Aromatherapy in Pregnancy

A couple of weeks ago I took a very interesting class on essential oils in pregnancy, which included prenatal, labor and postpartum information. The class was at Botanically Rooted in Greensboro and taught by Kim Seymour. I learned so much in the class and I'm excited to share some of that here and going forward in my business.

   While essential oils smell wonderful they have much greater effects than just freshening the air! While their effects take place immediately upon inhalation, applying them topically can add to the benefit. Inhaling essential oils helps to balance your mood, strengthen your immune system and help with sleep, just to name a few. Applying them topically can help to alleviate pain, reduce cramping, calm itchy skin and repair damaged skin. In pregnancy, essential oils can help with, nausea/morning sickness, fatigue, swelling, stretch marks, sinus congestion, sleep problems, emotional and psychological adjustments and achy/painful muscles.

   Essential oils can be very beneficial, but caution must be used. While they may seem harmless, essential oils are not benign and can have negative side effects if not used correctly, due to their ability to pass the blood brain barrier. Generally, they should be avoided during the first trimester unless you are being treated by a certified/licensed aromatherapist. Essential oils should always be used diluted to .5%-2% when being used with pregnancy. There are also several essential oils that should be avoided altogether during pregnancy. Unless you are being directed by a certified/licensed aromatherapist, ingesting essential oils is highly discouraged and can be dangerous whether pregnant or not.

    Though we must be intentional about our use of essential oils, they can be extremely beneficial. They can easily increase the benefits of any massage, as well as give you relief for certain ailments at home. For more information on essential oils, check out these resources below:

Botanically Rooted, Greensboro, NC: https://botanicallyrooted.com/

Tisserand Institute: https://tisserandinstitute.org/

Oak City Massage Therapy will soon be offering essential oil blends as ad-ons, for pregnancy and more!