The Menopause Mother's Day Gift

Keeping up with ideas for Mother's Day (which is in less than two weeks from now!), I've put a lot of thought into this oddball gift and have decided that my mother will actually appreciate rather than take offense to it. Yes, it's all about the "M" word.

Also known as the "change of life," menopause comes with mental and physical discomfort and fear, however, there are natural remedies that provide energy and strength.

There are some wonderful benefits to using essential oils in aiding the stresses of menopause. All you have to do is add in the essential oils to your batch of lotion, cream or even a carrier oil such as sweet almond to use as a massage rub and label it accordingly for easy access. Adding essential oil to bathwater is another easy way for mom to wind down the day. I did my research and played around with blends to make sure that they not only smell good (rather than super medicinal), but also provide relief in ways such as energizing, stimulating, calming, soothing, invigorating, and purifying.

Here are the combinations that I came up with:

Grapefruit and Orange Valencia: Energizing and Refreshing
Lavender and Ylang Ylang: Calming and Soothing
Tea Tree and Spearmint: Invigorating and Purifying
Lemongrass and Clary Sage: Stimulating and Balancing

Also try:

Peppermint: Cooling; great in a spritzer of water for a refreshing mist to relieve hot flashes
Basil: Anti-depressant
Cypress: Excessive sweating

Out of all the essential oils, Clary Sage seems to be the number one scent for women. In "The Essential Oils Book," Colleen Dodt swears by it. Its benefits include anti-depressant, anti-anxiety, uplifting, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, aphrodisiac, an aid to deeper sleep, and a benefit to the skin and hair care. Dodt says, "As a woman, I would not be without clary sage oil. Its distinct scent has helped me through premenstrual days with grace and ease, as it will through menopause, as well."

It is important to remember to treat essential oils with respect and use them wisely. Only a few drops goes a long way. In lotion and cream, I use only 1 to 2 ml of essential oil per pound of product, and about 5-10 drops of essential oil in the bath. To enhance your shampoo or conditioner, add 1 to 2 drops to 1/2 ounce of shampoo or conditioner.

There are many wonderful resources online with information about menopause and the healing power of aromatherapy. Click here for one of my favorite articles regarding menopause and essential oils. Any suggestions or tricks you've come up with? I'd love your input!