Do you experience severe PMS symptoms such as nausea, headaches, cramping, mood swings, and hot sweats? If so, you’ll be encouraged to learn that you may be able to reduce your symptoms naturally with essential oils. Essential oils are derived from herbs, leaves, plants, and flowers, so they are completely natural—as long as you use pure essential oils.
Bloating, fatigue, cramps, cravings, and mood swings—most women experience the wide array of PMS symptoms at some point in their lives. By balancing hormone levels, you can combat the physical and mental symptoms that arise during the menstrual cycle. Essential oils provide an affordable, all-natural option for period relief!
Note: You can visit my Young Living page here if you need a trusted source to purchase your pure essential oils at wholesale prices.
Bergamot
Bergamot, often used in Earl Gray tea, also provides amazing calming effects. It helps to lower blood pressure, alleviate stress, and has statin-like effects, all due to its flavonoids and antioxidants. As an added benefit, bergamot has a delicious, spicy, citrusy floral scent since it comes from the peel of a fruit that is a lemon orange hybrid. Because of its mood balancing qualities, bergamot is an excellent oil to help with the emotional ups and downs of PMS. Its qualities work well when blended with other mood-lifting oils such as lavender and ylang ylang. Diffuse a blend of these oils, drop a couple drops of bergamot in your palms and inhale, or use it topically on your abdomen or temples.
Bergamot is found in some of my favorite Young Living blends such as Joy, White Angelica, Gentle Baby, Peace and Calming and Dragon Time (which was specifically created for PMS symptoms).
Chamomile
Another oil used commonly in tea, chamomile is widely known for its natural ability to curb irritability and anxiety. Additionally, chamomile may also help alleviate cramping due to its anti-inflammatory properties. That is because it contains volatile oils including alpha-bisabolol, alpha-bisabolol oxides A & B, and matricin. These compunds are usually converted to chamazulene and other flavonoids which possess anti-inflammatory and antiphlogistic properties.
Chamomile has also been shown to alleviate skin problems, providing relief from hormonal acne and digestive issues and for those who experience digestive premenstrual symptoms. Chamomile oil can be used aromatically through a diffuser or by simply inhaling from the bottle.Young Living Chamomile can also be used internally by applying a couple drops under the tongue or by massaging topically into your abdomen.
Chamomile essential oil can be found in Young Living blends such as Clarity, Forgiveness, Awaken, Gentle Baby, Joy and Peace and Calming. Gentle Baby is my go-to gift for new mothers and their babies too!
Clary Sage
Considered one of the best essential oils to support period health and hormonal balance, Clary Sage reduces stress hormone levels, aids in restful sleep, and helps to ease menstrual pain. (Source). Clary Sage helps to balance hormones by regulating estrogen levels, due to its natural plant derived phytoestrogens. A study has even shown that it can improve cognitive skills such as memory, attention, and learning—extremely helpful for those who struggle with brain fog during PMS. Clary sage is safe to use aromatically, topically (recommended to blend with a carrier oil like coconut oil), and internally (1-2 drops under the tongue).
A couple of my favorite blends that contain Clary Sage are Into the Future and Transformation.
Frankincense
One of my most favorite oils of all time and a powerful topical pain reliever, Frankincense can be used to relieve premenstrual cramping and breast tenderness. Frankincense may also help to alleviate stress and anxiety. This is an essential oil that doesn’t smell like it sounds. It has more of a fruity and citrus scent—very pleasant! Because of the terpenes and boswellic acids Frankincense contains, it has powerful anti-inflammatory benefits. It is not recommended to take frankincense internally, (although I know of cancer patients that utilize high quality Frankincense in their treatments plan) so stick with diffusing it or blending it with a carrier oil to use topically.
My favorite Young Living blends that contain Frankincense are Abundance, Valor, Believe, Brain Power, Harmony and Inspiration.
Jasmine
Long used in Ayurvedic medicine for treating pain symptoms, Jasmine is a great choice for those seeking relief from cramps, insomnia, and mood swings. One of its components, (R)-(-)-linalool, has been shown to lower the heart rate resulting in a calm state. As with Clary Sage, Jasmine contains phytoestrogens, which help balance hormones. With a light floral scent, Jasmine blends beautifully with other floral and citrus essential oils and can be used as a natural and healthy perfume.
Jasmine essential oil is also found in the blends Dragon Time, Gentle Baby, Forgiveness, Inner Child and Joy.
Lavender
A versatile essential oil, lavender’s anti-inflammatory properties help to improve blood flow, which eases cramps and headaches that are sometimes symptoms of PMS. Lavender’s well-known calming effects may help relieve stress, insomnia, and symptoms of depression by increasing parasympathetic nervous system activity. A drop of lavender on your feet at night or a spritz of lavender spray on your pillow will also help to relax your nervous system and create a restful nights sleep.
Lavender oil is also found in blends such as Aroma Siez, Brain Power, M-Grain, Trauma Life, Gentle Baby and Forgiveness.
Ylang Ylang
Ylang ylang essential oil comes from the flower of a tropical tree and has been shown to have “a vast spectrum of pharmacological activities.” Among these, Ylang Ylang helps with insomnia, reduces anxiety and depressive mood swings, and lowers blood pressure. Ylang ylang also contains linalool, an anti-inflammatory. Plus, its antispasmodic properties reduce cramping! (Source)
Ylang Ylang is found in many of the Young Living blend formulas such as Aroma Life, Awaken, Clarity, Dream Catcher, Forgiveness, Gentle Baby, Peace and Calming, Motivation, White Angelica and Release.
How to Use Essential Oils Safely
Essential oils can be used in a variety of different ways to unleash a multitude of benefits. Some essential oils may cause skin irritation, so take care when applying essential oils topically. In some instances with oils that have more heat, you will want to dilute the oils with a carrier such as coconut, olive oil or Young Living V6 oil. To use oils as an aromatherapy agent, use a diffuser or add a few drops to a soaking tub or hot bath. If you are taking an epsom salt bath, mix the essential oil into the epsom salts first and then add to your bath water. Many essential oils can be taken internally — ingested as teas, tinctures, or directly applied under the tongue. Be especially sure to obtain 100% pure, food grade oils for internal use.
Take a look at my Do’s and Don’ts of Essential Oils blog article here for more tips on safe usage.
As always, if you have any questions or need support, feel free to reach out to me.