Acupuncture, osteopathy, yoga, hypnosis, sophrology… There are several non-drug therapies to combat pain linked to endometriosis. What if aromatherapy was also effective? Naturopath, Émilie Kapps, reveals to us which essential oils to use to alleviate ailments and improve your quality of life.
- To prevent or better manage an endometriosis attack, naturopath Émilie Kapps recommends using essential oils that are “anti-inflammatory, analgesic, analgesic and calming.”
- Among them, we find the essential oils of tropical basil, Roman chamomile, peppermint, true lavender, tarragon and ylang-ylang.
- It is possible to use it “in inhalation, massage or ingestion.”
To reduce pain and endometriosis lesions, different treatments may be prescribed. In the list, we find contraception causing the cessation of periods, drugs preventing the production of gonadotropic hormones (which stimulate the ovaries), paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. However, it is also possible to integrate natural remedies, notably essential oils, into the support process for this inflammatory and chronic gynecological disease. “Indeed, for prevention or in the event of crises, we rely on anti-inflammatory, analgesic (which suppress or reduce sensitivity to pain), analgesics (which calm the pain) and calming plants, which will relieve and space out the pain. pain and also treat other imbalances”, indicates naturopath Émilie Kapps.
Endometriosis: which essential oils should you turn to?
The specialist advises using six aromatic and volatile compounds extracted from plants to reduce pain. These last are :
- Tropical basil essential oil. It is a powerful sedative and analgesic. This essence reduces spasmodic pain and fights against fatigue.
- Roman chamomile essential oil. Calming and anti-inflammatory, it helps soothe pelvic pain and improves sleep.
- Peppermint oil. This essence is painkiller, analgesic and anesthetic. It participates in ovarian and hormonal regulation. “Be careful, it must be taken according to your profile and type of endometriosis.”
- True lavender essential oil. It is a powerful sedative, anti-inflammatory, painkiller and local anesthetic. In addition to being effective against stress, it normalizes and accelerates the onset of menstruation.
- Tarragon essential oil. This essence, known for its calming and anti-inflammatory properties, relieves dysmenorrhea.
- Ylang-ylang essential oil. Thanks to its analgesic properties, it reduces throbbing and deep pain.
“We must be careful not to use other essential oils whose effects we do not know, because some have estrogenic effects”, points out the naturopath. As a reminder, endometriosis lesions have the same characteristics as the uterine lining. Thus, they are sensitive to estrogens, namely hormones produced by the ovaries, proliferate and bleed with each menstrual cycle. According to Insermin some patients, significant innervation of the lesions could contribute to the extreme pain sometimes felt.
How to use them?
“Before using these essential oils by inhalation, massage or ingestion, you must test them on the bend of the elbow and wait 48 hours to see if there is an allergic reaction or not”, explains Émilie Kapps.
According to the specialist, tropical basil essential oil, the use of which is not recommended for a long period, pregnancy and in the event of anticoagulant treatment, should be diluted in borage vegetable oil, which “is effective against premenstrual syndrome and regulates hormones. This mixture can be taken orally on a neutral carrier, for example sugar.” As for Roman chamomile essential oil, it is possible to apply it directly to the skin and “not on the mucous membranes unless it is diluted”. In case of stress, the areas to target are the solar plexus and the wrists (two drops).
As for peppermint oil, it is put under the tongue, on sugar or it can be used to massage the lower abdomen. The latter is contraindicated for pregnant women and the elderly. With prolonged use, it may irritate the skin. “True lavender essential oil must either be diluted in a vegetable oil, such as sweet almond, or applied directly to the skin for greater effectiveness. As for tarragon oil, it must be diluted to be able to apply it to the skin or take it orally on a neutral support. In addition to other routes, ylang-ylang essential oil can be inhaled.”
“For synergy, we mix 5 ml of tropical basil essential oil and 5 ml of marjoram essential oil in 100 ml of rosehip vegetable oil. We apply this mixture to the lower abdomen and massage 2 to 4 times a day in case of crisis”, explains the naturopath.
Endometriosis: a healthy lifestyle combined with the use of essential oils
“In order to relieve the pain linked to endometriosis, in addition to the use of essential oils, you must have a healthy lifestyle. When your period approaches, you should eat a light diet, with vegetables, fish and grilled white meats and oils rich in omega-3. Thus, we reduce, or even avoid, starchy foods, refined sugars, coffee, tea, alcohol, cold cuts and red meats.”
Physical activity is also essential. Thus, Émilie Kapps recommends walking, cycling or swimming. “These sports promote blood circulation, hormonal regulation, relaxation, the elimination of toxins and create a phenomenon of oxygenation!” In case of attacks, she advises using hot compresses or taking a hot bath for 10 minutes, because “it calms muscularly and nervously and boosts immunity.”