3 Best Essential Oils to Balance Hormones

Treating hormonal imbalances with pharmaceuticals often aggressively corrects one imbalance while creating complications in other parts of the endocrine system. Essential oils are the best solution for the holistic treatment of imbalances. According to a report by Maria Graça Miguel, a faculty member at Portugal’s University of Algarve, essential oils have powerful anti-oxidant qualities that fight toxicity.

Essential oils are perfect, whether it’s for a situational or chronic issue. So much of what we are taking internally and inhaling are leading to what I refer to as estrogen pollution in our bodies. If we can embrace more natural, non-toxic, synthetic-free remedies, we lower our toxic threshold and the resulting hormonal imbalances that occur from breaching that threshold. — Marie Delcioppo, health coach and New York Times featured Raw Foods Chef

Clary Sage Oil 

While menstruation and menopause are natural processes of womanhood, some of the side effects are not. The ovaries produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which when imbalanced, lead to several symptoms including:

• PMS
• Infertility
• Difficult or irregular menstrual cycles
• Lowered libido
• Difficult menopausal symptoms like sweats and hot flashes

Clary sage has been used since Medieval times to treat the list of symptoms above. It’s quite helpful in not only balancing hormones but for also relieving pain. Dilute a few drops of almond oil and rub the dilution into the ankles daily. If menstrual cramps are painful, rub the mixture on the stomach and ovary area for pain relief. Add the adaptogen oil geranium to the blend to enhance pain relief.

To soothe PMS and other feminine discomforts, add a few drops of clary sage and geranium diluted in a carrier oil or emulsified in milk to a warm bath and enjoy a soak.

A 2014 study published in the Journal of Phytotherapy Research found that inhalation of clary sage oil had the ability to reduce cortisol levels by 36% and improved thyroid hormone levels (TSH). The study was done on 22 post-menopausal women in their 50’s, some of which were diagnosed with depression and at the end of the trial the researchers stated that “clary sage oil had a statistically significant effect on lowering cortisol and had an antidepressant effect improving mood”. This is just one of the many studies proving clary sage oil benefits hormones.

The biggest benefit of clary sage is that it helps balance out estrogen production in the body. A lot of health issues today, even things like infertility, PCOS, and estrogen-based cancers, are caused by excess estrogen in the body — in part, because of our consumption of high-estrogen foods.

Because clary sage helps balance out those estrogen levels, it’s an incredibly effective essential oil to help a wide array of hormone imbalances. So, whether you’re looking for natural remedies for PMS cramps during the month, or possibly already know you have excess estrogen in your body, clary sage is a great essential oil to consider adding to your essential oil regime.

Thyme Oil

Research discussed in the Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine discovered thyme essential oil has progesterone balancing effects.

Thyme oil benefits the body by improving progesterone production. Both men and a lot of women are low in progesterone, and low progesterone levels have been linked with:

• Infertility
• PCOS
• Depression
• Other imbalanced hormones within the body 

Improved progesterone makes thyme a great essential oil you can use to naturally balance out hormones in your body. Plus, it’s far better than turning to synthetic treatments, such as hormone replacement therapy, which can make you dependent on prescription drugs, mask symptoms while developing diseases in other parts of the body and often causing serious side effects.

Sandalwood Oil 

Of the three essential oils for hormones, sandalwood essential oil is very effective at balancing out testosterone levels in both men and women. Sandalwood has actually been used as a natural aphrodisiac, making it a desired ingredient in men’s cologne, as well as certain perfumes, for years.

Also, it really has an amazing scent. For men with low testosterone, adding a few drops of sandalwood oil into your homemade deodorant or your own homemade lotion isn’t just a great way to smell good — it’s also a great way to get some extra health benefits of improving your libido and hormones.

Because it balances hormone levels it helps women with menstrual and menopausal symptoms. It also protects the body from dangerous diseases and ailments, such as stroke, arthritis, fungal and bacterial infections, and skin conditions.