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Do Essential Oils Cross the Placenta?

2/22/2019

4 Comments

 
Do Essential Oils Cross the Placenta?
By Stephanie McBride
The quick answer, though, is that yes , it is very likely that many Essential Oils do cross the placenta, as well as cell membranes, the blood-brain barrier, and into breast milk.  Because of this, it is especially important to be mindful of Essential Oil purity and dosages when using Essential Oils to help mitigate the many discomforts that arise during pregnancy. (Tillett & Ames, 2010)

​Despite an ever-growing body of research on Essential Oils, there is only a small amount of study conducted on Essential Oil use during pregnancy- this, in part, owing to the question of whether or not it is ethical to conduct research on pregnant women. 

Do essential oils cross the placenta?
This is how it is understood.   The placenta provides a natural barrier against positive and neutral molecules and against molecules that weigh more than 1000 atomic mass units (AMUs).  Since Essential Oils weigh less than 250 AMUs and many are negatively charged, it is fair to imply that some Essential Oils cross the placenta. Despite this, there is virtually no evidence that, when used correctly, Essential Oils have a negative impact on the fetus in utero.  In fact, many may have a positive effect.  In addition, the immaturity of the fetal liver may offer a degree of protection since fetuses are not capable of metabolizing chemical compounds into more toxic forms, a process that requires phase two liver enzymes.

 The incredible benefits of using Essential Oils during maternity far outweigh any effort it may take to understand quality and basic safety guidelines.  This simple, lovely practice has the potential to change someone's outlook, quality of life, or length of labor with little risk of harm, but there are a few things to keep in mind when adapting Essential Oil use for maternity. First is the consideration of quality which, in fairness, is an important factor for safe and effective use at any phase of life.  The quality and purity of most Essential Oils are compromised because the majority of oils are produced strictly for their scent, not for therapeutic purposes.  In addition, there is little regulation over Essential Oil quality,  For example, the U.S. government does not oversee Essential Oil quality except to stipulate that 5% of a product be pure Essential Oil to be labeled “pure”.  This is a disappointment to many Essential Oil enthusiasts, who believe that the integrity of Essential Oil quality is at the heart of aromatherapy.  It is the level of quality that distinguishes Essential Oils used for therapy from, say, public bathroom air freshener!  For more information on this topic, please see my   website    and other blog entries.
The second thing to consider when adapting Essential Oil use for maternity is dosage and concentration.  Generally speaking, women have more sensitive skin during pregnancy, are more affected by sun sensitizing Essential Oils (like citrus-derived oils), and should be mindful of which oils are recommended for their particular phase of pregnancy.  To lessen overall exposure and its unknown effects on the fetus and infant, it is prudent to avoid the oral use of Essential Oils during pregnancy and, conservatively, while nursing.  

Here are some tips for safe use during pregnancy:
  • Use only   Therapeutic-Quality Essential Oils.  Some essential oils are able to cross the placenta and most diffuse into breast milk.  Aromatically, essential oils cross through the blood-brain barrier!   It is  best practice to use only pure, therapeutic-quality essential oils, even when just  for aromatic use and especially during pregnancy.
  • Dilute  Essential Oils to 1% concentration for massage (one drop per teaspoon/5 mL of carrier oil) as a starting point.  If needed or desired, increase concentration   if there are no signs of irritation (such as redness to the skin or    itchiness).
  • Though essential oils are unlikely to cause irritation, it is prudent during pregnancy to test diluted oils on the wrist before the first use and watch for signs of irritation for up to 24-hours.
  • Use gentle essential  oils and ones that are recommended for your specific phase of maternity   (see recommend oils).
  • Avoid internal and oral use during pregnancy, unless  advised under the care of a qualified professional.

To learn more on this topic, visit my website,   Daily Nectar Essentials.

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4 Comments
Kathleen Hachero
1/23/2020 04:48:29 pm

Hi i just wanna ask. Im 8 weeks pregnant and applied white flower oil in between my breast only once last night? Is that harmful?

Reply
Stephanie McBride link
1/24/2020 01:33:16 pm

Hi Kathleen. Congratulations on your pregnancy! Great question. I would not be too worried about your application of White Flower because of the very small amount you are using, but the blend does contain constituents that should be avoided or used with extreme caution during pregnancy (especially as it progresses.) White flower oil is made from 6% Camphor, 15% Menthol, and 40% Methyl salicylate- none of those is ideal or recommended during pregnancy in any significant quantity (such as in frequent full body massage). Methyl salicylate, for example, is the constituent from which asprin was originally derived, is a blood thinner, and is often contraindicated in a normal pregnancy when blood volume almost doubles. But, again, you are using such a small amount that I wouldn't worry about it having caused any harm to your baby. Peppermint blended with lavender or another floral oil would make a nice alternative, if you'd like another option. Let me know if you have any other questions and feel free to send me an email or request a call. Stephanie

Reply
Zachary Saunders link
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    Author

    ​Stephanie McBride is a published writer and certified clinical herbalist who has worked with herbal medicine for over 20 years.  She has been in practice as a functional nutritionist and essential oil educator for Daily Nectar since 2009.  ​

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    • Home
      • Oli Essenziali per il Benessere Materno
      • Óleos Essenciais para o Bem-estar Materno
      • Ätherische Öle für Mütterliches Wohlbefinden
      • Aceites Esenciales para el Bienestar Materno
    • Guidebooks
      • Distributors >
        • United States >
          • Your Oil Supplies
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          • Aromatools
        • Europe >
          • Europe
          • Ireland
          • UK
    • Online Learning
      • E-Courses
      • CEU e-Course
      • Webinars & Video Tutorials >
        • LOVE & Chocolate Webinar
    • Oils for Birth
      • Why use Therapeutic Oils?
      • How to use essential oils
      • Oils for Birth A to Z >
        • Bergamot
        • Black Pepper
        • Blue Tansy
        • Cardamom
        • Clary Sage
        • Copaiba
        • Coriander
        • Cypress
        • Fennel
        • Frankincense >
          • Frankincense Special
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        • Ginger
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        • Lavender
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