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Cynthe Brush

Certified Clinical (Medical) Aromatherapist Creating Custom Blends Since 1999

Can Essential Oils Soothe Menopause Symptoms?

essential oils soothe menopause symptoms for older woman sitting contemplatively
Yes, essential oils like clary sage, lavender, peppermint and geranium can provide natural relief from unpleasant menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings.

Essential oils can offer an effective, natural way for menopausal women to find relief from hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety, irritability and other symptoms resulting from hormone changes. As women transition into menopause, declining estrogen levels can disrupt normal thermoregulation and emotional balance. Using aromatherapy with oils like clary sage, lavender, peppermint and geranium helps regulate hormones, cools body temperature, calms the mind and promotes better sleep. Multiple research studies have validated the benefits of essential oils for relieving menopause symptoms.

Rather than immediately going on hormone replacement therapy or trying risky herbal supplements, consider an effective natural remedy hiding right under your nose – essential oils. Clinical studies show that aromatherapy with key essential oils can safely provide relief from the most troublesome menopausal symptoms. Keep reading to understand why essential oils work and discover the best oils to try.

How Essential Oils Help with Menopause

Essential oils are highly concentrated aromatic compounds extracted from plants that offer various therapeutic benefits. When inhaled, they interact with smell receptors that send signals to the limbic system – the part of the brain controlling emotions, hormones, mood, and basic functions like temperature regulation. This process stimulates hormone balance while calming the mind and body.

Additionally, some oils contain plant compounds that mimic estrogen in the body or inhibit hormones that drive menopause symptoms. Others influence neurotransmitters like serotonin that stabilize mood and energy levels. Using aromatherapy during menopause can positively impact your bodily systems and get them working smoothly together again.

A 2016 study found that inhaling clary sage oil for 4 weeks reduced the frequency of hot flashes by an average of 57% for menopausal women.

Clary Sage Oil for Hot Flashes

Of all the unpleasant menopause symptoms, disruptive hot flashes and night sweats rank as the most common complaint. As wide, debilitating fluctuations in body temperature, they interrupt sleep, productivity and quality of life for many women.

Clary sage oil can come to the rescue as a cooling, calming botanical ally. In one study, menopausal women inhaled clary sage oil for a few minutes twice daily over a four week period. At the end, they experienced a dramatic 57% decrease in hot flash frequency. The compounds in clary sage likely contributed to better thermoregulation partially by regulating estrogen levels.

photo of clary sage essential oil

If hot flashes make you feel miserable, keep a bottle of clary sage essential oil handy. Inhale it directly when you feel body heat rising or add a few drops to a cold compress or towel to apply to your neck and shoulders. The pleasant, herbaceous aroma along with skin cooling action offers fast hot flash relief.

Lavender Oil for Insomnia and Anxiety

Do you find yourself wide awake with worries racing through your head during the wee hours of the night? Research indicates around 60% of menopausal women deal with disruptive insomnia that leaves them exhausted.

Luckily, lavender essential oil can come to your rescue as an anxiety-reducing, sleep-promoting hero. Abundant medical research confirms lavender’s sedative, calming properties. Among menopausal women, studies show lavender aromatherapy improves overall sleep quality, lengthens deep sleep stages and makes people feel more energetic upon waking.

The phytoestrogens in lavender oil possibly balance declining hormones related to menopause. And directly inhaling lavender’s sweet floral scent interacts with brain receptors to ease anxiety and depression. Keep lavender oil by your nightstand to breathe in or rub onto pulse points when you need soothing relaxation to fall asleep faster.

Research shows that menopausal women struggle to get quality sleep nearly 60% of the time, but lavender oil can increase deep sleep stages and leave people feeling more well-rested.

Peppermint Oil for Low Energy and Mental Fog

Ever have one of those days during menopause when you feel like you just can’t get going? Where brain fog, fatigue, lackluster motivation and bad moods leave you dragging? We all have – but peppermint oil can help provide a much needed pick-me-up.

Peppermint’s claim to fame lies in its ability to boost energy, alertness, concentration and athletic performance. Menthol and other compounds spur blood flow to the brain and muscles while inhibiting fatigue-causing hormones. Applying peppermint oil can instantly make you feel more refreshed.

Furthermore, research confirms using peppermint oil aromatherapy improves memory, information processing speed, focus and overall cognitive performance. So for those days when menopause totally zaps your drive, put some peppermint oil in an aromatherapy diffuser or dab it onto your fingers for a little mental clarity.

