We are lucky to work with the very talented Paula Kemp, who has been practicing aromatherapy for over 20 years.  Based in Surrey, she's our go to for essential oil recommendations for all sorts of ailments.  Here's a piece on hormonal health, which offers guidance to women looking for support during the years leading up to and during the menopause.  We are working with Paula on some workshops, and will announce dates soon with more detail.  In the meantime, enjoy her very insightful piece:

The Best Essential Oils for Your Hormonal Health During Perimenopause and Beyond

If you're looking for a natural way to support your hormones during perimenopause and beyond, essential oils may be a good option. There are a variety of essential oils that can help balance hormones, and in this blog post, I’ll share some of my favourites.

When our hormones become imbalanced, we can experience a wide range of symptoms from mood swings to low libido to weight gain. There are many things that could cause this imbalance from stress and lack of sleep to poor nutrition or pregnancy through to menopause transition.

Hormonal well-being is important for our general health and incorporating essential oils into your self-care routine can be a wonderful natural way to enhance holistic health.

What is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the transition period leading up to menopause, and it usually begins in a woman's early 40s. However, perimenopause can start as early as the mid-30s or as late as the late 50s. The average length of perimenopause is four years, but some women may experience symptoms for ten years or more.

During perimenopause, our ovaries begin to produce less oestrogen, which can cause a variety of symptoms like:

  • hot flushes
  • night sweats
  • vaginal dryness
  • mood swings
  • anxiety
  • sleep problems
  • weight gain
  • Low libido

While there is no one-size-fits-all solution for managing the symptoms of perimenopause, incorporating essential oils into your self-care routine can be a great way to help support your body during this time.

 

What are Essential Oils and How Can They Help Hormone Imbalance

Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts that contain the aromatic compounds of the plant. These compounds can be beneficial for our health in a variety of ways, and they can be used in many ways including massage, diffuser, or in the bath.

Essential oils are a natural way to support your body and can be helpful in balancing hormones in several ways. For example, some essential oils can help to regulate our menstrual cycle, support thyroid health, and boost our libido.

In addition, using essential oils can be a wonderful way to reduce stress and promote relaxation. When we're stressed, our body produces cortisol, a hormone that can interfere with our hormonal balance. When we're relaxed, however, our cortisol levels drop, and this can help to restore balance in our hormones.

Essential Oils for Hormone Balance

Hormones are chemical messengers that transmit information throughout the body. However, it is very simple for levels to become out of whack, and women are particularly vulnerable to changes due to problems such as:

  • Stress
  • Lack of sleep
  • Blood sugar fluctuation
  • Nutritional shortages
  • Excessive intake of stimulants like caffeine and sugar
  • Alcohol
  • Environmental toxins
  • Chronic inflammation
  • Extremely high levels of exercise

The influence of diet and lifestyle on hormone equilibrium is significant, but the strong impact of making minor adjustments is frequently neglected.

My Favourite Essential oils for Supporting Hormone Balance

There are a few different essential oils that you can use during perimenopause to support your body.

When it comes to balancing hormones, there are a few different essential oils that can be particularly helpful. Here are some of my favourites:

Clary sage (Salvia sclarea)

Clary sage oil is a very powerful essential oil. Clary sage includes natural phytoestrogens known as "dietary oestrogens" which are produced from plants and not the endocrine system, it has oestrogenic effects.

Due to these phytoestrogens, Clary sage has oestrogenic properties. Which helps to control oestrogen levels and promotes long-term uterine health, lowering the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer.

Also, Clary Sage oil is a wonderful muscle relaxant and a strong anti-stress herb. It's particularly beneficial when muscular tension results from mental or emotional stress because it alleviates all types of stress and tension.

One of the useful actions of Clary sage essential oil is in preventing excessive sweating so, hot flushes can be naturally remedied with the help of this wonderful oil.

Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)

Lavender is a versatile oil that has many different properties. These include analgesic, antidepressant, antiseptic, bactericidal, and decongestant effects as well as reducing blood pressure, repelling insects, and having a sedative effect.

Studies have shown that lavender can help relieve menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, headaches, and heart palpitations.

Lavender helps to keep cortisol levels steady while relaxing your body and mind and boosting your sex drive. It also promotes good hair and scalp health, as well as a healthy night's sleep.

Geranium (Pelargonium gaveolens)

Geranium essential oil has a soothing effect on the nervous system. It can aid in the reduction of anxiety and depression, as well as elevate your spirits.

This oil's balancing impact on the adrenal cortex makes it suitable for treating stress, and its regulatory action on the hormonal system adds to that benefit.

Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata)

Ylang ylang is one of the most popular essential oils for menopause treatment. Its intoxicating scent may calm and uplift the mind and body, while also reducing stress and tension. It may also aid with feelings of anxiety and depression.

This oil is fantastic for boosting a person's sex drive, which is another prevalent symptom of menopause. It is also useful for reducing rapid breathing and rapid heartbeat and its sedative properties are used to help lower high blood pressure.

