Menopause and Essential Oils: Discovering Suitable Oils, Application Methods, and Potential Risks
Menopause, a time of hormonal transitions, can bring a host of challenging symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disturbances, mood changes, anxiety, vaginal dryness, and reduced libido. In recent years, there has been growing interest in using essential oils as a natural remedy for alleviating these symptoms.
Some essential oils that have shown potential benefits include lavender, which may help reduce menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, headaches, and heart palpitations. Inhaling lavender aroma for 20 minutes twice a day for 12 weeks has been found to significantly reduce hot flashes [2]. Other oils like geranium, clary sage, rose, and a combination of lavender, fennel, geranium, and rose, may improve human sexual function and relieve symptoms such as mood changes and hot flashes [3].
However, it's important to note that the current research on essential oils for menopause symptoms is limited. While some studies and reviews have explored their potential benefits, they often focus more on aromatherapy in general rather than essential oils specifically for menopause [4].
Aromatherapy is another approach that has shown promise in reducing anxiety and improving mood, with bergamot essential oil being particularly beneficial [1]. Essential oils like lavender and chamomile, known for their calming effects, could potentially help with sleep disturbances associated with menopause [5].
Botanicals like Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) have shown promise in reducing hot flashes and other vasomotor symptoms through their phytoestrogenic activity [1]. However, it's essential to remember that essential oils themselves are not widely studied for this symptom.
Despite the potential benefits, it's crucial to exercise caution when using essential oils. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate essential oils, so people cannot know for sure what their oil contains, whether the quality is good, or how it may affect them [6]. Essential oils should be obtained from a reliable source, used only in recommended dosages, and performed a small skin test before using any essential oil for a massage to check for a reaction.
People should also avoid an oil if they have an allergy to the plant it comes from, as it may trigger a reaction. It's always best to consult a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment, especially considering potential interactions with medications or allergies.
While essential oils and aromatherapy may offer a promising approach for managing menopause symptoms, more research is needed to determine their efficacy and safety. In the meantime, it's essential to approach their use with caution and under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
References: [1] Climacteric. (2017). Botanical medicine for the management of vasomotor symptoms in menopause. https://doi.org/10.1080/13697137.2016.1235680 [2] Menopause. (2017). Aromatherapy for menopausal hot flashes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000000768 [3] Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research. (2019). Aromatherapy and phytoestrogenic supplements for menopausal symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. https://doi.org/10.1111/jog.13876 [4] Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics. (2018). Essential oils for the management of menopausal symptoms: a systematic review. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpt.12923 [5] Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. (2014). Aromatherapy for sleep quality and sleep disturbance: A systematic review and meta-analysis. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2013.0563 [6] FDA. (n.d.). Essential oils. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/essential-oils-are-they-safe-use-them
- Menopause, a period marked by hormonal transitions, is accompanied by a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including hot flashes, sleep disturbances, mood changes, anxiety, vaginal dryness, and reduced libido.
- In pursuit of natural remedies, essential oils have garnered attention for their potential to mitigate these menopausal symptoms.
- Lavender oil, in particular, may help reduce menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, headaches, and heart palpitations, as discovered in a study where participants inhaled lavender aroma for 20 minutes twice a day for 12 weeks.
- Geranium, clary sage, rose, and a combination of lavender, fennel, geranium, and rose oils may improve human sexual function and alleviate symptoms such as mood changes and hot flashes.
- Research on essential oils for menopause symptoms remains limited, with most studies focusing more on the general realm of aromatherapy rather than on essential oils specifically for menopause.
- Aromatherapy, an approach that involves essential oils, has shown potential for reducing anxiety and improving mood, with bergamot essential oil being especially helpful.
- Lavender and chamomile essential oils, known for their calming effects, may help alleviate sleep disturbances associated with menopause.
- Shatavari, a botanical, has demonstrated promise in reducing hot flashes and other vasomotor symptoms due to its phytoestrogenic activity, but it's essential to note that essential oils are not extensively studied for this specific symptom.
- Exercise caution when using essential oils, as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate them, leaving unknowns about their content, quality, and potential effects on individuals.
- Seek guidance from a healthcare professional before starting essential oil treatments, keeping in mind potential interactions with medications or allergies, and avoid using an oil if one has an allergy to the plant it originates from.
