Female body undergoes a lot of changes, one of those being also menopause, a time when menstrual periods stop. According to the definition, every woman reaches menopause when 12 consecutive months pass without the menstruation.
For some women this transition occurs in the 40s or 50s, however, the average age in the Unites States remains 51. When it comes to this point, it might be a good idea to consider all possible remedies, including essential oils for menopause.
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In the years and months leading to menopause women experience particular symptoms indicating the important hormonal changes happening within their body. The so-called perimenopause period is characterized by irregular periods, vaginal dryness, slowed metabolism, fatigue, mood changes etc.
With that being said, one of the main and most common signs of this transition stage is still the hot flashes.
Physically and emotionally draining symptoms of hot flashes, characterized by a sudden feeling of warmth on the face, neck, and chest, often make women reach for antidepressants, medications and hormone therapies that unfortunately put the body at even greater risk by exposing it to a number of serious side effects.
Due to the dangers involved with the modern means of medical treatment more and more women are now seeking the natural and traditional alternatives capable of treating the perimenopause symptoms in safe and fruitful manner.
Essential oils for hot flashes and menopause have gained deserved recognition amongst women as well as medical researchers that keep discovering new healing benefits of chosen plants each year.
10 Essential oils for menopause
Clary sage essential oil
Clary sage essential oil contains natural phytoestrogens also referred to as the “dietary estrogens” derived from. Hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and vaginal dryness during menopause occur due to the lowered and fluctuating levels of female hormones, estrogen, and progesterone.
The clary sage essence as a great source of dietary estrogen will help you balance your hormonal levels and ensure the health of your uterus. The emmenagogue and sedative nature of the clary-sage-based aromatherapy for menopause will help you cure the dizziness and mental irritation significant for the postmenopausal syndrome as well.
Geranium essential oil
Geranium essential oil with its sweet and floral fragrance is capable of improving mental functioning as well as relieving the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and anger that women during the menopause often experience. Needless to say, emotional stability will make your daily menopause trials seem feather-like easy.
Hot flashes as the most significant symptom of menopause occur due to the expansion of blood vessels near the surface of the skin for the purpose of cooling
The styptic qualities of the geranium essence are capable of contracting those vessels and slowing or, in the cases of bleeding, even stopping the blood flow. This particular ability may be of use for some individuals; however, for people with high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases, it may be dangerous.
Lemon essential oil
Lemon essential oil derived solely from the cold-pressed lemon peel contains important and powerful d-limonene antioxidant capable of fighting cancer. The risks of uterine cancer drastically increase during the menopause and some believe hormone treatments may be partly responsible for it.
Lemon essence will not only help you fight uterine cancer but help you improve your mood, immune system, and metabolism as well. Slowed metabolism during the menopause may contribute to the weight gain. According to the study published in Experimental Biology and Medicine, the scent of lemon essential oil improves neurological activity responsible for the efficient breakdown of body fat.
Sage essential oil
Sage essential oil with its aromatic and pungent smell is capable of regulating menstrual cycles and relieving the obstructed menstruations. Natural chemicals found in the essence, such as Aesculetinen, Alpha-Humulene, Terpineol, Alpha-Pinene, Camphene, and Limonene influence certain hormones, especially estrogen, giving you relief from weakness, fatigue, depression and mood swings as a result.
In addition, the stimulating nature of the essence derived from the leaves of Salvia Officinalis will help you improve the functionality of the brain, nervous system, spleen, liver, circulatory and excretory systems that may experience irregularities due to the hormonal imbalances occurring in the body.
Cypress essential oil
Cypress essential oil is a diuretic agent that helps the body remove the toxins, excess water, and salt through urination and transpiration. Additionally, essential oil also lowers the cholesterol levels within the system and cleanses the liver. Fatty liver or dysfunctional liver may be the actual cause of your hot flashes and not the speculated estrogen deficiency.
Speaking of overheating, the cypress essence carries styptic qualities within the formula as well. These attributes are capable of contracting the dilated blood vessels underneath the surface of the skin. Such contraction of vessels, muscles, and skin will stimulate your blood flow leaving your cheeks in hearty glow rather than with redness.
Peppermint essential oil
Peppermint essential oil contains cancer-fighting phytochemicals, such as Limonene, Beta-Pinene, and Beta-Caryophyllene that will help you lower the risks of uterine cancer. “Just as all cancers increase with age” so does uterine cancer, says Karen Lu, MD, a professor of gynecologic oncology at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer in Huston.
In addition, the presence of menthol within the peppermint essence is capable of generating cooling sensation when in contact with the skin. You can put this stimulating cooling ability to use when treating the redness and warmth of hot flashes or when relieving the stress, depression, and mental exhaustion caused by fluctuating hormonal level.
Lavender essential oil
Lavender essential oil and its sweet herbal fragrance are excellent for treating sleep deprivation that may develop due to the disturbing and irritating night sweats and hot flashes during late hours. According to the studies, the lavender essence is capable of improving the overall quality of the sleep by 60%.
Mood swings and mental exhaustion accompanied by sleeplessness may weaken your immunity and psychological well-being. Fortunately enough, the calming scent of lavender essential oil positively influences human nervous system, responsible for migraines and anxiety, making it the best choice for aromatherapy for menopause amongst women as a result.
Roman chamomile essential oil
Roman chamomile essential oil is a sudirific agent capable of inducing profuse perspiration. This particular feature will help you cool the body in an acceptable manner, simultaneously making hot flash episodes less and less frequent. Furthermore, sweating as one of the most important purifying mechanisms of the human body will help you get rid of the toxins responsible for your fatigue as well.
The fatigue is usually worsened by emotional instability and depression. Luckily, the essence derived from roman chamomile is effective in eliminating the feeling of depression, sadness, and sluggishness, replacing it with more uplifting mood and thoughts.
