Questions & Answers: Essential Oils for Menopause

“What essential oils are good for the menopause?”

Clary sage, rose, sage (Spanish), and fennel are all very good essential oils for menopausal symptoms. Roman chamomile, lemongrass, peppermint, cypress, lemon and vetiver are excellent for hot flushes.

Making a spritz spray with a few of these oils can be very effective at helping hot flushes.

To make a instant relief cooling spray, mix 100ml of distilled water (or spring water) with 20ml of vodka or witch hazel and add your chosen essential oils. I would suggest adding 8-10 drops of essential oils in total. I would be inclined to use peppermint, roman chamomile, and cypress.

Pour in to a spray bottle, place the lid on, and shake well. Always shake well before use. This can be stored in the fridge to increase the cooling affect. When using sprays on the face, avoid contact with the eyes.

View the video below for an alternative recipe for a cooling spray. It uses lavender and peppermint essential oils along with rose water.



As always, make sure you perform a patch test before using the product on a larger area of skin.

For more information on how to use the essential oils listed above for menopausal symptoms, check out 15 ways to use Essential Oils – you could add the oils to your bath, an oil burner, or a cream.

Question & Answer: Preparation for Birth Wounds

I am expecting my first child in a couple weeks and would like to make a preparation to use on any birth wounds that I might get. Could you recommend anything?”

I would recommend mixing some aloe vera gel with lavender and tea tree essential oils which can be used on birth wounds of any kind including caesarean scars and stitches. Keep the gel in the fridge and apply 3/4 times a day. It will help speed up healing, reduce pain and inflammation, and help prevent infection. According to the Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants by Andrew Chevallier, extensive research has been carried out since the 1930s showing

“that the clear gel has a dramatic ability to heal wounds, ulcers and burns, putting a protective coat on the affected area and speeding up the rate of healing. This action is in part due to the presence of aloectin B, which stimulates the immune system.”

A spray can also be made using the essential oils mentioned above along with witch hazel.

“Witch hazel contains large quantities of tannins. These have a drying, astringent effect, causing the tightening up of proteins in the skin and across the surface of abrasions. This creates a protective covering that increases resistance to inflammation and promotes healing of broken skin.”

You could also place a small amount of either of these blends on a sanitary pad to wear if you would prefer that to applying them direct.

The Herbal Medicine Chest

I already have several herbal remedies, essential oils and homeopathic remedies in my medicine chest which I find invaluable. While reading a book from the library titled Home Hints and Tips: The New Guide to Natural, Safe and Healthy Living by Rosamond Richardson, I found a section on the herbal medicine chest. It suggested the following remedies to keep in your cupboard:

Aloe Vera – the gel can be used for minor burns and scalds, sunburn, stretch marks, warts, wounds and grazes, eczema and dermatitis, and dehydrated skin.

Arnica – the cream can be used on bruises, sprains and strains, and stiff and aching muscles while the arnica homeopathic pillules can be taken when you have sustained an injury, are in pain, or have experienced shock or trauma.

Calendula – the cream can be used on acne, boils, athlete’s foot, bites and stings, nappy rash, bruises, minor wounds, and swellings.

Chamomile – the chamomile essential oil can be blended with a carrier oil such as sweet almond oil and used for a wide variety of skin conditions including nappy rash, eczema and dermatitis, sore and itching skin, bites and stings, sore nipples and muscles spasms. A cream is also available which can be used for the same conditions. German Chamomile is the best variation of chamomile for skin conditions. Chamomile tea is excellent for insomnia, indigestion, morning sickness, and relaxation.

Clove – a couple drops of the essential oil can be used to help toothache – place 2-3 drops on some cotton wool and dab on to the surrounding area.

Comfrey – a cream or ointment can be used for bruises, acne, boils, fractures and wounds, fungal skin infections, psoriasis, and stiff and aching joints.

Echinecea – both tablets and tincture are available and can be used to help stimulate the immune system when under attack for example during a cold / flu. It can also help coughs, fevers, mild asthma and cold sores.

