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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Essential Oils for Women’s Health

The way that we support our health and that of our children and families involves deliberate choice. One natural and powerful way to support and enhance one’s health is with the selective use of essential oils, which include many uses that focus specifically on women’s health problems.

Essential oils are the distilled, concentrated oils from a plant, fruit or flower. Numerous scientific studies have shown that certain essential oils can relieve pain, help calm anxiety, reduce stress, ease depression and increase energy.

Here are some of the top oils to have on hand for optimum women’s health.

Clary Sage. Massaged on the abdomen, it helps reduce the discomfort of menstrual cramps. Diffused in the air—especially when in combination with lavender and/or Roman chamomile—clary sage can reduce anxiety and pain levels for mothers in labor and delivery.

Lavender. Studies have shown that it has a calming and relaxing effect, can help reduce discomfort from menstrual cramps and reduce feelings of low mood. When applied topically to the skin, lavender can help with dry skin cracking that can occur on the fingers during winter.

Roman chamomile. In addition to being helpful and supportive to the health of skin, it has been shown to calm crying children, soothe tummy aches and even help with colic and teething pain.

Peppermint. Two drops placed on the palms, then rubbed together and inhaled can help bring a sense of refreshed energy and uplift spirits.

Wild orange. Studies have shown that this oil has powerful antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects. When used alone or in combination with peppermint—for added uplift—or with lavender—for enhanced calming—it is a potent and natural means for shifting a low mood or low energy.

Geranium. This oil has been said to improve emotional imbalance for adolescent girls experiencing PMS, and for mood swings that accompany menopause.

Essential oils can be a safe, effective, all-natural way to enhance health and well-being. The following are just a few researched combinations of oils for women’s health issues. For fibrocystic breasts, mix 5 drops of juniper and 5 drops of cypress with a carrier oil such as evening primrose to yield a total amount of 5 milliliters. Apply mixture to breasts twice daily.

For PMS, mix 3 drops of geranium oil, 3 drops of clary sage oil, and 4 drops of lavender oil with some evening primrose oil to yield a total amount of 5 milliliters. Apply to the lower back and abdomen every 4-6 hours, as needed.

To make a menopause spritzer, mix 10 drops clary sage, 10 drops geranium, and 5 drops of lavender with distilled water and a drop or two of rubbing alcohol to yield a total amount of 60 milliliters. With eyes closed, spritz face and body as needed.

Jeffrey Rutstein is a clinical psychologist specializing in body-centered psychotherapy, mindfulness and neurofeedback, with offices in Lambertville and Skillman, NJ. Connect with him at 609-426-4144 or DrJeffreyRutstein.com.

Local Insights
Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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