During pregnancy, women experience a number of ailments that can be treated with essential oils. Sure, when you weren’t pregnant you may have just reached for an over the counter medication that claimed to correct your condition, but now you need to think twice about the side effects these drugs could have on your fetus. However, you don’t have to suffer from cold turkey from morning sickness, allergies, indigestion, and headaches. There are effective holistic remedies like essential oils that can help you with this.
At the suggestion of my mother and on the advice of my girlfriend, I started using essential oils when I became pregnant. Dr. Tiffany Miller, DC. I suffered from morning sickness that led to depression. Essential oils were a huge help back then, back in the delivery room, and I still use them today.
Your supply of essential oils is the same as your medicine cabinet. Any given oil has a variety of uses, so a small collection of around a dozen oils can replace most of the items in that medicine cabinet. Use them in a diffuser to purify the air or for minor emergencies like scratches or traffic jams. Of course, they can also be effective against pregnancy problems.
Because essential oils are organic compounds, your body recognizes them as familiar and, unlike a drug, processes them quickly. The decisive factor is “frequent use with a constant topic”, emphasizes Dr. Miller.
Although essential oils are a natural product, they should be used with caution. Keep out of the reach of children as anything in excess or misuse can be harmful. Essential oils are safe to use by expectant mothers and their children with some education.
How to use essential oils
1. Aromatic. Using a cooling mist diffuser is a great way to calm the airways, purify the air, and at the same time affect the mood of the whole family. Even placing a drop or two in the palm of your hand and inhaling the scent can be effective. For example, you can use a respiratory support oil to open the airways, or a citrus or flower oil to change your mood. You can wear custom made diffuser jewelry your neck or on your wrist so you can take it with you on the go.
2. Topical. Apply under the feet, along the spine, over reflex points or over the complaint area. You should never apply in full Starch oil directly on the skin. Instead, dilute the essential oil in a carrier oil. A carrier oil is a plant-based oil such as coconut, jojoba, olive, or almond oil. When using citrus oils topically, avoid sunlight for 12 to 24 hours as they are photosensitive and can easily burn the skin.
Follow these dilution recipes:
Adults: 2 drops of essential oil per 1 teaspoon of carrier oil
Children from 6 years & pregnant women: 1 drop essential oil per 1 teaspoon of carrier oil
Infants and young children: 1-2 drops of essential oil with 2 tablespoons of carrier oil
3. Intern. Essential oils approxn Can be added to food, beverages or taken in capsules. Essential oils can be especially effective when ingested. If you choose to take it internally, make sure your essential oil is of the highest quality, especially if you are pregnant, and that a doctor will give you the okay.
The most helpful essential oils for pregnancy and the puerperium
Essential oils can be used alone or in combination to address specific problems. You can make them yourself, but many essential oil companies make proprietary blends so you don’t have to. Some of the best essential oils for pregnancy pain are:
Digestive problems (including nausea from morning sickness and heartburn): doTerra’s DigestZen (diluted) is used for general digestive support; It contains ginger, peppermint, tarragon, fennel, cumin, coriander, and anise to cover all of the basics of digestive function.
Morning sickness: Ginger, spearmint, orange, cardamom, and lemon are good choices.
Headache: Peppermint applied to the temples helps relieve tension headaches. Lavender can also help and can be massaged into the neck and shoulders.
sleep: Lavender or 21 drops of Sleep – an antioxidant-rich mixture of ylang ylang, vetiver, sandalwood & palmarosa – can work wonders for relaxation and sleep support
balance: doTerra offers a mix called balance sometimes referred to as a “chiropractor in a bottle” because it supports the musculoskeletal system and emotional wellbeing.
General pregnancy support: Saje does a Mother’s wellness Blended with essential oils of grapefruit, rosewood and lavender to calm the mind and body. It helps with nausea, heartburn, abdominal pain and headaches and strengthens the immune system.
Skin irritation: Lavender can be very soothing for skin irritation.
work: Wild orange and peppermint while pushing provide the necessary energy and revitalization to overcome exhaustion. Or if you want to dampen the drama, 21 Drops Calm is a mix that is all about serenity.
perineum: Add 2 drops of lavender essential oil to 1 cup of Epsom salt in a warm bath to relieve discomfort, or make your own soothing spray after childbirth with 6 tablespoons of witch hazel, 4 tablespoons of filtered water, 5 drops of lavender oil, and 5 drops of frankincense oil . It is best to apply essential oils to Epsom salts before adding them to water so they don’t just float on top.
Sore nipple: Roman chamomile.
Increase milk production: Clary sage, fennel or basil.
Purify air: Especially during Young Living’s cold / flu season thieves & doTerras On guard purifies the air and builds immunity. (By the way, I had this running in my diffuser in the delivery room. The midwives and nurses loved it).
Which essential oils should NOT be used during pregnancy:
These are considered abortion drugs, which means they have the potential to cause abortions.
Angelica root fennel
Basil jasmine
Camphor marjoram
Carrot seed myrrh
Champa nutmeg
Cinnamon sage
Clary sage white thyme
Carnation thyme
For many who are just starting to learn about essential oils, it might feel like a new trendy, crispy practice, but it’s not new. It is an ancient medicine and has found its way into popular culture in a society that is more aware of the benefits nature offers to humans. Through pregnancy, we cannot avoid feeling an intrinsic connection with nature and an increased feeling of protecting our next generation. Pregnancy and essential oils remind us that nature offers numerous opportunities for healing and protection.
Educate yourself, take a breath and let nature take its course.
* Some practitioners advise women not to use essential oils during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and some practitioners advise not to apply essential oils directly to infants and young children, but to use them aromatically from 6 months of age. Use at your discretion and under the direction of your caregiver.
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