Anyone who’s ever experienced the trials and tribulations of a menstrual cycle will tell you that PMS is the pits. Heating pads absolutely provide a decent amount of warmth and nurturing to the afflicted area, and taking pills every few hours can suppress the hormonal migraines and cramping. Sometimes, though, these remedial methods aren’t fast-acting, which is why more and more women are turning to essential oils for PMS.
If you’re unfamiliar with earth’s enchanting little potions, essential oils are highly concentrated liquids derived from plants that are commonly used in aromatherapies, cosmetics, skincare products, natural remedies, and/or applied as pure substances onto the skin. PMS symptoms are bad enough without having to worry about medication side effects messing with your body, too, so these are a great way to ease the pain without having to endure anything extra.
Plus, a woman's menstrual cycle is part of the natural ebb and flow of her body. Suppressing the grueling symptoms with pain medications is like covering a wound with a band-aid: It's a temporary fix to a very real, monthly occurrence, and many women are turning to more organic alternatives to make the experience more tolerable, rather than masking it for a few hours and potentially messing with their bodies even further.
If you're curious whether or not holistic remedies are for you and your symptoms, browse through these essential oils for PMS to get a better feel for what they do and how they soothe.
Everyone Aromatherapy Blend Pure Essential Oil Balance, $12, EO Products
Essential oils can still work their magic as stand-alone products, but a combination of oils can enhance their medicinal properties, making them even more beneficial to the body.
Susan Griffin-Black, co-founder and CEO of EO Products, tells Elite Daily that geranium essential oil can balance and calm hormonal mood swings that may develop during a woman's menstrual cycle. This blend from EO Products, she explains, combines geranium with lavender and peppermint to create "a synergistic effect" that ultimately "soothes irritability and tension associated with PMS."
Gutzy Soothing Belly Massage Blend, $22, Saje
Tummy troubles can be unyielding when a woman's menstrual cycle takes full control over her body, especially when cravings kick in and you go a little overboard with the Nutella one night on the couch.
The experts at Saje tell Elite Daily that in order to stimulate healthy digestion and ease stomach tension, "roll [Gutzy] on the hand, then roll on your tummy before and/or after meals" for maximum relief.
Undaria Argan Oil, $32, OSEA Malibu
You should never underestimate the power of aromatherapy, but keep in mind you don't need to invest in a clunky diffuser to reap the benefits of this alternative remedy.
The combination of lavender and chamomile essential oils in OSEA's travel-friendly spritzer offers PMS victims a sweet sense of relief (literally). Lavender is swarming with analgesic properties, which are said to ease tension headaches, while chamomile relaxes the mind, body, and spirit.
Cassia Cinnamon Essential Oil, $7, Amazon
I know my body and, like clockwork, I am one of the unfortunate women who experience heinous cramps during that special time of the month. To ease the pain, my mother always added a dash of cinnamon into my tea, and it never failed to make me feel better.
Jennifer Stagg, MD, naturopathic physician, told Reader's Digest that this essential oil has been "found to be very effective at reducing uterine contractions," which is what's really happening in your body when you're hurting from cramps.
Majestic Pure Ylang Ylang Essential Oil, $19, Amazon
Personally, I always associate ylang ylang with aphrodisiacs, but ironically enough, this essential oil also works its magic when period symptoms have you feeling anything but sexy.
According to Dr. Josh Axe, D.N.M., C.N.S., D.C., founder of DrAxe.com and best-selling author of Eat Dirt, ylang ylang can turn your frown upside down, despite even the moodiest of symptoms. It can even reduce cramping, as it works to balance cortisol and estrogen levels.
"I suggest combining two drops of ylang yang with two drops of lavender oil, which also has stress-relieving properties, and apply the mixture to the back of the neck and lower abdomen," Dr. Axe tells Elite Daily. "You can also add five drops of ylang ylang to a diffuser to reduce anxiety and depression, which are common symptoms of PMS as well."
Holy Basil Essential Oil, $26, Amazon
If you've never heard the term "adaptogen," you might want to start taking notes for this one.
An adaptogen is a substance, compound, or herb that works with the body to fight off stress. According to Dr. Axe, holy basil essential oil is among the best to ward off PMS symptoms because of its adaptogenic properties.
Let's put it this way: Stress is not your friend, especially during your menstrual cycle. Anxious feelings can actually enhance your PMS symptoms, so if you're looking for an essential oil to ease that kind of pain ASAP, Dr. Axe tells Elite Daily that holy basil essential oil can help balance your stress hormone levels, in addition to relieving headaches and reducing uncomfortable bloat.
Clary sage just sounds dreamy, doesn't it? Well, apparently, this essential oil does wonders for nightmarish uterine spasms during that time of the month.
The concentrated antidote is believed to be antispasmodic, Dr. Axe tells Elite Daily, which means it's fully equipped to rebalance erratic estrogen levels and put an end to bloating and cramping. In order to reap its medicinal benefits topically, add a few drops to your lower abdomen, and cover the area with a warm compress to stimulate the oil's absorption.
Essential Oil Blend, $28, MyLola
Chamomile tea almost always does the trick when you're crouched down in fetal position and cramps are trying to get the better of you. Aside from tummy troubles, this stuff is full of calming and anti-inflammatory properties to ease both your mind and your muscles.
Add a few drops of chamomile essential oil to a warm bath and soak until you're satisfied, or use something like MyLola's rollerball, which combines chamomile with 16 additional essential oils. Apply that bad boy directly to your stomach to "improve blood flow and relieve premenstrual tension."