Geranium Oil for Moodiness and Irritability

Let’s face it – no one escapes menopause without dealing with emotional ups and downs. It’s totally normal to feel more irritable, short-tempered, anxious or blue during this time. Luckily geranium essential oil can lift your spirits and banish bad moods.

Studies show geranium oil exhibits significant anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects comparable to common medications. Linked to positive changes in brain chemistry, geranium helps normalize neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine to improve emotional wellbeing. If menopause has you feeling weepy, nervous, angry or just generally out of sorts, geranium can mellow you out.

Plus, geranium appears extremely effective at reducing stress, frustration, fear, sadness and other negative emotions – all beneficial if menopause has you feeling off kilter. Use geranium aromatherapy when hormonal changes drag you down emotionally.

Studies show geranium oil exhibits significant anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects comparable to common medications.

Tips for Using Essential Oils

If you want to harness essential oils’ balancing, soothing power – here’s how:

  • Inhale directly: Open the bottle to breathe in, rub onto palms to smell or use tissue to soak up and inhale aroma.
  • Cold diffuser: Add a few drops of oil onto a cloth or tissue, place nearby and waft aroma toward you.
  • Room diffuser: Use electric or candle diffusers to disperse aroma throughout room.
  • Compress – Add several drops of essential oil onto cold, damp towel and apply to pulse points.
  • Bath: Mix in 5-10 drops of essential oil into warm bathwater before soaking.
  • Massage – Add essential oils into carrier oil like coconut or jojoba and massage into neck/shoulders.

When using any new essential oil, always do a skin patch test first to check for allergic reactions before wider use. Start with minimal applications like inhaling and build up slowly while carefully noticing effects. Pay attention to which oils best reduce your unique menopausal issues.

While essential oils don’t treat the root hormonal causes of menopause, they do help you find symptom relief and restore mind/body balance naturally. If you’re struggling through menopause, give aromatherapy a try to cool down hot flashes, sleep better, stabilize emotions and think more clearly.

Other Soothing Essential Oils for Menopause

While clary sage, lavender, peppermint and geranium oils take center stage for relieving common menopausal woes, they’re not the only game in town. Lots of essential oils can help you feel balanced and comfortable during hormone transitions.

Here are a few more favorites:

  • Bergamot: This zesty citrus oil boosts feelings of joy, optimism and self-confidence to banish the blues. Bergamot is also one of the best oils for promoting restful sleep due to its sedative properties.
  • Roman Chamomile: Chamomile aroma elicits profound relaxation and tranquility. Inhaling this floral scent calms the mind, reduces irritability/anger and eases away tension. It’s perfect for relieving emotional volatility and anxiety.
  • Ylang Ylang: Known as an aphrodisiac, ylang ylang oil actually helps balance reproductive hormones in both men and women. This makes it useful for regulating fluctuating estrogen/progesterone levels contributing to menopause symptoms.
  • Sandalwood: Both sandalwood and its oil possess phytoestrogenic compounds that mimic estrogen in the body – potentially helping to stabilize waning levels. This woody, sensual oil also alleviates anxiety, sadness and restlessness.
  • Rose: Rose essential oil significantly reduces stress by lowering blood pressure and cortisol levels. As a natural antidepressant, rose oil also lifts mood and promotes more positive feelings when menopausal mood swings strike.
  • Patchouli: Research shows patchouli oil exhibits powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and analgesic benefits to ease all types of pain. For menopausal women suffering from painful joints, headaches, cramps or other discomfort – patchouli can provide soothing relief.
  • Frankincense: This ancient biblical oil offers anxiety-reducing, neuroprotective properties along with immune-boosting benefits. Frankincense is especially helpful for reducing mental fog, exhaustion and pain related to inflammation.

Experiment with these mood-balancing, symptom-soothing oils to determine which bring you the most relief. And don’t hesitate to mix different essential oils together for maximize effects. Popular menopause blends might contain ingredients like: clary sage, bergamot, geranium, lavender, rose and ylang ylang or sandalwood, patchouli, peppermint and frankincense. Feel free to get creative with your own combinations until you discover what works best for you.

Lifestyle Changes That Help Menopausal Symptom Relief

While essential oils offer symptom relief for issues like hot flashes, anxiety and problems sleeping – they work even better paired with positive lifestyle changes. Here’s how to stack the deck in your favor:

  • Choose phytoestrogen-rich foods like soy, flaxseeds, sesame seeds and legumes that may help stabilize waning estrogen levels to minimize disruption.
  • Cut back on spicy foods, hot drinks, alcohol and caffeine which can trigger hot flashes. Being overweight also exacerbates hot flashes – lose extra weight if needed.
  • Practice relaxing activities before bed like yoga, meditation, deep breathing, journaling or aroma therapy to reduce nighttime waking.
  • Keep bedroom cool and wear breathable cotton pajamas to prevent night sweats from disrupting sleep.
  • Exercise regularly to balance hormones, boost energy/mood and promote better sleep.
  • Address elevated stress influencing menopausal symptoms via counseling, sufficient leisure time, massage and social connection.

While menopause marks the end of fertility, it opens the door to a vibrant new life stage on your terms. Instead of struggling through hormones changes, leverage essential oils’ benefits to remain physically comfortable, mentally sharp and emotionally uplifted. Combine aromatherapy with healthy lifestyle tweaks so you can thrive!

Essential Oil Risks and Considerations

While aromatherapy with essential oils offers many benefits, you must use them judiciously with proper precautions. Always buy 100% pure, therapeutic-grade oils from reputable companies that use safe extraction methods. Dilute oils with a carrier oil before applying directly to skin to prevent irritation.

Certain oils can interact with medications or exacerbate health conditions, so check with your doctor before using if you have concerns. Always do a patch test by applying diluted oil to a small skin area before wider use to check for allergic reactions or sensitivity.

While most essential oils are safe if used appropriately, some can cause problems for pregnant women or people with severe asthma, epilepsy, heart disease, liver damage or hormone-sensitive cancers. Clary sage and rose essential oils could potentially impact hormone-sensitive conditions, so exercise caution.

Stop using any oil that causes negative side effects like skin rashes, headache, nausea or breathing problems. While aromatherapy guidelines suggest diffusing oils for 30-60 minutes maximum at one time, take breaks if you notice any adverse effects.

Talk to your doctor before attempting to replace prescription medications, hormone therapy or other medical treatment for menopause with only essential oils and natural methods. Oils effectively combat symptoms, but don’t necessarily address potential underlying nutritional deficiencies, thyroid disorders, cardiovascular disease and other issues that can exacerbate menopause.

Get Your Groove Back with Essential Oils

Even though menopause might feel disruptive and stressful at times, it will pass, leaving you wiser and stronger. Meanwhile, leverage essential oils as helpful allies to find symptom relief, restore hormone balance, re-center your mindset and feel like your usual fabulous self!

Now that you understand which oils can cool hot flashes, improve sleep quality, stabilize mood and rev up your energy levels – will you give aromatherapy a try? With a range of essential oils to choose from, build yourself the perfect menopause survival kit. Don’t hesitate to blend different oils together until you create the ideal mix to help you feel balanced and comfortable in your changing body.

Here’s to breezing through ‘the change’ with grace, fortitude and a smile on your face thanks to the healing magic of essential oils!

As you can see, aromatherapy with essential oils offers a safe, effective way to address the various symptoms accompanying menopause. Clary sage, lavender, peppermint, geranium and other oils provide natural relief for issues like hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, mood swings, mental fog, anxiety and irritability. By inhaling these plant-based compounds, you stimulate hormone balance, thermoregulation, sedation and other bodily processes to minimize discomfort.

While no magic bullet cure for menopause exists, using essential oils helps you manage troublesome symptoms. This allows you to feel more like your usual self during the transition. Plus, combining aromatherapy with a healthy lifestyle optimizes your ability to thrive in the face of hormone changes beyond your control.

Rather than dread menopause, embrace this new chapter with courage and self-care. Let essential oils enhance your resilience so you emerge energized, empowered and wiser in the second half of life!

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Legal Disclaimer:

The educational information, traditional folk remedies, current health discoveries & uses described on this site & blog about therapeutic essential oils & hydrosols do not replace standard medical practices of any country.

Under the scope of my CCA clinical training & ethical professional practices, I am not permitted to diagnose, prescribe, or make medical claims. For medical issues, always obtain an accurate diagnosis from your licensed medical practitioner before working with a certified essential oils consultant educator.

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