Diffusing Essential Oils

aromatherapy birth preparation healthy pregnancy Oct 11, 2021

The practice of using aromatics medicinally dates back as far as 3500BC. There is reference to those substances in ancient scripture all across the world.  

Aromatics were commonly used for their air purifying properties in communal places. Frankincense gets used in churches all across Europe and it featured as a gift at the birth of Jesus along with myrrh and gold. The term aromatherapy was eventually coined in France in 1935 by the chemist René-Maurice Gattefosse.

Diffusing Essential Oils

This is the most beginner friendly way of getting your aromatherapy on! You simply put some drops of oil into a diffuser and wait for the magic. Not complicated but effective.

First you might go for the smells you love. Then, after a while, you might choose the oils for their medicinal properties. 

Back in the late 80s when I was first introduced to diffusing essential oils, the most popular way of doing it was in an oil burner and a candle. Those are still available and they come in different materials such as soap stone, ceramic and glass. You use a  tea light candle to heat a small bowl of water with a few drops of essential oil. It takes a while for the scent to diffuse into the room. My oil burner was given to me by my grandmother back in the early 90s and I still have it. The great thing about it is that one tea light lasts for one bowl of water. So I am never faced with the hazard of the bowl cracking because it is out of water. 

That's how I have been diffusing essential oils for the last 30 years now, with the oil burner my granny gave me.  I am attached to it, it's been with me for so long. I have been worrying for a while now about the environmental impact the use of tea lights has. I had been using the little glass dishes that you can refill with candles but those are pricy and not easy to get. 

Last week I was introduced to the Essential Aromas Mini Travel Diffuser and it has transformed my experience. 

Here's why:

  • It instantly starts diffusing when you switch it on. The times of having to wait for the water to heat are gone
  • It diffuses only essential oil and the scent fills your room in no time at all
  • It is mobile and rechargeable. I can take it wherever I want, it even  fits my cup holder in the car. Most importantly I can bring it from one venue to the next as a mobile therapist
  • It is safe in environments where candles are not. If you are going to give birth in the hospital, you can't use a candle because it could cause an explosion around medical gases. This little oil burner easily fits into your hospital bag
  • It looks really pretty and slick
  • It is easy to operate and easy to clean

The essential oils I got along with the diffuser are of excellent quality. I got the Master Aromatherapist Kit  that comes with a selection of oils and also some blends. The oils are all GCMS tested and the company were happy to supply the relevant certificates upon request. GCMS testing analyses essential oils for purity.

The blends all smell beautiful. Keep them for after your baby is born though. In pregnancy, I advise to blend your own oils because that way you know that you are using oils that are suited for pregnancy.

If you want to continue on your aromatherapy journey and make some spray and roll ons for labour and postpartum, this blending kit will make life a lot easier for you. It comes with brown glass spray bottles and roll ons. You'll be able to measure out your ingredients exactly by using the beautiful measuring cylinder. You'll feel like a professional aromatherapist the moment you unpack this set.

Aromatherapy can enhance your pregnancy experience in many ways. It can add to your sense of comfort by filling your environment with your favourite scents.

You can take it from there, to address any pregnancy ailments you might have. Aromatherapy can be used for complaints like nausea, thrush, anxiety, sleeplessness, hip and low back pain and even for pain relief in labour. It finds an application for any minor ailment in the book.

You must consult with an aromatherapist and observe essential oil safety guidelines for pregnancy. We discuss the safe use of aromatherapy in my signature course The Ultimate Vegan Pregnancy. 

Email [email protected] for more details.

 

 

Would you like more of my writing? You can! I have written a book called '7 Secrets Every Pregnant Woman Needs To Hear Before Giving Birth: The New Midwife’s R.O.A.D. To Birth™ Hypnobirth System'. 

It offers perspective on common misperceptions about pregnancy, birth and risk and it gives you my R.O.A.D. To Birth hypnobirth system that my clients have used for years. It shows you how to Recognise and Release your Fears, Overcome obstacles, Accept what you can't control and Do the work. 

Get The Book

Want An Aromatherapy For Holistic Pregnancy Guide?

Of course you do! Sign up below to get instant access to our Aromatherapy for Holistic Pregnancy Guide. And best of all, it's FREE!

We respect your privacy and will never share your info. Unsubscribe anytime.