When menopause brings heat, using essential oils for hot flashes is a natural way to get some relief.
One simple suggestion to rub a little lavender essential oil
(diluted as desired) on the inside of your wrists or on your temples as
needed.
Other
potentially helpful essential oils for hot flashes are clary sage,
lemon, and peppermint. You can inhale an oil, use it in a bath or for a
foot rub, or mix it with a carrier oil for massage. For portable hot
flash relief, make an aromatherapy inhaler using the essential oils that work best for you.
Here are some hot flash essential oil blends, followed by some suggestions specifically for night sweats, to experiment with, as the same blend isn’t likely to work for everyone. For other menopause symptom relief, see Essential Oils for Menopause.
Hot Flash Essential Oil Recipe
To a 5-ml dark-colored dropper bottle, add:
- 20 drops peppermint essential oil
- 20 drops cypress essential oil
- 20 drops lemon essential oil
- 10 drops clary sage essential oil
- 10 drops palmarosa essential oil
- 10 drops lemongrass essential oil
- 5 drops geranium essential oil
- 5 drops rose geranium essential oil
Cap bottle. Shake to blend. Let sit for a least 8 hours before using.
Ways to use:
- Diffuse a few drops.
- Make an aromatic mist.
- Make an aromatherapy inhaler using a few drops.
- Make a massage oil by adding 15 to 30 drops to 2 tablespoons carrier oil. Use for massage or apply to the sinus points around your nose and forehead and on the back of your neck. Daily use on sinus points may reduce frequency and severity of hot flashes.
Source: The Best Natural Cures Using Essential Oils
If you want to make a smaller amount, try this blend of essential oils:
- 10 drops clary sage
- 6 drops lemon
- 6 drops geranium
- 4 drops spearmint
- 2 drops peppermint
- 2 drops cypress
Blend the essential oils in a small dropper bottle.
To use, blend 4 to 5 drops in 1 teaspoon carrier oil. Massage onto your abdomen and lower back.
Source: The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherap
More Essential Oils for Hot Flashes
Hot Flash Gel
- 2 drops clary sage essential oil
- 5 drops peppermint essential oil
- 10 drops lemon essential oil
- 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel
Shake before use. When you feel a hot flash coming on, rub a little of the blend on your face, neck, or wrists.
Source: Healing With Aromatherapy
Bath Aromatherapy for Hot Flashes
- 4 drops geranium essential oil
- 2 drops lemon essential oil
- 1 drop peppermint essential oil
- 1 teaspoon carrier oil
Blend the ingredients. Add the blend to your bath.
Source: Pure Scents for Well Being
Hot Flash Spray
- 20 drops clary sage essential oil
- 20 drops geranium essential oil
- 15 drops peppermint or cypress essential oil
- 1 teaspoon unpasteurized liquid honey
- 1/2 cup peppermint hydrosol
- 2 tablespoons distilled water
- Combine the essential oils in a 4-ounce glass or PET plastic spray bottle.
- Add the honey.
- Add the hydrosol and water.
- Close bottle and shake to blend.
- When you experience a hot flash, mist your body with the spray.
Source: The Complete Aromatherapy & Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness
Essential Oils for Night Sweats
If menopause has you sweating profusely at night, use one of these essential oil blends before bed or when you wake up during the night.
Option 1: Add 3 drops each of clary sage and spearmint to 1 tablespoon carrier oil. Use the blend to massage the back of the neck and feet.
Source: Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Essential Oils
Essential Oil Blend to Relieve Night Sweats
- 10 drops grapefruit essential oil
- 10 drops lime essential oil
- 5 drops thyme linalol essential oil
- 2 drops peppermint essential oil
Blend the oils in a small dropper bottle.
To use, blend 3 to 5 drops in 1 teaspoon carrier oil. Massage onto lower back.
Source: The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy
Powder for Night Sweats
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil
- 8 drops orange essential oil
- 5 drops Roman chamomile essential oil
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- Use a whisk to combine the ingredients well.
- Store powder in a jar that has a lid with holes.
To use: At bedtime, sprinkle some powder inside a pillow case or under the sheets.
Source: Essential Oils For Healing
Image created using image from: BPMonk, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons