Essential oils contain compounds known to reduce anxiety. So it makes perfect sense to use them during the change of life.
Insomnia is a common complaint. It may result from lower amounts of estrogen circulating in the bloodstream.
Not getting enough rest may lead to anxiety.
Anxiety can prevent you from sleeping.
It’s a vicious cycle that can be hard to break. So you may want to try essential oils, for a natural, drug-free approach.
Sleeping pills do not lead to restful sleep. Actually, they interfere with deep sleep, the kind that’s needed to remove toxins from your body. Prescription sleep medicine can also be habit forming.
That’s why it makes so much sense to use essential oils instead.
Essential Oils for Menopause Anxiety
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I don’t know of any essential oils that will make increase your anxiety. But a number of essential oils are considered especially good for relieving stress.
This includes lavender essential oil.
Lavender is very soothing and has a long tradition of being used for sleep. The Iranian Journal of Nursing Midwifery Research noted that “inhaling the scent of lavender for 4 weeks can prevent stress, anxiety and depression after childbirth.”
(Don’t use lavender essential oil if you’re pregnant or think you might be. Also, check with your doctor before using it if you are nursing.)
Another study that ran in the Evidence Based Complimentary and Alternative Medicine journal noted that lavender has a positive effect upon the nervous system. Also, a Korean based study also ran in the same journal noted that certain essential oils were reported to relieve menopausal symptoms.
Lavender essential oil is often at the top of everyone’s list for essential oils that can potentially help with menopause symptoms, including anxiety.
Clary Sage Essential Oil for Menopause
Clary sage essential oil is an amazing sleep remedy. I think it works just as well, if not better than lavender.
It has a nice soothing woodsy, musky scent.
If you use lavender essential oil for sleep, it might also be a good idea to rotate it with clary sage essential oil, for variety.
I’ve found that essential oils work best when you rotate them. Mine stop working after a few nights if I use them continuously. So I like to switch them around. After a break they will work (help me fall asleep) again.
If you can’t find clary sage essential oil locally it’s available online. A good brand is Plant Therapy, because the oils are high quality. But the company doesn’t sell them through a multilevel marketing distribution network.
Geranium Essential Oil for Menopause
Geranium essential oil smells a lot like highly concentrated roses. It’s intoxicating and calming at the same time.
It’s good for sleep. It’s one of the best essential oils to naturally elevate your mood. I’m not saying it will cure clinical depression, which requires professional help.
But it’s very uplifting. Geranium essential oil can also be added to a sleep rotation. It can be used alone. Or mixed with lavender and clary sage essential oil, for a DIY synergy blend. It’s thought that using two or more essential oils (or herbal remedies) together can result in a synergy. This means the sum total is greater than its individual parts.
You can order geranium essential oil online if you can’t find it locally.
Peppermint Essential Oil for Menopause
Peppermint essential oil is good for aches and pains. It’s uplifting and calming at the same time. You could use it during for a mental boost. But I don’t use it as a sleep remedy.
But there’s one exception. I did use peppermint essential oil in a pain blend when I suffered from excruciating TMJ. This intense jaw pain would flare at night. The only relief I found was with essential oils. Until my chiropractor could fix the problem over the course of a few weeks.
I’m of the mind that peppermint essential oil should be in everyone’s medicine cabinet anyway. It’s the only thing I use for headaches. Used properly, essential oils are very safe. They don’t come with some of the scary side effects you’ll find with OTC pain medication.
If you’ve never used essential oils before, it’s important to remember that you need to mix peppermint oil with a carrier oil before putting it on your skin. Essential oils are too strong to use directly on your skin. A good ratio is 3 drops of peppermint essential oil to one teaspoon of carrier oil. Use less if you plan to use it on your face.
Although I can’t promise the same results, peppermint essential oil works instantly to relieve my mild to slightly moderate headaches, such as the ones that result from lack of sleep.
For More Reading
Lavender Essential Oil for Stress Reduction Study
Lavender and The Nervous System
Korean Study on Essential Oils and Menopause