Bergamot (Citrus aurantium sp. bergamia)

Bergamot oil is extracted from the rind of the fruit. It has a sweet, citrusy aroma with floral notes. Bergamot is useful in treating menopause symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and irritability. It can also help to reduce hot flushes and night sweats.

This oil can be used to improve circulation and increase low libido. Bergamot is also helpful in managing stress and tension.

It's an excellent antiseptic for the urinary tract and other ailments and inflammations such as cystitis, which are treated with douches and hip baths. Bergamot oil has shown to be effective in preventing urinary infections (add no more than 2-3 drops to warm water).

Rose (Rosa damascena)

Rose essential oil has a sweet, floral scent that is both romantic and uplifting. It is beneficial for treating menopause symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and irritability. Rose oil can also help to reduce hot flushes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness.

This oil is also useful for boosting libido and improving circulation. Rose oil is an excellent choice for massages and can be used in a diffuser or added to a bath for a relaxing experience.

Especially in the gynaecological field, Rose essential oil is used to regulate hormones, reduce uterine bleeding, increase uterine strength, regulate menstruation and relieve menstrual pains.

The essential oil blends for hormone support:

Peri/Menopause support massage blend:

Ingredients:

  • 4 drops clary sage 
  • 3 drops lavender
  • 2 drops geranium
  • 2 drops bergamot 
  • 1 drops ylang ylang
  • 30mls carrier oil of choice (apricot kernel oil or sweet almond oil)

Method: 

In a 30ml dark glass bottle, add 30mls of your carrier oil and then the essential oils. Replace the top and swirl around to combine ingredients together.

To use: shake gently and massage the blend over your abdomen and lower back 2 to 3 times per day.

Hot flushes inhaler blend:

To a personal inhaler add the following drops to the cotton wick:

Ingredients:

Method: 

Add the drop to the cotton wick of a personal inhaler

To use: Take 1-3 deep breaths, as needed. Add fresh essential oils every couple of months if used daily.

Peri/Menopause Support Bath Blend:

  • 1 cup Epsom salts
  • 5 drops geranium essential oil
  • 3 drops cypress essential oil
  • 2 drops clary sage essential oil

Method: Add all ingredients together and mix well. Pour into a full bath and disperse. Soak for 20 to 30 minutes.

How to Find Essential Oils

There are a few things you should keep in mind when shopping for essential oils to support your hormones.

First, make sure you are buying pure essential oils. This means that the oil has not been cut with a carrier oil or diluted in any way. You can usually tell if an oil is pure if it says 100% pure on the label.

Second, buy from a reputable company that sources their oils from ethical and sustainable growers. Preferably organic as this will ensure that the plants used to make the oils have not been treated with pesticides or other harmful chemicals.

Here are a couple of essential oil companies that I use and recommend Naturally Thinking and Edens Gardens.

Incorporate Essential Oils into your self-care routine

One of my favourite ways to use essential oils is to compliment my self-care routine, which can also be a great way to relieve perimenopause and menopausal symptoms. 

I add the oils to my baths and have a lovely wallow pretty much every evening, to get me to relax and unwind and let the oils get absorbed into my skin - bliss

Also, diffusing the essential oils will help to cleanse and purify the air in your home, whilst also providing you with the benefits of the oils. You could try diffusing a blend of 2 drops each of lavender, geranium, and bergamot essential oils.

Cautions When Using Essential Oils

As with anything, there can be a few cautions to keep in mind when using essential oils. If you have any medical conditions, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding, please consult your healthcare provider before using essential oils.

Some essential oils can act as photosensitizers, which means they make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Avoid using these oils on exposed skin before going out into the sun. Bergamot, lemon, lime, orange, and grapefruit are some examples of photosensitive essential oils.

Never ingest essential oils unless under the care of a qualified aromatherapist or medical professional.

Do not use undiluted essential oils on the skin. Always dilute with a carrier oil such as jojoba oil or apricot kernel oil.

And Finally...

Essential oils can provide many benefits for hormone balance and support. With the use of essential oils, we can help to regulate our hormones naturally and effectively with no side effects or risks.

Essential oils are a safe alternative to pharmaceuticals that may come with negative side effects or drug interactions.

If you're looking into ways to improve your hormonal health, using essential oils is a great place to start.

About Me

I’m Paula Kemp, based in Walton on Thames in Surrey.  I’ve been a practicing aromatherapist for over 20 years, and specialise on women’s health.  My goal is to help pope find relief from their aches and pains, hormanal imbalances and generally to improve wellbeing with the power of essential oils.

 

Comments

  • VINEVIDA said:

    Acknowledging the effort put into compiling this information about essential oils for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. It’s a great resource for those seeking natural solutions.

    March 23, 2024

  • ToniAnne DeSantis said:

    Hi, I am 67 years old, and was wondering if you would recommend the same oils, for the older woman way past medopause?

    March 23, 2024


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