What Is PCOS?
PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. It is a hormone-related disease found in the women of reproductive age. As said it is a hormonal problem where androgens are overproduced. The excessive androgen then interferes with the development of eggs and their release from the female ovaries.
Researchers are still studying its origin, cause, symptoms, therapy, medicine.
PCOS is called the ‘Silent Disorder’ as most of the time it remains unknown. Slowly this disorder is gaining familiarity in some societies. But in poorer countries, people don’t even know about this disease of women and suffer throughout their life.
This disease is very common though. 6% to 21% of women of childbearing age can be affected. Among them, 72% of women have shown infertility compared to 16% of women who do not have PCOS. The rate was 15 times higher between the two categories independent of BMI. But only now the awareness has spread. (1)
Anecdotal data and clinical studies confirm the positive therapeutic effects of essential oils for various conditions. Home remedies like essential oils for PCOS may provide relief from some of the symptoms of the condition.
18 Essential Oils for PCOS Patients
1. Clary Sage Oil
It is believed to be helpful in balancing the estrogen level. Clary sage oil can also help with PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) and menstrual cramping. Some may even witness improvement in thyroid hormone. It can affect cortisol level too.
Clary also seems to have calming properties. So it is very helpful with stress management and boosts mood. It helps to tackle depression which is one of the worst symptoms of PCOS. (7)
2. Sandalwood Oil
Sandalwood oil is another favorite oil of many. Especially the smell is phenomenal. It is very effective in balancing testosterone levels in both the sexes. The oil is well known as a natural aphrodisiac.
Its smell is capable of increasing libido and balancing hormones. A well-known tonic for women reproductive system. (8)
3. Thyme Oil
In PCOS the progesterone level goes down, and thyme oil is suggested to be helpful in balancing and improving the progesterone level.
The lower level of this hormone can lead to insomnia, mood swings, weight gain and hot flashes in women. Thyme oil takes care of it all. For extra potency add oregano oil with it. (9)
4. Lavender Oil
Lavender is most probably the most common and popular essential oil. It can be found in many households, and one should have a small batch of this wonder oil. It has multiple numbers of benefits.
The best one is its effect on a person’s mood. Lavender oil is a great mood lifter and makes you relieved instantly. Lavender can help alleviate anxiety, fight depression. Relief pain and most importantly improve sleep thus letting you rest properly.
Lavender also balances the endocrine system and regulates the scanty period. Pair up with geranium and clary sage oil for supporting the well-being of your ovaries. (10)
5. Cinnamon Oil
The spicy scent of cinnamon has made it the best fragrance note for a male. But the best thing one will find about it is the ability to help to lose weight.
It can also regulate the insulin level in the body. By its regulating effect blood sugar of body is also maintained. Thus it keeps diabetes and obesity away. (10)
6. Cypress Oil
Cypress oil also has a woody aroma. It is known to support healthy blood circulation inside the body and because of its supportive role in women’s fertility. Cypress oil can treat cramps and ease tensed muscles.
It lowers cholesterol in blood forfeiting heart disease risks. It is also capable of relieving anxiety, restlessness, and symptoms of insomnia. (11)
7. Frankincense Oil
Frankincense essential oil is called the King Of Essential Oils. And it should be. It has more than one benefit that one can ask for. As for the patients with PCOS, it provides them with supreme relaxation from stress, lifts up the mood, and helps to start off the day bright.
Frankincense oil also alleviates cysts and fibroids. It encourages healthy blood circulation and helps rebalance the endocrine system. (10, 12)
8. Geranium Oil
Geranium can be an antidepressant to relieve anxiety. It is a potent anti-inflammatory and supports healthy fertility. It is also a stimulator of the adrenal cortex which regulates and balances hormones.
It can detoxify the lymphatic system and also act as a uterine and ovarian tonic preventing cyst formation on ovaries. Mix lavender and geranium in your bath for extra care. (10, 13)
9. Ginger Oil
Ginger oil strengthens heart health. It is a natural aphrodisiac and helps to relieve anxiety and lift up the mood. It alleviates muscles spasms, menstrual pain, headaches, backaches, and soreness.
It improves blood circulation and increases libido. It is anti-inflammatory and stimulates pelvic circulation. (10, 14)
10. Myrrh Oil
Myrrh clears obstruction in the uterus and regulates scanty period. But avoid it during pregnancy as it will stimulate your ovary and may cause miscarriage.
It should be avoided while breastfeeding too. Myrrh is also capable of lowering the blood sugar level. (10, 15)
11. Myrtle Oil
Myrtle can regulate female reproductive hormones and subside the imbalanced hormones affect. It is a natural remedy to regulate the menstrual cycle.
It has stimulant properties as well. It also has a positive attitude toward emotional health. (10, 16)
12. Rose Otto Oil
Before beginning know that, rose oil and rose otto oil is not the same thing. It is the rose otto oil that has the full aromatic properties of a rose. This is known as the regal oil, and it is also said that a woman should always carry rose oil on her.
It is widely used in emotional healing and boasting. Rose oil is one of those oils whose aroma can lift up anyone’s mood and boost their spirit. From skin health to soothing it can be used for anything.
It is anti-inflammatory and a natural aphrodisiac. It balances the menstrual cycle and removes the irregularity. It supports healthy fertility. (10, 17)
13. Sweet Fennel Oil
Sweet fennel essential oil has 70-80% of an ether called trans-Anethole which has diuretic, mucolytic and expectorant properties and the ability to assist digestive and menstrual concerns like cramps. It also fights off menopausal symptoms.
The oil is anti-inflammatory. It can balance hormonal fluctuations and can be used to improve clarity and focus by stimulating mentally. It is also said that fennel oil can help in weight loss. Thus it treats the symptoms of PCOS. (10, 18)
14. Tarragon Oil
Tarragon essential oil is a stimulant. It boosts blood circulation. It works as an emenagogue that eases menstruation clears obstructions during menses and regulates periods. (10, 19)
15. Ylang Ylang Oil
Ylang ylang can elevate someone’s mood and boost the spirit. It increases blood flow and heals cardiac problems. The oil treats high blood pressure.
It is an aphrodisiac too that increases sexual desires and balance reproductive hormones. (10, 20, 21)
16. German Chamomile Oil
It is a potent anti-inflammatory that supports healthy fertility. It gives relief from muscle pain like period cramping. Also, helps to relax migraine pain, anxiety, mood swings, hypertension, depression, etc. (10, 22, 23)
17. Jasmine Oil
Jasmine helps to deal with stress, reduces anxiety, fights depression, increases alertness, fights low energy or chronic fatigue syndrome and helps in sleep too. It works as a natural remedy for PMS and cramps and reduces menopausal symptoms.
Jasmine is an aphrodisiac. It increases arousal, fixes the low level of libido, diminishes low self-esteem and instantly sets up the mood. (10, 25)
The fantastic thing about these oils is that they all are great for skin care and can be used in various forms to treat skin problems like oily skin, acne, pimples, blackhead, hair health, etc.
As you can see most of the oil also has a fantastic ability to affect one’s mind and keep it happy. Always remember one thing that a happy mind can be a healthy mind and keep a healthy body.
18. Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil boosts your immune system. It reduces pain and inflammation, alleviates headaches and boosts mental clarity. It can regulate hormones level. (13, 24)
How to Use Essential Oils for PCOS?
The essential oil can be used in 3 ways.
Topically, by applying on skin, inhaling through aromatherapy and ingesting by adding it to food.
Massaging appropriately can help us alleviate many health problems. It eases muscles and circulates blood properly. Adding essential oil in any carrier oil and massaging the body with that is indeed beneficial and very relaxing.
The process is like applying natural progesterone cream. The essential oil gets absorbed in via the pores in the skin. A couple of drops do the trick. 1Tbsp of carrier oil mixed with 1-2 drops of essential oil. Be careful as some oils are irritating to a few.
Our sense of smell is fantastic as well and has power beyond affecting our emotions and memories. It hits us physiologically. As the sense of smell is linked with the emotional center of the brain, inhaling essential oil can impact on breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, stress, and hormone balance. Aromatherapy is gaining fame worldwide. One must try it to know the difference.
Ingesting essential oils need extra care and is not recommended. Not all can use it in cooking, and none should experiment with it casually either. Once somebody has gained training in aromatherapy and knew the skill could only cook with it. (7)
Symptoms & Causes of PCOS in Women
Many studies have been conducted, but experts still failed to give a proper answer why some women get PCOS.
- PCOS is more likely to be genetic.
