With its musky sweet herbaceous aroma, clary sage oil is an all-round women’s support essential oil. In this article, uncover how to use clary sage oil for hormones, to correct imbalances and more.
Calming & Caring: Clary Sage for Women’s Health
Native to Europe, clary sage oil is extracted by steam distillation from the purple bell-shaped flowers and leaves of salvia sclarea or the clary sage plant.
Its main chemical constituent is linalyl acetate, which makes it a special essential oil for relaxation, soothing and balancing of the body. Some of its medicinal properties include: antidepressant, anticonvulsant, antispasmodic, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, astringent, bactericidal, carminative, deodorant, digestive, emmenagogue, euphoric, hypotensive, nervine, sedative, stomachic, and a uterine tonic.
Clary sage extracts have been used since the Middle Ages in a variety of fields such as skin care, hair care, eye problems, insomnia, digestive trouble, stress relief, menstrual and menopausal relief, and labor & childbirth.
Read on for how clary sage oil can be used for hormonal regulation below:
10+ Benefits of Clary Sage Oil for Hormones
1. Balance Estrogen
Clary sage oil has natural phytoestrogens in it which makes it an estrogenic substance.
It can have significant effects on female hormones, especially in relation to menstruation and menopause.
Estrogen is one of the key female reproductive hormones.
Throughout our whole cycle, we experience dips and rises in estrogen levels.
Not to mention, diet, household cleaning products and hygienic products can introduce artificial forms of estrogen due to the ingredients in them.
This also leads to the ever-changing levels of estrogen in our bodies.
Clary sage stabilizes estrogen levels which helps normalize a variety of female issues such as PMS, amenorrhea (lack of periods), dysmenorrhea (heavy painful periods) and menopausal symptoms.
2. Alleviates Menstrual Cramps
Incorporating clary sage oil in your period self-care can help reduce your menstrual cramps drastically.
According to this study, an aromatherapy massage using an essential oil blend, containing clary sage, marjoram, ginger, cinnamon, and geranium oils in a base of almond oil, was performed once on 32 participants who were high school girls.
The control group comprised of 23 high school girls was given acetaminophen (paracetamol pain killer).
The study found that the girls given the aromatherapy massage had a significantly higher reduction of menstrual cramps compared to those given acetaminophen!
I made a blend using these ingredients which may be similar to the one used in the experiment. You can check it out down in the How to Use Clary Sage Oil for Hormone Balance section.
3. Lowers the Stress Hormone
There’s a study that was conducted to demonstrate the anti-depressant-like effects of clary sage oil by comparing the neurotransmitter level changes in plasma.
The participants we 22 menopausal women in their 50’s. After inhaling clary sage oil, the participants had their cortisol (the ‘stress’ hormone) levels significantly reduced.
It also showed an increase in 5-hydroxytrptamine (monoamine and serotonin, the ‘happy’ hormone) concentrations.
The study essential proved that that clary sage oil has antidepressant-like effects.
4. Supports Thyroid Hormone Function
The study I talked about above (the effect of clary sage oil on depression) also demonstrated that clary sage oil also reduced the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).
This shows that clary sage oil is important for thyroid function because high levels of TSH in the blood indicate that thyroid may be underactive and the body is struggling to produce extra T3 and T4, which are thyroid hormones.
Also, the antidepressant-like effect of clary sage is beneficial for improving mood and depression, which are both symptoms of low thyroid function.
5. Increases Libido
Hormonal imbalances have commonly presented themselves with low sex drive as one of the symptoms.
Clary sage oil can help! It is known for its capabilities as an aphrodisiac to stimulate sexual energy.
6. Eases Menopausal Symptoms
Many ladies undergoing menopausal symptoms turn to Nature to find relief because modern medicine may not fully cut it.
In aromatherapy, clary sage is very useful for combating bad menopausal symptoms. Because it has natural phytoestrogens in it, it is said to support the low levels of estrogen in menopausal ladies.
Clary sage can be used in menopause for hot flashes, irritability, nausea, low libido, vaginal dryness and irregular bleeding.
7. Relieves Insomnia
You probably know lavender as the best essential oil for relaxation and sleep. But guess what?
Clary sage is one of them as well! It has sedative properties that can help you wind down and get drowsy.
It’s best to diffuse a few drops of clary sage along with lavender in your cold-air diffuser a few minutes before bedtime to benefit from its sleep-inducing effects.
8. Heals Hormonal Acne
Healers from long have actually used clary sage a lot for its skin soothing properties. This isn’t surprising because clary sage has strong anti-inflammatory properties.
It helps calm down acne inflammation and redness.
Its active compounds such as linalyl and geranyl make it a good astringent that reduces excess sebum from clogging up skin pores.
Clary sage also helps with hormonal and cystic acne.
Below, I shared an anti-acne blend with clary sage oil that works splendidly.
9. Stops Hair Loss
One of the obvious signs of hormonal imbalance is hair loss. Losing hair in clumps and unknown causes of hair shedding are normally signs that you need to get your hormones balanced.
Clary sage has been used in hair care formulations because it makes hair appear glossy and healthy.
A compound found in clary sage, linalyl acetate, stimulates the scalp to foster growth of new hairs. Clary sage also improves hair strength, which makes it difficult for hair strands to break easily.
10. Provides Emotional Support
A harmonizing essential oil, clary sage provides emotional support especially when your Aunt Flow is just about to visit and during her visit. Our emotions are a roller coaster during these sensitive periods of our cycle.
