Let’s be honest, PMS is just something that most women accept as their burden to bear. We pop pills and deploy heating pads to ease some symptoms while doing our best to power through the day struggling with fatigue, cramps, bloating, irritability and the myriad of other symptoms that can accompany PMS.
In the simplest terms, PMS symptoms occur because of hormone level changes. This can affect all the cells in a woman’s body, including brain cells.
Some women have an easy go of it and are barely inconvenienced by their symptoms, and some women are down for the count until their hormone levels normalize, but most women fall somewhere in between. Wherever you fall on the severity of symptoms scale, essential oils can help ease many symptoms.
Oils known for generally aiding with PMS symptoms include clary sage and cedarwood, but here are some suggestions for targeting specific symptoms.
Aches, Pains and Cramps
Several oils are known for their anti-inflammatory effects and for easing muscle pain, both of which may help minimize cramps and joint pain. A few of these include eucalyptus, marjoram and basil.
Mood
The mood-based symptoms of PMS can vary to extremes. Anxiety is not uncommon, so sometimes just taking a beat and trying to relax with the help of your favorite essential oil can do wonders. Oils known for helping with relaxation include lavender, patchouli and doTERRA’s Breathe blend.
Oils traditionally used to lift mood include ylang-ylang, clary sage and doTERRA’s Balance blend.
Insomnia
A poor night’s sleep can make managing other symptoms more difficult. While using the oils mentioned above for relaxation will help, clary sage and bergamot show evidence of targeting insomnia specifically.
Fatigue
On a related note, a few oils are associated with easing fatigue and for their energizing properties. These include rosemary, basil and grapefruit.
Cravings
If you find yourself driven to distraction by craving mounds of salt or sweet goodness, try incorporating fennel, patchouli or cloves into your PMS treatment routine.