Our monthly menstrual cycle comes with problems, such as bleeding, bloating, and mood swings. Cramps are just the cherry on top. We all know how painful and uncomfortable our menstrual cramps can be. Over the years, we have devised a thousand homemade remedies to help us with the cramps and pain. One such remedy that is gaining popularity in helping with menstrual cramps and uplifting moods during periods is essential oil.
Essential oils have been proven to be very beneficial over the years. Essential oils are known for their aromatherapeutic properties and skincare properties. They help with headaches and heartburn. Their smell helps relieve stress. There are many options available in the market; however, here are the top 10 essential oils that can help you with menstrual cramps.
Top 10 Essential Oils That Help With Menstrual Cramps
Essential oils have anti-inflammatory and mood-lifting properties. Even though it can’t provide medical benefits, it can help you with mood swings and menstrual cramps. It can help you uplift your mood, help you with swelling, and help relieve period pain. Here are the top 10 essential oil you can use:
1. Frankincense Essential Oil For Menstrual Cramps
Frankincense essential oil has anti-inflammatory, stress-relieving, and immune-boosting properties. This essential oil contains boswellic acid, which is a potent pain-reducing compound. It inhibits the production of leukotrienes.
Leukotrienes and prostaglandins are hormones that induce uterine wall contraction, which causes pain. It effectively reduces pain during the menstrual cycle by inhibiting the production of leukotrienes. You can apply this essential oil directly or blend it with carrier oil to help soothe menstrual cramps.
2. Peppermint Essential Oil For Menstrual Cramps
Peppermint essential oil has cooling and anti-inflammatory properties, which make it a good homemade remedy for menstrual pain. It reduces inflammation and helps with period pain by reducing the inflammation. This essential oil also helps with other period symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, and headaches.
Peppermint essential oil reduces muscle contractions of the uterine wall, which leads to a reduced and less painful menstrual cycle. This essential oil also acts as an analgesic and helps relax uterine wall muscles. You can massage 2-3 drops of the essential oil on the affected area to help with the pain.
3. Lavender Essential Oil For Menstrual Cramps
Lavender essential oil is popularly known for its anti-inflammatory properties. This essential oil acts as an analgesic when inhaled or applied. It helps soothe and relieve pain. The essential oil soothes prostaglandins.
Prostaglandin is the hormone responsible for uterine contractions and pain. Lavender essential oil helps with bloating, swelling, and soreness caused due to periods. Its anti-inflammatory properties help clear inflammation and reduce swelling and soreness.
4. Eucalyptus Essential Oil For Menstrual Cramps
Eucalyptus essential oil has anti-inflammatory properties and acts as an analgesic. As discussed earlier, both these properties in the essential oil help soothe and relieve period pain. It helps increase the flow of blood and oxygen. Better blood flow relaxes the muscles and reduces cramps.
Additionally, eucalyptus essential oil also has antispasmodic, antioxidant, and pain-relieving properties. Studies have proved that even inhaling this essential oil can help alleviate pain. It is a lightweight carrier oil and can be used with peppermint, frankincense, lavender, and clary sage to create a blend that can be applied to relieve period cramps.
5. Oregano Essential Oil For Menstruation
Oregano essential oil is enriched with the goodness of nature and contains healing and anti-tumor properties. The essential oil is beneficial for women who experience irregular periods. This essential oil makes the blood flow stable and regular.
Oregano essential oil is an emmenagogue and helps stimulate the menstrual cycle. This essential oil helps relieve pain during periods by making the flow regular. Adding 2-3 drops of the essential oil to the chamomile tea can help you with menstrual cramps.
6. Clove Essential Oil For Menstrual Cramps
Clove essential oil is an anti-inflammatory spice. Its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce period cramp pains. It helps with heavy flow, provides fast relief from menstrual cramps, and shortens menstruation duration.
The essential oil contains eugenol, which eases the symptoms of the period. Clove essential oil helps block pain by relieving muscle aches. You can apply this essential oil with a blend of cinnamon essential oil to help with the period pain.
7. Clary Sage Essential Oil For Menstrual Cramps
Clary Sage has been proven to be an effective essential oil for relieving menstrual cramps. The essential oil is an antispasmodic agent. As this essential oil prevents muscle spasms, it helps reduce cramps and spasms during the menstrual cycle. Its aromatherapeutic properties uplift mood, soothes worry, and has a calming effect.
Clary sage essential oil helps prevent involuntary muscle spasms. It also imparts analgesic properties to the user, relieves cramps, and reduces pain. The essential oil also helps with bloating and food cravings. Applying 2-3 drops of this essential oil directly or with a carrier oil can help you get all the benefits of the oil.
8. Tea Tree Essential Oil For Menstrual Cramps
Tea tree essential oil helps reduce inflammation and enhances healing. It has been used as an antiseptic and herbal medicine for centuries. Even though it is not scientifically proven, tea tree essential oil is believed to regulate estrogen.
Nowadays, it is an active ingredient in many organic skincare products. Tea tree essential oil helps with breast tenderness during the menstrual cycle. You can use a few drops of this essential oil and massage it on your abdomen to relieve muscle pain during periods.
9. Ginger Essential Oil For Menstrual Cramps
Ginger essential oil has many therapeutic properties. It reduces inflammation, stress, and digestive problems you usually suffer during the menstrual cycle. It is a thermogenic oil and helps boost metabolism.
A good metabolism leads to a healthy menstrual cycle. You can apply the oil directly or add two to three drops of ginger to your warm water bath. The smell of ginger essential oil helps relieve stress and elevates and freshens the mood.
10. Geranium Essential Oil For Menstrual Cramps
People have used geranium essential oil for centuries to help ease labor pain. You can mix this essential oil with a carrier oil for abdominal massages.
Geranium essential oil is great for PMS relief. It's an analgesic filled with aromatherapeutic properties, which help relieve stress and help with mood swings.
Essential Oil Roller Blend For Menstrual Cramps
The best and easiest way to make the most out of these essential oils is to use an oil roller that you can use for menstrual cramps. There are a lot of rollers available in the market that you can use, or you can also create your own. If you are new to this, you can follow the instructions below.
The benefit of creating your oil roller is that you can customize the oil composition, choose how it will smell, and what the composition of each oil should be. The below recipe for the oil roller is generalized and will help you understand what works for you and what does not. The roller bottle has a 2:1:1 ingredient ratio (of lavender, clary sage, and marjoram) and a 3% concentration.
Ingredients:
- Roller Bottle - 10 ml
- Sweet Almond Oil - 1 Tbsp
- Lavender Essential Oil - 5 Drops
- Marjoram Essential Oil - 2 Drops
- Clary Sage Essential Oil - 2 Drops
Directions:
Step 1: Add the essential oils into the roller bottle. Fill the remaining bottle with carrier oil.
Step 2: Some examples of carrier oil are fractionated coconut, jojoba, eucalyptus, almond, etc. Close the bottle and shake the bottle to blend the oil.
Step 3: Once the oil mixture is ready, you can massage the roller on your lower belly during painful cramps. You can use the above composition with any oil of your choice.
Conclusion
Essential oils have certain properties that can help you with menstrual cramps. Now you know what each oil can do and how they can help ease period pains. As important as it is to understand which oil works best for you, it is equally important to research and find a trustworthy supplier of essential oils. VedaOils is a leading manufacturer of essential oils in India. Their products are 100% authentic and organic.