officinalis, lemon eucalyptus, rose geranium .

By massage, diluted in vegetable oil:

EOs are never applied directly to the skin, but the dermal route is possible if the EO is diluted in a neutral vegetable oil (rose oil, hazelnut oil, etc.), for a massage, for example, in order to to avoid a too rapid passage in the blood. The concentration should not exceed 30-60 drops per 100 ml of vegetable oil.

Rectally:

The essential oils authorized for pregnant women are also effective rectally via suppositories, but in this case require preparation in a pharmacy by an aromatherapy professional.

Precautions for pregnant women:

To make the best use of essential oils, let’s remember a few preventive rules and contraindications for pregnant women, to avoid misuse:

• No essential oil during the first trimester (except lemon HE)
• Not exposure to the sun within 3 to 6 hours following the application of lemon or citrus essential oils which are photo-sensitizing.
• No use of essential oils in case of drug treatment in order to avoid interactions.
• Never massage on the belly itself, unless it is aimed at the hiccups of the baby

What are the 5 best essential oils to help pregnant women?

To help with the little ailments of pregnancy, everyone can put together an “ideal kit”. For the doctor of pharmacy, it would contain 5 essential oils.

Green mandarin EO for better sleep:

One drop to sleep better is all you will need thanks to the essential oil of green mandarin. One drop per day on the pillow, on the side that does not touch the skin, for several weeks. Green mandarin HE can also calm the baby in utero in case of hiccups, by massaging one drop in 4 drops of hazelnut oil for example (Please note, mandarin HE is the only one that the can be applied on the stomach)

Lemon EO, against nausea:

In case of morning sickness or not, a drop of lemon essential oil directly on a dumpling of bread can help you relieve yourself. To be renewed up to twice during the day.

Rose geranium essential oil, against stretch marks:

In order to soften the skin and avoid stretch marks and any slackening of the skin, add 30 drops of rose geranium essential oil to 100 ml of organic and hypoallergenic body milk to be applied as a body massage after showering.

The essential oil of lemon eucalyptus against back pain:

In case of back pain or pelvic pain: mix 3 drops in 10 ml of Calophylle inophylle vegetable oil, massage 3 times a day if necessary, for a maximum of 1 week. If the pain persists, it is better to seek medical advice.

Roman chamomile EO against heartburn and for childbirth:

A drop to massage on the solar plexus at the end of the meal helps to fight against acid reflux. A habit that can be repeated twice a day. Consult if the symptoms do not pass. But chamomile essential oil can also help you keep calm in the face of the fear of childbirth.

Which essential oils to use for childbirth?

To prepare for childbirth, and in particular to avoid an anxiety episode that can overwhelm the woman about to give birth to her child, it is possible to use a relaxing mixture:

15 drops of essential oil of green mandarin (relaxing, soothing) combined with 15 drops of lavender or true lavender (anxiolytic) on an inhaler, to breathe up to 6 times a day to reduce fears related to childbirth.

What are the best hydrosols (HA) for pregnant women?

Distilled waters and hydrolats are a softer alternative but just as interesting for pregnant women: a tablespoon in a liter of water to drink during the day is enough for a beneficial effect.

Chamomile hydrosol against nervousness:

It helps to soothe the skin, the nervousness of the future mother, in spray and in application: it is indicated for a nervous pregnant woman, anxious about pregnancy and the arrival of a baby. It is also useful for pregnant women who suffer from skin problems, chamomile HA soothing redness and calming allergic reactions.

Italian helichrysum hydrosol for the skin:

This hydrolat is anti-rosacea and stretch marks. It is used as a spray directly on the skin.

Witch hazel hydrosol against heavy legs:

In spray, it calms the feelings of heavy legs which are frequent at the end of pregnancy.

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