Aromatherapy and Pregnancy
It can be tricky to know which essential oils are safe to use during pregnancy. The reason for avoiding certain essential oils is due to the physiological effects they can have within the body, and their potential ability to cross the placental membrane. In general, it is best to avoid the following types of essential oils if you are pregnant:
1. Oestrogenic agents - ie. any essential oil that can influence hormonal activity such as aniseed and fennel.
2. Emmenagogue agents – ie. a substance used to induce a period in a non-pregnant woman. Essential oils with known emmenagogue activity include cedarwood, clary sage, cypress, peppermint, rosemary, rose and sweet marjoram (This is why our Tropical Strength Good Riddance Mousse is not recommended for pregnant women).
3. Teratogenic agents – ie. a substance which may injure or cause malformation to the foetus. Essential oils that may display this behaviour include wormwood and sage.
4. Abortifacient agents – ie. a substance that may cause spontaneous abortion. Essential oils known to be abortifacients include mugwort, parsley seed, pennyroyal, rue, thuja, tansy and wormwood.
Other factors to consider include the concentration of essential oils used in the product and whether they are intended for all over body use or spot treatments.
Our Baby Good Riddance Mozzie & Midgie Mousse not only contains safe essential oils for pregnancy and babies, it also has a lower concentration of essential oils. This is why it also has a thicker consistency to act more as a barrier against insect bites.
If you have any specific questions on essential oils and pregnancy, please don't hesitate to contact our Cosmetic Chemist (and Founder!), Jeannie at info@naturalwonders.com.au.
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