The Safe and Scientific Use of Aromatherapy for Pregnancy, Women’s Health, Children, and Mental Health with Pam Conrad, PGd, BSN, RN, CCAP (Ep. 407)

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Using botanicals during pregnancy and in children is controversial in both conventional and integrative medicine. Previously, we had an episode regarding this topic on the Essential Oil Revolution with Dr. Mary Bove. We discussed why it is so important to be especially careful when using essential oils during these critical periods. This is due to the ethical considerations of research in pregnancy and the perceived lack of robust studies on their safety in these populations. Furthermore, there is the important consideration of what both the mother and baby are exposed to in pregnancy can have powerful impacts on health outcomes and fetal development.

Thankfully, evidence and traditional knowledge of using herbs and aromatherapy safely does exist for these sensitive populations. In fact, thanks to Pam Conrad, we have guidebooks and established standards for medical settings based on them!

In this episode of the Essential Oil Revolution, you get to listen-in on my conversation with Pam, an amazing, pioneer in the aromatherapy space. This incredible woman literally set the standards on how to safely integrate evidence-based, clinical aromatherapy for women’s health in hospitals and medical facilities throughout the United States.

Pam is internationally recognized for her expertise in medical and clinical aromatherapy. She has been a nurse for 35 years and a clinical aromatherapist for over 23 years. Pam has an extensive background as a postgraduate nurse, clinical aromatherapist, educator, lecturer, trainer, formulator, published researcher, author, professor, and specialist in Clinical Aromatherapy for Women’s Health and Mental Health.

Pam has published two guidebooks on aromatherapy. Her first book, Women’s Health Aromatherapy– a clinically evidence-based guide for nurses, midwives, doulas, and therapists is available internationally and in Spanish (Aromaterapia Femenina). Her latest book was just recently released, Aromatherapy and Women’s Mental Health (2023).

During the show, Pam shares with us how she paved the way for health care professionals worldwide to embrace aromatherapy and how this led to her work being the foundation for aromatherapy standards in multiple hospital nursing and midwifery programs. We also touch upon how she is empowering women worldwide to safely use essential oils during pregnancy and for their mental health through her books and lectures.

Below is an overview of some key topics we discussed during the interview:

• The importance of safety in critical time periods (1 min)
• Pam’s bio and her background on how she set the foundation for integrating aromatherapy in hospital-based nursing and midwifery programs (1 min 30 sec)
• What got Pam interested in women’s health, mental health, and aromatherapy (7 min)
• How Pam got into aromatherapy by “chance” (9 min)
• Pam’s initial journey into integrating the use of aromatherapy with patients in U.S. hospitals (17 min)
• Pam’s experience in England on evidence-based clinical aromatherapy in nursing and midwifery: (19 min)
  • Pam became an intern and protégé to Dr. Denise Tiran, HonDUniv, FRCM, MSc, RM, studying clinical aromatherapy and how to bridge essential oils into conventional care.
  • Pam was exposed to the significant research by Ethel Burns that tested the safety of ten essential oils for anxiety, depression, nausea, pain, and contractions in pregnancy. (25 min)
  • Pam trained at a hospital that replicated Ethel Burns’ study, she bought the program so she could teach it to nurses and midwives in the U.S.
• Pam’s continual education course for professionals that provides the updated research on the six essential oils found to be safe in pregnancy (also available to naturopathic doctors) (31 min)
• An overview of Pam’s books which review the safe use of essential oils in women’s health and mental health and a specialized pediatric section (32 min)
• The important difference between learning about individual oils vs. blends (35 min)
• The dilution ratio for using essential oils in pregnancy and with pediatrics (35.30 min)
• The number one oil studied for anxiety in research (39 min)
• Pam’s aromatherapy logo campaign for mental health awareness (39.30 min)
• Why it’s important to use external applications of essential oils with those taking medications (40 min)
• Pam’s favorite essential oils and self-care ritual (43.30 min)
• Pam’s “Luxury Oils Blend” recipe for postpartum depression, anxiety, and mental health:
  • 2-4% dilution of 20 drops lavender, 10 drops jasmine, and 4 drops of rose oil in a 4ml container mixed with an unscented lotion
• Pam’s closing words on sharing humanity and connection (47.30 min)

Click here to listen to the whole interview.

Click here to get additional information and resources from the show.

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