Jo's Health Corner: Clary Sage

What's Your PMS Type?

I think most women have experienced PMS at some stage during their life. When I was younger I felt horrible days before my period. Fortunately, I haven't had any problems since I started taking care of my body holistically.

PMS is mostly connected to toxicity, nutritional imbalances, and hormonal imbalance. A poor diet and nutritional deficiencies are the primarily causes of PMS. When your diet is high in sugar, white flour, corn syrup, and caffeine the chances are higher that you suffer from PMS. I noticed a significant difference when I removed all the refined white products and processed foods in favor of a diet high in vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables, and good sources of protein. It is important to avoid synthetic estrogens in food and aim for organic dairy and meat. Good fats are important so experts suggest to increase your amount of omega oils, and especially Evening Primrose Oil which has proven helpful for many women.

According to Dr. Henry Bieler, in his book, Food Is Your Best Medicine, PMS means that the digestive tract and liver have become irritated from a poor diet, and as a result the toxins are entering the blood stream

PMS has been divided into different groups according to the symptoms and hormonal patterns. It is possible for a woman to suffer from all four types in one cycle, and only suffer from one in the next cycle. So, what type are you?

The different PMS types:

PMS-A (anxiety)

This group is associated with anxiety and symptoms include nervous tension, mood swings, anxiety, and irritability. This group biochemically shows a high estrogen to progesterone ratio. This could be related to congestion in the liver, and excess milk and animal fats. Steven Horne suggests that using liver cleansing herbs to clear congestion and progesterone cream may be helpful. Steven Horne also says magnesium, B6, and GLA, (Gamma-linolenic acid) may be helpful as well. GLA can be found in plant based oils such as borage seed oil, evening primrose oil and black currant seed oil.

PMS-C (craving)

This group shows an increased appetite and food cravings, especially for sugar and chocolate. Some of the symptoms are dizziness, fainting, fatigue, and heart palpitations. This is linked with hypoglycemia and low prostaglandins. Remedies for hypoglycemia may be helpful, and Horne recommends Licorice root, and Algae. Cravings for chocolate may be caused by magnesium deficiency and essential fatty acid deficiencies. He also says zinc and B6 are other supplements that may help.

PMS-D (depression)

Depression, forgetfulness, crying, confusion, and insomnia are some of the characteristics of this group. According to Steven Horne, this is related to high progesterone and low estrogen, and magnesium levels seem to be low in this group as well. Heavy metal toxicity from lead may be another factor. Steven Horne says natural phytoestrogens may be helpful. He also says antistress vitamin supplement in herbal base can supply essential B-vitamins. Horne says St. John's Wort is an herb that historically has been used for the nervous system.

PMS-H (hyper hydration)

This group is associated with fluid retention. Weight gain, breast tenderness, swelling of extremities, and abdominal bloating are some of the characteristics of this group. According to Steven Horne this is caused by elevated levels of the hormone aldosterone. He also says diuretics may help. Horne also says Vitamin E, GLA, magnesium and phytoestrogens may be helpful for this type of PMS as well.

Yeast infections may also contribute to PMS. Yeast infections are closely related to general toxicity. Progesterone affects yeast growth which means that women with yeast overgrowth often have more problems with yeast related symptoms during their later half of their cycle. You might want to consider Candida cleansing if you have problems with vaginal yeast infections, taken a lot of antibiotics or birth control pills. The endocrine glands work together, so thyroid problems may also contribute to PMS.

Aromatherapy
Essential oils and aromatherapy treatments may be beneficial in PMS. According to Battaglia, sweet fennel, geranium, and juniper berry used in a lymphatic drainage massage may reduce fluid retention.

Battaglia writes that clary sage, rose, geranium, sweet fennel influence the production of hormones and may be beneficial for PMS. He says Roman chamomile, rose, and bergamot may be used to reduce irritability and depression. Battaglia also says in order for the essential oils to be beneficial for PMS, the above essential oils need to be used daily in a massage blend with evening primerose oil as the base oil.

Source: Salvatore Battaglia (1995). The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. The Perfect Potion Pty Ltd

The best you can do is to avoid toxins and refined products. Eat a wholesome diet rich in vegetables, fruits and good proteins. Aim to buy as much organic food as possible, and don't forget to make sure you get sufficient amount of vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.

This post is linked up to:
WFMW., Tuesday with a Twist, Wildcrafting Wednesday

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Essential Oils & Menopause Part 2 - Hot Flashes

This is my second post in my series about menopause and essential oils. This time I will talk about hot flashes. It can be embarrassing when you suddenly break into sweat or turn red when you're around other people. Experiencing hot flashes is one of the unfortunate discomforts many women experience during menopause. The irregular function of the blood vessels when they constrict and dilate is what is causing the hot flashes and sweating. It increases the blood flow, slightly increases the heart rate and raises the temperature. It is a good idea to avoid stimulants such as coffee, tea and alcohol during this time.

