Maybe a dumb question...

[mosdub]

*Asking more for curiosity, I swear I'm not panicking over everything *


So I'm ready to get flamed for this, but I consulted Dr.Google and didn't find an answer.  

I am having my typical sinus congestion/cold symptoms and have a little aromatherapy pouch with eucalyptus/peppermint/lemongrass oil-soaked beads for sniffing.  It occurred to me that maybe this was something I should look into, though I was 99% sure it wasn't a problem.  

Then of course, I find this product - 

www.naturalhealthyconcepts.com/inhalation-beads-sinus-help-jar-p-aromafloria.html


Notice:  "Warning:  For adult use only. Do NOT use if pregnant. Do not inhale directly from the jar, use the bag provided. Keep out of the reach of children."



So my question for the masses - why are they very adamant about pregnant people not using this product?  I looked into eucalyptus oil, but found nothing specific explaining why it is bad, or what it could do. So, smart women who made the smart choice to migrate to this excellent new forum...any insight? 

[htuzzi324]

What are the beads made of? I have a blend of peppermint and lemongrass I use all the time for congestion and morning sickness. It's perfectly fine.

[mosdub]

Jan 20, 2015 21:35:16 GMT -5 htuzzi324 said:

What are the beads made of? I have a blend of peppermint and lemongrass I use all the time for congestion and morning sickness. It's perfectly fine.

I'm not positive, but they look like little plastic beads in a muslin bag - the oils in mine are also peppermint and lemongrass, plus eucalyptus.  

[htuzzi324]

They should be ok. They might have to just put that because they aren't tested on pregnant woman.
I'm a young living consultant so I know that all of those oils are safe to use.

[mosdub]

Thanks a lot htuzzi324 !!- I figured that was the case but curiosity had me going.

[aelias]

Two words: Avoiding. Liability.

As htuzzi324 said, the product probably hasn't been tested on pregnant, and because they can't guarantee that it's safe, they don't want to take any risks. But yeah, all those things sound pretty harmless. And if you're inhaling just enough to get a scent, imagine the teeny amount of chemicals that actually make it into your bloodstream. I think your intuition is right -- probably fine.

[annabananabomb]

I found this on babycenter, you might have seen it already?

Personally I reckon it's one of those things that if you've been doing it already it's probably safe (like drinking kombucha or doing oil pulling) because your body is used to the effects/doses etc.

Andplusalso if it's giving you relief from something that would otherwise have a big impact on your day to day happiness and well-being, to paraphrase bibliothecary: sniff the pouch, take the baths, eat the things


www.babycenter.com.au/x536449/is-it-safe-to-use-essential-oils-while-im-pregnant

"It's safe to use some essential oils while you're pregnant, as long as you're healthy and you're careful with them. Essential oils are highly concentrated substances extracted from plants. They are powerful, so it's important to use them sparingly. Be sure to buy high-quality oils from a reputable seller.

Essential oils are used in aromatherapy, which is a complementary therapy. The oils contain chemicals that can be absorbed into your body. Essential oils can be diluted with a base or carrier oil for massage, or put in a vaporiser for you to breathe them in.

Once inside your body, essential oils work in the same way as drugs or medicines. Because essential oil molecules are very small, there is a possibility that they may cross the placenta and reach your growing baby's circulation.

We do not know exactly what effect essential oils may have on a developing baby. Studies have only tested oils on animals, with varying results.

We do know that many mums-to-be find aromatherapy helpful in easing pregnancy niggles. These include backache, nausea or swollen ankles.

If you want to use aromatherapy oils, it is best to take the following precautions:
Only use one drop of essential oil at a time.
Try not to use one particular oil for a long period of time, such as every day for several weeks.
Dilute the essential oil by mixing the drop with at least a teaspoon (5ml) of a base oil before you add it to a bath or smooth it over your skin. Grapeseed oil or sweet almond oil work well as base oils.
You can add drops of the oil to a vaporiser, but don't leave it on for longer than 10 minutes or 15 minutes in each hour. If you leave it on for too long, the smell can be overpowering and make you feel nauseous.
It's best to start using essential oils once you are past the first trimester. If you use them in the first trimester, always consult an aromatherapist who's trained in treating mums-to-be.

Oils that are safe for you to use

As long as your pregnancy is going well, it's fine for you to use:
citrus oils, such as tangerine and neroli
German chamomile
common lavender
frankincense
black pepper
peppermint
ylang ylang
eucalyptus
bergamot
cypress
tea tree oil (not in labour)
geranium
spearmint

Oils that are not safe for you to use

Don't use the following essential oils while you are pregnant:
Nutmeg, which may have hallucinogenic effects and react with pain-relieving drugs in labour.
Rosemary, which is thought to increase blood pressure, and may cause contractions.
Basil, which is thought to contribute to abnormal cell development.
Jasmine and clary sage, which may trigger contractions.
Sage and rose, which may cause bleeding in your uterus (womb).
Juniper berry, which may affect your kidneys.

Laurel, angelica, thyme, cumin, aniseed, citronella and cinnamon leaf should also be avoided as they could stimulate contractions.

There is a lot of confusion over the safety of lavender essential oil in pregnancy. That's because lavender can be used to regulate periods. Rest assured that this does not mean using it in pregnancy raises the risk of miscarriage. However, for ease of mind, you may want to wait until your second trimester before using it.

Clary sage can be a great way to get labour started if used by a trained midwife for a mum who is overdue. However, don't use this oil yourself, as overuse can make your contractions too powerful.

