Essential Oils in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
What NIH, a placental cell study and an aromatherapy association say about essential oils in pregnancy and breastfeeding, what is not known, and why to ask a midwife or clinician first.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Short answer: for most essential oils, good human safety studies in pregnancy and breastfeeding were not found in the sources we read, and lack of evidence is not proof of safety. Ask your midwife, obstetrician or pharmacist before using any oil, and say so if you use one. This page is information, not medical advice.
Urgent: if anyone swallows an essential oil, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US); call 911 for seizure, collapse or trouble breathing. [1] Poison Control says swallowed pennyroyal oil is highly poisonous to the liver. [1] See Pennyroyal Oil: Why It Is Dangerous.
What official sources say
| Oil | What the source says | Evidence label |
|---|---|---|
| Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) | NCCIH says little is known about whether lavender is safe in pregnancy or while breastfeeding. [2] | Insufficient evidence |
| Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) | NCCIH says topical tea tree oil products may be safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and that tea tree oil should not be swallowed. [3] | Official statement; "may" |
| Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) | NCCIH notes little is known about medicinal amounts by mouth during pregnancy or breastfeeding; it does not give a finding for inhaled or skin use in pregnancy. [4] | Insufficient evidence |
| Other oils | Proper evidence not found in the sources we read. We searched NCCIH, Poison Control, FDA and NHS pages and PubMed; the LactMed breastfeeding database could not be opened by us. | Insufficient evidence |
What laboratory research adds
French researchers tested niaouli, orange, tea tree, wintergreen and ylang-ylang oils, and some of their chemicals, on human placental cells in the lab. All five oils disrupted at least one of the four hormones measured, but none activated a cell-death receptor; the authors concluded the oils act more as hormonal modulators than as endocrine disrupting chemicals in these cells. [5] This is preclinical (cells in a dish) evidence and does not show what happens in pregnancy. One author is an employee of a natural-products company. [5]
What a professional association says
NAHA, a US aromatherapy professional association, calls essential oil use during pregnancy "controversial" and not yet fully understood, and says the main concern is oil constituents crossing the placenta. [6] It notes that crossing the placenta does not necessarily mean toxicity, and recommends general safety guidelines because of the lack of clear information. [6] It lists oils it says should be avoided throughout pregnancy, labor and breastfeeding, including camphor, pennyroyal, wintergreen, sage, hyssop and wormwood. [6] This is an industry body's position, not a regulator's rule, and it quotes opinions from aromatherapy authors rather than trials.
Use and talking to your care team
A review of studies found that many pregnant women use complementary therapies, including aromatherapy, that some believe these are safe alternatives to medicines, and that many do not tell their pregnancy care providers. [7] Telling your midwife or clinician lets them check for risks, including those from medicines. Poison Control notes that essential oils may interact with medications. [1] See Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Supplements and Herbs and How Interactions Work.
Labor and after birth
What is known about aromatherapy during labor and childbirth is on Aromatherapy for Labor and Childbirth. Trials of comfort or pain are not the same as safety studies of outcomes for babies.
Frequently asked questions
Are essential oils safe during pregnancy?
Proper evidence not found in the sources we read that shows most oils are safe. NCCIH says little is known for lavender. [2] Ask your midwife or clinician.
Is tea tree oil safe in pregnancy?
NCCIH says topical tea tree oil products may be safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding, and that it should not be swallowed. [3]
Can I use a diffuser while pregnant?
Proper evidence not found in the sources we read for diffuser outcomes in pregnancy, so we make no claim either way. Ask your midwife or clinician.
Which oils are said to be avoided?
NAHA lists camphor, pennyroyal, wintergreen, sage, hyssop and wormwood among others. [6] Poison Control warns about swallowed pennyroyal. [1]
Is lavender safe while breastfeeding?
NCCIH says little is known. [2] Ask a clinician or pharmacist.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety reminders
- Do not swallow essential oils; we give no advice to do so. [3]
- Skin reactions and allergy can occur at any time; see Essential Oil Skin Reactions. [1]
- Sun-sensitizing citrus oils: see Phototoxicity. [8]
- Babies in the home: see Essential Oils Around Babies and Children.
References
- Essential oils: Poisonous when misused, Poison Control (US). Read 2026-10-23.
- Lavender: Usefulness and Safety, NCCIH (NIH). Read 2026-10-23.
- Tea Tree Oil: Usefulness and Safety, NCCIH (NIH). Read 2026-10-23.
- Peppermint Oil: Usefulness and Safety, NCCIH (NIH). Read 2026-10-23.
- Evaluation of Placental Toxicity of Five Essential Oils and Their Potential Endocrine-Disrupting Effects, Fouyet S et al., Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022, PMID 35877416. Read 2026-10-23.
- Safety, National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA, US professional association); page undated. Read 2026-10-23.
- The use of complementary and alternative medicine by pregnant women: a literature review, Hall HG et al., Midwifery 2011, PMID 21247674. Read 2026-10-23.
- Aromatherapy, US Food and Drug Administration, content current as of 09/08/2023. Read 2026-10-23.