The Power of Aromatherapy on Menopause
Aromatherapy is
typically associated with complementary and alternative medicine.It uses essential oils and other scented compounds from plants for the
purpose of affecting a person's mood or health.
Aromatherapy can be used to heal symptoms of physical, psychological and
emotional discomfort when women move into the perimenopause and menopause years.This phase of life can represent more than half of their adult life if
she lives to be 80 years old.So,
we need all the menopause
relief we can get!
Menopause is typically defined as the time when a woman's
menstrual cycle stops for at least 12 months.But what about the years leading up to that final stopping point?There are many reported symptoms of what physicians now refer to as
perimenopause that can begin as early as 30 for some women, but typically starts
after 45.
Symptoms seem to vary in degree based on numerous other factors in a woman's
life including diet, sleep and exercise habits, emotional well-being,
relationships as well as other psychological factors.Things such as irritability, anxiety, memory lapses, or mood swings,
night sweats and hot flashes are commonly reported - all due to the hormonal
shifts happening because of our biological clocks changing.
About 75% of all women experience hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, an
increase in cholesterol levels, decreased libido which may last for years; as
well as long-term effects that can include vaginal dryness and urinary problems.
Fortunately, these unpleasant symptoms can be prevented, reduced and relieved
by:/p>
•
Finding the right diet, eliminating sugar and caffeine
•
Getting the right kind of sleep
•
Performing stress relief practices such as meditation
•
Drinking plenty of water (at least 64 oz per day)
•
Taking high-grade
nutritional supplements
•
Possibly supplementing bioidentical hormones
•
Regular exercise, and
Adopting some complementary therapies such as
yoga, tai chi, spa therapy or holistic aromatherapy
This
is a time in life when achieving balance is critical to a woman's health.All of these things will also help to reduce the risk of age-related
diseases such as cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, osteoporosis and
diabetes.
For
a list of detailed menopause symptoms please visit
http://www.everythingmenopause.com/menopausesymptoms.php
To
read more about How to Conquer Menopause, go to
www.howtoconquermeonpause.com
Aromatherapy has been practiced for over 2,000 years and uses distilled essences
obtained for the leaf, stem, flower, fruit peel, bark and/or root of a tree.
When
the
essential oils release their aromatic molecules into the air they not
only carry a pleasant fragrance to the olfactory bulb in your nose, they also
cause a response from the limbic system of the brain.This area of our brain works in conjunction with the pituitary gland and
the hypothalamus region to regulate a person's hormonal activity.
These scents can trigger the production of hormones that govern your appetite,
body temperature, insulin production, overall metabolism, as well as stress
levels and sex drive.
Essential oils can positively affect all of these functions through your sense
of smell which is your most complex and sensitive sense.For example, your sense of smell is over 10,000 times more sensitive than
taste and researchers have shown that aroma can cause a brain reaction.
Stress, anxiety and psychosomatic-induced problems are particularly helped by
aromatherapy.Other symptoms such
as muscular and rheumatic pains, digestive disorders, PMS and postnatal
depression are also highly improved by these aromatic scents.
Essential oils are very concentrated and their properties are potent.They contain molecules small enough to enter your skin.These oils need to be diluted with a carrier oil (except lavender and tea
tree) before applying directly on the skin.You can also use a vaporizer, spray; put them in a bath, cold or hot
compress, or use in a perfume. Essential oils are also fantastic in a massage.
Some
recommended essential oils for menopausal women:
|
ESSENTIAL OIL
|
RESULTS
|
|
Bergamot
|
Uplifts mood and reduces anxiety and depression
|
|
Chamomile
|
Calming effect, eases tension, anxiety and headaches
|
|
Geranium
|
Balances hormones and reduces stress
|
|
Juniper
|
Regulates period and relieves water retention
|
|
Rose
|
Relieves pre-menopause and post-menopause symptoms
|
|
Ylang Ylang
|
Aphrodisiac that relaxes the nervous system
|
|
Sandalwood
|
Promotes vaginal secretions and stimulates sex hormones
|
|
Lavender
|
Fantastic sedative properties that aid in sleep
|
|
Jasmine
|
Euphoric and eases tension and anxiety
|
|
Frankincense
|
Helps psychosomatic problems and anxiety
|
|
Clary Sage
|
Eases hot flashes and night sweats as well as PMS
|
The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.
|