Fortunately there are some essential oils that have historically been used for hot flashes that you can try to see if they relieve your symptoms. Many women have found relief using peppermint which has a refreshing and cooling effect and they think it is an easy and effective way.

Peppermint, clary sage, bergamot, fennel, and have traditionally been applied to the ankles at the ovary and uterus Vita Flex points.

Battaglia recommends the following formula for hot flashes:
Clary Sage 10 drops
Geranium 10 drops
Sage 5 drops
Lemon 5 drops
Evening primrose oil 50 ml

Valeri Worwood's formula is slightly different:
Clary sage 10 drops
Geranium 11 drops
Lemon 7 drops
Sage 2 drops
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

You can also make a spritzer and use as a cooling body spray:

2 oz. glass bottle

1 ¾ oz. distilled or filtered water

10-30 drops essential oils

Optional:

¼ Add witch hazel or vodka to emulsify the oils. Important for thick oils like jasmine and myrrh.

Remember, each person is different so you have to find what works for you. You also have to consider that it may take a while to see a positive change so you have to stick with it and not give up right a way. Please check out my previous post in this subject to learn more about menopause and see what other oils traditionally recommended for menopause.

Before you leave:

I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.

Check out my safety page to make sure you are aware of any contrindications before you use essential oils. Some oils are not suitable when suffering from certain conditions. Also, Read this Before You Start Using Essential oils. Some oils should not be applied prior to sun exposure so make sure you check this list before spending time in the sun.

Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:

Topical Application

Inhaling Essential Oils

Are You Diffusing the Oils Correctly?

How to Dilute Essential Oils

Vita Flex Technique

If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide.

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Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives.

Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.

Sources:
Connie and Alan Higley, (Twelfth Edition, revised 2010). Reference Guide for Essential Oils. Abundant Health

Gary Young, ND (2006). Essential Oils, Integrative Medical Guide. Essential Science Publishing

Valeri Ann Worwood, (1991). The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy. New World Library, San Rafael, CA

Salvatore Battaglia (1995). The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. The Perfect Potion Pty Ltd

This post is linked to:
Encourage One Another, WFMW, Raising Homemakers, Party Wave Wednesday, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Natural Living, The Homeacre Hop, Fight Back Friday, Fat Tuesday, Titus 2sdays, Titus 2 Tuesday, Domestically Divine, How to Tuesday

4:39 PM | Read more...

Essential Oils and Fertility

Increasing problem
Infertility is an increasing problem. There are a lot of factors involved that can be the cause of infertility. Poor nutrition, toxicity, and xenoestrogens are just a few things that can cause hormonal imbalance. Women pay thousands of dollars for medical treatments and many of them are not successful.

Essential oils may be helpful

Essential oils may be very useful for female concerns. In fact, aromatherapy is one of the most effective methods of dealing with problems of the reproductive system. Many essential oils have historically been used to help regulate hormone production. Some essential oil constituents have hormonal like behavior since their structure is similar to hormones. This means they interact with the receptors that identify hormones.

The powerful aroma
The aroma of an essential oil is very powerful. The fragrance can directly affect our emotions as well as other functions in the body. Many oils are very useful for reducing stress-related tension. Essential oils may also increase circulation and boost the immune system. The essential oil aroma is inhaled and transferred to the limbic system where the limbic lobe activates the hypothalamus.The hypothalamus acts as the hormonal control center and it releases chemical messengers. The inhalation of essential oils is said to stimulate the production of hormones from the hypothalamus, as well as combating stress and emotional trauma.

The following oils are said to have hormone like actions:

Female infertility
According to Valeri Ann Worwood, these oils help with infertility:
Clary sage, geranium, fennel, cypress, Roman chamomile, thyme, nutmeg, and coriander.

Worwood lists the following oils to help with Male infertility:
Thyme, cumin, sage, clary sage, basil, Cedarwood, vetiver and angelica.

Anise seed oil is also said to have estrogenic activity.

Uterine and ovarian tonics
Uterine tonics have a toning and strengthening effect on the whole system, on the tissue of the organs. Oils that are uterine tonics include jasmine, clary sage, myrrh, frankincense, rose, melissa, and geranium.

Let’s focus on some of the most popular oils used for fertility:

Geranium
Geranium has a balancing effect on the nervous system. It is considered an ideal oil to maintain homeostasis of the body. According to Battaglia, its stimulating effect on the adrenal cortex has a regulatory effect on the hormonal system. As mentioned above, it is also considered an uterine and ovarian tonic.

Clary sage
It balances the hormones. According to Gary Young, clary Sage contains natural phytoestrogen that mimics estrogen function. It is very calming and stress relieving. It is also an uterine and ovarian tonic.

