Is Eucalyptus Oil safe during pregnancy?
Common in chest rubs and spa products. No pregnancy or breastfeeding guidance found; keep it away from your baby's face.
What the sources say
No authoritative pregnancy or breastfeeding guidance on eucalyptus oil was found. FDA notes plant oils can be toxic or irritating, and LactMed notes 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol), a main component, passes into milk in small amounts from peppermint. Many chest rubs also contain camphor, which a review advises avoiding. Ask your clinician; avoid swallowing it and keep strong vapors away from infants.
Also listed as
eucalyptus essential oil, eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus) leaf oil, eucalyptus globulus leaf oil, eucalyptus leaf extract
Sources
- FDA: Aromatherapy
- NIH LactMed: Peppermint - Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed)
- NIH PubMed (peer-reviewed review): Maternal Reproductive Toxicity of Some Essential Oils and Their Constituents (Int J Mol Sci, 2021)
- NIH MedlinePlus: Camphor overdose
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.