Essential Oils And Their Use During Pregnancy

We all know that essential oils are therapeutic - from giving a general feeling of well being to relieving mental fatigue these oils are very good. When used in cosmetic products they show good results like glowing skin etc and also have a calming soothing effect on the mind (depending on what essential oil is used). Certain essential oils are not recommended for use during pregnancy.

I was not aware of this until recently when I used a face scrub from Tatha that said it was unsafe for use during pregnancy. I was really surprised and wanted to know further more about essential oils and their safety. I found a comprehensive list from the website http://stretchmarksnomore.com/essential_oils.html and thought about sharing that with you.

Below is a list of essential and base oils that should not be used during pregnancy:

Almond bitter - toxic

Aniseed – rich in anethole

Angelica – promoting menstrual flow

Basil – possible irritant

Birch – possible irritant

Black pepper – causing skin sensitization

Boldo leaf - toxic

Buchu – liver hazardous

Calamus - toxic

Camphor - toxic

Cassia – causing skin sensitization

Cedarwood – promoting menstrual flow

Chamomile – promoting menstrual flow

Cinnamon – promoting menstrual flow and causing skin sensitization

Clary sage – promoting menstrual flow

Clove – causing skin sensitization

Elecampane – skin sensitization

Fennel – rich in anethole

Fir – possible irritant

Ginger – promoting menstrual flow

Horseraddish - toxic

Hyssop – could cause toxicity

Jaborandi leaf – toxic

Jasmine – promoting menstrual flow

Juniper – promoting menstrual flow

Lemon – possible irritant

Lemongrass – possible irritant

Majoram – promoting menstrual flow

Melissa – possible irritant

Mugwort - toxic

Mustard - toxic

Myrrh – promoting menstrual flow

Nightshade - toxic

Nutmeg – skin sensitization

Oregano – skin sensitization

Parsley seed – rich in apiol

Pennyroyal - toxic

Peppermint – promoting menstrual flow

Pine – skin sensitization

Rose – promoting menstrual flow

Rosemary – promoting menstrual flow

Rue - toxic

Sage – rich in thujone

Sassafras - toxic

Savin - toxic

Savory – could cause toxicity

Southernwood - toxic

Stinging nettle - toxic

Tansy - toxic

Thuja -toxic

Thyme – possible irritant

Wintergreen - toxic

Wormseed - toxic

Wormwood – toxic

Such oils as petitgrain and ylang-ylang should not be used earlier than the third trimester.