Fennel
Fennel stimulates said to stimulate estrogen production. It has historically been useful in regulating the menstrual cycle.

Cypress
According to Battaglia, it said to stimulate estrogen production and has a regulating effect on the menstrual cycle. It strengthens an overburdened nervous system and restores calm. It’s an astringent and has traditionally been used to reduce abnormally heavy blood loss.

Jasmine
It is a great oil for emotional problems, and it is a known anti-depressant. Battaglia says it is also helpful in childbirth and will assist in labor. It’s hormonal activity is useful in menstrual problems. It may relieve spasms of the uterus.

Important

This information is for educational purposes only, and is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or suffer from a medical condition, consult with your health care practitioner prior to using essential oils. Be careful when using essential oils with hormonal activity and don’t hesitate to contact a professional. Make sure that you look over the safefy information before you start using essential oils.

Before you leave:

I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.

Check out my safety page to make sure you are aware of any contraindications before you use essential oils. Some oils are not suitable when suffering from certain conditions. Also, Read this Before You Start Using Essential oils. Some oils should not be applied prior to sun exposure so make sure you check this list before spending time in the sun.

Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:

Topical Application

Inhaling Essential Oils

Are You Diffusing the Oils Correctly?

How to Dilute Essential Oils

Vita Flex Technique

If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide.

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References

The Complete Book Of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy, Valerie Ann Worwood, New World Library, 1991

Essential Oils Integrative Medical Guide, Gary Young, ND, Essential Science Publishing, 2006

The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, Salvatore Battaglia, The Perfect Potion Pty Ltd, 1997

This post is linked to:
Teach Me Tuesday, Titus 2 Tuesdays, WFMW, Party Wave Wednesday, Sunday School Blog Carnival

10:40 AM | Read more...

Essential Oil Profile- Clary Sage, Salvia Sclarea

Clary Sage, Salvia Sclarea, is part of the Lamiaceae family. It is also referred to as Clary Wort, Common clary, Clear eye, and just Clary. It is a one meter high biennial herb with small purple or blue flowers and hairy leaves. The fresh flowering tops are steam distilled to make the essential oil. It grows mostly in Russia, Morocco, and France. It was once used to clear the eyes and the word clary originates from Latin and means clear. In England Salvia sclarea was substituted for hops to produce beer.

The chemical constituents of Salvia sclarea are:

Monoterpenes limonene, myrcene, ocimene, terpinolene, a-pinene, and b-pinene.
The monoterpenol linalool and nerol. They are antiseptic, antispasmodic, sedative, antibacterial, and anticonvulsant.
The esters linalyl acetate, geranyl acetate and neryl acetate.
The diterpernol sclareol.

Aroma
Salvea sclarea has a sweet, herbal, floral and green top note. It is a very clean, fresh, and pleasant aroma. The middle note is sweeter, more floral, herbal, and pleasant. Clary sage is a very euphoric aroma and it makes me feel good. It is a refreshing, energetic and at the same time very soothing and relaxing. The base note is softer, perfumery, floral, herbal, and fruity. The dry out note is almost musky and sweet.

The oil has no color and leaves no stain on the blotter. It also dries quickly when I rub it between my fingers.

This is a very euphoric scent as mentioned, Salvia sclarea is a favorite. It is so much joy to smell it and it makes me feel great. It's pleasant and soothing and really lightens the mood.

Historic uses
Clary sage has historically been a very useful oil for nervousness, depression, fear and paranoia. It is revitalizing, stimulating, and regenerative oil. Clary sage has an affinity with the thalamus.

Traditional uses
According to Battaglia, Salvia sclarea has traditionally been used in pre-menstrual syndrome and for painful cramps in the back due to its emmenagogue and antispasmodic actions. Battaglia also states that the analgesic and relaxing actions of clary sage are helpful in labor according to a clinical study. Clary sage is an excellent oil for many female conditions.

According to Battaglia, clary sage promotes estrogen secretion and he says it is also believed to act on the pituitary, and it as a harmonizing effect in menstrual distorders. He also says clary sage is useful during menopause.

According to Gary Young, Clary sage is also antidiabetic, may reduce high cholesterol, is estrogen like, and supports hormones. Young also states clary sage has also historically been used for menstrual problems, dandruff, depression, insect bites, insomnia, dry skin, throat infections, and circulatory problems.

According to Battaglia, clary sage is said to reduce the production of sebum and may therefore be beneficial for conditions such as greasy hair and dandruff.

Blending
It blends well with: Bergamot, cedarwood, German and Roman Chamomile, frankincense, geranium, jasmine, lavender, sweet marjoram, neroli, orange, rosewood, sandalwood, and ylang ylang.

Cautions
Use with caution after the first trimester. Clary sage is considered non toxic but it can be narcotic if taken internally in doses above RDD. Avoid in hypotension.

