What is the Best Essential Oil for Menstrual Cramps & Period Pain?
Periods and menstrual cramps can cause discomfort and, in some cases, severe pain. Many women who deal with uncomfortable periods seek relief with natural substances to avoid frequent painkillers and over-the-counter medications.
If you find yourself dealing with these unpleasant symptoms, you may wonder “what is the best essential oil for menstrual cramps?” Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place – in this article, we will discuss the ideal essential oil blend for menstrual cramps and how to apply it. You’ll learn additional tips to help improve your overall comfort during your “time of the month”, too.
First, let’s address the question on everyone’s minds…can you really use essential oils for menstrual cramps?
Can You Use Essential Oils for Menstrual Cramps?
When it comes to period pain and menstrual cramps, the usual recommendations you will find to ease your discomfort include heating pads and ibuprofen. But what happens when these short-term solutions don’t give you any relief?
Whether you’re dealing with period symptoms that are a bit stronger than normal, or you don’t want to rely on pain relievers as a long-term solution, the use of essential oils may be more beneficial. In this section, we will discuss how you can use essential oils for pms.
How it Works
Essential oils can be consumed in several ways. When used for aromatherapy, the concentrated oils travel through the air in water vapor. Once inhaled, the brain’s olfactory nerves are stimulated, affecting its emotional center, called the amygdala.
Essential oils can also be used externally. They are lipid soluble, meaning they easily penetrate the skin when applied topically to the affected area. Numerous scientific studies have proven their effectiveness for menstrual symptoms over the years.
A 2006 study focused on a group of college students who rated their menstrual cramps at a severity level of 6 or higher out of 10. The topical use of the essential oils clary sage, lavender, and rose was found to relieve pain from period cramps.
Ten years later, another study made a supporting argument for essential oils as a long-term solution to period pain. This trial focused on aromatherapy with lavender oil in particular. It was concluded that symptoms of dysmenorrhea improved significantly after two months of continuous use.
These are just two examples of scientific studies that have proven the benefits of essential oils for this specific purpose. In the next section, we will dive into the importance of choosing the best essential oil for menstrual cramps, with more on how you can relieve those painful symptoms later on.
The Importance of Choosing the Best Essential Oil for Period Cramps
While it’s true that essential oils are an excellent solution for menstrual cramps, you will need to choose the best essential oil for period cramps to actually get relief. Each type of oil has its own set of benefits and treatable conditions.
A certain essential oil blend may be extremely helpful for a particular set of ailments with little effect on period cramps and vice versa. When selecting an essential oil or blend for menstrual pain, try to look for oils that relieve pain or inflammation when ingested or applied topically.
Fortunately, you don’t have to play the guessing game. Below, we’ll help you find the best essential oil for menstrual cramps or the best essential oil blend for menstrual cramps.
What is the Best Essential Oil for Menstrual Cramps & Period Pain?
As stated previously, finding the right essential oils to treat menstrual cramps is paramount to finding relief. But what is the best essential oil for menstrual cramps? The answer to this question will depend on personal preference. There are quite a few options you can try – and you may have some of these in your arsenal already.
Revive offers the widest online selection of certified organic essential oils. Below, we will introduce the best essential oils to use for period cramps that you can find on our website. Read on to learn the benefits of each one. Then, consider trying them out yourself to discover which one works best for you.
Let’s start with one of our personal favorite essential oils: Lavender.
Lavender Essential Oil
There are many ways to use lavender essential oil. It is known to reduce pain associated with many conditions and is especially useful for women experiencing menstrual pain. Our organic lavender essential oil is perfect for aromatherapy and topical use.
Rose Essential Oil
Rose essential oil contains emmenagogues, which can regulate periods and help with painful cramps. Check out our rose geranium essential oil and convenient rose roll on for topical application. This oil is great by itself or in addition to an essential oil blend for menstrual cramps.
Clary Sage Essential Oil
Clary sage is an aromatherapy oil frequently used by women in labor to help with contractions. Similarly, it can help reduce the pain of period cramps. Our top-selling clary sage is the best essential oil for menstrual cramps.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint essential oil is not only one of the best essential oils for upset stomach, but it is also helpful for menstrual cramps. When used correctly, it can reduce inflammation and pain in the body.
When you’re dealing with period cramps, it’s helpful to have some organic peppermint essential oil on hand. Also, check out our peppermint roll on if you’re in search of an essential oil roller for menstrual cramps.
Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Ylang ylang essential oil is calming and uplifting, which makes it extremely helpful for period cramps. When painful menstrual symptoms are affecting your mood, a few drops of ylang ylang in your diffuser can help you relax and feel more positive.
Geranium Essential Oil
The hormone-balancing properties of geranium essential oil are beneficial to help combat menstrual cramps. It’s recommended for massage and aromatherapy to relieve some of those painful symptoms.
Clove Essential Oil
Clove essential oil is an energizing and stimulating substance. It has anti-inflammatory properties that can help with cramping and bloating. The use of clove oil can even shorten your period cycle overall.