Simply inhaling the sweet musky scent of clary sage during this time can help balance mood and reinforce your emotional health.
11. PMS Relief
PMS brings awful symptoms such as bloating, depression, cramps, breast tenderness, edema, acne and more. Clary sage can provide the relief you need because it has therapeutic properties designed to fight depression, reduce bloating, treat acne and soothe cramps.
Below you will find a diffuser recipe, cramp-fighting blend and a bath salts recipe for PMS relief.
How to Dilute Clary Sage Oil
There are several ways to use clary sage oil for hormones including inhaling it from a hanky or cotton ball, diffusing it using an essential oil diffuser, adding it to your bath water, making a massage blend, using it in skin care and hair care, etc.
But before all this, you must know how to dilute clary sage oil for use. Yes, it has to be diluted because it is a very concentrated oil.
What should you dilute it with? You can use carrier or vegetable oils such as almond oil, coconut oil, olive oil, etc.
Or you can dilute it with unscented lotion, shampoo, aloe vera gel or some substance that has some fatty acids or thickening agent in it so the essential oils are combined well.
Secondly, how many drops of clary sage oil should you add to a carrier oil? The thumb rule is simple, for every 1 tsp of carrier oil, add 1 drop of essential oil. This is known as a 1% essential oil dilution. This creates a mild blend suitable for the face and sensitive skin.
For adults, the recommended dilution rate is 2%, meaning for every 2 tsp of carrier oil, add 2 drops of essential oil.
Now that that’s clear, let’s check out ways to use clary sage essential oil and some exciting recipes to use.
How to Use Clary Sage Oil for Hormones
1. Feminine Flow Diffuser Recipe
You can diffuse clary sage on its own (about 6 drops) for 5-10 minutes. Or, here’s a nice recipe I’m sure you would like to try:
What you need
- High-quality diffuser
- 3 drops clary sage essential oil
- 2 drops wild orange essential oil
- 2 drops ylang ylang essential oil
Directions
- In a 100ml diffuser, add the required amount of water followed by 3 drops of clary sage oil, 2 drops wild orange and 2 drops ylang ylang essential oils.
- Diffuse for 5-10 minutes.
- Enjoy the wonderful aroma.
2. Cramp Relieving Blend
Note: The blend below is a 3% essential oil dilution rate. It is stronger than the recommended dilution for adults which is 2% dilution rate because it is for acute pain relief.
A 3% essential oil dilution rate means for every 1 tsp of carrier oil, there are 3 drops of essential oil.
What you need
- 10 drops marjoram essential oil
- 8 drops clary sage essential oil
- 6 drops ginger essential oil
- 6 drops cinnamon essential oil
- 6 drops geranium essential oil
- 2 oz sweet almond oil
- 4 oz amber glass dropper bottle
- Small funnel
Directions
- In a 4 oz amber bottle, gently pour 2 oz of sweet almond oil using a small funnel.
- Next, carefully drop in the essential oils.
- Cap the bottle and slowly swirl it around to combine the ingredients. Do not shake it as this will introduce air bubbles and cause your blend to oxidize faster.
- To use, place a few drops on your palms, rub them together and gently massage it above your lower abdomen.
- For best results, please place a hot water bottle or hot damp cloth or a heating pad on top for the oils to absorb deeper + added pain relief.
3. Menopause Roller Blend Recipe
This blend is also at a 3% essential oil dilution rate.
What you need
- 2 drops clary sage essential oil
- 2 drops frankincense essential oil
- 2 drops ylang ylang essential oil
- Fractionated coconut oil
- 10 ml roller bottle
Directions
- Remove the metal roller ball from the roller bottle.
- Now add the essential oils carefully.
- Top off with fractionated coconut oil and replace the roller ball.
- Tilt the bottle up and down to mix the oils thoroughly.
- Apply on your neck, over the lower abdomen and the lower back where the kidneys are located.
4. Anti-Acne Serum
This blend is at a 1% essential oil dilution rate because it going to be applied on the face and on sensitive acne skin.
What you need
- 3 drops clary sage essential oil
- 3 drops tea tree essential oil
- 1 oz hemp seed oil (also good for hormonal acne and doesn’t clog pores)
- 1 oz amber glass bottle
- Small funnel
Directions
- Into your amber bottle, pour in 1 oz of hemp seed oil carefully, with the help of a small funnel.
- Next, add in the drops of essential oil.
- Cap the bottle and swirl it to gently combine the ingredients without creating air bubbles.
- To use, place 2-3 drops on clean palms, rub them together and dab onto your clean face.
5. Soothing Bath Salts Recipe
What you need
- 4 drops clary sage essential oil
- 4 drops lavender essential oil
- 4 drops geranium essential oil
- 2 cups Epsom salts
- 2 tbsp sweet almond oil
- Any jar or container to store it
- Bowl and spatula for mixing ingredients
Directions
- In a large bowl, pour in 2 cups of Epsom salts.
- Next add 2 tbsp of sweet almond oil.
- Finally, drop in the essential oils needed.
- Mix everything together with a spatula.
- Scoop the bath salts into a container for storage.
- To use, run a hot or warm bath and while the water is running, add the bath salts into the water and mix well. If 2 cups is too much for you then you can try adding half of the bath salts into the water. Mix well and have a relaxing soak.
Where to Get Clary Sage Oil
Make sure you purchase your essential oils from a trusted source. You want to buy 100% pure clary sage essential oil, without any additives. Personally, I like essential oils from Eden’s Garden, Radha Beauty and Plant Therapy!
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