Menopause And Peri-menopause, Essential Oils To Support You

by | Nov 24, 2021 | Aromapothecary

This is a blog I have been meaning to do for some time, but there was the small matter (NOT) of a pandemic to handle as well. Then a couple of months ago I sadly lost my Dad after a short illness. I thought this was definitely the right time for our remaining small family to gather our knowledge and experience together. My daughter Jo, a coach and fitness trainer, has done a fabulous blog on nutritional tips for menopause, and I wanted to add in my aromatherapy (and meditation) experience and knowledge, including my own journey with it so far. I hope that this can inform and support you in, and through menopause and peri-menopause.

Finding myself this past week arriving at 57 years (my mind maybe will catch up at some point, but it hasn’t yet! ha ha) and although I have not been period free for a year yet, so technically not in menopause yet, I have been experiencing some flushes and possible mood variations. However, it is difficult to tell with the pandemic, and two close family losses in the last 18 months.

Without it being a fear – I have been very aware approaching menopause since probably my late 40’s when a therapist told me that I was definitely peri-menopause, I knew changes were afoot. I have been incredibly lucky though – or was it awareness and some preparation and care? Everyone is different and unique with this, as in anything. That is how I treat my clients, and myself.

My Choices

I went pescetarian in my 40’s actually because of my beliefs around animals, but also very much in preparation for menopause. My initial plans were to only eat organic meat. However, I found that I just didn’t want any meat of any kind, and did not miss it. I eat very little fish now too. My body & mind is still happy with this choice.

A healthy balanced diet is extremely important to me and I do enjoy drinking Deeside Water (so not just for using in my Aloe Vera gel, Muscle Rub and Midge & Mozzie Balm, ha ha). I also keep my sugar intake modest. A glass of wine or two at the weekend used to be very fine, but I now find that alcohol and sugar can sometimes just cause hot flushes, so I don’t always now. I take a vitamin B complex vitamin from G & G Vitamins, who are a great company.

Exercise

I need fresh air, and at least a walk for exercise regularly before work (even in the bad weather). I do a fabulous weekly, outside (yes outside!) boot camp. Adding in swimming, yoga and the gym when I can too. For me personally exercise has always been a really important part of my life and I think it is incredibly helpful in this transition stage of my life.

I love, of course, also use essential oils and my blends a lot, as a fantastic support for me, alongside twice daily meditation (morning and night).

Now that is just MY chosen journey so far. Yours could be totally different and that is all absolutely fine and how it should be! I haven’t mentioned HRT, simply because I haven’t used it myself. So I cannot talk from personal experience, but I definitely work with many clients who are, or have. I have supported clients who experienced many different kinds of things in menopause and peri-menopause. Many various blends and treatments have been used to support my clients, working with each person individually.

Aromatherapy Blends to support you with menopause and peri-menopause

The main approach I am sharing in this part of the blog, is offering blends that focus more on hormonal and mood balance and alleviating anxiety or stress in menopause or peri-menopause .

 I am using low levels of essential oils, it is definitely a case of ‘less is more’ .  The first blend that I reach for is probably not a traditional blend for menopause, but right now its calling my name! With aromatherapy use your intuition, and go with what your body needs, it will talk if you let it, I believe. You must really be drawn to the blend for the best results.

The oils I would choose for use in menopause or peri-menopause generally are:

Clary sage, rose otto, cypress, frankincense,  bergamot, jasmine, rose geranium , ylang ylang and neroli,

1 drop rose Otto, 2 drops geranium, 3 drops bergamot

Right now for me its 2 drops neroli , 2 drops frankincense, 2 drops geranium. I instantly feel calmer, more balanced. You can use this blend in a diffuser or burner with water, or blend with a vegetable oil (around 15ml – approx. a dessert spoon) for use on the body.

Other blends that I would recommend or have used, the top two maybe more specific for hot flushes, but they also more widely helpful too.

1 drop Clary sage, 3 drops geranium, 1 drops lime, 1 drop ylang ylang

2 drops jasmine, 1 drop cypress, 2 drops bergamot

How you can use these essential oils

All these can be used in a burner or diffuser with water, or blended with the vegetable oil (around 15ml) for use on the body. What I often recommend to clients and use myself a lot too is to put the oils blended in vegetable oil on your pulse points and on the upper chest area (where easily inhaled). Do this practice both during the day, if possible, and at night time before sleep.

For ease of use the ready made Roller Ball Pulse Points are also great for this. Next week a new range is being launched that I will be recommending for use in menopause and peri-menopause.

Alternatively you can use the blends above (without further blending in vegetable oil) – on a tissue by your pillow overnight.

You can also add these blends above once blended in vegetable/carrier oil in your bath too (just be careful with slips getting in and out of the bath and wipe down your bath afterwards). I most definitely have, as I bath almost every evening before bed. Or you can simply use them as an after shower body moisturiser and gain the benefit of the blends with a calm and more balanced mind – and nourished skin too!