Garlic – capsules can be taken to increase your resistance to infections and can be used for colds and flu, coughs and bronchitis. It also helps to lower blood pressure and can be used for cold sores and digestive infections.

Hypercium – the cream is very effective for cramps, neuralgia, cold sores, back pain, and stiff and aching joints and muscles. The oil can be used on minor wounds and burns.

Lavender – the lavender essential oil can be used for headaches, back pain, asthma, irritability, insomnia, relaxation and much more. It can be used neat on insect stings and bites, spots, and cold sores. Add it to a carrier oil to massage stiff and aching muscles and joints.

Meadowsweet – the tablets can be used for rheumatic aches while a tea made from meadowsweet can help with stomach acidity, heartburn, and diarrhoea.

Neem – the oil can be used to treat head lice, skin rashes, ringworm, and it is also a powerful insect repellent. The cream can be used for eczema, proriasis, acne and many other skin conditions.

Slippery Elm – the capsules are good for coughs and bronchitis. The powder is good for acidity and indigestion while the tablets are good for diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome, and haemorrhoids.

Tea Tree – the tea tree essential oil is good for stings, bites, wounds, skin infection, ringworm, athlete’s foot, minor burns, warts and corns, and much more. It can also be used undiluted on the skin but if it is to be used on a large area of skin it is best to dilute it in a carrier oil first. It can be used to treat thrush by mixing 2-3 drops with 1 tsp of olive oil and place on a tampon to insert. Leave it in for 2-3 hours, remove, and repeat if required.

Thyme – the essential oil is good for bites, stings, scabies, sciatica, ringworm, rheumatic pain, athlete’s foot, and thrush. This essential oil must be diluted before use.

Valerian & Hops – tablets are available to help insomnia, relieve stress, tension and anxiety. Valerian is also available as an essential oil which can be placed on a tissue on your pillow at night.

White Willow – tablets can help arthritis, rheumatic pain, back pain, stiff and aching joints, and fever. It also reduces night sweats and hot flushes in menopause.

Witch Hazel – this can be used on insect bites and stings, sore skin, rashes, broken and varicose veins, bruises, and eczema.

Out of these 18 herbal medicine chest essentials I have 10 which is pretty good going but I will make a trip to the nearest health food store to stock up on the others – you never know when they might come in handy. I would also add a pot of tiger balm to this list for muscle aches and pains as well as eucalyptus essential oil for steam inhalations.

I found this list quite interesting and I will be looking in to some of the individual items in more detail in future posts. Some of them have already been discussed in more detail such as the arnica homeopathic pillules, tea tree, lavender, and chamomile essential oils.

Ensure that you follow the directions carefully on any products you purchase and take note of any cautions.

Stretch Marks

Unfortunately, stretch marks are more common in women. They occur during puberty, in pregnancy, and when a person grows or gains weight quickly. The areas most commonly affected are the abdomen, buttocks, thighs and breasts.

The skin is made up of three layers – the epidermis (outer layer), dermis, and subcutaneous. Stretch marks occur in the dermis of the skin. The skin is generally quite elastic in nature but when it is overstretched, the dermis stretches and breaks up in places allowing the deeper layers of the skin and blood vessels to show through causing stretch marks.

The cause of stretch marks in pregnancy is not only due to the rapid growth of the baby but it is also hormonal. During pregnancy, hormones are secreted to help soften the pelvis ready for labour but this also weakens the collagen in the skin allowing stretch marks to form more easily. Collagen can be weaker in some women than others which will also contribute to more stretch marks.

Recent research has shown that there may be a possible link between the strength of collagen and the strength of the pelvic floor muscles, so if you notice that you are getting a lot of stretch marks during your pregnancy I would recommend doing regular pelvic floor exercises to help strengthen the muscles.

Once stretch marks occur, the skin is permanently damaged so they will never totally go away but their appearance is reduced significantly with time making them less noticeable. Stretch marks are often red or purple when they first appear which gradually fade to a silvery-white colour.

Ensuring that your body and skin is well hydrated and healthy will make your skin more elastic reducing the risk of stretch marks forming. Drink plenty of water and eat a healthy diet to keep the body in shape and use nourishing creams or oils on the skin to help keep it supple. Oils and creams can also be applied to stretch marks to help soften their appearance.