Basil essential oil
Basil essential oil can be, due to its refreshing effects, used for the treatment of various menopausal symptoms, including depression, nervous tension, melancholy, mental fatigue, and migraines as the calming nature of the basil essence is capable of promoting mental strength and clarity.
Oil derived from the widely used Ocimum basilicum herb can be also used for the treatment of hot flashes due to its stimulating nature capable of regulating blood vessel dilations and contractions. The establishment of efficient blood flow will optimize your bodily functions making you more resistant to daily trials as a result.
Lemongrass essential oil
Lemongrass essential oil carries antioxidant qualities capable of alleviating muscle pain and stimulating the uterus and menstrual flow, especially during the perimenopause period when menstrual irregularities become a regularity.
The unpredictability of menstrual cycles during this period of life is a consequence of the fluctuating hormonal levels. Lemongrass essential oil partly takes care of these unbalances by boosting the functionality of thyroid.
Often neglected symptoms of menopause are also hair thinning and skin dryness. Lemongrass essential oil strengthens the hair follicles for the prevention of premature hair loss and sterilizes and cleanses skin tissue making the skin look youthful and fresh.
4 Natural essential oils menopause treatments
Simple hot flash massage blend
Ingredients:
- 11 drops of geranium essential oil
- 10 drops of clary sage essential oil
- 7 drops of lemon essential oil
- 2 drops of sage essential oil
- 2 tablespoons of carrier oil (coconut, sweet almond, argan, jojoba, grapeseed or macadamia oil)
Instructions:
- In a nonreactive bowl combine all ingredients in exact measurement together.
- Mix the oils thoroughly.
- Massage the given blend all over the body.
Anti-hot-flash essential oil blend used in 2 different ways
Ingredients:
- 20 drops of borage seed oil
- 20 drops of clary sage essential oil
- 20 drops of geranium essential oil
- 15 drops of cypress or peppermint essential oil
Instructions:
- In a 5ml glass dropper bottle mix borage seed oil with the rest of the essential oils.
- Shake the bottle to mix all ingredients thoroughly.
First way: Bath
- In a nonreactive bowl mix 1 tsp of milk with 4-7 drops of “anti-hot-flash essential oil blend”.
- Add the mixture to the tub filled with warm water and disperse oils thoroughly.
- Soak in the water for at least 30 minutes.
- Massage any floating droplets of oil into your skin.
Second way: Massage
- In a nonreactive bowl combine 2 tsp of grapeseed or sweet almond oil with 6 drops of “anti-hot-flash essential oil blend”.
- Mix the oils thoroughly.
- Massage the given blend over your chest, abdomen, upper arms and lower back.
Cooling body spray
Ingredients:
- 20 drops of clary sage essential oil
- 20 drops of geranium essential oil
- 15 drops of cypress or peppermint essential oil
- 1 tsp of unpasteurized honey
- ¼ cup of peppermint hydrosol
- 6 tsp of distilled or filtered water
Instructions:
- In a 4 oz bottle combine essential oils.
- Add unpasteurized honey, peppermint hydrosol, and water in exact measurement to the blend.
- Shake the bottle to mix all ingredients thoroughly.
- Spray the cooling body spray all over your body when experiencing a hot flash.
Treatment for night sweats
Ingredients:
- 2 o of fractionated coconut oil
- 20 drops of lemon essential oil
- 20 drops of grapefruit essential oil
- 10 drops of sage essential oil
- 10 drops of thyme essential oil
Instructions:
- Add essential oils in exact measurement to the fractionated coconut oil.
- Use the blend for body massage or add it to the warm bath.
Conclusion
Hot flashes are one of the most common and expected symptoms of menopause as approximately 70% of women experience episodes of warm and yet chilling sensation on the neck, chest, and face during this transition stage of life. The sudden feeling of rush, sweating and increased heart rate surely are disturbing, however, hot flashes generally don’t represent a medical concern.
Modern medicine of 21st century offers women suffering from severe forms of hot flashes, reoccurring on the hourly basis, countless relief options that come in the form of prescription medication (Neurontin, Gralise, Catapres, Kapvay etc.), antidepressants (Prozac, Sarafem, Effexor etc) and hormone therapies.
Hormone therapy may free you of intense episodes, however, at a high cost. The development of breast cancer, blood clots, heart disease and stroke has been associated with these estrogen-progestin treatments.
Here are the last 9 tips that will help you establish successful anti-hot-flash treatment:
- Before introducing new best oil for menopause to your therapy do a skin patch test to make sure you are not allergic to the chosen natural remedy.
- If you have been diagnosed with any skin condition or have other illness that may get compromised by the essential oil, make sure you consult with your medical specialist beforehand.
- Don’t apply essential oil-based treatments to open wound or cuts on your skin.
- Always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil to prevent skin irritation or allergic reactions.
- During the perimenopause and menopause period schedule regular doctor appointments to keep an eye on your health status.
- If you are experiencing vaginal bleeding during the menopause seek medical attention immediately.
- Establish healthy lifestyle free of stress, alcohol, caffeine, cigarette smoke, spicy foods, acidic foods, fried foods and processed sugar.
- Enrich your diet with cooling foods, such as cucumber, watermelon, mint, coconut, cilantro, fennel, fresh and organic dairy products etc.
- Avoid wearing tight clothing and being exposed to the heat as these two factors may worsen your hot flashes episodes.
Essential oils for hot flashes, on the other hand, offer every seeking individual an entrance into the world of natural and traditional medicine capable of treating the symptoms of menopause in harmless and effective manner.
Sources and References
- NIH What Is Menopause?
- HealthDirect Menopause
- WomensHealth Menopause basics