Possible skin sensitivity. If pregnant or under a doctor's care, consult your physician. Dilution recommended for both topical and internal use. Dilute before using on sensitive areas such as the face, neck, genital area, etc. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid using on infants and very small children.

Before you leave:

I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.

Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:

Topical Application

Inhaling Essential Oils

Are You Diffusing the Oils Correctly?

How to Dilute Essential Oils

Vita Flex Technique

If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Johanna is an aromatherapist and she is passionate about educating people about health, essential oils, real food, natural remedies, and nutrition so they make healthier choices in their lives.
Follow Johanna on twitter and facebook for more health tips and information.

Sources:

Salvatore Battaglia (2003) The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy Second Edition.The International Centre of Holistic Aromatherapy.

Gary Young, ND (2006). Essential Oils, Integrative Medical Guide. Essential Science Publishing

6:13 AM | Read more...

Essential Oils and Dysmenorrhea (Menstrual Cramps)

Painful periods, also called dysmenorrhea, can really put everything on hold in a woman's life. I remember several occasions when I spend almost a whole day in bed due to painful menstrual cramps.
Today, as long as I keep eating healthy, cleanse, exercise, and take my supplements I manage to go through my periods without pain.

The hormone balancer
The liver plays an important role as a major hormonal balancer. It's job is to destroy excess hormones so that the aren't an overload of hormones in the blood stream, which that could cause the pituitary not to send out more hormones. Lemon is a detoxifying oil and has traditionally been used for congested liver and sluggish pancreas. It counteracts stomach acidity and speeds up digestion also.

As I mentioned earlier, aromatherapy is considered one of the most effective methods of dealing with menstrual, pregnancy, and menopausal problems.

Essential oil properties
As suggested by Battaglia in his book, The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, I always include essential oils with antispasmodic, emmenagogue, and analgesic properties when I choose oils for treating menstrual cramps. Traditionally, essential oils such as aniseed, clary sage, juniper berry, jasmine absolute, Roman chamomile, sweet fennel, sweet marjoram, peppermint, rose absolut or otto, and rosemary have been used.

What kind of pain you have should be a guidance to narrow down the selection of oils you need. Battaglia suggests that Roman Chamomile and cypress are more useful for congestive pain. He says spasmodic pain has traditionally been relieved by oils such as clary sage, lavender, or peppermint.

How I apply the oils
I find relief from compresses and massage over the lower back,
I massage the lower back and abdomen.
Sometimes I lie down with a hot water bottle. I warming essential oils such as fennel, sweet marjoram, or rosemary in a massage blend before using the hot water bottle.
My favorite is that I apply the oils to the reproductive Vita Flex points on the feet.

Other information
The diet is very important, many foods can aggravate cramping, muscle tension, and overall toxification in the body. In general, a healthy diet based on fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains (grain-free is even better) will promote the body's ability to cleanse and detoxify.

Causes
The cause of dysmenorrhea can be several, such as muscle cramping, inflammation, or some other underlying cause usually associated with a disease of the female organs in the pelvic cavity. Some cramping during the period is normal due to the release of the hormone oxytocin, the same hormone that causes contraction during labor. Menstrual pain due to congestion and inflammation in the pelvic region may be relieved by herbs that decongest pelvic circulation and reduce inflammation. This pain often occurs before the period starts. Liver cleansing herbs may be helpful as well

Severe cramping is often a sign of magnesium deficiency.

My dysmenorrhea corrected itself when I started building health and I started to:

change the diet - started eating lots of organic fresh foods, whole foods, high quality protein, the processed junk was eliminated
increase my exercise
add essential fatty acids, coconut oil, and real butter from grass fed cows to my diet.
drink protein shakes (very cleansing and nutritious)
increase my water intake
eat foods from animals not fed hormones
supplement with super foods, minerals, Probiotics, and an herbal synergy blend high in calcium/magnesium
add therapeutic essential oils to my drinking water - especially lemon
cleanse a couple of times a year with herbs, I also cleanse with essential oils
use essential oils in baths and massages

Build health
The best you can do is to start building health with real and fresh foods, and make sure you get enough nutrients in your body. Avoid things that rob the body of nutrients such as refined and processed products. Balancing your hormones is very important, we are exposed to way too much synthetic estrogen in the environment today. My post Hormonal Balance the Natural Way shares more information about it.

More female health information
You might enjoy my posts What's Your PMS Type? and Essential Oils Especially for Women.

Oils not listed as therapeutic grade should not be ingested. Please see the Safety Information, Dilution Chart, and Ways to Use Essential Oils, for more information about essential oils.

As always, this information is for educational purposes only, and is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or suffer from a medical condition, consult with your health care practitioner prior to using essential oils.

Before you leave:

I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.

Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:

Topical Application

Inhaling Essential Oils

Are You Diffusing the Oils Correctly?

How to Dilute Essential Oils

Vita Flex Technique