Aromatherapy PMS Relief

Premenstrual syndrome, better known as PMS, is a collection of many different symptoms that typically begin several days or even a week before menstruation. The host of symptoms includes water retention, breast swelling and tenderness, depression, irritability, mood swings, and headaches. Not all women who get PMS experience all of these symptoms, but any one of them can greatly alter one’s life while going through it.

In many ways, aromatherapy is ideal to treat PMS. Taking time out to lounge in an aromatic bath or getting a massage with a fragrant oil helps most women tremendously. For depression and mood swings associated with PMS, nothing can beat clary sage. The essential oils of neroli, rose, and jasmine may be expensive, but their heavenly fragrances help dispel moodiness and irritability.

For the excessive bloating and swollen breasts of PMS, use the essential oils of juniper berry, patchouli, grapefruit, and carrot seed. Another good oil for this is birch, which is also a natural pain reliever. Use juniper berry if you experience water retention. If headache is among your PMS symptoms, try an inhalation of lavender or marjoram. For best results with any PMS or menstruation remedy, begin using it a couple of days before you experience any symptoms. Refer also to the sections on fatigue, acne, and menstrual cramps.

Essential oils for PMS: chamomile, clary sage, geranium, jasmine, marjoram, neroli, rose

Essential oils for bloating: birch, juniper berry, lavender, patchouli

To learn more about Aromatherapy and other alternative medicines, see:

Aromatherapy: Here you will learn about aromatherapy, how it works, what part essential oils play, and how to use aromatherapy.
Essential Oils Profiles: We have collected profiles of dozens of plants that are used to produce essential oils. On these pages, you will learn the properties and preparations for the most popular essential oils.
How to Treat Common Conditions With Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy can be used to treat a number of conditions, from asthma to depression to skin problems. Here you will learn how to treat some common medical problems with aromatherapy.
Home Remedies: We have gathered over a hundred safe, time-tested home remedies for treating a wide variety of medical complaints yourself.
Herbal Remedies: Herbal remedies and aromatherapy can be very similar, and they stem from similar historic roots. On this page, you will find all of our herb profiles and instructions for treating medical problems with herbal remedies.

Kathi Keville is director of the American Herb Association and editor of the American Herb Association Quarterly newsletter. A writer, photographer, consultant, and teacher specializing in aromatherapy and herbs for over 25 years, she has written several books, including Aromatherapy: The Complete Guide to the Healing Art and Pocket Guide to Aromatherapy, and has written over 150 articles for such magazines as New Age Journal, The Herb Companion, and New Herbal Remedies.This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.

Aromatherapy PMS Treatment

Mood Oil

9 drops geranium oil
6 drops chamomile oil
3 drops clary sage oil
3 drops angelica oil (optional)
2 drops marjoram oil
2 ounces vegetable oil

Combine the ingredients. The angelica oil is heavenly, but optional, as it may be hard to find. Use daily as a massage oil or add 1 to 2 teaspoons to a bath. This recipe improves your mood even if you don’t have PMS. To make it more elegant and effective, add 1 or 2 drops of neroli, rose, or jasmine. Without the vegetable oil, you can use this in a diffuser or simply carry around a vial of it to smell as needed.

Bloating and Headache Relief Oil

6 drops lavender oil
3 drops juniper berry oil
2 drops birch oil
1 drop patchouli oil (optional)

Combine ingredients. Use as a massage oil or add 1 to 2 teaspoons to your bath or 1 teaspoon to a foot bath. Don’t use the patchouli if you don’t like the smell; it can easily overwhelm a formula.