We get asked a lot about essential oil use during pregnancy and lactation. There are definitely best practices that will help keep you and your sweet baby safe. This information came from an expert on essential oils, Robert Tisserand. He is the leader in essential oil research. These components have been researched on animals at high internal doses. We are reporting the results of this research.
A long read but a good one.
Apiole
· What chemical family does apiole belong to? Ethers.
· What is the concern about oils containing apiole during pregnancy? Abortifacient.
· It is not recommended for internal or external use at all during pregnancy.
· Essential oils containing apiole: Dill, Parsley.
Beta-Elemene
· What chemical family does beta-elemene belong to? Sesquiterpenes.
· What is the concern about oils containing beta-elemene during pregnancy? It is shown to cross the placental barrier, and inhibits new blood vessels from forming (antiangiogenic).
· It is not recommended for use during pregnancy.
· Essential oils containing beta-elemene: Myrrh, Atractylis.
Beta-Eudesmol
· What chemical family does beta-eudesmol belong to? Sesquiterpenols.
· What is the concern about oils containing beta-eudesmol during pregnancy? Similar to b-elemene, it's shown to cross the placental barrier, and inhibits new blood vessels from forming (antiangiogenic).
· It is not recommended for use during pregnancy.
· Essential oils containing beta-eudesmol: Blue Cypress, Atractylis.
Camphor
· What chemical family does camphor belong to? Ketones.
· What is the concern about oils containing camphor during pregnancy? It is known to cross the placenta, is very toxic to developing embryo and fetus.
· Pure camphor is not recommended for internal or external use at all during pregnancy.
· Common essential oils containing camphor: Rosemary ct. camphor, Spike Lavender, Yarrow. (These oils contain some camphor, but according to Robert Tisserand, it's not high enough to be contraindicated during pregnancy.)
· Other essential oils that contain camphor are Feverfew, Ho Leaf (camphor ct), Lanyana, Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas), Sage (Dalmatian), Spanish Sage. These oils are contraindicated during pregnancy.
Citral (mixture of neral and geranial)
· What chemical family does citral belong to? Aldehydes.
· What is the concern about oils containing citral during pregnancy? Teratogenic potential.
· Caution for topical use during pregnancy.
· Common essential oils containing citral: Lemongrass, Lemon Balm, Melissa, Honey Myrtle, May Chang, Lemon Tea Tree, Lemon Basil.
· Other essential oils containing citral: Lemon Leaf, Lemon Myrtle, Lemon Thyme, Lemon Verbena.
Furanodiene
· What chemical family does furanodiene belong to? Sesquiterpenes (furanosesquiterpene).
· What is the concern about oils containing furanodiene during pregnancy? Crosses placental barrier and inhibits new blood vessels from forming (antiangiogenic).
· It is not recommended for use during pregnancy.
· Essential oils containing furanodiene: Myrrh.
Methyl Salicylate
· What chemical family does methyl salicylate belong to? Esters.
· What is the concern about oils containing methyl salicylate during pregnancy? Teratogenic in mammals at high oral doses.
· It is not recommended for use during pregnancy.
· Common essential oils containing methyl salicylate: Birch, Wintergreen
Octyl Acetate
· What chemical family does octyl acetate belong to? Esters.
· What is the concern about oils containing octyl acetate during pregnancy? Teratogenic.
· Caution for topical use during pregnancy.
· Essential oils containing octyl acetate: Frankincense (Boswellia papyriferia)
Pinocamphone
· What chemical family does pinocamphone belong to? Ketones.
· What is the concern about essential oils containing pinocamphone during pregnancy? Neurotoxic, inhibits brain development.
· It is not recommended for use during pregnancy.
· Essential oils containing pinocamphone: Hyssop (pinocamphone chemotype)
Pulegone
· What chemical family does pulegone belong to? Ketones.
· What is the concern about oils containing pulegone during pregnancy? Liver toxicity risk for the mother.
· Recommendation for use during pregnancy: It is not recommended for internal use during pregnancy. Limit external use.
· Common essential oils containing pulegone: Peppermint, Spearmint, Cornmint (Check the GC/MS for exact percentages of your essential oils. These oils are not contraindiated during pregnancy.)
· Other essential oils containing pulegone are Buchu, Calamint, Pennyroyal. These oils are contraindicated during pregnancy.
Sabinyl Acetate
· What chemical family does sabinyl acetate belong to? Esters.
