By Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CN

September 20, 2022

Original article and page source found here.

I want to share with you how essential oils can help naturally balance your hormones and the specific oils that can benefit progesterone and estrogen levels, improve thyroid hormones, and help men naturally boost low testosterone. Which are the best essential oils for hormones? Keep reading.

3 Essential Oils for Hormones

Essential oils uses continue to amaze me, as they can be used to treat so many health illnesses and improve so many aspects of your health. For the sake of using essential oils for hormones and achieving balance, there are three main essential oils we’re going to cover: clary sage, thyme and sandalwood essential oils.

1. Clary Sage Oil

A 2014 study published in the Journal of Phytotherapy Research found that inhalation of clary sage oil had the ability to reduce cortisol levels by 36% and improved thyroid hormone levels. The study was done on 22 post-menopausal women in their 50s, some of whom were diagnosed with depression, and at the end of trial the researchers stated that “clary sage oil had a statistically significant effect on lowering cortisol and had an anti-depressant effect improving mood.”

This is just one of the many studies proving clary sage oil benefits hormones.

The biggest benefit of clary sage is that it helps balance out estrogen production in the body. A lot of health issues today, even things like infertility, PCOS and estrogen-based cancers, are caused from excess estrogen in the body — in part, because of our consumption of high-estrogen foods.

Because clary sage helps balance out those estrogen levels, it’s an incredibly effective essential oil in helping a wide array of hormone imbalances. So, whether you’re looking for natural remedies for PMS cramps during the month or possibly already know you have excess estrogen in your body, clary sage is a great essential oil to consider adding to your essential oil regime.

2. Thyme Oil

Research discussed in the Proceedings of the Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine discovered thyme essential oil has progesterone-balancing effects.

Thyme oil benefits the body by improving progesterone production. Both men and a lot of women are low in progesterone, and low progesterone levels have been linked with infertility, PCOS and depression, as well as other imbalanced hormones within the body.

Improved progesterone makes thyme a great essential oil you can use to naturally balance out hormones in your body. Plus, it’s far better than turning to synthetic treatments, such as hormone replacement therapy, which can make you dependent on prescription drugs, mask symptoms while developing diseases in other parts of the body and often causing serious side effects.

3. Sandalwood Oil

Of the three essential oils for hormones, sandalwood essential oil is very effective at balancing out testosterone levels in both men and women. Sandalwood has actually been used as a natural aphrodisiac, making it a desired ingredient in men’s cologne, as well as certain perfumes, for years.

Also, it really has an amazing scent. For men with low testosterone, adding a few drops of sandalwood oil into your homemade deodorant or your own homemade lotion isn’t just a great way to smell good — it’s also a great way to get some extra health benefits of improving your libido and hormones.

Ways to Use Essential Oils

One of my favorite essential oil uses is to simply mix some coconut oil with the essential oil, itself and rub it on different areas of the body. And, because essentials oils are so small molecularly, they can actually be absorbed into your body through your skin, so you can get full body effects simply by putting essential oils directly on the skin.

A few other essential oils are also known to balance and support hormone health in the body include rose essential oil, which has been used also as an aphrodisiac, as well as a natural mood lifter. It’s been shown to help in improving serotonin and other neuropeptides in the brain — aka those good mood hormones.

We’ve also found that lavender oil and chamomile oil are effective at reducing stress, therefore naturally lowering cortisol levels, which is very important for the body when it’s trying to overcome disease.

In general, one of the best essential oils for thyroid function and autoimmune issues is frankincense oil, which reduces inflammation, also helping to lower those cortisol levels.

So again, if you want to have more balanced hormones, personally, I recommend considering clary sage oil along with thyme oil and, specifically for men, some added sandalwood oil. You can just put a few drops on your hand and rub it on your skin, or combine them with some of your own personal-care products.