Essential Oils and Menstrual Pain – Recipes and Research

Essential oils and menstrual pain could be a relieving combination!  Gentle floral essential oils like lavender, rose, and neroli have shown effectiveness with both topical massage and inhalation.  This blog gives a quick overview of four human studies, and easy at home recipes to try based off each study.

Topical Use of Essential Oils and Menstrual Pain

A gentle 5-10 minute massage in the abdominal area may help relieve pain associated with menstruation.  Below are two human studies with at home recipes.

Lavender, Clary Sage, & Marjoram Essential Oils and Menstrual Pain

In a randomized, double blind clinical trial of 48 outpatients with menstrual pain, an essential oil blend in a 3% dilution was prepared.  Essential oils included a 2:1:1 ration of lavender, clary sage, and marjoram.  Patients rubbed it on their lower abdomen from the time that their last menstrual cycle ended, to the time that their next menstrual cycle began.  As a result, pain and duration of their menstrual cycle was significantly reduced (1).  The related recipe below has been reduced to a 2% dilution for more appropriate daily use.

Menstrual Relief Massage Oil Recipe

• 8 single drops of lavender essential oil (Lavandula officinalis)
• 4 single drops of clary sage essential oil (Salvia sclarea)
• 4 single drops of marjoram essential oil (Origanum majorana)
• 2 ounce of a liquid carrier oil such as sweet almond, jojoba, coconut, or sesame

Instructions

• Add all the essential oils in a small amber glass bottle with a lid. The bottle should be at least 2 ounces.  Next, shake well.  Then pour in the carrier oil.  Shake well again.
• Apply about a teaspoon sized amount to the lower abdominal area via gentle massage.  Discontinue use if irritation occurs.  Wash hands after use to avoid eye contact.  Avoid during pregnancy and with certain estrogen dependent medical conditions.  Review possible contraindications before use and avoid prolonged use.

Rose, Lavender, Clove, & Cinnamon Essential Oils and Menstrual Pain

In another study of 48 nursing students, an aromatherapy abdominal massage (with rose, lavender, clove, and cinnamon) was effective in alleviating menstrual pain and bleeding heaviness. Participants received a ten minute abdominal massage once daily for one week, just prior to their menstrual cycle.  The blend used in the study was in a 5% sweet almond oil dilution.  It had 1.5% clove, 1.5% cinnamon, 1% rose, and 1% lavender (2).  The recipe below has been more heavily diluted to 2% dilution, with a lower ratio of the hot essential oils of clove and cinnamon.  Further, since rose essential oil is extremely expensive, the recipe is made in a rose hydrosol spray instead.

Menstrual Relief Abdominal Spray Recipe

• 8 single drops of lavender essential oil (Lavandula officinalis)
• 1 single drops of clove essential oil (Eugenia caryophyllus)
• 1 single drops of cinnamon essential oil (Cinnamonum zeylanicum)
• 1/2 tsp of liquid castile soap
• 2 ounces of rose hydrosol, also called rose water (Rosa damascene)

Instructions

• Blend the essential oils together with the liquid castile soap in a small amber spray bottle.  Make sure the bottle holds at least 2 ounces.  Then, pour in the rose water.  Next, shake well.
• Spray one or two squirts on the lower abdominal area.  Then, gently massage.  Discontinue use if irritation occurs.  Wash hands after use to avoid eye contact.  Avoid during pregnancy and review possible contraindications prior to use.  Avoid prolonged use.

Relief from Aroma – Essential Oils and Menstrual Pain

Inhalation of calming aromas can help reduce pain and anxiety.  Catching a whiff of a pleasing aroma sends a message to the brain via the olfactory receptors in our nose. Our brain’s limbic system then triggers a secretion of certain neurotransmitters, like endorphins.  These neurotransmitters aid in reducing the perception of pain by bonding to our body’s opioid receptors to inhibit the delivery of the pain signal (3).

Below are two more at home aromatherapy ideas based off the research.

Neroli (Citrus aurantium bloom)

Neroli comes from the orange tree’s blossom. The smell is floral and lightly sweet and citrussy.  Neroli aromatherapy reduced premenstrual syndrome symptoms in a study with 62 college students (4).  At home, you can add 5 drops of neroli essential oil in a cool mist diffuser.  Then, run it for about 30 minutes per day.  Or, try blending neroli with other calming essential oils such as clary sage, lavender, geranium, patchouli, or chamomile.  Some essential oils, such as clary sage, may be inappropriate during pregnancy.   Further, cool mist diffusers should be turned on in moderation, such as 30 minute intervals, with excessive aroma not being good for small children and pets.  Click here to read more about the different types of diffusers and using them safely:  Essential Oil Diffusers.

Read more about Neroli:  Neroli Monograph

Rose

Rose has been used for centuries as a folk remedy to reduce pain related to menstrual cycles.  In a recent human study of 100 women with dysmenorrhea, inhaling rose aroma reduced pain (5).  Try buying a quality rose hydrosol (rose water) to spray on the face.  Skin patch test a low visible area first, especially for those with sensitive skin.  Discontinue use if any irritation occurs.  Click here to try this simple Rose Water Astringent recipe.

Read more about rose: Rose Monograph

Essential Oils and Menstrual Pain – Research

1. Ou, M. C., Hsu, T. F., Lai, A. C., Lin, Y. T., & Lin, C. C. (2012). Pain relief assessment by aromatic essential oil massage on outpatients with primary dysmenorrhea: A randomized, double‐blind clinical trial. Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research, 38(5), 817-822.
2. Marzouk, T. M., El-Nemer, A. M., & Baraka, H. N. (2013). The effect of aromatherapy abdominal massage on alleviating menstrual pain in nursing students: a prospective randomized cross-over study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013.
3. Lis-Balchin, M. (2006). Aromatherapy science: a guide for healthcare professionals. Pharmaceutical press.
4. Heydari, N., Abootalebi, M., Jamalimoghadam, N., Kasraeian, M., Emamghoreishi, M., & Akbarzadeh, M. (2018). Investigation of the effect of aromatherapy with Citrus aurantium blossom essential oil on premenstrual syndrome in university students: A clinical trial study. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 32, 1-5.
5. Uysal, M., Doğru, H. Y., Sapmaz, E., Tas, U., Çakmak, B., Ozsoy, A. Z., … & Esen, M. (2016). Investigating the effect of rose essential oil in patients with primary dysmenorrhea. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 24, 45-49.

Got those moods a swinging, tears a slinging, nothing fits me, when it hits me, ranting, raving, misbehaving, PMS blues.

-Dolly Parton

Post by: Kathy Sadowski, MS in Aromatherapy, RA (ARC), Professional NAHA and AIA Member, LMT

Posted: 10/16/18

The listings of research represent a compilation of scientific articles found on the species, with a very brief overview description of each article/study.  Research found is catalogued by therapeutic action.  This categorized compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use. These statements are not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any diseases. The information at this page has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Consult a Doctor before using herbs and essential oils if you have medical conditions, are taking medications, or have questions.