 Nature's
Way
with Alan Hayes
Natural help for pregnancy
For many women pregnancy causes changes and upheavals in the body that result in considerable discomfort and stress. Minor problems such as backache, swollen legs, reversal of skin condition (oily to dry or vice versa), lack of skin tone, morning sickness and insomnia can be aided by the use of essential oils, moderate exercise and dietary modification.
Include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables (in particular broad beans, climbing and dwarf beans and peas), wholemeal cereal products, poultry and fish. Avoid red meat as much as possible, or completely abstain from it. Exercise daily by walking and/or swimming until it no longer feels comfortable. And only undertake an exercise program after consultation with your health practitioner.
Essential oils can help to alleviate backache, swollen legs and tiredness that may overtake your whole body. Their uplifting qualities will help to ease the aches and lethargy, soothe the spirits and put the world back in perspective. Add them to a warm bath or a soothing and relaxing body rub.
For a relaxing and uplifting bath, which is especially beneficial for swollen legs, add one drop each of chamomile and lavender oils to the bath water after it has settled. Or ask your partner to gently massage your back with the following blend each evening before bed.
Thoroughly blend together 8 drops each of geranium and lavender essential oil, and 4 drops of chamomile essential oil with 40 millilitres of almond oil and 5 millilitres each of avocado and wheat germ oil. Store in an airtight, amber-coloured glass bottle, and shake well before use.
To help overcome the problem of morning sickness and calm the stomach, place a drop of spearmint oil on your pillow each evening. On the floor beside the bed, place a bowl of boiling water to which has been added six drops of the same essential oil. As you sleep the calming fragrance of the spearmint oil will be inhaled, allaying any possibility of nausea and morning sickness.
And to relieve insomnia, try putting a drop of basil, chamomile, clary sage or lavender onto your pillow at night.
Nausea can be another uncomfortable side effect of being pregnant. Although it usually clears up by the fourth month some unfortunate women go full term with that feeling of sickness. To help alleviate it, simply fill a bowl with boiling water, add one drop of ginger essential oil to every 500 millilitres of water used, cover your head with a towel and inhale for 5 minutes with your eyes closed.
A concern for all pregnant women is the legacy of stretch marks. To help prevent this problem it is essential to maintain the tone and elasticity of the skin by the regular massaging of those areas where stretch marks are likely to occur: lower and upper abdomen, thighs and buttocks.
Massage these areas with the following oil blend. Thoroughly mix together 8 drops of tangerine essential oil, 7 drops of mandarin essential oil and 5 drops of carrot oil with 40 millilitres almond oil and 5 millilitres each of avocado and wheat germ oil. Again store this oil blend in an airtight, amber-coloured glass bottle.
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