Essential Oils during pregnancy: what is safe and what to avoid

Pregnancy is a really important time in a person’s life. It is the perfect moment to pamper yourself and take care of your body, and therefore your baby.

But can something that you put on your skin affect your system or even your baby? Keep in mind that the skin is an organ, the largest one in fact; it is full of pores and does a great work absorbing what you slather on it. There are medicines and chemicals that work through skin patches and creams, so why we don’t put more thought when applying huge amounts of beauty products is a big mystery.

Aromatherapy and essential oils can be a really great option o relax and have a nice time, but there are certain essences that aren’t recommended during pregnancy. There are no records of miscarriages or abnormalities due to the ‘normal’ use of essential oils (1), but it still is a controversial topic and it is best to adhere to safety guidelines. Some of the essential oils that aren’t recommended to use are wormwood, rue, oakmoss, Lavandula stoecha, camphor, parsley, seed, sage, and hyssop (2).

However, there are safe herbs that you can use all pregnancy-long. Bergamot, lemon, juniper, lavender, rose, lemon beebrush, mayweed, myrtle, orange blossom, marjoram, and thymes are fine for the pregnant body.

Anyhow, mothers-to-be deserve to feel pampered without fearing what goes into their skin. Learning about what your products are made of and making conscious desitions could lift a worry off your shoulders.

At APoEM we make sure to make this process easier by specifying when our products are safe for pregnancy. But if you have any further questions on the subject, don’t doubt about asking us!

(1) Bensouilah J, and Buck P. Aromadermatology. Abindon, UK: Radcliffe Publishing Ltd.

(2) Wildwood, C. (2000). Of Cabbages & Kings Aromatherapy Myths, part II. Aromatherapy Today, 14, p. 12–14.