Essential Oils

Peppermint Essential Oil Use During Pregnancy

As more and more people look for natural ways to handle health and wellness issues, essential oils are becoming more popular. Essential oils are highly concentrated oils found in plants and plant materials. It is only recently that doctors have begun studying the effects of essential oils in humans. Several studies are being done on pregnant women and how essential oils affect women and babies during pregnancy. One of the reasons doctors of traditional medicine don't want to deal with essential oil aromatherapy (the inhaling of essential oils) is that each person has differing reactions to the same oil. It's hard to recommend anything that can cause side effects on who knows how many of your patients, especially if they are pregnant. But, when you are pregnant, traditional medicines can often be too harsh for the growing baby. Some women want to use something more organic and natural, like peppermint essential oil for pregnancy.

During Pregnancy is Not the Time to Test

Depending on what aromatherapist you talk to or what aromatherapy book you read, peppermint oil is either a blessing or bane for pregnant women. Some say it is only safe for the first trimester, some for the first two trimesters. Some pregnant women say they were greatly comforted by peppermint oil and nothing bad happened to them or their babies. How to decide?

If you've never used peppermint essential oil before you were pregnant, do not use it for pregnancy aches and pains. If you've used peppermint essential oil before for other reasons and have never felt any ill effects, you can try using it, but not put it on your skin after the second trimester. Peppermint essential oil can sometimes cause early contractions. This is why it can be frowned upon. If you're still not sure, just avoid use at all.

Peppermint Oil A Cure for Morning Sickness

The main way women have been helped by peppermint essential oil is just sniffing the oil on a tissue or handkerchief when they are nauseated. Ever have peppermint tea or some kind of mint after a big dinner? The peppermint relaxes the digestive muscles and makes you feel not as sick or full. Sniffing peppermint oil for pregnancy can be a safe cure for those women affected by morning or motion sickness. Keep in mind that some doctors think sniffing peppermint essential oil for pregnancy symptoms can cause contractions.

Another mostly safe use of peppermint essential oil for pregnancy is burning it alone or in combination with other favorite oils to produce a tranquil, happy scent in your home. Stress for the pregnant mother is thought to hurt the developing baby, so when you can, relax. If you decide to use peppermint essential oil in the bath, even a foot bath, use one drop only.

Choosing Your Oil

You can help make using peppermint essential oil for pregnancy safer by choosing a therapeutic or medicinal grade essential oil in a dark bottle. The Latin name on the label should be Mentha piperita. Also, the smell of peppermint should trigger happy and calm feelings to help you unwind and relax during pregnancy. If peppermint oil makes you feel sick or nauseous, do not continue to use it.