I've talked a little bit about essential oils in the past on my blog, and today I'm adding another post to the collection. One that caters to a very specific need and a very specific... gender (sorry dudes). Today we're talking about cramps, AND, more importantly, how to make them not hurt so darn much with the help of EOs.
If you're anything like me, one or two days out of every month, your lady parts launch a full-scale attack on your body. And it hurts. A lot. For a while, my routine was the same: get ahead of the cramps by taking three Advil or Midol, then take more Advil a few hours later... and a couple more after that, and so on and so forth. Aside from sporadic heating pad usage, and some light stretching (cause that helps?), this was all I had.
Until a few months ago.
A few months ago, I had had it up to here with my cramps. And so naturally, I turned to Pinterest for (more) help, specifically in the essential oils arena. And as usual, Pinterest did not disappoint. A few test home-remedies later, I present you with my new favorite solution for relieving even your worst day's menstrual cramps: peppermint essential oil.
Peppermint essential oil functions as both a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory (think about the effect of using Icy-Hot for sore muscles), and it also helps with nausea and indigestion. In short, it's a PMS wonder-oil.
To combat cramps, rub a few drops of peppermint oil directly onto the lower abdomen. You can also apply to the temples and neck to relieve head pressure. I like a to wait a few minutes for the oil to settle in and then lay a heating pad over my stomach. That's the stuff,
It is worth noting that peppermint is a fairly strong essential oil, and it is commonly recommended that you dilute the oil with a carrier oil (like coconut oil), especially if you have sensitive skin, or want to apply to the face or neck. I for one have never had issues with reactions to pure topical application on my abdomen, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention this important stipulation.
For more information on peppermint essential oil and its many uses check out these resources:
In addition, lavender essential oil can prove to be another great cramps/PMS soother (it's really great for everything). Check out more tips on how to use lavender essential oil here.
I hope you are encouraged to try essential oils for your next bout of cramps, and that you find some relief in the use of them! If you have any other EO or cramp-alleviation tips, please share in the comments!Labels: essential-oils
