Pregancy and Nursing with Young Living Essential oils

Pregancy and Nursing with Young Living Essential oils
About the author: My name is Jolin Housewright and I have 4 children. Although I began on my journey of health shortly
after my first child was born in 2003, I did not become "oily" and find Young Living oils until just before my third
pregnancy. So I have had two oily pregnancies and exclusively nursed two oily babies! Let me clarify that the information
in this document should not replace your own common sense or intuition, nor should it replace doing your own research to
determine what is right for you! This information is based on mine and others experience, and also based on information
from the Essential Oil Desk Reference, and Dr. Debra Raybern's book Gentle Babies. Also, when researching for yourself,
keep in mind that many "cautions" you find on the internet are based on observations of essential oils that are low
quality/frangrance grade, contain synthetics or toxins, or are grown and distilled using chemicals and pesticides which
remain as residuals in the oils. When I refer to use of any essential oils, it is ONLY Young Living oils, which are
guaranteed for purity and potency, and tested extensively to verify such. And as always, this information is not intended to
diagnose, prevent or cure any disease.

Young Living Oils safe for use in pregnancy

I will be giving a list of unsafe oils later in this article, but essential oils are, I believe, an integral part
of a healthy pregnancy, both emotionally and physically. In fact I credit much of my emotional health
in my last two pregnancies to essential oils. Essential oils are balancing to the body’s systems,
cleansing to receptor sites, fantastic for keeping bacteria/fungus/parasites at bay, and emotionally
healing and uplifting, just for starters.

There are a few oils to avoid while pregnant, but the fantastic thing about essential oils is there is never
just one oil that does what you want!! There are lots! Following is a list of several (and this list is by
no means comprehensive) Young Living oils that are recognized as safe in pregnancy. With each oil
I have listed a few suggestions for use, but this list is certainly not exhaustive; lavender alone has
hundreds of reported uses! Keep in mind oils are very concentrated, so a little goes a long way,
especially in pregnancy when your body is very efficient at metabolizing things ☺ I do not
recommend ingesting any but the citrus oils, and those in small quantities.

• Lavender (blood pressure, skin conditions, swelling, fever, headaches, itching, early labor, calming,
  anxiety, insomnia, stretch mark prevention, burns)
• Frankincense (depression, anxiety, headaches, resp. infection)
• Valor (back pain, fear, anxiety, alignment, stress, GBS, self-esteem, insomnia, stretch mark prev.)
• Joy (depression, fear, anxiety, trauma, bonding, greif)
• Gentle Baby (calming, insomnia, skin, stretch mark prevention)
• Peppermint (breech baby, gas/bloating, energy, fever, headaches, heartburn, hemorrhoids, nausea,
  respiratory)
• Lemon (cough, swelling, energy, heartburn, nausea, itching)
• Lime (energizing, uplifting, nausea)
• Orange (uplifting, depressing, energizing, nausea)
• Grapefruit (energy, headaches, nausea)
• Peace & Calming (cough, early labor, insomnia, anxiety)
• Myrrh (breech baby)
• Forgiveness (negative emotions, emotional barriers)
• Grounding (balancing and stabalizing)
• Highest Potential (grounding, calming, inspiring)
• Sacred Mountain (strength, grounding)
• Tangerine (circulation, swelling, itching, stretch marks)
• Eucalyptus or RC (congestion, respiratory infection)
• Roman Chamomile (headaches, coughing, respiratory, aches)
• Rose/Rose Ointment (itching)
• Bergamot (stress, uplifting)
• Helichrysum (internal bleeding, circulation, hemorrhoids)
• Ylang ylang (depression, anxiety)
• Geranium (external bleeding, swelling, hemorrhoids, itching)
• Aroma Life (blood pressure)
• Sandalwood (nausea, uplifting, relaxing, insomnia, skin)
• Marjoram (muscle pain)
• Palo Santo (muscle pain, bug repellant)
• Trauma Life (internal bleeding, emotional support, healing)
• Tender Tush (stretch mark prevention)
• Panaway (back pain, muscle pain)
• Melaleuca (fungus, cuts/scrapes, antiseptic, viruses)

Ningxia Red

Ningxia Red is absolutely a phenomenal nutritional supplement for use in pregnancy. A good dose
would be 2-8 oz a day. There were many days I was pushing 8 oz for the energy support, and because
my body craved it. Below are just a few things it is good for:

   •   blood pressure                        nutritional support
   •   blood sugar regulation/GD             fever
   •   circulation                           constipation
   •   heartburn                             nausea
   •   energy                                endocrine support

Now to answer your questions about what NOT to use.....

Oils to avoid or use with caution in pregnancy: (this list is often found in aromatherapy guide
books; please note only those with a star are listed in the EODR to “use with care in pregnancy”.)

•   Basil*
•   Calamus
•   Cassia
•   Clary Sage*
•   Cinnamon Bark
•   Fennel*
•   Hyssop*
•   Jasmine
•   Juniper
•   Myrrh (EODR actually recommends during pregnancy!)
•   Nutmeg*
•   Rosemary*
•   Sage*
•   Idaho tansy*
•   Tarragon*

Some Common Blends containing the above singles:

•   Theives
•   DiGize (EODR actually recommends during pregnancy!)
•   Exodus II
•   Immupower
•   Endoflex
•   Sclaressence
•   Purification
•   Melrose
•   Aroma Siez
•   Abundance
•   Into the Future
•   Lady Sclerol
•   Dragon Time
•   M-Grain
•   Energee
•   Clarity

In general, I would say that in pregnancy, it is wise to use care when it comes to essential oil use. It is
also wise to use oils that are common and have stood the test of time and repeated use (see “safe” list),
and to avoid using large quantities of the cautionary essential oils. This is simply a common sense
precaution. Although there has been no reported problem from overuse of Young Living oils, such
use in pregnancy without due cause or under a practitioner's guidance is simply an unnecessary risk.

That said, as for the above list of "cautionary" oils (or blends which contain cautionary oils), I
recommend avoiding them during the first trimester; but there are a couple which I carefully avoid
after the first trimester.

Oils to absolutely avoid throughout pregnancy:

• Clary Sage
• Jasmine
• Fennel

Aside from these oils, there are a few things to consider when determining whether to use a
“cautionary” oil. First, most of the precautionary oils are listed as such in most reference books
because they impact blood flow or hormones in some way. Therefore the fear is that their use (or
overuse) may have potential to cause a miscarriage. There has been little research done in the field of
safety of supplements in pregnancy (this is true even for the wide variety of innocuous natural health
substances and supplements that many of us use as integral parts of our prenatal health). So any
reports of a problem potentially caused by an essential oil (including the low-grade, impure, and
possibly toxic oils sold in health-food store shelves) gets that oil labeled as a potential caution for
pregnancy. Normal use of therapeutic grade essential oils has never been shown to cause problems. In
her book Clinical Aromatherapy: essential oils in Practice, Jane Buckle, Ph.D, R.N., states "There are
no records of abnormal fetuses or [miscarriages] due to the normal use of essential oils, either by
inhalation or topical application. There are no records of a few drops of essential oils taken by mouth
causing any problem either." In fact, Dr. Peter Minke, who spoke at the School of Nature’s Remedies,
said he saw no reason to limit the use of any Young Living essential oil during pregnancy! For me, the
key is common sense and common usage.

While several of the oils on the above list are not highly common, I am going to address my personal
use of a couple of the more common oils. Please note that my choice to use them was also backed up
by Dr Raybern's book; she noted that many of her patients and people who have submitted their usages
and protocols to her have used these oils in reasonable quantities with no reported negative effects of
any kind.

First Trimester

My personal choice, and my recommendation to others, is to avoid usage of any of the "cautionary"
oils during the first trimester; extra caution is recommended during this time. I also chose to avoid
internal use during the first trimester, except for small amounts of citrus oils. I probably got them on
my hands at some point from applying to my children, and on more than one occasion I accidentally
used Theives, Endoflex, Purification, and DiGize during my first trimester, in reasonable quantities,
with no ill effect. But in general I avoided. I did, however, still use thieves cleaning products and
toothpaste, and did not limit my diffused oils. In the case of illnesses, I would first use various other
antibacterial/antiviral oils, and colloidal silver, instead of those on the cautionary list. See the safe list
for replacements.

Second & Third Trimester

After the first trimester, I continue to recommend avoiding ingesting oils, except citrus oils in small
quantities (unless a particular situation warrants it). I personally chose to reintroduce some of the
cautionary oils. My choice to do this was personal, and each person needs to make this decision for
themselves. For me, I chose to use some of the blends that contained cautionary oils. The blends are
made to be synergistic, and they work together with our bodies for a common purpose, rather than their

individual qualities. There are a few that can be very helpful in pregnancy if necessary, and I chose to
use the following:

* DiGize
* Endoflex
* Theives
* Purification
**I would have used Exodus II, Immupower, Melrose, or M-Grain if I had had a compelling reason.

I feel that these blends have their specific uses, and they are highly effective. I still recommend going
to the “safe oils” list first, but if necessary I would use these. For example, I would choose to use
peppermint first for digestive issues, but I would use DiGize if peppermint was not sufficient. And
after my first trimester, Endoflex was a staple for me. Now, mind you, I was more judicious in its use
than I have been at other times...I did not take it internally, and I used it diluted 50/50 over my thyroid
and adrenals daily.

My choice to use these cautionary oils is my choice, and a choice that many other pregnant women
have made with no problems. It is based on the belief that these oils work with my body to create a
state of balance, and therefore in small quantities will only serve to strengthen my body. But you will
need to make this decision for yourself, and consider your own body and its weaknesses. Please
consider researching your oil choices in the Essential Oils Desk Reference or other comprehensive
guide before making a choice.

The Bottom Line

Young Living Essential Oils are the highest quality available. They have remarkable therapeutic
qualities for every known physical and emotional ailment. But as with other remedies and
supplements, a little extra caution is wise in pregnancy to ensure a healthy baby. While there is not a
lot of research on oils in pregnancy, we do have a great deal of historical information and a plethora of
positive personal testimonies about the safe, reasonable use of essential oils in pregnancy. While there
are a limited few oils which should be avoided or used with caution, it is my belief that essential oils
are an important and indispensable tool for a happy and healthy pregnancy. Follow common sense
guidelines, and your personal intuition through prayer, and enjoy the safe use of God's pharmaceuticals
in your pregnancy. Following I am including the pregnancy protocol followed daily by Gary Young's
wife, Mary Young, during her pregnancies. As a world renown leader in essential oil research and
therapeutic use, I would trust his protocol on his own pregnant wife over nearly anything!

Mary Young's Pregnancy Protocol

Throughout:
Valor over abdomen morning and night, followed by another oil of choice
Brain Power every morning
In the evening: White Angelica, Peace & Calming, or Gentle Baby
In the morning, any of the following: Gathering, 3 Wise Men, Into the Future, Magnify Your Purpose,
Inner Child, and Joy, 3-4 drops of chosen oil
First Trimester:
Daily used the following: Power meal, Whey Fit, BeFit, Megazyme, Sulphurzyme, Master Children's,
Ultra Young, Pregnenalone (now called PD80/20), SuperCal, MultiGreens, Comfortone, ICP
Second Trimester:
Daily: increased Powermeal and Megazyme, and added Super B, Super C, Mineral Essence, and
Exodus capsules. Stopped Pregnenalone and added Pregnenalone cream over abdomen.
7th month: Decreased BeFit from 6 capsule to 5, increased Megazyme to 13 caps a day, increased
Master Childrens to 9 a day, increased Mineral Essence to 5 droppers daily.
8th month: Increased Megazyme to 14 daily, stopped Sulphurzyme, increased SuperCal to 8 daily,
increased Master Children's to 10 daily, Super C to 4 daily, added 3 Thyromin daily, increased Super B
to 2 daily. All oils were applied neat (no dilution).
After pregnancy, she added JuvaTone.
(Note that a few of the supplements recommended have been discontinued or replaced.)

Nursing and Essential Oil use:

Many information books, sites, blogs and guides lump pregnancy and nursing together when it comes
to essential oil use. But this is actually incorrect. The majority of essential oils that are contraindicated
in pregnancy are such because of their hormonal or blood influences, or because they could have
uterine stimulating effects. None of these particular things cause a problem during nursing; quite the
opposite, hormonal regulation, circulation, and uterine contractions post delivery are all normal and
necessary parts of postpartum! Milk supply and quality are the only concerns during breast feeding.
Two essential oils are known to have potential negative effects on milk supply: Peppermint and
Clary sage. Peppermint is the more noticeable of these, but even then, many women do not see any
effect on their milk supply when using it, especially in small quantities or for short durations. I
personally have continued my intermittent use of Peppermint (and blends with Peppermint) while
nursing for over 2 years now, with no noticeable decrease in supply. I have also periodically used
Clary Sage (in the blend Sclaressence) for hormone balancing, again with no noticeable effects. In fact
some sources say they have seen a milk supply INCREASE with Clary Sage! I would recommend that
you use these as needed, and simply be aware of the potential for a supply decrease and discontinue
their use immediately if you encounter any problems.

To INCREASE milk supply, Fennel essential oil topical over breast (not on nipples) or bottom of feet,
and internal (in your water or under tongue) is reported to help substantially. If you don't have Fennel,
DiGize contains it as well. Possibly Geranium may help as well.

Another consideration in nursing is detox effect, where reportedly any toxins exiting the body are
flushed into the breast milk. While many sources will warn you never to detox during nursing, I have
found this limitation to be unreasonable and unnecessary. Our bodies are constantly cycling in and out
of detox, both as a daily routine and as a seasonal cycle. This is part of our body's regular
maintainence, and nursing is designed to work for the baby's best interest in spite of our regular

detoxing. Also, a great many of the foods we ingest on a daily basis (well, at least most of the healthy
ones) assist our body in detoxing. We do not choose to eliminate cilantro or lemon from our diet
because of potential detox! And finally, I have been working with 2 alternative practitioners while
nursing my last two babies, and while neither has put me on any type of extreme or harsh
cleanse/detox, both have me on a variety of supplements and oils which could result in mild toxin
flushing, with no hesitation and no ill effect. So while I wouldn't recommend doing any harsh
cleanses, or starting on half a bottle of lemon oil or JuvaFlex tomorrow, I would not let this
consideration stop me from using any particular oil.

The only other consideration I have found important when nursing is limiting my ingested oils. The
reason for this is that ingested substances pass into the milk and flavor it. The oils are strong
distillations with strong flavor and I don't want to risk constantly making bad favors so as to cause
baby to refuse to eat. Mind you, most certainly at any time when I am ill, I do ingest oils. My health is
critical for me to continue to care for my family. Likewise, I do frequently ingest some of the milder
food flavored oils (lemon, ocotea, grapefruit, etc.) I just try to exercise caution in this area to avoid
causing a problem. However, if you have a health issue that necessitates internal use, I personally
would not hesitate to do so daily. If you find that it causes a problem you can discontinue its use.