Often, we hear from female friends or relatives around us complaining menstrual pain or cramps during their menses cycle, some conditions can be so extreme that skipping school or work during the cycle is nothing uncommon. Some may even experience nausea, vomiting, headache, or even diarrhoea. During the menstrual cycle, the muscles of the uterus are hard at work, contracting, to shed its lining. Discomforts are often felt around the abdomen, lower back, and upper thighs when menstruating.
Aromatherapy, utilising naturally extracted aromatic compounds from plants, can be a complementary therapy for managing pain in dysmenorrhea, due to the efficacy of aromatic compounds. Choose essential oils that are soothing, relaxing and eliminating spasm for uterus and those that provide analgesic effects for the pain around pelvis and lower back.
Pre-menstrual cycle
About 1 – 2 weeks before the menstrual cycle, start massaging the lower abdomen to prepare for the uterus contraction in the coming week. Women who have insufficient Qi & blood are prone to suffer anemia and Yang deficiency. The flow of the Qi and blood will not be smooth then and causes discomforts during the menstruating process. Choice of oils – a combination of lavender, clary sage, geranium, cypress, ginger, lemongrass, diluted with carrier oil.
During menstrual cycle
Continue the aromatherapy massage on the affected area when the period starts. Apply heat pack on the lower abdomen and lower back to further support blood circulation. A 2012 study focused on 147 women aged 18 to 30 years old who had regular menstrual cycles found that a heat pack at 40°C was as effective as ibuprofen. Another study done in 2004 showed that the participants who used topical heat therapy continuously for 3 to 6 hours, had effective eased the pain and cramps and had less fatigue and mood swings. Choice of oils – lavender, cinnamon, clove, ginger, marjoram, cypress, frankincense, diluted with carrier oil.
Lavender
Lavender essential oil is distilled from the lavender plant, Lavandula angustifolia. It is popularly used in aromatherapy for its versatility and multi-facet benefits. The most dominant monoterpenes content of lavender oil are the linalool and linalyl acetate. These give the most notable qualities of lavender oil, calming and relaxing. It is widely used for easing feelings of tension and anxiousness, reducing the appearance of skin imperfections, improving sleep, as well as pain management.
Lavender oil is often used as an aromatherapy massage oil to reduce pain and discomfort associated with menstrual cramps. In a 2012 study that investigated the effect of aromatherapy massage on dysmenorrhea, participants who had suffered from dysmenorrhea applied either lavender oil or a placebo paraffin product to determine their level of pain. The study showed that the students who used the lavender oil reported to have a greater decrease in the level of pain.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is one of the world’s oldest and valuable spices and has been used since ancient Egypt. It also has become a staple in complementary therapies and well known for its culinary uses. It continues to be widely used now for its many beneficial compounds.
Cinnamon essential oil is steam distilled from its highly fragrant bark and contains a high amount of cinnamaldehyde and eugenol. These natural chemicals have a variety of benefits as anti-inflammation, antibacterial, antifungal and relaxant agent. Cinnamon essential oil is spicy and warm; it gives a warm feeling when massage on the lower abdomen during period and helps soothing symptoms of menstrual cramping.
Clove
Clove is also a spice that has a long history of being used in cuisines of different continents and traditional medicine. It gets its name from the Latin word clavus, meaning “nail”, as the buds of clove resemble small tacks or nails.
Clove essential oil is extracted from steam distillation of the flower buds of the evergreen clove trees, which can live up to 100 years. Its primary chemical compound, Eugenol, has a concentration of 70 – 90%. This gives clove oil the strong pungent scent and makes it a powerful cleansing agent especially in dental hygiene.
Similar with cinnamon oil, the warm and soothing properties of clove oil effectively alleviate menstrual pain when a massage is administered at the lower abdomen.
Ginger
Ginger is an Asian spice that is most widely cultivated in the world. Its uses and benefits have been introduced around the world for over 5000 years now. It is well-loved by many people for its digestive benefits, warming and stimulating effects on the body, and easing occasional feelings of nausea.
Ginger essential oil is steam distilled from the ginger rhizome – its underground stem. Its primary chemical constituent of ginger essential oil is alpha zingiberene, gives the oil its distinct scent and taste. Ginger has hot, spicy and earthy tones and well known for its ability to warm and soothe the body. Ginger oil blends well with cinnamon oil; it warms the womb and soothes menstrual pain when massaged over the lower abdomen.
Marjoram
Marjoram is an ancient herb from the mint family, believed to be indigenous to the East Mediterranean. It is also known as a symbol of happiness to the Greeks and Romans. It has sweet pine and citrus flavours and has been used to spice up soups, stews, dressings and meat dishes, especially in the Mediterranean cuisine.
Marjoram essential oil is extracted from steam distilling the leaves of the marjoram plant. One of its main chemical components is Terpinen-4-ol, Marjoram essential oil is valued for its properties in soothing the nervous system, balancing hormones, and relieving pain. It is warm, herbaceous and woody, a popular choice of oil used to regulate menstrual cycle and reduce menstrual pain.
Endnote:
Cinnamon, clove and ginger essential oils are very strong, hot or spicy and warm. They must be diluted with a carrier oil before topical application and used sparingly.