What oils are contraindications while pregnant?!
Question:
What oils are contraindications while pregnant?
I am trying to conceive, and am curious to know if there are any oils, and herbs you must avoid while pregnant. I use oils in place of body lotions, particularly lavender, and rose hips. Also, I am a big herbal tea drinker, are there any herbs I should avoid once pregnant. Thanks bunches!
Answers: There are some oils that can increase blood flow and might affect you if you had a likelihood of miscarrying :Clary Sage, Rosemary, and Jasmine would be some of the stronger oils to steer clear of during the early stages of pregnancy.
Burning aromatherapy oils will not harm your baby though. Burn aromatherapy oils rather than synthetic because they will help you relax and they taken from natural plants and just have a healthier 'feel' to them. Your baby will not be harmed in this way, and will probably enjoy the lovely fragrances you are breathing in more than the synthetic ones.
Lavender oil is cheap and gentle and relaxing.
One or two drops only with water in the burner at a time, mixed with the same of citrus oil such as grapefruit or lemon you have a lovely refreshing room fragrance.
* Make sure you have plenty of water in the burner - this may be obvious but some people burn the oils direct in the burner without adding water, and this is not how they are intended for use. The steam is what carries the oils into the air.
Is it safe to drink herbal teas while I'm pregnant?
Many pregnant women carefully avoid caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and unnecessary medications but think nothing of drinking cup after cup of herbal tea. If this sounds like you, take heed: Herbal teas can be harmful, especially if you drink too much of them. Most of the ingredients in herbal teas are safe, but many are not. Herbs are drugs and thus can be as potent as some medications. What's more, only a few of the herbs used for teas have been studied in pregnant women.
Which teas are not safe?
Many of the herbs used for teas, when taken in large or medicinal amounts, can potentially stimulate the uterus and induce miscarriage. These include anise, catnip, chamomile, comfrey, ephedra (called ma huang in traditional Chinese medicine), European mistletoe, hibiscus, horehound, Labrador, lemongrass, licorice root, mugwort, pennyroyal, raspberry leaf, rosemary, sage, sassafras, stinging nettle leaf, vetiver, and yarrow.
Note: You can still eat food that contains herbs like rosemary and sage, because the amounts used in food are generally much smaller than those used in tea