Painful menstrual cramps - essential oils for dysmenorrhea

Painful menstrual cramps - essential oils for dysmenorrhea

Aromatherapy can be very helpful in relieving the pain and suffering of menstrual cramps. Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) can also include symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, bloating and even nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea.

Dysmenorrhea can be treated with a variety of medications, including pain relievers, sedatives, antispasmodics, prostaglandin inhibitors, and oral contraceptives. However, these medications can and do cause many unacceptable side effects. Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of essential oils from plants. When used properly, essential oils are a very safe therapy for menstrual cramps with no harmful side effects.

In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted in Korea and reported by Han, Hur, Buckle, Choi, and Lee in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 67 female students were eligible for the study if they reported a menstrual pain score of 6 or higher on a 10-point scale and had no systemic or reproductive diseases and were not taking oral contraceptives. The women were randomly assigned to an experimental group, a placebo group or a control group.

The experimental group received aromatherapy with essential oils fromlavender((Lavandula officinalis),Clary sage((Salvia sclarea,), androse((Pink centifolia,) daily starting 1 week before the start of menstruation and ending on the first day of menstruation. The aromatherapy consisted of 2 drops of lavender oil, 1 drop of clary sage oil and 1 drop of rose oil mixed with 5 ml of a sweet almond oil carrier.

The subjects in the experimental group received 15 minutes of aromatherapy in the form of an abdominal massage in a quiet room. The placebo group received a 15-minute abdominal massage using only almond oil at the same setting and for the same duration as the experimental group. The control group received no therapy. All subjects continued their usual routine and reported the intensity of menstrual cramps and the severity of dysmenorrhea on the first and second days of menstruation. None of the subjects reported any adverse side effects during the study.

The intensity of menstrual symptoms on the first and second days of menstruation wassignificantly lowerby just over 50% in the aromatherapy group than in the placebo group or the control group.

The authors concluded that aromatherapy with topically applied lavender, clary sage, and rose oil was effective in reducing the severity of menstrual cramps and dysmenorrhea. They recommend offering aromatherapy as a safe, cost-effective and viable part of care for women with dysmenorrhea.

There are other essential oils that are also known to be excellent for relieving the pain associated with menstrual cramps, but what a beautiful combination chosen for this research study. If you choose this or any other combination, make sure the oils you choose are only therapeutic grade essential oils of the highest quality.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The advice and care of a doctor is recommended for health reasons. Aromatherapy is intended as a complementary care to healthcare providers, not an alternative to care.