Beautiful mandala created by arniecreations
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Aromatherapy for sunburn

by | Jun 8, 2021 | Aromapothecary

With the changes in the weather from freezing cold to roasting hot – some of us have been caught out with the sun.

I was one of them! Although I carefully put on sunscreen, I spent too long in the sun one day and caught a little too much the sun on my back. So it has prompted me to give you some aromatherapy blends and treatments for sunburn.

Here are some suggested aromatherapy essential oil blends to soothe skin that has been in the sun, or to replenish moisture after sun exposure.  

It is, of course, preferable to always use sun cream with a good spf before going into the sun and limit your time in the sun. (I did the first well, but not the second!!).  These blends can be used as replenishment for skin, this is ideal.  Sometimes however we need to soothe the skin as well.  So here are some aromatherapy for sunburn suggestions for you:-

 Essential oils that can be helpful – tea tree, lavender, roman or german chamomile, carrot seed, frankincense, peppermint, rose geranium. 

Carrier oils to use: our own comfrey macerate oil and calendula macerate oil can be really helpful as a base oil. You can also use jojoba, rosehip, sesame and of course our own aloe vera gel which is incredibly soothing and cooling.   If no further sun exposure is to be had, ie overnight –  St Johns Wort macerate oil can be soothing.

One suggested blend would be 10ml calendula macerate, 5ml jojoba, 5ml rosehip &10ml aloe vera gel. Add 8 drops lavender, 2 drops roman chamomile, 2 drops tea tree, 1 drop german chamomile, 1 drop peppermint.

Another possible blend would be 10ml comfrey macerate and 20ml aloe vera gel.  Add 9 drops lavender, 3 drops carrot seed, 3 drops frankincense, 2 drops roman chamomile, 1 drop peppermint.

Another blend would be 10ml rosehip and 20ml aloe vera gel. Add 10 drops lavender, 5 drops geranium, 1 drop peppermint

You could also simply use the aloe vera gel (30ml) on its own with one of these blends. Or indeed if you only have lavender essential oil to hand. Use only lavender in the gel and mix together to give a simple, but effective blend. It doesn’t always need to have many ingredients to do the job well. But if you have the other ingredients to hand, the synergy of the oils is really helpful.

Lavender Essential Oil

To mix the blends use a spoon or a stirring stick to stir to blend the oils and gel completely before use on the skin.  You can of course experiment with the suggested oils. But keep to the quantities suggested for safe usage or use less is fine too.

I hope you enjoy trying these aromatherapy for sunburn blends. They can help soothe your skin after sun exposure, plus re – mositurise, calm and protect your skin.

If your skin is red and tight, then it may be preferable to use a couple of drops of pure lavender on the area first. Lavender essential oil is an emergency treatment for minor burns. Then use one of the blends later.  You may need someone to help you if the sunburn is on your back.

My recommendation on a good natural, ready to buy sunscreen, would be from Green People

For severely damaged or burnt skin always seek medical advice.  For complex medical conditions always contact a qualified aromatherapist or your medical professional.

Protection from Winter Colds and Chills with Aromatherapy

by | Nov 26, 2020 | Aromapothecary

In these more difficult times, we are all trying to look after ourselves better. Taking care of our health, and those dear to us, has probably become our number one focus this year. The subject of protection from winter colds and chills is one, that working as a clinical aromatherapist, I have been asked about by clients for many, many years. So it is a good time to revisit this topic in depth. In this article we will be looking at using organic essential oil by way of inhalation – in an oil burner or diffuser, or as a steam inhalation.

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Aromatherapy for Loss and Grief

by | Nov 18, 2020 | Aromapothecary

I wrote a blog post two years ago, about aromatherapy for loss and grief, but because of what I personally have been through along with most everyone else in the UK and indeed the world this year, it was time to rewrite it and revisit this important topic. Aromatherapy is an extremely gentle, but powerful tool when loss and grief is present.

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Coping with Anxiety – Essential Oils to help.

by | Mar 30, 2020 | Aromapothecary

This is an unprecedented time in our lives, where we are all coping with things that have not been faced before. I would like to offer you some reassurance that this is where essential oils can provide a welcome uplift and calming effect to help you cope with anxiety. My Monday aromatherapy practice with my small band of regular clients has of course been stopped just now, and I want to use the time to offer them and you all some helpful information to allow you to bring some calm and steadiness into your life.

Some of us will have essential oils already at home that you can use. either in an electric diffuser, oil burner, drops on a tissue placed nearby you – for inhalation. Below are some single oils and blends to use in this way

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Using Organic Aromatherapy Essential oils to Relax

by | Nov 28, 2019 | Aromapothecary

How to Use Relaxing Organic Aromatherapy Essential Oils

When things get busy at this time of year, it is a good time for taking just a little time out at the end of your day.  Using aromatherapy essential oils to relax in your bath or after your shower, can help you power through the next few weeks.  Use them every night if possible or 2 or three times a week, if every night is not possible.

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