Essential oils aromatherapy for menopause

Every woman goes through menopause and it can have certain undesirable symptoms. There's not much that can be done to avoid it totally but certain aromatherapy techniques can help you feel better and cope with menopause positively.

While essential oils are not a universal remedy, they do offer several physiological benefits that can heal and balance. Several essential oils that contain hormone like substances related to estrogen are helpful during menopause. Hormone-balancing essential oils help support our body’s control center, the hypothalamus, in its efforts to produce, release, and regulate hormones, naturally. These include clary sage, lavender, rosemary, frankincense, bergamot, ylang-ylang, cypress, angelica and to a lesser degree, basil. Such essential oils, along with peppermint and lemon, will help relieve hot flashes. Since essential oils go right through the skin, applying them to fatty areas of the body where hormones are manufactured and stored will create the most direct effect. Of course, any massage is itself very therapeutic. 

1. Lavender Essential Oil can help calm and destress the body & hence it can help balance and keep a check on the hormone levels. Adding a couple of drops of lavender essential oil to a cold compress may help ease the pain.
2. Rosemary Essential Oil is a great hormone-balancing oil because it can support the removal of excess estrogen from our body. It may be helpful to inhale rosemary essential oil to create a balancing effect on your body and stimulate your memory.
3. Frankincense Essential Oil has been said to reduce inflammation and decrease levels of cortisol, which is the hormone that controls stress. 
4. Peppermint Essential oil is somewhat special in that it can affect mood hormones like Serotonin and Neuropeptides, so you can have more clarity of mind. This essential oil balances and supports your hormone health and helps you to heal emotionally. 
5. Bergamot Essential Oil has a citrusy and sweet scent and is known for it’s ability to cleanse skin and lift mood, but can impact hormones as well by supporting relaxation and help you get back to your old hormone-balanced self.
6. Ylang Ylang Essential Oil has a sweet, intoxicating scent that can help to nourish and protect the skin. Ylang Ylang's aroma can provide a calming sensation for both body and mind. 

A bath is a wonderful way to enjoy these oils. Another wonderful option is to mix 6-8 drops of your preferred essential oil to a desired carrier oil like jojoba, argan or sweet almond and apply as a moisturizer. Some people find it helpful to mix a few drops of lavender or peppermint to a spray bottle and use it as a spritzer. 

There are few precautions that need to be considered. Concentrations of essential oils in different formulas can vary. It is safest to follow the manufacturer recommendations when using them, since two oils might substantially differ in concentration. Diffusing 3-5 drops of essential oil in a solution with water can help promote relaxation during the day. Essential oils can also be used in massage. Users should dilute the oil with a carrier oil, such as jojoba oil. The mixture can then either be applied to pulse points or used during a massage. A 2007 review of several essential oils in menopausal women found that a weekly massage of the abdomen, arms, and back over 8 weeks was enough to see results.

The essential oils mentioned above may reduce the discomfort associated with menopause. Specialists recommend that women begin with just one essential oil at a low dose to test tolerance, gradually adding more oils or a higher dosage as needed. Women interested in using essential oils should adopt a trial and error approach.