Oils which are good for stretch marks include vitamin E, rosehip seed, calendula, hypercium, olive, and wheatgerm. Essential oils which are good for stretch marks include neroli, black pepper, geranium, patchouli, sandalwood, lemon, orange, lavender, frankincense, and mandarin. Also, cocoa butter might be worth giving a try as it is said to soften the appearance of scars.

When using creams and oils, it is best to apply them once or twice a day for it to be most effective.

Celebrating Our Cycles

Photo by itjournalist.

I am what comes around again and again
what can never die
I renew myself in the seasons
in the cycle of time
the great round
I bleed yet I do not die
I keep my blood within and become wise.
I dance the spiral and keep changing.

“Changing woman comes spinning into your life to tell you the way to wholeness for you lies in learning to honour your cycles. Menstrual cycles are an important aspect of being female. We bleed but do not die and therefore can bring forth life. As we continue to dance our cycles, we reach the time of menopause when we leave our child bearing years behind and hold our blood within. We can then be a resource for our loved ones and community by becoming hags, which means women of wisdom.

Do you celebrate your menstruation and see it as a time for you to go within? As a time to let go, let die, so the new can come? Or have you bought into the patriarchal view that it is a curse, something unclean, something to be hidden away? Does menopause automatically fill you with fear of becoming old and ugly, no longer valuable or worthy in a culture that adores youth? Do you feel invalidated in a society that urges women to hide their bleeding times, regulate their hormones by taking pills and postpone menopause through ERT (estrogen replacement therapy)?

Honouring your cycles also means honouring your own unique process, your own unique path in life. You may be in the midst of a particular life cycle that you need to surrender to and honour. Changing woman says that wholeness is nurtured when we reclaim the power of our cycles by paying attention to them and celebrating them. By celebrating our cycles we celebrate ourselves as women.”

The text above is an excerpt from The Goddess Oracle Deck & Book Set, by Amy Sophia Marashinsky.

For many women, the idea of celebrating and honouring their menstrual cycles just seems laughable when they experience heavy periods, a lack of or irregular periods, cramps, PMT, headaches or migraines, sleeping disturbances, fluid retention, and lower back pain every month. Some women even get pain when they are ovulating.

But apparently, we’re not meant to suffer when we bleed says Alexander Pope, author of The Wild Genie: The Healing Power of Menstruation. She says

“Our menstrual suffering, that’s so often passed off as “normal”, is neither normal nor our lot. The menstrual cycle is the stress sensitive system in women.”

This would explain why when you are stressed, your menstrual cycle gets all messed up causing your period to come early, late, or even skip altogether.

Alexander Pope says that

“when we experience distressing symptoms, it’s a signal to attend to our overall health and place in the world.” These distressing symptoms can be linked to many factors “including poor diet; overweight or underweight; poor digestion and immune system; hormonal imbalance, congenital and hereditary weaknesses; over-stressed life; personal psychological trauma; environmental pollution; low self esteem; cultural devaluation of the feminine; and, unbalanced energy system”.

Wow what a list! It’s no wonder that most women have problematic periods.

Many of us stuff down painkillers so that we can continue to do all the things we normally do the rest of the month but maybe we should make use of this time to rest, relax, and get to know ourselves. Lara Owen, author of Her Blood is Gold: Awakening to the Wisdom of Menstruation, calls menstruation the Sabbath of Women. Perhaps if we use this sacred time to slow down, taking time to reflect on what our body and mind is trying to tell us we can work towards achieving a pain-free, care-free, and stress-free period. Maybe then we can start celebrating our periods instead of thinking of them as a curse.

Castor Oil

Photo by Pro-Zak.

“Castor oil will leave the body in better condition than it found it” says Dr McGarey, author of Oil That Heals.

Castor Oil (Ricinus communis), also known as Palma Christi or the palm of Christ, is derived from the seeds of the Castor plant.

