Essential Oils for PCOS
Women suffering from PCOS have to deal with all kinds of unpleasant symptoms, and left untreated it can cause a lot of problems.
Even with treatment, it is a difficult condition to live with. Medications exist that can treat PCOS, but you may find that they are ineffective, that they don't relieve all of your symptoms, or you may dislike using so much medication.
It is possible that certain essential oils can bring some relief from PCOS symptoms. Whether used in conjunction with prescription medications or on their own, essential oils can be a good way to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
What is PCOS?
PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, is a hormonal condition that affects women between the ages of 15 and 44.
The severity of the condition can vary widely, and it's estimated that as much as 70% of the women who have PCOS have not been diagnosed.
In other words, researchers believe that the confirmed, diagnosed cases of PCOS only represent 30% of the real total.
This means that the majority of women with PCOS don't experience symptoms severe enough to motivate them to see a doctor, and will never know that they have PCOS. For many others, though, it can wreak havoc in their body.
A syndrome is a group of symptoms. In this case, it is a group of symptoms that affect the ovaries. Polycystic means "many cysts," and one of the most telling symptoms of PCOS is a collection of ovarian cysts.
These cysts, though, are actually immature eggs. They never mature enough to trigger ovulation, which, in turn, affects hormone levels.
Ovulation triggers the production and release of many important hormones, and when ovulation doesn't occur a woman's hormones are thrown into chaos.
Not only are fewer female hormones produce, but the lack of ovulation also causes an excess of male hormones. These hormones disrupt the menstrual cycle and can cause abnormal hair growth.
Causes of PCOS
The specific cause of PCOS is unclear, but it is generally believed that a rise in the production of male hormones leads to the immature eggs and ovarian cysts. Several things could be causing the production of male hormones.
Genetics certainly plays a role, as PCOS runs in families. It's unlikely to be a single gene causing it, though. Several different genes probably contribute to it. This means that curing it outright is not possible at this time, even if we can manage the symptoms well.
Insulin resistance has also been linked to PCOS, although it isn't totally clear if it's a cause or a symptom. Insulin is a hormone, specifically the hormone that that your body uses to help process sugar for energy.
Since PCOS is a hormonal syndrome, it isn't surprising that insulin resistance is related. Up to 70% of women with PCOS have insulin resistance. Since not all women with PCOS have insulin resistance, it could be a symptom or it could be one among many potential causes.
Inflammation is the third possible cause. There is a link between inflammation and the production of male hormones, and most women with PCOS have increased inflammation in the body.
PCOS Symptoms
The lack of regular ovulation leads to irregular periods, often with heavy bleeding.
Most women with PCOS experience excess facial and body hair growth. Weight gain is a common symptom, too, with 80% of women with PCOS being overweight or obese. Male pattern baldness is also a potential symptom.
PCOS is one of the most common causes of female infertility, since it disrupts the cycle of menstruation and ovulation.
Because PCOS can cause weight gain, metabolic syndrome and sleep apnea are also common symptoms.
Depression and anxiety often result from the hormonal imbalances caused by PCOS.
Treatments for PCOS
With so many potential causes, there is not a cure for PCOS. The symptoms can be treated, however. Birth control medications can restore hormones to normal levels, diabetes medications can improve insulin resistance, and hair removal medicines can eliminate unwanted growth. Surgery is an option in extreme cases.
How Essential Oils Can Help, and Which Ones to Use
Whether the medications are not enough, or you simply prefer not to use prescription drugs, essential oils can be an excellent, all-natural way to help manage your PCOS symptoms.
Many oils are known to assist with hormone regulation, a major factor in PCOS, and others can help with depression and diabetes. These are the best oils for PCOS.
Ginger
Ginger oil has been studied thoroughly, and so it's benefits are well-understood and backed up by science. We know that Ginger is a very powerful anti-inflammatory aid, and that means it may be very effective in alleviating some of the symptoms of PCOS.
Ginger oil has been shown to inhibit hair growth, as well. Topical applications of ginger oil actually suppress hair growth. Women struggling with hair in unwanted places as a result of PCOS might find ginger oil very helpful in that regard.
It's also well-known for its ability to soothe an upset stomach. That isn't related to PCOS, but it's a nice bonus to know that if you have ginger oil on hand you'll always have a natural nausea remedy handy.
This ginger oil is made from only the finest Chinese ginger. It's steam-distilled to guarantee purity and quality, and it has no fillers or added chemicals. It's real-deal, premium ginger oil that's sure to make you feel better.
Lavender
Lavender is useful for almost anything. You can hardly find a list of essential oils for treating a condition that doesn't include lavender. The reason for that is that lavender is one of the most versatile essential oils.
It helps that lavender is an especially powerful anti-stress agent, and stress and anxiety are part of so many different chronic conditions. It's also one of relatively few oils that has been scientifically demonstrated to have real benefits.
Most oils haven't been thoroughly researched yet, so much of what's said about their benefits is anecdotal and traditional, but lavender is well-studied.
