Top 3 Essential Oils for Your Period – Cramps, Cravings and Energy Help
Top 3 Essential Oils for Your Period
When your period starts, often so do a whole slew of other annoying symptoms. You are not alone. While 80% of women will experience period pain, 5-10% of us experience pain so severe that it can interrupt our lives. And 40% of women who do experience the pain also experience other symptoms like breast tenderness, bloating, mood swings, headache, and tiredness [1].
So what can you do about it? Some say grab some Midol while other say grab some ibuprofen, but there are other more natural ways to alleviate the discomfort of the cramps and other symptoms. First I always recommend a heating pad to ease some of the cramping. This can be comforting at night, and even during the day. Keep a small microwavable size heating pad for work if you can keep it on your lap at work. There are also warming patches that stick on to your back or stomach that are discrete and easy to wear under your clothes.
But did you know that you can also use essential oils to help with cramping and other unpleasant symptoms? By diffusing them into the air your breath or by applying them topically, you can help reduce your period symptoms.
Lavender
Menstrual Cramps
Lavender might be one of the most widely used essential oils, and all of the prominent studies prove that it has positive effects on sleep, stress, and muscle spasms [2]. With one of the biggest complaints of the menstrual cycle being cramping, it’s no surprise that lavender is the oil for the job.
In a 2012 study with two groups, one given a synthetic oil blend (no pure extracts of lavender) and one given a true oil blend with lavender, had5 women rub the oils on their abdomen between their cycles. Both groups felt an average pain during their menstrual cycle that lasted an average of 2.8 days for the first recorded cycle. The group who used the true essential oil blend reported a significant drop in average days of pain during the second cycle bringing it down to just 1.8 days. Lavender, which is known to help muscle spasms, was mixed with clary sage and marjoram oil [3].
A topical application would be best for these results. Using 1 tbsp of a mild carrier oil like raw organic coconut oil or almond oil with 1-2 drops of lavender, mix together and put into a small airtight container. Rub a small amount onto abdomen as needed.
Mood Stabilizer
That time of the month can be a roller coaster of emotions. This is because your hormone levels are changing, and mixed with painful symptoms of menstruation do nothing to lift your spirit. Luckily, lavender has also been shown to help stabilize mood in studies [4].
If feeling more even keel during that time of the month sounds enticing then try diffusing a few drops of lavender in a room while you sleep, or by putting a drop of oil on a sponge in the bottom of your shower as you get ready in the morning. This will allow you to inhale the oils during your shower.
Headaches
The rollercoaster of hormone changes can trigger headaches for women either and can occur at the beginning of your period, the end or even both. These headaches can range anywhere from annoying to outright debilitating and can lead to more stress during that time of the month.
In a study where migraine sufferers inhaled lavender essential oils while having a migraine attack, 92 out of 129 partially or fully found relief in the treatment [5]. Inhaling the lavender essential oil can relieve migraine pain quickly and efficiently. Just add a few drops to your diffuser or apply topically to your temples and chest.
Marjoram
You may have never heard of this herb with creeping, woody roots but it has been used in medicine for thousands of years [6]. The Greeks used marjoram internally and externally for medicinal purposes and today has been studied for its benefits of pain relief.
Pain Relief
In a study with outpatients, the marjoram oil was topically applied for pain relief during the participant’s period. Patients reported a reduced duration of their menstrual cycle pain when using the oil topically [7]. This is a great natural way to shorten the time you have to deal with period pain. You can make the same application by mixing drops of marjoram oil with a mild carrier oil, such as coconut oil, and applying it to your abdomen and back, or where ever you experience pain.
Peppermint
Appetite control
If you’re like me, you might also experience a raving appetite for all things chocolate or sweet around your period. In fact, this is a widespread complaint for women who experience menstrual cycle symptoms each month. If you are someone who struggles with this, then try using peppermint oil to help control the cravings.
In a 2008 study inhalation of the peppermint oil was shown to decrease appetite and curb cravings. In fact, people in the study who inhaled the peppermint oils actually consumed fewer calories from fats and sugars on days that they use it [8].
Instead of struggling with cravings and challenging your willpower, break out the diffuser, drink a glass of water, and diffuse peppermint for a few minutes. One way to help you on the go is to get a dime-sized dollop of unscented lotion and 1 drop of peppermint and rub together in your hand. You’ll just rub it into the palm of your hand and cup your hand around your nose and inhale deeply for 1 minute. This is an easy way to use the peppermint on the go.
Nausea
If nausea is something that you struggle with during that time of the month, then peppermint can help you two-fold. When given to women after a C-section it was shown the help with controlling nausea and provide relief [9]. This can be used if you find yourself feeling sick, and just diffusing the peppermint can help keep the nausea away.
Feminine Aid
While this isn’t an individual oil, I do think it’s worth exploring special blends. Feminine Aid is an oil blend that is already mixed for you. This oil is especially beneficial because it is a combination of oils known to help with pain, balance hormones, and stabilize your mood. In this blend by Rocky Mountain Oils, you get a few different oils together.
The blend includes:
- Velviter
- Clary Sage
- Sandalwood
- Neroli
- Bergamot
- Petitgrain
- Bigarade
- Cinnamon Bark
- Lemon
- Orange
These oils are based in a fractionated coconut oil. All of these oils are blended to lift the spirit and mood, boost energy, balance the mind and body, and support the hormones. Using a pure blend like this can help get you rounded menstrual support by providing a specific blend designed to support your feminine needs. Plus these blends are specially formulated and tested by Rocky Mountain Oils for quality and purity, so you know you’re getting the cleanest health support without worrying.
I have been using the top three oils for over 3 years now to help with cramps and other menstrual symptoms, and recently added Feminine Aid to my routine. It is exceptionally calming when diffused, and provides soothing relief when applied topically, along with peppermint oil and a heating pad when needed. There is nothing more relaxing than a heating pad, essential oils, and some cartoons when you’re feeling under the weather.
If you are looking for a more natural way to relieve some of the less than mild period symptoms you can try essential oils for a more natural way to alleviate the unwanted symptoms that come around during your period.
References:
[1] Period pain. Retrieved from https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/period-pain/ [2] Huang, Mei-Yu, et al. “Effect of lavender essential oil on LPS-stimulated inflammation.” The American journal of Chinese medicine 40.04 (2012): 845-859. [3] Ou, Ming‐Chiu, et al. “Pain relief assessment by aromatic essential oil massage on outpatients with primary dysmenorrhea: A randomized, double‐blind clinical trial.” Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research 38.5 (2012): 817-822. [4] Koulivand, Peir Hossein, Maryam Khaleghi Ghadiri, and Ali Gorji. “Lavender and the Nervous System.” Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : eCAM 2013 (2013): 681304. PMC. Web. 27 July 2018. [5] Sasannejad, Payam, et al. “Lavender essential oil in the treatment of migraine headache: a placebo-controlled clinical trial.” European neurology 67.5 (2012): 288-291. [6] “Marjoram, Wild.” A Modern Herbal | Caraway, www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/marwil20.html. [7] Ou, Ming‐Chiu, et al. “Pain relief assessment by aromatic essential oil massage on outpatients with primary dysmenorrhea: A randomized, double‐blind clinical trial.” Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research 38.5 (2012): 817-822. [8] Reed, J. A., et al. “Effects of peppermint scent on appetite control and caloric intake.” Appetite 2.51 (2008): 393. [9] Lane, Betty, et al. “Examination of the effectiveness of peppermint aromatherapy on nausea in women post C-section.” Journal of Holistic Nursing 30.2 (2012): 90-104.Love this blog and want to save it for later? Pin it!
