Five top essential oils to soothe PMS

Written by Aisling Maher

Many of us will have to deal with PMS in some shape or form from the time we get our first period until we reach menopause. Considering menstruation is a monthly occurrence this is a significant portion of time given over to PMS! 

But, all is not lost. PMS doesn't have to mean that your life is put on hold for a week or longer every month. In this blog post, I will show you how aromatherapy can support you with PMS. I will share 

• Five of my favourite essential oils for soothing PMS and what you can use them for.

• How to use essential oils for PMS

• 2 x recipes for you to try

• Safety considerations when using essential oils

Before I dive into the essential oils I want to make sure you know that you don't need all of these essential oils. Choose one that you are most drawn to or maybe even already have. As you get more comfortable using them you can add more oils to your inventory! Less is more, especially if you are starting out.

1.Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)

Geranium essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves of the geranium plant. It has a strong floral aroma. It is often associated with women and is regularly used in aromatherapy blends for mood swings, calming agitation, and painful periods. Geranium is also widely used in the skincare industry.

2. Rose (Rosa x damascena)

Rose is extracted from the petals of the flower. Rose is a very precious oil as it takes a large volume of flowers to generate a small volume of essential oil. The aroma of Rose is very divisive. You either love it or you hate it. It certainly splits opinion! But, whatever your thoughts, it is the quintessential feminine oil. Rose symbolises love and is synonymous with the heart. It is used in aromatherapy blends for emotions such as anger and grief as well as self-confidence, making it a perfect choice for PMS support.

3. Cardomon (Elettaria cardamomum)

When you smell cardamom essential oil, it's like being wrapped up tight in a warm, soft blanket. Its warm, spicy aroma is incredibly comforting. Cardamom essential oil is steam distilled from the cardamom seed. It is used in aromatherapy blends for brain fog and poor memory. It also is associated with the digestive system and so is used in blends for digestive complaints such as nausea. Because cardamom is a warming, spicy oil it may be beneficial in aromatherapy blends for period pains. It is such a versatile oil when working with PMS.

4. Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi)

Grapefruit essential oil is extracted from the rind of the fruit by cold pressing. I like to think of grapefruit as sunshine in a bottle. One quick sniff and it will instantly make you smile. It's uplifting and motivating. If fatigue, lethargy, and procrastination are part of PMS for you then you need grapefruit in your kit. 

5. Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)

Frankincense essential oil is steam distilled from frankincense resin. It has a woody, lemony aroma.  It is deeply meditative, calming, and grounding and really encourages deep breathing. This is exactly what makes it ideal for PMS support. I would recommend adding Frankincense into ALL of your aromatherapy blends for PMS.

How to use essential oils for PMS

The simplest way to use essential oils is in a diffuser. Simply add up to 12 drops of essential oil into your diffuser and turn it on for 15 minutes. You can use one essential oil or a number of essential oils, just don't exceed 12 drops. Why not try the recipes below? 

If you don't have a diffuser, put some salt into a glass jar with a lid (e.g. a yogurt jar or a jam jar) and add the essential oils to the salt. Leave the lid off for 15-30 minutes. You can reuse this by adding more essential oils as needed.

How and when you should use these will depend on your cycle, everybody's needs and cycles are very different. You will need to experiment to find out what is right for you. You could start by using the oils for the week before your period and the week after as a starting point, but if you’re like me you will use them everyday!

Try these diffuser recipes

Recipe 1

5 drops Grapefruit

3 drops Geranium

4 drops Frankincense 

Recipe 2

4 drops Grapefruit

4 drops Cardamom

3 drops Rose

1 drop Frankincense

Safety considerations

• Essential oils can cause allergic reactions and skin irritation. I would recommend not applying to the skin in any form unless you are working with an aromatherapist.

• Likewise, I would recommend never ingesting essential oils.

• If you have small children or pets then start with 5 drops in your diffuser and increase if needed. I would also recommend leaving the door of the room you are diffusing in open so that your dog or cat can leave if they need to. 

• Most importantly, essential oils are a FANTASTIC support tool for PMS. However, they are not a replacement for medical care. If you have any concerns always speak to your doctor or healthcare provider.

Aromatherapy is a wonderful tool for providing support to women when dealing with PMS. But, it is often overlooked. I hope that I have given you some ideas as to how to implement this marvelous complementary therapy into your routine when dealing with PMS. 

Aisling Maher helps women with inflammatory arthritis cope with their symptoms so that they feel in control, more confident, and like themselves again. She does this through online complementary therapy programs, helping her clients develop a holistic toolkit to dip into when they need it. She is dedicated to normalising complementary therapies as support tools for women with inflammatory arthritis. Here is her website.