[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Are you familiar with
essential oils? If so, you may know that they are prepared from flowers, bark, leaves, or fruit via distillation, to capture the compounds responsible for the natural aromas. Essential oils have a wide array of potential benefits, which helps explain why they became the basis for a wellness practice called aromatherapy.
What is aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is the art and science of using essential oils for a range of therapeutic objectives. Aromatherapy has been used traditionally in other cultures for centuries. In fact, it has been estimated that the roots of this natural practice go back more than 3,500 years.
While natural plant fragrances were initially used in superstitious practices, over time people began to appreciate their medicinal value. The great Hippocrates (circa 460-377 BC) played a role in this. He was the first physician to dismiss the Egyptian belief that illness was caused by supernatural forces, believing instead that the doctor should seek natural explanations for illness by observing and evaluating patient symptoms. Hippocrates helped establish a concept fundamental to aromatherapy?that of holism, the interdisciplinary idea that systems possess properties as wholes apart from the properties of their component parts.
Using essential oils for menopause discomforts
We now know through modern science that essential oils have positive application to many aspects of natural health, one of which is menopause. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), menopause refers to the stage of a woman’s life when her menstrual periods stop permanently, and she can no longer get pregnant.
Menopause is a normal transition for women, but it does not occur overnight. Rather, women move first through perimenopause, a pre-menopausal state which may last for years, prior to menopause. While some women experience no discomfort during this time, many others find that the road to menopause is paved with some extremely uncomfortable symptoms, which may include:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Trouble sleeping/insomnia
- Muscle and joint discomfort
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Moodiness
- Irritability
- Forgetfulness/brain fog
- Difficultly concentrating
In a past era, women approaching menopause were commonly prescribed Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), a blend of estrogen and progesterone. While HRT
can help relieve menopausal symptoms, this treatment has also been associated with an increased
breast cancer risk. This caused many women to refuse HRT. As one study found,
HRT use declined from 26.9% to 4.7% over 2 decades, with the greatest drop among women from 52 years to 65 years.
Into the breach rolled a new wave of interest in natural alternatives to HRT. Fortunately, a number of botanical solutions have a long herstory of use in managing menopausal symptoms, one of which is essential oils. As essential oils can be potent on their own, they are usually diluted with other oils, creams or gels for topical use. Check out the following essential oils for menopause, with suggestions on how best to use them.
Best essential oils for menopause
Lavender
Native to the Mediterranean region, lavender is also one of the most widely grown essential oil crops in the world. There is some research to suggest that
essential oil of lavender may support relief of several menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes, anxiety and trouble sleeping.
Another study indicated that
massage treatment with lavender oil helped soothe menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, headaches and heart palpitations in some people. And, in one randomized crossover trial, researchers reported that
participants using lavender aromatherapy experienced a significant reduction in several menopausal symptoms.
How to benefit:
Sage
This
Mediterranean species has long been used in traditional and folk medicine for a variety of health benefits, and modern science attests to its benefits. One research team examined four peer-reviewed studies, all of which determined that s
age supported a more comfortable menopausal transition with fewer symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. In another study,
sage was associated with a decrease in the severity of menopause symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, panic, fatigue and trouble concentrating,
How to benefit:
Peppermint
This is a cross between spearmint and water mint. Menthol, the active ingredient in peppermint oil, provides a cooling sensation and has been used traditionally to relieve pain and irritation. One research team found that aromatherapy
massage with peppermint was effective in soothing some menopausal symptoms. Peppermint oil is incredibly cooling. When the heat is on, try a few drops of peppermint essential oil in a bath for a refreshing soak.
How to benefit:
Neroli
This essential oil got its name during the 17th century, when Anne-Marie Orsini, Princess of Nerola, famously used the orange blossom fragrance distilled from the flowers of bitter orange tree?citrus x aurantium. One study found that
neroli oil may help relieve menopausal symptoms, supporting normal sex drive and blood pressure in menopausal women.
How to benefit:
Rose Geranium
For thousands of years, people have relied on the healing powers of rose geranium oil to treat various ailments. This fragrant oil comes from the leaves and stems of the rose geranium plant: Pelargonium graveolens.
Along with helping to nourish healthy, youthful skin and other benefits, some research suggests that
rose geranium oil may help support balanced cortisol levels in the face of stress and anxiety.
How to benefit:
Bergamot
This essential oil, with its bright and citrusy aroma, can be emotionally uplifting, supporting a calm, serene mood and overall well-being, which can be helpful when menopause-related feelings of stress, anxiety and nervous tension come into play. A study done on women in Japan found that
inhaling bergamot oil vapors supported a calm state and natural energy. To try, place several drops in simmering water and gently breath in the aromatic steam.
How to benefit:
The beauty of exploring essential oils during the menopausal transition is that they offer so many natural benefits for the mind, body and spirit. The bottom line is that menopause is a natural, healthy transition and a positive mindset is sometimes the best medicine. Beyond that, consider the various essential oils you can explore and incorporate into your daily regime. Here’s to your healthy self-care, in all of life’s transitions!
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title="Featured Products" border_width="2"][vc_row_inner equal_height="yes" content_placement="middle" gap="35"][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="182695" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1740696534590{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/pranarom-organic-clary-sage-essential-oil"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="182694" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1740696549871{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/garden-of-life-organic-essential-oils-lavender-1-fl-oz"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="182693" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1740696572540{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/aura-cacia-essential-oil-blend-cooling-roll-on-peppermint"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