In some circumstances, it's best to steer clear of essential oils altogether. Don't use any oils if:
you have a history of miscarriage
you have had any vaginal bleeding in this pregnancy
you have epilepsy
you have heart problems
you have diabetes, blood clotting problems, or have thyroid, liver or kidney disease

It's always a good idea to talk to your doctor or midwife before using essential oils."

[telos]

Just want to echo - I agree it's a total CYA. Same reason why certain massage therapists require doctors notes for first trimester moms, or why pregnant women are vaguely told not to drink "herbal tea." They don't test these products on pregnant women. They can't verify the safety. And these "natural" remedies aren't regulated by FDA.

ETA: FDA regulation issue not really relevant for safety, but it can make things more difficult from a warning perspective because there's no pregnancy "class." All the more reason to CYA.

[astheria]

Don't eat them. I also wouldn't rub them all over your skin. If you are just huffing it shouldn't be an issue.

[kmitch1]

I love diffusing EOs, so I looked this up as well a while ago. Much of it is CYA, and it seems that diffusing is pretty safe for most/all oils. Trouble starts when you ingest or apply it to your skin. My Omega 3/6/9 pills even have a pregnancy warning on them. I asked my OB and he all but laughed.

[annabananabomb]

Can someone tell me what CYA is?

[lulurm]

Jan 21, 2015 0:20:03 GMT -5 annabananabomb said:

Can someone tell me what CYA is?

Cover your ass

[annabananabomb]

Jan 21, 2015 0:35:12 GMT -5 lulurm said:

Jan 21, 2015 0:20:03 GMT -5 annabananabomb said:

Can someone tell me what CYA is?

Cover your ass

Thanks!

[elvenqueen]

I agree, definitely CYA for something they haven't specifically tested for preggies.

I bought some patio chairs last year during my first pregnancy, like the week of my BFP. When I was cutting the labels off, I noticed warnings written on them. They said that pregnant women shouldn't sit on them! For a full 5 seconds I was distraught, but then I realised that the health implications of falling off a chair were a little ridiculous, and I sat my ass down.

If you've used them regularly and they're not secretly drugs ( ), my guess is they're fine.

[kmartturtle]

Jan 20, 2015 22:38:09 GMT -5 astheria said:

Don't eat them. I also wouldn't rub them all over your skin. If you are just huffing it shouldn't be an issue.

The same could be said for cocaine. Right?

[aotto87]

Jan 21, 2015 8:12:53 GMT -5 brassyclarinet said:

Jan 21, 2015 7:13:53 GMT -5 kmartturtle said:

The same could be said for cocaine. Right?

OOOOOOHH let's make a whole list of things that probably aren't safe for pregnant women!

 -Skydiving
 -karate sparring
 -swordfights
 -the civil war
 -the american revolution 
 -pizza lunchables (lol)
 -patio chairs
 -NASA
 -monkeys with the ebola virus


Anyone else want to add?




Shower sex

[lawndog1216]

The midwife I saw said, "If you have to stop and ask, 'can a pregnant woman do ________,' then you probably should just not do." This works great for me - I'd probably skydive first tri if I were a sky diver. But for my husband to hear, it SUCKS. Because EVERYTHING is "should you be doing/eating/wearing/drinking/using that?" Soap. Shampoo. Make up. Perfume. Sitting in a new car. Spicy food. iPhone usage. Too bad he doesn't question doing laundry, picking up toys and clutter ten thousand times a day, or grocery shopping.

[astheria]

Jan 21, 2015 7:13:53 GMT -5 kmartturtle said:

Jan 20, 2015 22:38:09 GMT -5 astheria said:

Don't eat them. I also wouldn't rub them all over your skin. If you are just huffing it shouldn't be an issue.

The same could be said for cocaine. Right?

Yes, just like cocaine.

But seriously, I personally wouldn't rub any essential oils on my body during pregnancy unless they had been tested (because they can in fact cross barriers and into cells etc. and have actions, including immunomodulatory actions).  Eucalyptus would be a definite no, because even 1mL of that ingested can kill a human.  I personally wouldn't want to potentially expose my unborn child to that in utero.  However, inhaling has different effects.  You aren't applying it directly, it's mixed with air etc.  So i wouldn't worry about it unless you are ingesting or applying topically. 

[rachel]

Jan 21, 2015 10:11:41 GMT -5 astheria said:

Jan 21, 2015 7:13:53 GMT -5 kmartturtle said:

The same could be said for cocaine. Right?

Yes, just like cocaine.

But seriously, I personally wouldn't rub any essential oils on my body during pregnancy unless they had been tested (because they can in fact cross barriers and into cells etc. and have actions, including immunomodulatory actions).  Eucalyptus would be a definite no, because even 1mL of that ingested can kill a human.  I personally wouldn't want to potentially expose my unborn child to that in utero.  However, inhaling has different effects.  You aren't applying it directly, it's mixed with air etc.  So i wouldn't worry about it unless you are ingesting or applying topically. 

I agree. Most all concerns about essential oil during pregnancy are regarding topical use.

[kcebeling]

OT, but don't forget about using some saline too!

[RandomName]

The Neti potty is my best friend right now. It's a weird sensation at first but feels really good after you're done.

[mosdub]

Jan 26, 2015 3:22:25 GMT -5 RandomName said:

The Neti potty is my best friend right now. It's a weird sensation at first but feels really good after you're done.

The Neti Bottle saves my life every time I have a sinus issue.  I love it.