Aromatherapy and Essential Oils for Women and Their Health

Although there are no specific essential oils for women only, some oils especially useful for women's concerns include:

• Rose is an overall women's tonic that you can use for all gynecological problems.
  
  
• Bergamot is useful to relieve water retention and depression and to help get rid of yeast.

• Clary sage is useful for depression (including postpartum), PMS, and menopause (some sources suggest avoiding long-term use of clary sage if you have fibrocystic breasts or uterine fibroids).

• Geranium promotes hormone balance and can help with PMS, menopause, and yeast.

• Marjoram is helpful for headaches, menstrual cramps, and constipation.

• Lavender is an overall balancing oil. Use it for skin care, shock, and stress.

• Roman or German chamomile may help with PMS, migraines, or frayed nerves.

• Tea tree is the best yeast remedy and also useful for herpes and cystitis.

• Neroli can help with insomnia, depression, anxiety, and stretch marks.

Source: Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art

This article includes a general female toner, plus essential oils for yeast infection, cystitis, and fibroids. Also see the following pages for more information about essential oils for women:

• Essential Oils for PMS
• Essential Oils for Menstrual Cramps
  
• Essential Oils for Menopause
• Aromatherapy During Pregnancy

Female Toner

Use this blend to regulate and balance your hormonal system. This toner may especially  help relieve menstrual tension and cramping and menopausal symptoms.

To a 5-ml dark-color dropper bottle, add the following essential oils:

• 30 drops geranium
  
• 20 drops palmarosa
• 20 drops lavender
  
• 20 drops cypress
• 10 drops clary sage
• 5 drops rose
  
• 5 drops frankincense
  

Close the bottle and shake to mix. Let sit at least 8 hours before using.

Ways to use this blend:

• Place 1 drop on a cotton ball or small strip and inhale for 10 to 15 seconds. Repeat as needed.
• Make a hot compress to use on menstrual cramps.
• Make a massage oil by adding 15 to 30 drops to 2 tablespoons of carrier oil. Apply a few drops on the sinus points around your nose and forehead and on the back of your neck.

Source: The Best Natural Cures Using Essential Oils

Essential Oils for Yeast Infection

Essential oils for women to use for a vaginal yeast infection or vaginal thrush include geranium, juniper, lavender, sandalwood, or tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia).

Massage: Add up to 8 drops essential oil to 4 teaspoons carrier oil. Gently massage your lower back and abdomen. 

Bath: Add 4 drops of one essential oil to a warm bath or use one of the following blends:

• 6 drops lavender
• 4 drops tea tree oil
• 1 teaspoon carrier oil
  

or

• 3 drops lavender
• 3 drops tea tree
• 3 drops myrrh
• 1 drop sandalwood
• 1 teaspoon carrier oil
  

Caution: See your doctor if you see no improvement in three days.

Also, consider a systemic yeast eradication program. Vaginal yeast is often a symptom of yeast overgrowth throughout the body.

Essential Oils for Cystitis

Cystitis is inflammation of the bladder. The most common type is a bacterial infection, usually called a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Essential oils: tea tree, sandalwood, lavender, bergamot, geranium, juniper

Massage: Add up to 8 drops essential oil to 4 teaspoons carrier oil. Gently massage your lower back and abdomen. 

Bath: Add 4 drops of essential oil to a bath or use one of the following blends:

• 3 drops sandalwood
• 3 drops tea tree oil
• 1 drop chamomile
• 1 teaspoon carrier oil
  

or 

• 1 cup Epsom salt
• 1 cup baking soda
• 5 drops sandalwood
• 5 drops tea tree

Caution: See your doctor if you see no improvement in three days, or if you have backache, fever, or blood in the urine.

Sources for yeast and cystitis info: Aromatherapy Massage and Massage & Aromatherapy: Simple Techniques to Use at Home.

Note: Interstitial cystitis is a different condition, requiring different treatment. See a healthcare provider

Essential Oils for Fibroids

You can use essential oils for fibroids in a compress placed on your lower abdomen, in a sitz bath, or for abdominal massage.

The first recommendations from the Essential Oils Desk Reference are cistus or lavender essential oil used in a warm compress on you lower abdomen daily. Other recommendations are frankincense, Idado tansy, oregano, pine, or helichrysum essential oil.

You can also try ginger, marjoram, rose, rosemary, or juniper essential oil. 

How do you choose an essential oil for fibroids? Understand the properties of the essential oil, understand your body and what's going on with it, and experiment using caution. 

Another option is a sitz bath for fibroids. You can add several drops of non-irritating essential oils to the sitz bath to stimulate pelvic circulation. Uterine Fibroids—How You Can Help Yourself  provides a Chinese Medicine view, which includes essential oils in your bath.

You can also add any of the recommended essential oils for women to a massage oil for abdominal massage. Here's a video of a simple abdominal massage:

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