15 Essential Oils That'll Help Balance Your Hormones

In her brand-new book, The Essential Oil Hormone Solution, Mariza Snyder, D.C., a functional wellness practitioner and essential oil buff, shares how certain oils can help balance hormones in just 14 days. Get a taste of her advice in this special excerpt.

In my time as a health care practitioner, I have researched, studied, and recommended a variety of protocols to my patients—none of which revolutionized their success like essential oils.

Properties: Calming/Soothing

Properties: Uplifting/Energizing

Properties: Grounding/Balancing

Properties: Calming/Soothing

Safety Precautions:

Properties: Calming/Soothing

Properties: Uplifting/Energizing

Properties: Calming/Soothing

Properties: Uplifting/Energizing

Properties: Calming/Soothing

Properties: Renewing and Grounding/Balancing

Properties: Grounding/Balancing

Though these are the locations I suggest trying first, you should also trust your gut and experiment to find the place or places that work best for you.

Where needed: The general rule for essential oils is to apply them directly or close to where the oil is needed. For example, if you are dealing with tension in your back, you could massage diluted peppermint oil directly to the sore spot. However, if you are looking to alleviate a tension headache behind your eyes, you would never apply the oils directly to your eyes. Instead, opt for locations close to the eyes, such as on your forehead or your temples since the oils will go where they are needed once absorbed.

To the pulse points: Behind the ears, on the neck, temples, wrists, ankles, and over your heart—these are all known as pulse points, or places where you can feel your heartbeat the strongest. They allow the essential oils to be quickly absorbed into the bloodstream but are also ideal locations for aromatherapeutic benefits.

Layering: Applying one oil at a time directly on top of another in a specific order is known as "layering." Apply one oil first, rub it in, wait a few seconds, and then apply the next. Repeat this process until all oils have been applied. A trick for layering is to use what is called a "driver" oil last, such as peppermint, since it will help the absorption of other oils. However, I don't necessarily recommend trying this without recommendation and guidance.

Compresses: Compresses allow the repulsion of oil and water to work to your benefit. After applying essential oils topically, add a wet, warm washcloth on top, allowing the water to push the oils in deeper. (This will enhance the aromatherapeutic benefit of the oils.) Cool-water compresses can help soothe away hot flashes or ease the discomfort of muscle aches, swelling, sprains, or bruising.

T-Shirt Tent: For aromatherapeutic benefit coupled with deep breathing, I recommend the "T-shirt tent." Place the essential oils down your décolletage, tuck your nose under your T-shirt, and practice your deep-breathing techniques. I recommend a few deep breaths in the tent, and then a few outside the tent, alternating until you feel relief. The oils will affect your bodily systems through direct absorption while allowing you to breathe in their benefits.

Baths: Add ¼ cup of Epsom salts to warm bathwater first, swirling to dissolve, and then add three to six drops of essential oils. Without the salts, the essential oils will simply float on the surface of your bath. (And it doesn’t hurt that Epsom salts are made from magnesium, which helps you go to sleep.) Do not soak for more than 20 minutes before rinsing off. Always hydrate well before and especially after your bath.