How to Use the Best Essential Oil for Period Cramps
In addition to finding the best essential oil for period pain, it’s important to select the right application method to help manage your symptoms effectively. Below, we will discuss the most popular methods that will help you take advantage of everything essential oils have to offer.
Create Your Own Blend With Carrier Oil for Topical Application
Essential oils deliver a wide range of benefits for different conditions through aromatherapy and topical application. While inhaling oils from a diffuser may be helpful for a headache, oil applied directly to a bug bite or aching muscles will be most effective.
This is also the case for period cramps. When you apply the oil to your abdomen to relieve menstrual pain, it has the ability to treat the affected area directly. Applying essential oils topically is one of the most effective ways to experience their health benefits for this purpose.
What makes topical application the best for menstrual cramps? The science of this method is similar to a medicated skin patch. When the oil is applied directly to the skin, it slowly soaks in and penetrates the outer layer, entering the bloodstream. The absorption method is highly effective while in direct contact with the affected area, and this is only increased when the oils are massaged into the skin.
There are many essential oil blends you can use to lessen the symptoms of menstrual cramps. To do this, you will need the oil of your choice mixed with a carrier oil for essential oils.
Essential oils should never be applied directly from the bottle, as they can cause irritation and adverse reactions on their own. Before you move forward with topical use, you will need to mix your oil with a carrier oil. Popular carrier oils are coconut, jojoba, almond, and olive, but any moisturizing oil you have will work.
Using the right dilution percentage is key to creating an effective essential oil blend. A ratio of 1% to 10% is used in different cases, depending on skin sensitivity and what you are treating. The lowest dilution is best for children, pregnant women, and minor issues, while the highest percentage should only be used on a small area such as a pimple or blemish.
For period cramps, a 2-3% dilution is the best formula. To achieve this ratio, add 6 drops of your essential oil for every tablespoon of carrier oil.
Refer to our essential oil mixing guide for further guidance and information.
Use an Essential Oil Roller for Effortless Relief
While mixing your favorite essential oil with a carrier oil for topical application is one of the best application methods, it takes some effort, and you may not be up to it when you’re experiencing heavy menstrual cramps.
Oil rollers are an excellent solution for effortless relief. Simply roll the oil directly onto the affected area for a seamless topical application.
Try a Bath Bomb
Along with rollers, you can try a bath bomb made of essential oils. You will just need your oil of choice and a few additional ingredients for a relaxing, warm, and comforting bath in your time of need. Check out our resource can you put essential oils in a bath and this easy DIY bath bomb essential oils recipe.
Consider a Diffuser as Well
There are many aromatherapy diffuser benefits for managing period pain. You will need a quality diffuser for essential oils along with the best essential oil for menstrual cramps.
Consider a diffuser as an alternative method for the various topical applications we discussed previously. Diffusers won’t offer the targeted relief that a topical application does, but they will help to relieve your symptoms while providing pleasant scents.
Read our blog post about diffuser vs candle to learn more about the benefits of aromatherapy in your space. Also, check out our resource for relaxing diffuser blends to help you get started.
Other Tips for Managing Cramps & Period Pain
Along with using the right essential oils and applying them correctly, there are plenty of natural solutions for managing cramps and period pain. These include physical activity, relaxation, and getting proper nutrients from your diet or supplements.
The following tips may help you find some relief, along with aromatherapy and topical application of the best essential oil for period cramps.
Exercise
While this may be the last thing you want to do when dealing with severe period pain, physical activity releases endorphins that act as natural pain relievers for menstrual cramps.
Stress Relief
One of the best things you can do to combat period pain is to relax. The more you stress, the worse your cramps will be. Try to incorporate stress-relieving activities into your routine such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises.
Vitamins
Healthy eating can help alleviate some of the most uncomfortable period symptoms. Magnesium and Vitamin B, in particular, are beneficial for menstrual cramping. Take supplements or eat vitamin-rich foods like nuts, cauliflower, whole grains, and legumes.
Final Thoughts on the Best Essential Oil for Menstrual Cramps & Period Pain
So, what is the best essential oil for menstrual cramps? To summarize, the best essential oil for period cramps can be lavender, clary sage, peppermint, or rose. A combination of all four can be used to create an effective essential oil blend for menstrual cramps.
Along with finding the best essential oil for period cramps, it’s important to know exactly how to apply it to get the results you need.
When it comes to period pain relief, essential oils can be applied topically or inhaled with a diffuser. An essential oil roller for menstrual cramps is a lifesaver for external application. Simply roll the product on the abdomen to get much-needed relief, without having to mix anything yourself.
When you need to buy essential oils online, shop with Revive for the highest quality products and an excellent customer experience. We have all your needs covered, from essential oil kits to wholesale essential oils.
Visit our website to shop our wide selection of certified organic essential oils. Along with an essential oil roller for menstrual cramps, you will find sets, diffusers, and more to help you experience the various therapeutic benefits of essential oils in your life.