· What is the concern about oils containing sabinyl acetate during pregnancy? Teratogenic, abortifacient.
· Recommendation for use during pregnancy: Do not use during pregnancy! No external or internal use. This is a very concerning component.
· Common essential oils containing sabinyl acetate: Spanish Sage, Salvia lavandulifolia. (Check the GC/MS for exact percentages of your essential oils.)
· Other essential oils containing sabinyl acetate: Savin, Juniperus sabina, Green Yarrow, Achillea nobilis
· Please Note: Juniper Berry, Juniperus communis, is a different plant and essential oil than Savin, Juniperus sabina. Juniper Berry, Juniperus communis, does not contain sabinyl acetate and is safe to use during pregnancy.
Safrole
· What chemical family does safrole belong to? Ethers.
· What is the concern about oils containing safrole during pregnancy? A study found that in pregnant mice fed safrole, kidney and liver tumors developed in the offspring.
· Recommendation for use during pregnancy: It is not recommended for internal use during pregnancy. Limit external use.
· Common essential oils containing safrole: Camphor, Cinnamon bark and leaf, Nutmeg. (Check the GC/MS for exact percentages of your essential oils.)
· Other essential oils containing safrole: Ho Leaf (camphor ct), Mace, Sassafras, Star Anise.
Trans-Anethole
· What chemical family does trans-anethole belong to? Ethers.
· What is the concern about oils containing trans-anethole during pregnancy? Abortifacient, toxic to fetal cells.
· It is not recommended for use during pregnancy.
· Essential oils containing trans-anethole: Anise, Star Anise, Fennel, Myrtle (aniseed).
Thujone
· What chemical family does thujone belong to? Ketones.
· What is the concern about oils containing thujone during pregnancy? Neurotoxic, inhibits brain development.
· It is not recommended for use during pregnancy.
· Essential oil containing thujone: Artemisia vestita, Genipi, Lanyana, Mugwort, Sage (Dalmatian), Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), Thuja, Western Red Cedar, Wormwood.
Thymoquinone
· What chemical family does thymoquinone belong to? Ketones
· What is the concern about oils containing thymoquinone during pregnany? Fetotoxic, and has strong antiangiogenic activity (inhibits new blood vessels from forming).
· It is not recommended for use during pregnancy.
· Essential oils containing thymoquinone: Black seed
Consolidated guidelines for using Aromatherapy during pregnancy
· As the embryonic stages of the first trimester are the most crucial in terms of fetal development, it is suggested that essential oils be used only on occasion, such as inhaling for morning sickness.
· Pregnant women should only use essential oils with guidance from a midwife and qualified Aromatherapist.
· If essential oils are used at any stage during pregnancy, the concentrations administered should be a maximum of 1% dilution (five to six total drops essential oil to 1 oz/30 ml carrier oil).
· Application of neat essential oils is not advised at all during pregnancy.
· Oral, rectal, and vaginal uses of essential oils are inappropriate during pregnancy.
· The regular, daily use of essential oils while pregnant is not advised.
· The choice of essential oils used should be limited to those with a history of low toxicity. There is no “accepted” or “authoritative” list of oils that are safe or unsafe, as all information is based on animal research and common sense rather than proven hazards during pregnancy.
· Avoid the use of all solvent extracts (absolutes) and any poor quality oils, as well as perfumes.
· It should also be noted that essential oils that affect blood coagulation (Birch, Wintergreen, Garlic, Onion) should not be used on breastfeeding mothers.
References:
Tisserand, R., Young, R. Essential Oil Safety, second edition. London. Churchill Livingston, 2014
Oils to avoid during pregnancy and lactation — toxic components
Information from Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young’s Essential Oil Safety book, second edition. Used with permission of Robert Tisserand.
