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progesterone and oestrogen start to
decline,’ says Dr Adib. First to
decrease is progesterone, which is the
calming hormone,’ she says. ‘When
you’re running low on this, you can
feel more anxious, depressed and
irritable. The physical symptoms of
low progesterone include bloating,
menstrual irregularities, headaches,
migraines, thinning hair, tender
breasts and weight gain.
Once you’ve reached menopause –
defined as a year after you’ve had your
last period – oestrogen levels fall
dramatically, too. ‘Around 80 per cent
of women can experience any one of a
number of symptoms, including moodylang ylang and vitex agnus castus
(chaste berry tree), bergamot, orange,
sandalwood, rose, jasmine,
frankincense and sandalwood.’
Studies show that certain essential
oils, namely clary sage, fennel,
angelica, cypress and coriander, have
phytoestrogenic activity, meaning
they help make up for declining
oestrogen in your body. ‘Clary sage,
for example, contains sclareol, a
compound that can stimulate your
body to produce its own oestrogen,
but only if you’re deficient (essential
oils bring your body into homeostasis,
ie. maintainng a steady equilibrium in
the body). It can also help to alleviate
cramps and has a calming, anti-
depressant effect,’ he says. ‘One study
carried out on 22 menopausal women
showed that by inhaling clary sage oil,
cortisol levels dropped significantly,
serotonin levels increased and
depression improved.’
Lavender is another good one as it
promotes feelings of relaxation,
helping you sleep, while peppermint
is another key oil for hot flushes, night
sweats and fatigue. ‘Mix peppermint
with lavender and ylang ylang, as
together they help any reduce anxiety
that might exacerbate hot flushes,’
says Dr Zielinski. Geranium oil has a
natural antidepressant effect and can
help with mood swings, while vitex
agnus castus helps re-balance
oestrogen and progesterone. ‘It’s
effective in treating premenstrual
symptoms and also help PMS,
perimenopausal and menopausal
symptoms,’ says Dr Zielinski.
l Read on to find a blend that could
work for you...DID YOU KNOW...
a sniff of rosemary
essential oil boosts
memory? Keep
some to hand or
burn it in a diffuser
on days when you
need to be focused.
swings, weight gain, aching joints, hot
flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness,
low libido and energy, fatigue, trouble
concentrating, and dry skin and hair.
Testosterone levels also fall, which can
also exacerbate things,’ says Dr Adib.back in balancE
Essential oils offer a gentle and
effective way to restore balance to
your body. ‘When it comes to
hormonal imbalances, essential oils
can be a very powerful aid,’ says Dr
Eric Zielinski, author of The Essential
Oils Diet (£18.99, Harmony). ‘Amongst
the best for hormones are clary sage,
lavender, geranium, peppermint,In a Korean study,
researchers found that a
30-minute aromatherapy
massage once a week, for eight
weeks, lessened menopausal hot
flushes and aches and pains.
Lavender rose, rose geranium
and jasmine were used in
sweet almond and evening
primrose oil.