I’ve talked before about my favorite remedies for dealing with PMS and cramps, but recently I’ve gotten quite a few questions about using essential oils for balancing hormones, so I thought I’d share my experiences. Essential oils can be really effective if used properly, but they can also pose certain risks due to their potency. It’s always a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional before using essential oils or any other remedies, especially if you’re pregnant or have health concerns.
Premenstrual Syndrome, or PMS, is a term for the range of symptoms women might experience in the week leading up to their period. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimates that nearly 85% of women experience some form of PMS. Some common symptoms include mood swings, fatigue, and bloating. Luckily, these symptoms usually start to fade once menstruation begins, but this can usher in a new set of issues like cramps, nausea, back pain, and headaches.
Many women find success in using essential oils to balance hormones and relieve symptoms like cramps and PMS. Applying these oils (safely, meaning topically and diluted) can provide relief and help stabilize hormones over time. It’s crucial to remember that some oils shouldn’t be used during pregnancy, as they can cause uterine contractions.
In my research on essential oils for hormonal issues, a few oils frequently came up, especially clary sage, lavender, and peppermint. While there are others like geranium and chamomile, I’ll focus on these three as they are well-researched for relieving hormonal symptoms in women.
Most essential oil brands offer blends targeted at hormonal balance, usually with clary sage as a key ingredient. Clary sage is particularly effective for easing pain, reducing stress, and balancing hormones. Studies suggest it helps reduce PMS symptoms and menstrual cramps. It even shows potential for easing childbirth pain.
Lavender is another well-researched oil, known for its hormone-balancing, pain-relieving, and stress-reducing properties. It can help with cramps and headaches while also calming anxiety and depression, which are common during PMS.
One of the annoying parts of PMS is feeling emotionally off or suddenly down for no clear reason. Studies have shown that inhaling lavender can help alleviate these emotional symptoms. Just ten minutes of inhaling lavender can start to ease these feelings.
Personally, I like to use oils aromatically by diffusing them in the air. This method is often safer than applying them directly to the skin, plus it smells great. I’ve reviewed some of the best diffusers for spreading essential oils around a room. Diffusing lavender is an excellent way to tackle PMS symptoms.
Peppermint isn’t typically used for PMS, but it’s great for relieving headaches that many women experience during their cycle. It’s been found to be as effective as acetaminophen in reducing headache pain and can help clear the brain fog some experience.
Many brands offer peppermint in roll-on forms for easy application on the forehead. I prefer making my own so I can control the strength to avoid skin irritation. Using essential oils diluted topically or in the air is often enough to gain their benefits without the risks associated with undiluted or internal use.
Here’s how I like to use essential oils for hormone balance: I add a few drops each of clary sage, chamomile, geranium, and lavender to a warm bath with Epsom salt, allowing for the added benefit of magnesium. PMS is often about hormonal imbalances, so improving this balance can reduce symptoms.
For aromatherapy, a simple mix could be clary sage, geranium, and ylang ylang oils. Clary sage helps elevate mood and regulate estrogen. Geranium influences adrenal hormones and stabilizes hormones.
For a soothing blend, I mix lavender, clary sage, and rose oil with a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba. This blend can be applied on the abdomen or back.
While essential oils have been used for healing for centuries, we’re only now collecting scientific data on their benefits. I hope more studies in the future will expand our understanding of how best to incorporate these oils into daily life.
Do you use essential oils for managing PMS or menstrual pain? Which ones work for you, and how do you use them?
