Last updated on May 26, 2023
How Aromatherapy Helps Women In Midlife
Aromatherapy can help women suffering from symptoms of perimenopause and menopause including; midlife mood swings, insomnia, and anxiety. Aromatherapy is an ancient holistic health practice dating back over 5000 years that has proven benefits for today’s modern woman going through midlife changes.
Holistic Health Benefits
Nearly 20 years ago, as a newer yoga teacher, I learned about the power of essential oils. I was drawn to their aromatic scents and researched the health-promoting benefits of using essential oils in yoga classes. I included them by diffusing them in class and providing students with essential oils for topical use at the beginning of class. The use of aromatherapy combined with the practice of yoga works to naturally harmonize, calm the nervous system and promote relaxation. I found that most of my yoga students enjoyed the extra relaxation and emotional well-being that essential oils provided.
I also use essential oils in my personal life on a daily basis, as a midlife Mom in my 50’s. They help support my mood swings, hot flashes, anxiety, insomnia and overall wellness. Over ten years ago, I developed a passion for creating my own aromatherapy blends for myself and my clients to promote healing and help women bring balance to their body, mind and spirit.
What Is Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is the practice of using pure plant based essential oils to support well being. Essential oils are made by extracting the essences of plants (petals, leaves, roots, barks, stems and seeds) through the processes of steam distillation or cold pressing. Pure essential oils are plant essences in a bottle and are 50-70 times more potent than dried herbs.
The practice of aromatherapy uses inhalation or topical application of pure essential oils to promote wellness. Simply breathing in their aromatic essences has the ability to uplift your mood and promote a sense of well being.
History of Aromatherapy
The use of Essential Oils to promote physical health and well being have been around for thousands of years. There are historical manuscripts of their use in ancient Egypt, Rome, Greece, India, China and over 188 Biblical references. Plants were the first medicine of mankind.
Hippocrates, known as the ‘Father of Medicine’, was the first to practice a holistic approach to medicine that promoted the use of plant based practices that included aromatherapy baths and massages.
Essential oil practices were banished during the Middle Ages, when the Catholic Church regarded them as a luxury and a practice of witch craft. Later essentials were re-discovered in the early 1900’s by a French chemist by the name of Dr. Gattefosse. Dr. Gattefosse was the first to develop the term “aromatherapy” after burning his hand in his laboratory, he discovered the healing benefits of lavender essential oil.
Essential oils and the practice of aromatherapy is an ancient holistic practice that has proven benefits for today’s modern world.
Scientific Studies
Today many studies have confirmed the effectiveness of essential oils. Studies show that essential oils can penetrate cell membranes and cross the blood-brain barrier (click here for further reading on aromatic studies).This allows them to reach the emotional center of our brain where all of our emotions are stored. Essential oils help support the body and bring it back into balance without harmful side effects or chemical based products. They can have a powerful influence over how we think, feel and act.
In 2021 a systematic review was compiled to evaluate the effective use of aromatherapy to manage symptoms of menopause. The study concluded that “aromatherapy inhalation and aromatherapy massage had superior effects on reducing the total menopausal symptom.” (read citation and study here).
In 2013 a scientific study was done on the therapeutic benefits of lavender essential oil on the nervous system. Lavender was used to test the effectiveness on mood enhancement, sleep and increased cognitive function. The study concluded, “alleviation of anxiety and mood improvement were reported in thirty-six patients admitted to an intensive care unit, who received lavender oil aromatherapy.” ( read citation and full study here).
The same study also tested the use of lavender diffused in a workplace environment for a three month period. The conclusion was a 90% improvement of emotional states of the workers. ( read citation and full study here).
Aromatherapy And Menopause Symptoms
Aromatherapy can help balance hormones and ease many symptoms relate to menopause. Essential oils assist in bringing our emotions back into balance simply by smelling their aromatic scents. Our sense of smell is connected to the limbic system, the emotional seat of our brain. Smell is the fastest way to affect mood and the quickest way to get into the deepest parts of the mind-brain. When we breathe in essential oils we have the ability to release and change our mood. The quality of the essential oils you choose will determine the effectiveness. It is important to note that not all essential oils are equal in quality and purity. Using pure plant based extracts, free of synthetic chemicals, will determine the effectiveness.
How To Use Essential Oils For Aromatherapy
Aromatically
Our sense of smell is more complex than any of our other senses, including sight. There are smell receptors on every organ of the body! Essential oils can be experienced aromatically by inhaling their aroma directly from the bottle, diffusing them or applying a drop into your hands and taking a few deep breaths.
Topical Application
Applying the oils topically allows them to absorb into the skin to help support our bodies. For safe topical application be sure to dilute them with a carrier oil such as coconut oil. Essential oils can be added to skincare, hair care, beauty and self care routines.
Best Essential Oils to Help Manage Menopausal Symptoms:
Below is a list of some my favorite essential oils to help manage menopausal symptoms:
Lavender– May help promote relaxation and ease feelings of tension.
Clary Sage– Referred to as the best essential oil for hormonal support for women. May help with hormonal imbalances
Frankincense– referred to as the ‘King’ of essential oils. May help relieve feelings of stress and anxiety.
Orange– Known as sunshine in a bottle! Uplifting and energizing scent for mind and body.
Ylang Ylang– May help lifts mood and ease feelings of tension
Shop my handcrafted aromatherapy blends for women’s wellness
Holistic Alternative
Many women in midlife often suffer from perimenopause and menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, insomnia, anxiety, fatigue and emotional mood swings. They seek holistic alternatives to support their hormonal imbalances. Research confirms that the use of aromatherapy is an effective practice with therapeutic benefits for improving mood, easing anxiety and uplifting emotions. This makes them a trusted holistic alternative to help support women in midlife.