· Anise, Pimpinella anisum — trans-anethole
· Anise (star), Illicium verum — trans-anethole
· Araucaria, Neocallitropsis pancheri — beta-eudesmol
· Artemisia vestita, Artemisia vestita — alpha + beta-thujone
· Atractylis, Atractyllodes lancea — beta-elemene + beta-eudesmol
· Birch (sweet), Betula lenta — methyl salicylate
· Black Seed, Nigella sativa — thymoquinone
· Buchu (diosphenol ct.), Agathosma betulina ct. diosphenol — alpha + beta-pulegone
· Buchu (pulegone ct.), Agathosma crenulara ct. pulegone — beta-pulegone
· Calamint (lesser), Calamintha nepeta — beta-pulegone
· Carrot Seed, Daucus carota — not identified
· Cassia, Cinnamomum cassia — not identified
· Chaste Tree, Vitex agnus castus — not identified
· Cinnamon Bark, Cinnamomum verum — not identified
· Costus, Saussurea costus — costunolide + dehydrocostus lactone
· Cypress (blue), Callitris intratropica — beta-eudesmol
· Dill Seed (Indian), Anethum sowa — apiole (dill)
· Fennel (bitter), Foeniculum vulgare — trans-anethole
· Fennel (sweet), Foeniculum vulgare — trans-anethole
· Feverfew, Tanacetum parthenium — camphor
· Genipi, Artemisia genepi — alpha-thujone
· Hibawood, Thujopsis dolobrata — beta-thujaplicin
· Ho Leaf (camphor ct.), Cinnamomum camphora ct. camphor — camphor
· Hyssop (pinocamphone ct.), Hyssopus officinalis ct. pinocamphone — pinocamphones
· Lanyana, Artemisia afra — alpha + beta-thujone
· Lavender (Spanish), Lavandula stoechas — camphor
· Mugwort (camphor/thujone ct.), Artemisia vulgaris ct. camphor/thujone — alpha-thujone
· Mugwort (chrysanthenyl acetate ct.), Artemisia vulgaris ct. chrysanthenyl acetate — alpha + beta-thujone
· Mugwort (great), Artemisia arborescens — beta-thujone
· Myrrh, Commiphora myrrha — beta-elemene + furanodiene
· Myrtle (aniseed), Backhousia anisata — trans-anethole
· Oregano, Origanum vulgare — not identified
· Parsley Leaf, Petroselinum crispum — apiole (dill) + possibly p-menthatriene
· Parsley Seed, Petroselinum crispum — apiole (parsley)
· Pennyroyal, Hedeoma pulegioides, Mentha pulegium — beta-pulegone
· Peppermint, Mentha x piperita
· Rue, Ruta graveolens — not identified
· Sage (Dalmatian), Salvia officinalis — alpha + beta-thujone
· Sage (Spanish), Salvia lavandulifolia — sabinyl acetate
· Savin, Juniperus sabina — sabinyl acetate
· Tansy, Tanacetum vulgare — alpha + beta-thujone
· Thuja, White Cedar, Thuja occidentalis — alpha + beta-thujone
· Western Red Cedar, Thuja plicata — alpha + beta thujone
· Wintergreen, Gaultheria fragrantissima — methyl salicylate
· Wormwood (all chemotypes), Artemisia absinthium — thujones + sabinyl acetate
· Wormwood (sea), Artemisia maritime — alpha-thujone
· Wormwood (white), Artemisia herba-alba — alpha + beta-thujone + camphor
· Yarrow (green), Achillea nobilis — sabinyl acetate
· Zedoary, Curcuma zedoaria — not identified
Oils that should be restricted during pregnancy and lactation — toxic constituents — maximum dermal dose*
Information from Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young’s Essential Oil Safety book, second edition. Used with permission of Robert Tisserand.
· Basil (lemon), Ocimum x citriodorum — citral — 1.4%
· Boswellia papyrifera — octyl acetate — 1.7%
· Champaca (Orange) Absolute, Michelia champaca — 2-phenylethanol — 17.5%
· Lemon Balm (Australian), Eucalyptus staigeriana — citral — 3.4%
· Lemon Leaf, Citrus x limon — citral — 1.2%
· Lemongrass, Cymbopogon citratus — citral — 0.7%
· May Chang, Litsea cubeba — citral — 0.8%
· Melissa, Melissa officinals — citral — 0.9%
· Myrtle (honey), Maleleuca teretifolia — citral — 0.9%
· Myrtle (lemon), Backhousia citriodora — citral — 0.7%
· Nasturtium Absolute, Tropaeolum majus — benzyl isothiocyanate — 0.26%
· Tea Tree (lemon-scented), Leptospermum peteronii — citral — 0.8%
· Thyme (lemon), Thymus lanuginosus var. citriodorum — citral — 3.7%
· Verbena (lemon), Aloysia citriodora — citral — 0.9%
* Calculated to allow for whole-body, once-daily application. This limit was determined for skin sensitization, and also a safe concentration in pregnancy.
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