Essential Oils for You and Baby

Our piece on essentials oils is written by guest author Linda George – published author, our resident Astrologer and lifelong aromatherapy expert and practioner. 

Aromatherapy is the healing modality using plant essences, and is perfect for the child-bearing and rearing years. It is safe (when used correctly) for pregnancy and post pregnancy, with their attendant issues, as well as for baby and childhood conditions.

Extracted from certain trees, shrubs, grasses, roots, fruits and flowers the plant oils are concentrated in different parts of the plant and form an essential part of the plant’s immunity and protection. Vetiver, for instance, is made from the roots of a grass species. Germanium is from the flowering plant’s leaves and stalks; cumin oil is from its seeds and rose oil from flower petals. Citrus oils are from the peel and pine oil the needles and twigs of pine trees.

Not only a delight to the olfactory senses, essential oils are potent yet gently therapeutic.

It is well worth the time and expense to collect a few of the foundational oils to have on hand as they can be used in a variety of ways whenever the need arises. Or even in the welcome absence of any health-related issues, there is nothing more relaxing than a lavender and chamomile soak at the end of a hard day, when baby is finally asleep. Essential oils offer a system of healing that works across all aspects of our being: body, emotions, spirit. In that, they are truly holistic. 

Being a mother is probably more challenging now, in this 21 ^st Century, than it ever has been. Modern women who choose motherhood literally sign up to a life of pressure, as they juggle the demands of young babies and children with work, relationships, staying healthy and looking great.

The pressure can be immense and everyone knows, a woman’s work is never done. Nature has given us these wonderful plant allies, these healing helpers, for so many conditions that afflict mothers – from post-natal depression to sore breasts to cystitis, ovarian cysts, varicose veins, to uterine prolapse, menstrual irregularities, constipation, PMS and more.

Here are a few simple and safe essential oil blends for some of these conditions.

They are sourced from Aromatherapist Valerie Worwood’s book “The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy”  - to stimulate your interest and perhaps embark on the wonderful journey into the world of healing plants. (Pure Nature (a NZ company) is a good place to purchase essential oils and carrier oils.)

Essential Oils

Spearmint essential oil 4 Drops

Ginger 2 Drops

Cardamon 1 Drop

Lavender 2 Drops

Directions

Add blended drops to a bowl of boiling water and place on floor by bed overnight. It will keep your stomach calm.

Essential Oils

Sweet Orange, Ginger, Cardamon, Grapefruit, Coriander, Spearmint, Lemon, Petigrain, Frankincense, Bergamot.

Directions

Blend any combination of oils – 1-2 drops of each, or 3-4 drops of three, into 10 ml of carrier oil (Almond, Jojoba, Avocado, Apricot) and rub a small amount into wrists or chest. Alternatively, diffuse these oils. (You can use a water bowl if you do not have a diffuser).

Essential Oils

Blend 1:

Almond oil 2 Tbls

Wheatgerm oil 1 Tbls

Borage seed oil 1 tsp

1 tsp Carrot oil 1 tsp

Blend 2:

Avocado oil 2 tsp

Evening Primrose 1 tsp

Jojoba oil 2 tsp Blend together and use as body massage oil.

Rosehip seed 1 tsp

Almond oil 75 mls

Directions

Blend together and use as a body massage oil.

Essential Oils

Patchouli oil 10 Drops 

Lemon oil 5 Drops

Directions

Blend together then dilute 1-2 drops per 1 tsp drops Carrier oil. Use blend as a lower back massage – either side of vertebrae or either side of ankles.

In a bath containing 2-5 drops each of Chamomile, Geranium and Lavender oils stroke legs gently upwards. 

Alternatively add 10 drops Geranium oil and 5 drops Lemon oil to 2 tablespoons (30 mls) carrier oil (Jojoba, avocado, almond, apricot) and stroke legs gently working upwards from ankles. Geranium and spearmint added to a warm footbath is also good for varicose veins.

Essential Oils

Lemon oil 3 Drops

Coriander oil 2 Drops

Lavender oil 2 Drops

Black Pepper oil 1 Drop

Directions

Blend and add 4 drops to a bowl of cool water & swish around. You can add some round pebbles to the bottom of foot bowl and roll feet back & forth. You can also use this blend in water as a cold compress: place natural material into the water (the colder the better), squeeze out and apply to ankles or lower leg.

Essential Oils

Almond oil 40 ml

Avocado oil 20 ml Calendula oil

Jojoba oil 40 ml

Directions

Mix together and add to 4 tsp (20 ml) You can also add Calendula oil to Vitamin E cream, Aloe Vera gel or natural ointment. Add 10 drops of Calendula oil to your chosen cream.

Compresses are useful for breast soreness. Organic teas can be used as cold compresses:

Chamomile, Peppermint, Spearmint and Lavender teas especially. 

You can use essential oils as compresses also: to 750 ml boiling water add 7 drops of oils – Chamomile & Lavender.

Essential Oils

Chamomile oil 15 Drops

Lavender oil 10 Drops

Eucalyptus oil 5 Drops

Directions

Blend drops and add 10 drops of the blend Drops into a saucer of warm Chamomile tea to Drops which has been added 2 tsp (10 ml) Colloidal Silver. Soak clean cloth in the mixture and place over breast. Repeat 2 X Daily for 5 days. Or use the blend of Essential oils in 4 Tbls carrier oil (Jojoba, Almond etc) apply a small amount to affected breast.

Choose an oil from this list. You can use in combinations – 20-30 drops in 2 Tbls (30 mls) carrier oil for a body oil. Use a small amount each time. Or 2-4 drops in a room diffuser, or 3-6 drops in a bath diluted in a tsp carrier oil:

Bergamot, Helichrysum, Neroli, Mandarin, Rose Otto, Geranium, Clary Sage, Grapefruit, Orange, lemon, Rose Absolute, Ylang Ylang.

Essential Oils

Camellia seed oil 2 Tbls

Almond oil 2 tsp

Jojoba oil 1 tsp

Directions

This is a gentle massage oil for babies especially helpful if they have dry skin.

Jojoba oil or Avocado oil as carrier oils – Add 5 Drops Borage oil to every 2 Tbls carrier oil.

Essential Oils

Coriander seed oil – 1-2 drops in 1 Tbls carrier oil (Jojoba, almond)

Directions

Rub baby’s tummy gently with this massage oil – then turn baby over and rub his middle back in a gentle circular motion.

From 12 months to 5 years:

Mandarin, Lavender, Chamomile – Use 1 drop per year of age. Dilute oils in 1 tsp carrier oil before adding to bathwater.

From 5 to 12 years:

Geranium, Clary sage, Mandarin, Chamomile, Lavender, Frankincense – For baths 1-2 drops until 7 years, 1-3 drops between 7-10, 1-4 drops between 11-12. Dilute in 1 tsp oil before adding to bathwater.

For back massage the following amounts are diluted in 1 tsp of carrier oil: 1-2 drops up to 7 years of age, 2-3 for 8-12 years:

Lavender 10 drops

Chamomile 7 drops

Mandarin 7 drops

8-12 years:

Chamomile 5 drops

Lavender 5 drops

Geranium 8 drops

Frankincense 4 drops