Essential Oils and Safety for Pregnant Women

First I will say I LOVE essential oils! I have spent many years studying them, their benefits are many and of course they smell divine! At the same time there is a lot of misinformation about essential oils out in the world today. Many use them as though they are simple natural fragrances. Doing so can be dangerous for some people though, particularly pregnant women, small children, people with epilepsy, or high blood pressure. Essential oils carry concentrated plant chemicals in them, which can be dangerous if not handled properly. Here I have compiled a list of essential oils that should not be used by pregnant women. The purpose of this is to hopefully educate women and keep them and their babies safe. These oils are on the list for various reasons; some are more dangerous than others, some are only unsafe during the first trimester. Some at the bottom of the list are less common and should never be used on the skin by anyone (these are marked as such). As a rule of thumb while pregnant use extreme caution using any essential oils on the skin. Although many prefer using something natural, sometimes the synthetic scent may be safer. This list was compiled from my various reference books; it may not be all inclusive. Caution should always be used when pregnant!

Essential oils that should not be used by pregnant women

Lavender
German Chamomile
Geranium
Rose Otto
Basil
Thyme
Jasmine
Marjoram
Rosemary
Clary Sage
Citronella
Bay
Juniper Berry
Myrrh
Cinnamon of any kind
Star Anise
Spanish sage
Celery seed
Angelica
Snakeroot
Calamintha
Labdanum
Cumin
Savine
Lovage
Parsley
Aniseed
Hyssop
Verbena
Angelica Root
Cedarwood (all types)
Nutmeg
Cistus (also known as rock rose)
Sweet Fennel (bitter fennel should never be used)
Wormwood (should never be used)
Tarragon (should never be used)
Mugwort (should never be used)
Deertongue (should never be used)
Wormseed (should never be used)
Camphor (should never be used)
Cassia (should never be used)
Pennyroyal (should always be avoided)
Oregano (should always be avoided)
Boldo leaf (should always be avoided)
Jaborandi (should always be avoided)
Bitter almond (should always be avoided)
Rue (should always be avoided)
Common sage (should always be avoided)
Santolina (should always be avoided)
Sassafras (should always be avoided)
Summer savory (should always be avoided)
Winter savory (should always be avoided)
Tansy (should always be avoided)
Thuja (should always be avoided)
Ajowan (should always be avoided)