In addition to lowering stress levels and relieving anxiety, lavender oil has been reported by some women with PCOS to reduce their unwanted hair growth.
It may also help reduce acne, which can be a problem for women with PCOS. Lavender oil likely won't improve your hormonal imbalance, but it can certainly make you feel better.
This lavender oil is steam-distilled from the finest Bulgarian lavender. The gentle extraction process creates an oil that smells just like fresh lavender, with no impurities or harsh ingredients.
Cedarwood Oil
Cedarwood oil is misleadingly named, because it isn't made from the wood of cedar trees. It's actually made from the needles, bark, and berries of cedar trees. It's mainly used as an ingredient in products like insect repellent and shampoo, but it has a number of medicinal uses.
Cedarwood oil can help reduce acne through its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Since acne is common among women with PCOS, Cedarwood Oil could be a very effective way to alleviate that symptom when applied topically to the skin.
Inhaled or taken orally, Cedarwood's anti-inflammatory properties may help to relieve the body-wide inflammation that's typically associated with PCOS. Since that inflammation is a potential cause of the disorder, Cedarwood may have a profound impact on the condition.
Finally, like lavender, Cedarwood oil has been shown in research to have a soothing effect that can relieve anxiety. Taking a combination of lavender and Cedarwood could give you a lot of relief from the anxiety that often accompanies PCOS.
This Cedarwood Oil is a favorite because it's sourced from Moroccan cedars, which have a sweeter scent than most. It's steam-distilled to preserve the delicate aromatic compounds in the oil and ensure that you're getting the best-quality oil possible.
Juniper Berry
Juniper is probably most famous for its role in flavoring gin, but it's been used as an ingredient in cooking and traditional medicines for generations now.
Juniper berries are the fruit of the evergreen juniper tree, which grows all over the world and includes several different species.
The first major benefit of juniper berry oil is that it is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. For women struggling with PCOS, and who believe that inflammation may be the cause of their condition, juniper berry may provide a lot of relief.
The next major benefit is that juniper berry oil may help to treat diabetes. Regular doses of juniper berry oil have been shown to reduce the levels of blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides.
Many women with PCOS develop diabetes, and if that's the case for you, juniper berry oil may be an alternative treatment for you.
Juniper berry oil is believed by many to promote regular menstruation, which would imply that it has some sort of hormone-balancing effect. That could make it a very effective treatment for PCOS, as it is largely a hormonal imbalance that causes most of the symptoms of PCOS.
This juniper berry oil is steam-distilled from Hungary's finest juniper berries. This yields a high-potency oil with a strong, distinctive scent.
Purchase this Combo to Get the Many Health Benefits of Juniper Berry Essential Oil
​Juniper berry essential oil helps alleviate anxiety, relief mental fatigue, regulate regular menstruation and provides relief from PCOS.
Tea Tree
Tea tree oil has made its way into every kind of natural product imaginable. Shampoo, soap, hand santizer, and insect repellent all make use of tea tree oil's many benefits.
One of the lesser-known benefits of tea tree oil is its ability to combat acne. If you're dealing with PCOS-caused acne, a topical treatment with tea tree oil can reduce the severity and even eliminate the acne.
Tea tree oil is also known for stimulating the secretion of hormones. At first, that may sound like a great benefit for PCOS cases, but bear in mind that PCOS is caused in part by your body overproducing the wrong hormones. There's no guarantee that tea tree oil will only stimulate the secretion of the hormones you want it to.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't use tea tree oil, just that you should stick to topical applications to help treat the acne. Don't use it orally or as an aromatherapy oil.
This tea tree oil comes from the very best of China's tea trees. It's steam distilled to preserve the aromatic compounds that give it its aroma and its medicinal benefits, and to ensure that no harsh chemicals are used in the manufacturing process.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many essential oils that may provide some relief for those who are suffering with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Many of them offer similar benefits, but that's no reason to only use one.
In fact, we strongly recommend using a combination of several oils. That's because even the oils that offer the same benefits may achieve those benefits in different ways, and you might want to use them in different ways as well.
For instance, ginger and tea tree oil are very effective topical treatments for acne, and ginger can inhibit hair growth when applied topically, as well. You may want to combine those two as a topical treatment to handle the most visible effects of your PCOS.
Meanwhile, lavender, cedarwood and juniper berry are all probably best used orally or as aromatherapy. Or do a combination and take the cedarwood and juniper berry orally while using the lavender as an aromatherapy oil.
By mixing several different oils you can provide yourself with the maximum benefit. The oils will not interfere with each other, so you don't need to worry about blending oils and having one of them cancel out the benefits of another.
You should consult a doctor if you are already taking medications, though. You need to be sure that it's safe to take both the medications you're prescribed and the essential oils.
It's unlikely there will be any problems, but at the very least your doctor needs to know what essential oils you're using.
Any of these oils can help, but combining all of them will give you the best results. Order a few bottles today and start enjoying the benefits of essentials oils right away.
Are there any essential oils for pcos which were not mentioned in the blog post? Share them in the comments below.