- Factors affecting insulin production can be a valid reason for PCOS. (2)
- Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyle, high birth weight, premature puberty all can be a reason as well. (3)
The symptoms of PCOS are as followed:
- Irregular period (Oligomenorrhea) or missing periods (amenorrhea)
- Oily skin
- Acne increase
- Excessive weight gain
- Trouble in losing the weight
- Unnatural hair in unwanted areas, for example, face or chin, breasts, stomach, or thumbs and toes.
- But hair loss on the head
- Sleeping disorder
- Continuous tiredness
- Abrupt and very bad headaches
- Bad period cramps
- Partial or total infertility
- Low sex drive
- High testosterone levels
- Insulin resistance
As said before all of these symptoms are very common and most suffer one or two of them at a point in life. So, it is really hard to differentiate whether it is PCOS or not. (2, 6)
Read More: 5 Best Essential Oils for Lipomas Tumors & How to Use Them
Look of Hormones in PCOS Patients
PCOS is a hormone-related disorder. And hormones are what regulate our body. In PCOS patients different types of hormones are disturbed. Their secretion and amount become irregular. It leads to various dysfunction in women’s body. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
Androgens: Androgen is a group of hormones. It is often called ‘male hormones’ as it regulates the development and maintenance of the male reproductive system. (4)
The female body also has a notable amount of androgens, but the amount is very low than that of a man. It is about 1/12 of a man. But those who have PCOS tend to have a higher level of these hormones.
Symptoms like hair loss, unwanted facial hair, and infertility in PCOS are caused because of the hormonal imbalance. (2)
Insulin: This is the hormone related to diabetes as you know. It regulates blood sugar in your body. When someone has PCOS their body might not behave the same it should work with insulin. As a result, there is a chance of getting diabetes and also have trouble losing weight.
Progesterone: Whereas, Androgens are male hormones progesterone is the ‘female hormone,’ produced in the ovary following ovulation each month. It is very important for the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
So in PCOS patients, this hormone is very low then the required amount and that causes irregular and painful period. Also, your uterus does not get ready for pregnancy. Headaches or migraines, mood swing, anxiety, depression are also symptoms of low progesterone. (5)
Future Risk of PCOS
PCOS along is trouble to deal with, but it does not stop there. PCOS can bring other misfortunes as well if not treated and maintained at the right time.
- It increases the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.
- They may have a high blood sugar count in the future.
- It can raise blood pressure developing High BP in its patients.
- There can be other problems related to the heart.
- One can have a cyst in ovaries where others may not. It varies.
- It heavily disrupts one’s mental health bringing mood disorders.
- Patients have a risk of growing endometrial cancer
- This can store excessive fats in the liver resulting fatty liver.
- Patients may often suffer from sleep apnea.
- There is a chance of developing metabolic syndrome.
- It is a leading cause of infertility.
- Skin disorder name Acanthosis nigricans may occur. (1, 2, 3)
Thankfully not a lot but there are medicine, drugs, and treatments including home remedies to keep it under control. Using essential oil for PCOS can be helpful too.
When to Visit a Doctor
For most of the symptoms, people do not like to visit a doctor. But when you have several of these symptoms together, and they are not going away with general remedies, it is the time to go and have a check before things get worsened.
The truth is, the sooner one can get treatment the sooner that person can have relief from its associated pain. Though PCOS will not get cured, it can be kept under control.
Community Help
Fighting PCOS alone may be tough. The feeling of having someone who has the same pain and you can share with them is very blissful. Finding information on PCOS can also be very tough. The disorder and its symptoms vary from person to person so it is also hard to track and know all the remedies.
That is why all over the world many communities are build up to help women get the right information and provide mental support. This online organization named PCOS Awareness Association and Soul Cysters are one of them. There can be one in your neighborhood or the neighboring neighborhood if you search for it. Go and join them. That will be the best remedy.
But if you do not have one also then as you have found out that the percentage of having PCOS at a certain age is quite high, you may also found ladies around you. Gather them and make up a new group. Be at each other’s back at the time of need. Spread love, girl love. This treatment is highly recommended.
EndNote
Remember always essential oils are not the substitute or replacement of generic treatment. They are only supportive help. The benefits of essential oils are totally based on some close observation of people who use it regularly.
It has no medical value as of yet. Also, it varies from person to person. So when you pick an oil, you have to test it first to see if it matches your conditions.
Read Next: 10 Best Home Remedies for Endometriosis Backed by Science!
