Treat your senses with essential oils for Menopause.
For many women, figuring out how to navigate menopause is a learning process. They need to find out what works for them when experinecing menopausal issues.
Modern medicine is considered a “quick fix” for menopause symptoms.
But…
A more natural and holistic approach is often as successful with fewer side effects.
So let’s see how essential oils can benefit women in all stages of menopause.
Many women describe the effects of essential oils as magical for sleep, hair loss, hot flashes, and even reviving their sex lives. Our viewpoint is that even if it is a placebo* effect, it is welcome if it helps to overcome a problem. Our body-mind connection creates the magic in this case, so why argue if it makes us feel better and sometimes even heal us!?
Essential oils are plant-based. Many of the ones suggested in this blog contain phytoestrogens that behave in a similar way to the hormone estrogen. Some experts believe that these essential oils may help with balancing hormones and relieving issues such as mood swings, insomnia, anxiety, depression, hot flashes, to name a few.
“Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils for therapeutic effects. The essence of these oils is meant to be inhaled (directly or through a diffuser) or diluted and applied to the skin.”
Essential Oils for Menopause
According to research, the following essential oils can improve hormonal balance and alleviate menopausal issues:
1. Clary sage
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This essential oil can help with hot flashes and night sweats when rubbed across the back of the neck or on the soles of your feet. This is best done with 2 to 3 drops diluted into a carrier oil like coconut oil or olive oil.
If clary sage is added to a tissue or a napkin, inhaled, and exhaled slowly, it can offer quick relief for hot flashes. It is said that this process can have an antidepressant effect and can reduce blood pressure for some people.
Its calming properties may reduce insomnia and uplift mood. Experts say it is also very helpful in easing muscle pain and cramps. The recommendation is to massage your legs with clary sage mixed into coconut oil with a few drops of sandalwood added before bedtime.
2. Peppermint
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Hot flashes can also be reduced by adding one or two drops of peppermint essential oil onto a tissue, holding it up to your nose, and inhaling and exhaling deeply.
During perimenopause, peppermint oil can also help with menstrual-related cramping (dysmenorrhea). It is not uncommon for the cramping to become worse in this phase. If it persists after your period stops, you need to consult your gynecologist.
Results published in the journal “Toxicological Research” say that applying peppermint essential oil to your hair can help grow more healthy hair follicles and overall hair growth, leading to thicker and healthier hair.
This oil is used for headaches, nausea, muscle pain, irritable bowel syndrome, as well as skin itchiness.
Essential Oils for Menopause
3. Lavender
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This is one of the most popular essential oils often used for relaxation and is a potent sleep aid. It is believed to treat anxiety, depression, nausea, menstrual cramping, and allergies.
Lavender is often used for hair growth, fungal infections, and eczema.
It can also be combined with other essential oils. Just a few drops in a diffuser of lavender oil, together with peppermint and citrus oils, make a room smell divine but also can improve your mood and relax your nerves.
Lavender oil can be used directly on the skin without dilution in carrier oils. It is usually first rubbed on the soles of the feet and then inhaled from the palms of the hands for a restful night’s sleep.
4. Geranium
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The geranium essential oil has been found to help menopausal women manage hormonal changes. One to two drops inhaled from your palms can provide immediate stress relief and help with mood swings. Geranium is also very helpful for dry skin. Adding a few drops of its diluted oil to water during a relaxing, hot bath can make the skin much softer.
Scientific data indicates that it can be beneficial for many menopausal issues, such as anxiety, depression, and pain management. It is thought to have antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.
120 women took part in a clinical trial where they received aromatherapy massages with geranium and almond essential oils. This trial showed that this kind of self-care treatment can improve mood and depression.
Essential Oils for Menopause
5. Basil
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Adding basil aromatherapy to your daily routine can increase estrogen levels and lift your mood. This essential oil can also help with hot flashes when diluted and applied to your feet or rubbed across the back of your neck. Basil is used to help alleviate feelings of fatigued, especially during perimenopause.
Some studies found an ingredient that mimics estrogen was found in basil. This can help the body adapt to the changing levels of female hormones.
In alternative medicine, basil essential oil is also used for acne, bronchitis, colds, coughs, and depression. It is said to enhance mood, improve digestion, increase alertness, and soothe muscle aches.
6. Citrus
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Citrus essential oils have numerous health benefits for women in all stages of menopause. This oil improves estrogen levels and lowers blood pressure; it is also said to improve the heart rate.
A study conducted in 2014 found that postmenopausal women who inhaled these essential oils experienced fewer menopausal issues and reported improved libido.
Interestingly, citrus essential oils also have anti-inflammatory qualities.
These oils are used for focus and concentration. They not only lift your mood but also have the effect of waking you up and energizing you. This is especially beneficial for those women who experience brain fog in menopause.
Citrus oils can make your skin sensitive to the sun, so if you use them on your skin, avoid direct sunlight.
Essential Oils for Menopause
7. Sandalwood
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This oil has soothing properties, so it can help with hot flashes and heart palpitations.
“I find that by just putting a few drops in the palms of my hand and holding it over my sternum, right on the center, immediately cools me down when I feel the flash coming. I find it grounding, cooling, quieting, and just nourishing.” says Amy Galper, founder of the New York Institute of Aromatic Studies.
Sandalwood oil also has other benefits; it increases alertness, soothes anxiety, supports wound healing, protects against skin cancer, and fights bacteria.
Ways of using essential oils:
Diffuser
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Use 3-5 drops of the oil of your choice in the diffuser to bathe your room in magical scents. You can even experiment with different blends of essential oils.
Depending on what you need, the essential oil scent can promote relaxation if you want to let go of stress or to improve alertness and concentration if you need to work.
Roll-on or spray
Essential oils are also sold as roll-ons and sprays so that they can be applied directly to the skin. Always check that the oil you are buying comes from a reliable producer because, in most countries, essential oils are not regulated by a government body.
Massage
Essential oils diluted in carrier oils are often used for massages. You can use them on the pulse points (wrists, neck, behind ears), or they can be massaged all over your body.
“In a 2007 review of several essential oils, people who were experiencing menopause had a weekly massage of the abdomen, arms, and back for 8 weeks. They reported improvements in hot flashes, depression, and pain.” Hur MH
Scientists are baffled by the fact that people often get better even when they are given pills and capsules that contain no medication (active matter) but just sugar or a similar “harmless” substance. This is called the placebo effect. The belief is that our body reacts to our conviction that we have taken a cure for our ailment.
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