It penetrates deeply into the skin and is able to reach the Stratum Corneum layer of the epidermis making it excellent for all skin disorders and complaints. It is an anti-inflammatory due to its main constituent Ricinoleic acid (89.5%).

Castor oil derivatives are often added to modern pharmaceutical drugs to enhance it or as a carrier for the active ingredients.

The properties of castor oil include laxative (when taken orally), anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, digestive, hepatic, analgesic, antimicrobial, cleansing, stimulates the lymph system, strengthens the immune system, and it balances the autonomic nervous system.

It can be used for constipation, endometriosis, menstrual cramps, acne, burns, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, crohn’s disease, cuts/abrasions, fibroids, breast lumps, bunions, sprains/strains, sciatica, gallbladder and liver problems, ovarian cysts, back pain, sunburn, headaches, muscular and joint aches and pains, inflammation, psoriasis, eczema, rheumatism, warts, ring worm, athlete’s foot, moles and liver spots, arthritis, skin disorders and infections, pain. The list is endless – it probably could be used for any common ailment going – try it out and see what results you get.

Castor Oil can either be massaged directly on the area you wish to treat or using it in a heated compress. Edgar Cayce advocated the use of Castor Oil in a compress to help with various ailments although they were used centuries before this in Eastern European countries. Castor Oil can also be taken internally for constipation as it is a very effective laxative but I do not recommend this method of administration and its use should be discussed with your GP if you wish to use it in this way.

To make a castor oil compress, you will need castor oil, a hot water bottle, a small hand towel, a sealable container, a piece of plastic, water, and baking soda. Although traditionally only castor oil was used in these compresses, essential oils can be added to help with a specific ailment. Fold the towel into three and place in the container and pour the castor oil over it. The container will collect any leftover oil which can be poured back in to the bottle. Ensure that the towel is saturated in oil but it should not be dripping. Place directly on the skin on the area in which it is needed. Cover the towel with the piece of plastic, and then place the hot water bottle on top. Leave the compress in place for about an hour. Remove the compress, and wipe the area with the water and baking soda solution to remove any residue. Once you have finished using the compress, store in the sealable container and keep in the fridge for your next treatment. The compress can be used many times – approximately 30 applications. It is recommended that you use the compress three days in a row and then four days without to help with any of the above. If it is an acute problem, you may only need to apply once leaving the compress in place until the symptoms/pain subsides.

Massage and Body Image

In Cancer Nursing: Care in Context by Jessica Corner and Christopher Bailey, it says “Body image is subjective, an inner representation, and may bear no relationship to how a person’s body appears to others. One might, for example, imagine one’s body at different times as fat, thin, ugly, pretty, when in reality one’s external physical appearance has not changed.”

In Body Image: A Handbook of Theory, Research and Clinical Practice, massage is named as being helpful in positively affecting body image “by helping the client reconnect to the body in a very concrete manner.” Massage gives you the chance to reflect on your thoughts and emotions. It allows you to become aware of your body giving you the chance to listen to what it has to say. It also allows your body time and space to be nurtured and pampered – just as it deserves.

Just by agreeing to a massage indicates that you are accepting yourself and, in turn, changing your own body image, says Mario-Paul Cassar and Clare Maxwell, authors of Handbook of Clinical Massage: A Complete Guide for Students and Practitioners. They say that massage helps you to build up a new body image and, in doing so, restarts the process of loving yourself.

Massage is just one way of altering your body image but there are hundreds of ways that can help to improve how you feel about yourself and your body. Take time to do nice things for your body such as taking a relaxing bath, putting on a face mask, having a massage, a manicure or a pedicure, or treating yourself to a new moisturiser or perfume.

Being truly happy about yourself is about changing your head, not your body, says Marcia Germain Hutchinson, author of Transforming Body Image: Learning to Love the Body You Have. She suggests that if body image is a product of the imagination, then it can also be changed using the imagination. By incorporating activities such as meditation, visualisation, going for a walk in nature, and positive affirmations in to your life, your body image will become more positive.

In 2007, a researcher from Korea studied the effects of Aromatherapy massage on abdominal fat and body image in post-menopausal women. Participants received six weekly full body massages and massaged their own abdomens twice a day for five days a week for the duration of the study. The results of the study were very positive showing a reduction in fat and waist circumference in the experimental group compared to the control group (they also received massage but without any essential oils). The study also showed that body image was also significantly better after receiving the aromatherapy massage compared to those receiving normal massage although their body image was also improved.

If regular massage and aromatherapy helped reinforce a more positive body image for these women, then I would suggest it can help improve everyone’s body image – male or female, young or old.

Research on the effect of massage on body image has also been carried out on people with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, people with Multiple Sclerosis, and on women who have had a mastectomy all showing positive results.

References:
Effect of aromatherapy massage on abdominal fat and body image in post-menopausal women. Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi. 2007 Jun;37(4):603-12

Skills update – Essential Oils for Pregnancy and Childbirth

Photo by noblec.

Today I attended a one day workshop on Essential Oils for Pregnancy and Childbirth which was run by TEACH Therapy . The course was run by Julie Duffy who also teaches Clinical Aromatherapy at the University of Wales Institute.

The course covered the different conditions which are common during pregnancy such as indigestion, stretch marks, oedema (fluid retention), back pain etc. and how essential oils can help. It covered essential oils which can be safely used during pregnancy, dilutions and blends, massaging techniques and positions, and essential oils to help during labour.

When I first trained in Aromatherapy, I was taught that there were certain oils which shouldn’t be used on women who are pregnant at any stage, some which could only be used in the second and third trimester, and some which could only be used during labour. On this recent course, I was taught that the majority of essential oils can be used safely at any stage during pregnancy and that there hasn’t been a single case of any harm coming to mother or baby from using essential oils in massage – only when they have been ingested.

I was also originally taught not to give massage to women in the first trimester as this is when miscarriage is most likely. But I have recently learned that this is not the case. There has been no evidence to suggest that neither massage nor essential oils can cause miscarriage.

I thoroughly enjoyed the course. It was very informative and was quite an eye opener for me. Many therapists shy away from treating pregnant women due to the misconception that massage and/or essential oils can harm the baby. But now I am no longer one of them! The training providers (and also many books state this misinformation) are to blame here by not teaching the correct information to their students. Massage is very beneficial to women at all stages of pregnancy and is very soothing to the baby.

On the course, I was also introduced to several new oils which I haven’t smelt or used before which was quite exciting including Myrtle, Plai, and a different variety of Eucalyptus – Eucalyptus Radiata. I’m going to be adding these to my collection soon along with a few others.

Although I have treated many pregnant women with various holistic therapies including Aromatherapy, after this in depth training in essential oils for pregnancy, I feel very confident in massaging and using essential oils on pregnant women.

Essential Oil of the Week: Clary Sage

Botanical Name: Salvia sclarea

Aroma type: Herbaceous

Note: Top

I have to be honest that I really disliked the smell of this oil when I first started training in Aromatherapy. I thought it smelt like hay! Over the years it has grown on me and it is now one of my favourite oils. Not because I now like the smell of it but because it is such a beneficial oil and has so many uses.

Clary Sage was known in the Middle Ages as 'Oculus Christi' - the 'Eye of Christ' and was a highly regarded medicine. It was also known for its ability to heal eye problems.

Its main properties are antidepressant, antispasmodic, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, astringent, bactericidal, carminative, deodorant, digestive, emmenagogue (regulates menstruation), euphoric, hypotensive (lowers blood pressure), sedative, uterine tonic, and nerve tonic.

Clary Sage is a necessary essential oil for every woman. It contains a hormone-like compound similar to oestrogen that regulates hormonal balance making it an excellent oil for menstrual cramps, PMT, heavy periods, irregular/lack of periods, endometriosis, labour pains, post-natal depression, and menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes. No woman is too young or too old to appreciate the properties of this oil.

Men - don’t feel left out though as Clary Sage can be beneficial for you too. It can help with exhaustion, depression, digestive problems, respiratory problems, muscular aches and pains, migraine, high blood pressure, nervous tension, and insomnia.

It blends especially well with bergamot, cypress, lavender, sandalwood, frankincense, jasmine, pine, chamomile, geranium, juniper, and ylang ylang.

Clary sage oil is a strong sedative and should be avoided when consuming alcohol, as it can exaggerate the effects of alcohol. It is also advisable to avoid before driving or other activities requiring a high level of focus and concentration. It is a non-toxic, non-sensitizing essential oil, but in large doses it can cause headaches.

In many textbooks, clary sage is mentioned as being not a suitable oil to use in conjunction with the contraceptive pill or HRT. This is because clary sage is said to have oestrogen-like properties. However, in Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Tony Balacs, it says that it is very unlikely that the essential oils used in a massage would interfere with these as the hormonal effect that the essential oils have is likely to be far weaker than that of the contraceptive pill or HRT.

Abdominal Massage for Menstrual Cramps

Photo by hypertypo.

It is estimated that menstrual cramps affect more than 50% of women. The severity of this type of cramp can vary from one woman to the next and can range from mild to severe. Mild menstrual cramps may be barely noticeable and of a short duration while severe menstrual cramps can be quite debilitating and often interfere with a woman's regular activities for several days just before and/or during their period. Of the 50% of women who suffer with menstrual cramps, up to 15% would describe their menstrual cramps as severe.

Some women find that abdominal massage can help reduce the pain associated with menstrual cramps.

In this post, I will outline a basic abdominal self-massage routine for you to use.

Abdominal massage can be carried out while sitting, standing, or lying down. I personally use this self-massage routine while laying down as I find it more comfortable and relaxing. I would recommend placing a small pillow under your knees to take the strain off your lower back which can also be quite painful during menstruation.

The following massage routine is very simple to do and only takes 5 minutes! Carry out daily starting a couple days before your period and then continuing throughout to gain maximum benefit, or just use it when you are in pain.

Pour a small amount of massage oil into the palm of your hands and rub your hands together. You only need a 50p-size amount (approx. 1tsp) of oil in the palm of your hand to carry out the massage but this will depend on your size and your skin type.

Place the palm of your dominant hand (left hand if you are left-handed or right hand if you are right-handed) above your belly button and the other hand on top. At this point I like to take three deep breaths to help me relax and center myself.

Slowly rub your stomach with both hands in a clockwise direction starting from the lower right of your abdomen for 20-30 times. The clockwise direction is synchronous with the digestive pathway of your colon. Move your hands below your rib cage on either side of your torso and massage in a downward direction towards the groin 5-6 times. Finish by kneading the abdomen in a circular motion 3-4 times, again in a clockwise direction.

You may also find it beneficial to follow the abdominal massage with some massage around the lower back and hips.

Place both hands on your hips with your thumbs at the front and fingers facing each other on either side of the spine. Use your fingers to massage in a circular motion around the hips, across the tops of the buttocks, and around the sacrum area. Change your hands over so that your thumbs are now at the back. Use your thumbs to massage your lower back in the same circular motion as before. With thumbs placed either side of the spine, slide the thumbs outward toward the hips applying pressure as you go. Do this all the way down to the top of the buttocks.

Essential oils can also be beneficial for menstrual cramps. Basil, Clary Sage, Fennel, Geranium, Juniper, Marjoram, Cypress, and Peppermint are all excellent oils to use for this.

I would recommend blending 9 drops Clary Sage, 8 drops Geranium, and 8 drops Cypress with 50ml of Sweet Almond or Grape Seed carrier oil. Use this therapeutic blend to massage your abdomen and lower back. You will probably find that this amount will last you throughout your period.

Always perform a patch test before using the blend on a large area of the skin and body, especially if you have sensitive skin. Simply place a drop of the blend on the inside of your forearm and leave on over night. If any redness or itching occurs (this may happen instantly or appear the next day), immediately wash the area to remove the oils and discontinue use.

Abdominal massage is also beneficial for other ailments such as bloating, IBS, constipation, colitis, endometriosis, sluggish digestion, and stomach ache to name but a few. It helps tone the muscles of the abdomen and also relieves any tension held there.