Pregnancy – A Delicate Period in a Woman’s Life
Pregnancy is a wonderful yet delicate period in a woman’s life, where the safety of everything under the sun becomes questionable in order to protect the sacred life form growing deep within your belly!
While there are many essential oils that must be restricted or avoided during pregnancy, fortunately for us, peppermint oil is on the list of safe essential oils to use during pregnancy.
If there’s only one essential oil that you could choose to use in pregnancy, it should be peppermint essential oil because it’s a true all-rounder that can remedy a wide number of pregnancy complaints from nausea to tired feet and more!
Caution Using Essential Oils in Pregnancy
- Only use 100% pure, therapeutic grade essential oils from trustworthy sources.
- Always do a patch test by applying diluted peppermint oil on your inner wrist and observe for any allergies or sensitivities like redness, rash or irritation. Although rare, some individuals may be allergic to peppermint so do a patch test before use, especially if this is your first time using essential oils.
- Organic, 100% pure peppermint oil can be ingested but not more than 1 – 3 drops should be consumed in a day. In pregnancy, it may be better to restrict the internal consumption of peppermint oil but diffusion and topical application can be applied.
- Always consult your OB/GYN or health care practitioner before using any essential oils.
Properties of Peppermint Oil That Are Wonderful for Pregnancy
Peppermint oil is rich and concentrated in many antioxidant compounds and oil terpenes such as menthol, mentone, methane and limonene, all of which contribute to the oil’s calming, numbing and stress-relieving capabilities.
The pungent refreshing aroma of menthol in peppermint oil is what gives it a minty tingling characteristic which helps alleviate headaches, migraines and nausea, which are prevalent in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy.
Peppermint oil is also helpful for digestive upsets, abdominal cramps and skin irritations.
You know when you get “mommy brain” or “pregnancy brain”, a true phenomenon where hormonal changes make you forget things or mix things up in pregnancy? Well, peppermint oil is a good remedy that can help stimulate the mind, creating alertness and clear-headedness.
Safe Ways to Use Peppermint Oil in Pregnancy
- Bath blend: Make a bombastic bath to awaken both your mind and body! Drop 20 – 25 drops of peppermint oil into your bath and sink in for a calming yet stimulating and refreshing soak.
- Simple sniffing! Simply sniff the pure essential oil straight out of the bottle to relieve feelings of nausea or dizziness.
- Muscle massage: Awaken dull and aching pregnancy muscles and joints by making a massage oil using ½ a cup of coconut oil and 12 drops of peppermint oil.
- Pulse points: To relieve headaches/migraines, apply peppermint oil on to the temples. To arouse the senses, apply peppermint to the wrists and behind the ears.
- Nausea and tummy upset: Pregnancy often makes sensitive tummies worse and for many pregnant mothers, there’s no escaping from nausea. Drink a herbal tea with a drop of peppermint to soothe the digestive system and manage nausea.
- Decongest: Got a cold or respiratory congestion in pregnancy? Try to cut down on the medication by licking on 1 tsp of honey mixed with 1 drop of peppermint oil. This is a great soothing recipe for sore throats as well.
- Diffuse: Allow the refreshing scent of peppermint to fill the atmosphere for just 1 hour everyday by diffusing 10 – 15 drops of peppermint oil using your diffuser or essential oil safe humidifier.
- Swollen ankles: To relieve swollen feet or swollen ankles in pregnancy, simply soak your tired feet into a tub of hot water, 1 cup of Epsom salt and 10 drops of peppermint essential oil. This will draw out the inflammation and bring the step back to your feet!
- Lower back pain: A common complaint in pregnancy, lower back pain is caused as your belly gets bigger and heavier. Relieve back pain by asking your partner to give you a deep sensational massage with 1 tbsp of coconut oil and 6 drops of peppermint oil.
- Pregnancy acne: Some women suffer from pregnancy acne caused by hormonal shifts in the body. Make an anti-acne cream by using ½ a cup of shea butter, 6 drops of peppermint oil, 4 drops of tea tree oil and 4 drops of balancing geranium oil, for radiant, pimple-free skin.
- Steam inhalation: Another great remedy for colds and headaches in pregnancy, simple throw a towel over your head as you breathe in from a large bowl of steaming hot water and 2 – 4 drops of peppermint oil.
- Wear it in jewelry: Perk up your pregnancy look by wearing jewelry with aromatic benefits. Diffuser pendants can be worn in a chain around your neck and large beaded clay diffuser necklaces can be splashed with peppermint oil for a refreshing scent that you can inhale all day long.