Aromatherapy For Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be a wonderful time in a woman’s life, but there are some challenges. To minimize those challenges, I have created the following aromatherapy recipes. Please, pay heed to the amounts and directions given for each recipe.

For Morning Sickness

The essential oil Peppermint (Mentha Piperita) is very effective at relieving nausea and vomiting. It is also good for clearing the head and making one feel more energized, when feeling fatigued. And it’s excellent for headaches.

Instructions:

Place one drop of Peppermint oil in a bowl of steaming hot water for an inhalation, or place one or two drops on a tissue and keep it handy, to inhale when needed.

You can also add one extra drop of either Mandarin, Sweet Orange, or Lavender to water and tissue. Any of these would make an excellent addition, especially Lavender, which calms and soothes the nerves.

Just remember, do not apply Peppermint essential oil directly to your skin while pregnant, and most certainly DO NOT DRINK Peppermint tea while pregnant. If you’re interested in learning why, read The Benefits of Peppermint (June 2011).

For Foul Temperament and Stress Relief

In my experience, as the friend, relative and unwitting target of many irritable pregnant women over the years, these recipes may be more necessary than the one for nausea. If you would like to feel calmer and recapture or maintain your pleasant disposition, the following recipes will be found very useful.

Formula 1:

In an amber glass bottle, place 2 Tablespoons Grape Seed or Coconut Oil and add

5 drops Rose Otto

3 drops Chamomile Roman

3 drops Lavender

To blend, put the cap on tight and either roll between both hands or swirl the bottle in small circles until the carrier oil and essentials blend completely. This should take no more than 2 minutes. Use 2-4 drops.

This formula can be massage on the neck, back, chest, tummy and temples – which is why I recommend Grape Seed and Coconut oils. They are the least likely to cause a breakout, especially Grape Seed oil .

Formula 2:

There’s more than one way to use aromatherapy in a bath, but for this purpose we will simply add undiluted essential oils into the hot water in the following proportions…

6 drops Lavender

5 drops Sweet Orange

5 drops Bergamot

4 drops Ginger

Close the bathroom door to contain the aroma, get in the tub and relax.

You will find this synergistic blend not only calming, but emotionally uplifting and good for aches and pains.

For headaches

Taking the average OTC (over-the-counter) pain pill is not always such a wise choice during pregnancy, but the following recipe is completely safe for this delicate time. And you can use it directly on your skin, as it does not contain Peppermint (an amazing headache reliever – when you’re no longer pregnant).

In an amber glass bottle, place 2 Tablespoons Grape Seed or Coconut Oil and add

5 drops Chamomile Roman

5 drops Eucalyptus

2 drops Lavender

Mix as described above and use 1-4 drops. Place them on your fingers and massage them into the back of your neck, forehead, and temples. You should feel the effects within 20 minutes.

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If you have any questions about the recipes or individual essential oils mentioned in this article, post them in the comments section below or on our Facebook page. For more information on using Aromatherapy in the bath, read my (December 2009) article Aromatic Bath for Stress & Anxiety. You’ll find the comments section, on that page, of particular interest. A question posted there inspired this article; and in my response, I listed essential oils that are and are not considered safe for use during pregnancy.

Related articles

• Carrier Oils in Aromatherapy (holistichealthliving.wordpress.com)
• Endless Opportunities with Just Six Essential Oils (blissmati.com)
• Healing Oils (debbiestrauch.wordpress.com)
• Aromatherapy for Pain Relief (holistichealthliving.wordpress.com)

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