DIY aromatherapy 'labor calm spray' with essential oils, flower essences, and gem essences
If you’ve taken one of my courses, you might know that using a diffuser during your labor may not be the best way to use aromatherapy.
However, you can create a bottle of aromatherapy spray, using essential oils with gem and flower essences - AKA, vibrational ‘medicine’.
I call mine Labor Calm Spray.
When I was attending births as a doula, I always kept a bottle of Labor Calm Spray in my doula bag. Care providers and birthing families alike loved it, and would often stop to comment on how different our room felt from the rest of the building.
Hospitals typically have a problem with essential oil diffusers being used - but a small bottle of scented spray is easy to use without ‘permission’ (I’m a big fan of asking forgiveness instead of permission, especially during labor).
A spritz is unobtrusive, and the scent dissipates quickly enough that it won't become overwhelming, even to those with sensitive systems!
Why add flower or gem essences?
Rescue Remedy, like all flower and gem essences, is ‘medicine for the emotions’.
Both flower essences and gem essences are based in the concept of vibrational medicine (click for explanation), which is a well-studied and longstanding area of research, and has roots in ancient commonsense wellness practices.
Homeopathy is another form of vibrational medicine, and while many have dismissed it over the years - homeopathy is used as the exclusive healthcare modality for members of the royal family for over a century. Often, things that are publicly dismissed - but privately used by very powerful people - are worth exploring a bit!
Vibrational medicine can gently and swiftly rebalance unhelpful emotional states without any contra-indications or side effects.
This makes it superb to use during pregnancy, labor and birth.
Usually, flower or gem essences are taken in water internally (not all gems are safe for making essences for internal use, tho, be aware)- and they can also be added to a spritz bottle and used as an aerial mist.
Essences don't change the smell of your spritz blend at all, and since flower essences are typically alcohol-based, they can even act as a preservative to keep your spritz fresh and sanitary.
How to make Labor Calm Spray:
To a 2-ounce spritz bottle (glass is preferred), add the following...
Bach flower essences - two drops of each chosen essence, up to seven.
Star of Bethlehem - to insulate and mend the emotions from intensity, shock, and emotional upheaval (specifically, for childbirth)
Olive - for when you feel physically exhausted and can't find the strength to go on, i.e. the final, most intense stage of labor - transition
Walnut - for coping with change, and resisting unhelpful outside influences
Mimulus - for fear of known, specific things
Elm - for emotional overwhelm, when you feel like you can’t catch a break
White Chestnut - to quiet obtrusive thoughts that keep running thru your mind
Rescue Remedy - since this is already a blend, add FOUR drops, and reduce your total number of essences to FIVE
Essential oils - choose your scents wisely, as you may change your mind about them during labor.
Get high-quality oils from dōTERRA here.
Frankincense - 8 drops - Frankincense corresponds to the crown chakra, and enhances feelings of spiritual connection while keeping you grounded
Floral oils - 8 drops - Flowery scents like Jasmine, Neroli blossom, and Rose have been used traditionally during childbirth for thousands of years
Clary Sage - 8 drops - To be used after 37 weeks, as Clary Sage can encourage uterine contractions
Balance blend - 6 drops - This blend helps to anchor our consciousness into our physical body, and aids in releasing tension along the spine. It also lends emotional fortitude
Lavender - 6 drops - Lavender is key in promoting feelings of relaxation—if you don’t care for the scent, try it applied to the soles of your feet
Citrus oils - 4 drops - Citrus oils like Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit, or Wild Orange are emotionally uplifting, and help release tension—which in turn may assist with regulating blood pressure
To create gem essences -
Take a small glass or jar filled with spring water or structured water (not tap, distilled, or RO).
Add a clean, non-dissolvable crystal of your choice, cover the jar with a lid or cloth, and wait 12+ hours.
For added impact, you can place this in a windowsill exposed to moonlight and/or a fresh breeze, speak words of intention over the jar, or place it on a charging plate made of shungite, orgonite, or a paper with images and words of gratitude and love.
Water is highly resonant with whatever subtle energies we choose to relay to it, whether by intent, contact, or proximity.
That’s it! Your gem essence has been created - and the water will now exhibit similar subtle properties that the crystal or gem exhibits.
Gem essences can typically be used for drinking, and can be used either by adding a few drops to a beverage, or drank directly, like any other fresh source of drinking water (don’t drink after a day or so). Some stones like cinnabar and malachite are actually poisonous (!), and some crystals may be colored with substances that make them unsafe for using in gem essences - so be sure to check your stones!
For use in topical and aromatic applications, gem essences will ‘keep’ for at least for a period of several weeks - depending on you, and how often you ‘enliven’ or ‘feed’ the gem essence with your conscious use, intention, and thought. If you’re worried about it going musty, you can add a small amount of either brandy or vodka.
Now, you can use some of your gem essence water for the base of your aromatherapy spritz, instead of using plain water.
To explore the world of gemstone properties and crystal healing more deeply, I highly recommend getting this book (and don’t bother with many of the others)!
Here’s some great stones to create gem essences with for pregnancy and birth:
Moonstone - a keeper of feminine mysteries, this stone echoes the reflective properties of the moon and helps us see ourselves clearly, connects us with our feminine intuition, and releases emotional tension.
Labradorite - the “dark mother” stone, this sister of moonstone evokes magic and helps us safely move through the unseen, with deep insight into the self.
Rose Quartz - a heart-chakra stone, this high-frequency ally of the emotional body reminds us of deep, unconditional love, safety, trust, and joy.
Unakite (a Jasper variety) - this Earth-element stone facilitates gentle, steady healing and growth, helps us release emotional pain patterns, and is especially helpful during pregnancy
Amethyst - a favorite stone for people who are new to vibrational healing, amethyst stimulates the mind, intuition, and rekindles our connection to the spiritual realms
Peridot - positive growth, mindset, and power radiate from this stone, connecting us to our primal nature of abundance in health and wellbeing.
Smoky Quartz - this stone is deeply grounding, and lends balance and confidence in our physical form.
Larimar - this stone awakens our Divine Feminine, and is associated with both fire and water. It helps us communicate our needs clearly from the heart.
Jade (Nephrite) - this Goddess-stone has been used throughout time to assist is harmony and mastery of physical health, life, wealth, and wellbeing.
Whether you’re using just essential oils and water, or a combination of oils and essences - choosing the ingredients of your very own Labor Calm spray will help you to gain confidence in your intuitive wisdom.
Top off with pure water, and voila--you've made your very own bottle of Labor Calm Spray. Shake, spritz, and enJOY!
homebirth + human design: RethinkBirth.com
MORE ON CONSCIOUS PREGNANCY: