Women face a wide range of unique health concerns related to birth; birth control; sexually transmitted disease (STDs); breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and other female cancers; onset of puberty; and menopause.
Some essential oils have had a long history of use and may be helpful in relieving many common feminine complaints, including acne, headaches, PMS, nausea, numerous skin conditions, hair loss, sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression. Given here are a few such oils and their benefits:
1. Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia)
These are steam-distilled flowers, obtained at high altitude. Some of the best locations for growing and distilling lavender oil are France, Bulgaria, and Italy.
Lavender is one of the most well-loved and frequently used oil in aromatherapy. Highly scented, it has a distinctly sweet, clean, fresh, and floral-spice scent with herbal and woody notes that free the senses.
Lavender’s hearty and robust characteristics to thrive in harsh barren environments, where it was first cultivated, gives it the power to be a universal healer, meaning it can be used to treat and balance almost any condition and promote healing.
- It helps treat a wide assortment of wounds, as well as for relieving inflammation.
- Conditions like fever blisters, herpes outbreaks, rheumatism, sore muscles and back pain respond favorably to lavender oil.
- Its analgesic and antispasmodic properties are useful in relieving common aches and pains like headache, especially sinus headaches.
- Its calming action is useful in relieving premenstrual tension, alleviating insomnia and promoting restful sleep.
- Its antidepressant and sedative properties are excellent for balancing the mood and extreme emotional states such as depression, shock, rage, panic, nervousness, stress, fear, frustration, jealousy, impatience, and irritability.
Caution: Be mindful of skin sensitization (moderate risk). Use maximum 1% dilution in the carrier for dermal application.
2. Geranium (Pelargonium Roseum And Graveolens)
This is a steam-distilled leaf. Some of the best locations for growing and distilling geranium oil are Bourbon (Reunion Islands), Madagascar, and Albania.
The heady and exotic aroma of geranium oil is delightfully fresh, sweet, floral, and sensuous.
- Traditionally, geranium oil has been used by women to relieve many common complaints associated with hormonal imbalance.
- As with other adaptogenic oils, geranium oil also helps gently balance extreme states.
Caution: Be mindful of possible drug interaction and skin sensitization. Use maximum 17.5% diluted in carrier oil for skin applications.
3. Bergamot (Citrus Bergamia)
This is a cold-pressed peel. As bergamot oil requires special soil and climate, the best location for growing and distilling it is the Calabria, a district of southern Italy.
A fresh, lightly sweet, and fruity citrus oil with spicy, floral overtones, bergamot has a warm, friendly, and inviting scent.
- It is considered as a spiritual and emotional healer.
- Its anti-depressant, antispasmodic, and regulating action can uplift and brighten the mood and balance even the most extreme emotional states like anxiety, depression, despair, and worry.
A randomized controlled study of 109 preoperative patients reported that those exposed to the scent of bergamot essential oil were less anxious.
Caution: This can be phytotoxic (moderate risk). So please avoid exposure to direct sunlight or sunlamps for 12 hours after use as it may result in berloque dermatitis (permanent pigmentation) of the skin. Old or oxidized oil should be avoided. Use 4% or less dilution in the carrier oil to avoid phytotoxicity.
4. Peppermint (Mentha x Piperita)
These are steam-distilled flowering tops. One of the best locations for growing and distilling peppermint oil is the USA.
Everyone can recognize the scent of peppermint oil. Considered a basic necessity for your aromatherapy first aid kit, peppermint oil is a fluid colorless oil with a clean, fresh, minty scent that is distinctly penetrating.
- It helps to stay focused when prolonged concentration is needed.
- It is known to clear brain fog and is better than coffee as a stimulant.
- Research has shown peppermint oil to be effective for relieving migraine and tension headache resulting from weak or poor digestion.
- Its decongestant properties is useful in relieving congestion of any kind, including sinus congestion.
- Inhaling the oil gives an almost instant relief from nausea.
- It has been shown to be effective for stimulating hair growth. A 2014 study reported that compared to saline, jojoba oil, and Minoxidil (an over-the-counter product for hair loss), topical peppermint oil stimulated the most hair growth with an increase in dermal thickness, follicle number, and depth with no signs of toxicity.
Caution: Do not apply near the face of infants or children under 2.5 years. Robert Tisserand sets the bar at 10 years of age. It can also cause possible mucous membrane irritation (low risk). Maximum dermal use should be 5.4% diluted in the carrier oil. Avoid use in cases of cardiac fibrillation and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)-type of heartburn.
5. Rosemary (Rosmarinus ct. Verbenon)
This is made of steam-distilled herbs and flowering tops. The best locations for growing and distilling are Corsica, Italy, and France.
Considered a universal first-aid oil, rosemary has a powerful and pungent scent of fresh picked herb and is fresh, camphoreceous, warm, and radiant like the sun.
Legend has it that the Virgin Mary transformed the color of the rosemary flower from white to blue when covering it with her blue cloak. It has since been called the “Rose of Mary.”
- Its stimulant and relaxant properties, depending upon the circumstances and the amount of oil used, helps in regulating and balancing hormones.
- Try it in a hot compress for relieving numerous female complaints including irregular menstrual cycles, vaginitis, Bartholin’s cyst, menopausal symptoms, and leukorrhea.
- It is also said to remove causes that hinder conception.
- Its supreme skin regenerative and wound-healing properties help in treating chronic skin conditions like broken veins, dermatitis, eczema, seborrhea, and psoriasis.
- Its antiseptic and regulating action helps in fighting infection and promoting glandular balance and function.
- It is excellent in skin care formulations for treating acne, wrinkles, scars, and sun damaged skin.
Caution: Due to its highly stimulating properties, avoid using during pregnancy, if you have high blood pressure, or a diagnosed seizure disorder.
