It’s a simple fact: hormones get blamed for a lot— bad moods, aggressive moments, even sad days. Deserved or not, it is clear hormones play a significant role in many of the body’s functions.
Because hormones affect such a wide range of physiological processes, it is important to maintain hormonal balance. Hormone change can cause a wide variety of physical and emotional symptoms.
Estrogen and progesterone are the main steroidal hormones that affect women’s health. Each of these hormones has a broad scope of functions that extend far beyond reproductive health. In fact, female sex hormones influence energy levels, sleep cycle, brain function, bone health, heart health, weight management, and many other factors.
Although hormones are dynamic, the functions in the body are far reaching and have tremendous impact on other areas of health.
Natural alternatives, including lifestyle modification, consistent use of essential oils, and nutritional supplementation, can help manage symptoms associated with hormone change.
Recognizing Hormone Change in a Woman’s Body
Recognizing a hormonal imbalance is an important first step on your journey to health. Common symptoms to look for include:
- Irritability / mood swings
- Digestive Problems
- Excessive Sweating
- Food Cravings
- Fatigue
- Hair Thinning
- Loss of Muscle Mass
- Weight Gain
- Low Libido
Maintaining Female Hormonal Balance using Essential Oils
Maintaining hormonal balance is a lifelong process that is founded in the development of healthy lifestyle habits.
1) A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products fuels your body with the nutrients it needs for optimal function.
2) Exercise helps manage weight and the hormone metabolite load, and improves the body’s production of hormones.
3) Hormone balance is also affected by exposure to toxins, stress, exogenous (outside) hormone exposure, inflammation,
4) Natural products can make a huge difference in maintaining balance. Essential Oils from dōTERRA are one way to use natural products.
5) All natural supplements can help support your body with nutritional and hormonal needs. dōTERRA’s supplements are bio-available which means they are quickly absorbed into the body so that the body can actually use the nutrients. Most supplements pass right through the body, so this is a big deal!
Here are the best dōTERRA essential oils for maintaining hormonal balance:
ClaryCalm® Monthly Blend is a specially formulated blend of 12 essential oils, can be applied to the skin for a soothing effect.
Many women rely on this to help maintain hormone balance, support the body during heavy periods, cramps and symptoms associated with PMS, Hot Flashes related to menopause, mood swings, and libido.
Whisper Women’s blend is a blend of several essential oils that are effective at balancing hormones, and can also help support hot flashes, libido, and can calm feelings of anger.
This is a unique blend because it smells different on everyone due to the way it reacts with our own bodies. It can be worn as a personal perfume.
Jasmine – One of the most precious essential oils, it is a great support for women’s hormonal issues.
It can help with anxious and sad feelings, uterine health, labor & delivery, PMS and Low Libido, ovulation & fertility, and is wonderful for fine lines & wrinkles.
Rose – known as the Queen of Flowers, it requires about 12,000 rose blossoms to make a 15ml bottle. dōTERRA offers it as a convenient pre-diluted roller.
It can help support low libido, grief & feelings of sadness or self doubt, childbirth & baby blues, irregular ovulation & menstruation.
Geranium – known as the poor mans rose because it offers very similar benefits as rose but at much more attractive price for most people. Geranium can support healthy PMS & Hormone balancing.
Massage over abdomen if experiencing low libido.
Clary Sage – Clary Sage is a beautiful smelling flower and is the base of the Clary Calm Blend mentioned above.
Clary Sage can help alleviate menopause symptoms and reduce menstrual cramping.
Apply directly to abdomen as needed.
Neroli – Neroli can help with libido and male impotence, it is also wonderful on the abdomen during pregnancy and on lower back to ease anxiousness during labor.
It can be used on the abdomen or in a warm bath to help with symptoms experienced during menopause, cramping from PMS or estrogen imbalance.
Honorable mention: Basil may help to ease monthly feminine discomfort in the abdomen.* Although no one really wants to smell like dinner so maybe not before you head out for the day.
Where to apply essential oils for women’s hormone balance
Essential Oils can be applied really anywhere and they will work just fine. The oils inherently “know” where to go to work. There is no hard rule that says you have to apply an essential oil in a specific place on your body.
Having said that, sometimes it is beneficial to apply directly to a specific location.
For example, for support for period cramps, it makes the most sense to apply directly to your lower abdomen.
For hormone support, all of these oils would be beneficial when applied to your lower abdomen since that is where our reproductive system is located. If you decide you don’t like applying the oils there, you can absolutely apply them to your spine or bottoms of the feet.
Natural Supplements can have a big impact on estrogen and women’s hormones
Phytoestrogen Provides supplemental dietary phytoestrogens that help balance and support normal hormone levels. Provides nutritional support for managing estrogen metabolism.
Flax seed extract reduces hormone metabolite load and offers other benefits.* Pomegranate extract helps to manage the physical symptoms of menopause including hot flashes and aging of the skin.*
If you are going through perimenopause or menopause, phytoestrogen can help balance healthy estrogen levels to help minimize monthly hormone swings and the hormone fluctuations associated with menopause.
I encourage you to speak with your doctor to see if phytoestrogens might be an option for you.
Primary Benefits of Phytoestrogen
- Provides supplemental dietary phytoestrogens that help balance and support normal hormone levels
- Provides nutritional support for managing estrogen metabolism
- Can be used to complement a program of eating right, exercising, and hormone therapy to help minimize the uncomfortable symptoms of PMS and transition through menopause.
- Supports healthy bones, heart, breast tissue, and other body structures as a woman ages.
- Formulated with a standardized pomegranate extract providing powerful antioxidant support.
Core Vitamin, Minerals, Antioxidant, and Omega Supplementation: The Lifelong Vitality products should be included as a foundational step in achieving hormone health.*
These products not only provide essential vitamins and minerals, they also include many ingredients shown to manage oxidation, maintain a healthy immune response, and even influence hormonal activity.
These vitamins come in a form that is BIO-Available – meaning your body can actually absorb the nutrients. Did you know that most store bought vitamins simply pass through your body without being absorbed!!?
Bone Nutrients In addition to the core daily nutritional elements mentioned above, it is important to add other supplements targeted specifically at hormone health such as Calcium.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Before You Go, See What’s New On The Blog
