clary sage

The Essential Oils Hormone Solution by Dr. Mariza Snyder – my book review

February 22, 2019 By Trudy Scott 15 Comments

Together with dietary changes and key nutrients like GABA, tryptophan, zinc and vitamin B6, using essential oils are a wonderful tool for helping to ease anxiety, reduce stress, improve sleep and focus and contribute to overall hormonal health for women. Now we have a new book that is a wonderful essential oil resource specifically for women, The Essential Oils Hormone Solution: Reclaim Your Energy and Focus and Lose Weight Naturally by Dr. Mariza Snyder.

She shares this about essential oils:

Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in the roots, seeds, stems, bark, leaves, and flowers of various plants. They are super-charged, fifty to seventy times more potent than their dried-herbal counterparts. They’re simply the best plant-based remedy that exists, and they have been successfully used for thousands of years.

Dr. Mariza lists these top 5 must-have hormone-support essential oils for perimenopausal and menopausal women: clary sage, geranium, lavender, peppermint and rosemary. Lavender and peppermint have been long-time favorites of mine and I recently learned about clary sage and rosemary and love both.

She covers so many wonderful essential oils in the book but for the purposes of this review I’ll focus on clary sage since it was new to me until recently and may be new to you too.

In the chapter on sleep, she shares this about the benefits of clary sage and how to use this essential oil:

CLARY SAGE (Salvia sclarea)

Promotes relaxation of the body for a restful night’s sleep
Calms and soothes the mind and body
Supportive during menstrual distress

Aromatic Use

Apply 1–2 drops directly to bedclothes or pillow.
Diffuse 3–4 drops before bedtime.

Topical Use

Dilute 1–2 drops with your favorite carrier oil and massage into abdomen.
Add 2–3 drops to a warm bath with ¼ cup Epsom salts dissolved in the water.
Dilute 1–2 drops with your favorite carrier oil and massage into your soles before bedtime.

I had looked into clary sage about 6 months ago when I learned that it supports serotonin production and also lowers high cortisol.

Interestingly, I didn’t care for the aroma of clary sage when I first purchased it and I diffused it with lavender and rosemary to disguise the aroma. But I have grown to really like it and use a drop on a hanky each night and look forward to how much it helps me sleep and the fact that it eased the mild hot flashes I had started to experience again.

I love the combinations/blends Dr. Mariza recommends in the book and would have welcomed these ideas when I first started using clary sage myself. Here is one example of a rollerball blend with clary sage:

Tense-Away Rollerball Blend

10 drops Lavender essential oil

10 drops Clary Sage essential oil

10 drops Peppermint essential oil

Carrier oil of choice

I also really like that Dr. Mariza describes different ways to use the oils other than only diffusing – like using rollerballs, using them for massages and in baths, and applying the essential oils on various parts of the body for a more direct impact. One such example is the Hormone Synergy Rollerball Blend (which contains clary sage, lavender, geranium, bergamot and ylang ylang). She recommends applying this blend directly over your ovaries.

I learned this direct application tip from Dr. Mariza last year and started using lavender, peppermint and rosemary (in a carrier oil) topically on my belly before bed. It helps with digestion, occasional belly bloat from SIBO (if I’ve eaten something that triggers symptoms) and is relaxing too. I think I’ll add clary sage to this belly blend too for the added hormone benefits. This could be one way to use clary sage for the benefits if you find you don’t really like the aroma (because it will be further from your nose!)

Here are some of the benefits of the other top 5 hormone-support essential oils for perimenopausal and menopausal women that Dr. Mariza shares:

geranium – calming and soothing and “rejuvenates and revitalizes skin, complexion, and hair” (I haven’t been using this one and looking forward to trying this one)
lavender – “eases and calms feelings of anxiety, stress, and tension while rebalancing emotions” and “relieves discomfort associated with menstrual cycles” (I’ve been using lavender for years)
peppermint – “stimulates mental focus and energy by enlivening the senses” and supports your respiratory system (I also use this one all the time. It’s also great for headaches and neck pain)
and rosemary – “increases memory, concentration, and focus” (I also use it for EMF/electromagnetic radiation protection. Research shows rosemary could play a protective role against this harmful effect through its antioxidant activity)

Clary sage is also featured in the libido chapter: “Commonly used to stimulate sexual energy and boost libido.” This aspect was new to me, but it makes sense given that it lowers cortisol and supports serotonin production (and hence estrogen). Dr. Mariza also covers many other wonderful essential oils that boost libido too: jasmine, neroli, rose, sandalwood, ylang ylang and geranium. In one study neroli, lavender, fennel, geranium, and rose significantly improved sexual function in menopausal women.

Here is the official book blurb:

Have your hormones been hijacked? Do you feel energy-depleted and irritable, unable to sleep, stay focused, or lose weight? You may have attributed these symptoms to the natural hormonal fluctuations that occur with age. But behind the scenes, there are a host of pesky culprits wreaking havoc on your hormonal health: chronic stress, air pollution, chemical-laden foods and cleaning supplies, and the synthetic estrogens in personal care products. Women of all ages are left vulnerable to the consequences, suffering from unnecessary hormonal imbalance and frustrating symptoms that are often dismissed by their doctors.

Dr. Mariza Snyder is here to help put you back in control of your health. In The Essential Oils Hormone Solution, you will learn how to heal hormonal chaos and revitalize the body from the inside out with the support of high-quality essential oils. You’ll learn how essential oils work on a cellular level to mitigate the toxic loads we carry, and how to use essential oils to reduce cravings, get deep, restful sleep, ease stress, improve mood, banish the worst symptoms of PMS, regain focus and concentration, boost libido, and increase energy.

Featuring a 14-day plan to jumpstart your hormonal health, with over 100 essential oil blends, daily self-care rituals, and delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes, you’ll discover how to reset your body and pave the way for improved hormonal health, without taking hormones.

Grab your copy of The Essential Oils Hormone Solution here (my Amazon link).

I’d like to add my thoughts on what I have found to be safe use of essential oils, and what I share with my clients (I consider myself an essential oil user like you – I’m not an expert):

Always use a carrier oil, unless you are diffusing, and this includes using essential oils in the bath (I know there is some conflicting advice on this, but I like to err on the side of caution)
Don’t try to remove too much of an essential oil with water – it will only drive it deeper into the skin
Think low doses i.e. a little goes a long way
Be sure to rotate your essential oils
Don’t ingest the oils neat or even in a gelatin capsule. I would only consider doing so if I was working with an experienced practitioner and using an enteric coated capsule (there is definitely conflicting advice on this one but again I like to err on the side of caution)

It’s a fun book with wonderful ideas for how to combine essential oils and use them to improve hormone imbalance. I love this quote from Dr. Mariza:

Inhaling them and applying them is like adorning yourself in something truly beautiful

What are your favorite essential oils and combinations for easing anxiety, reducing stress, improving sleep and balancing your hormones? How are you “adorning yourself” and what is your favorite way to use them – diffused, topically, via a rollerball, or via a massage or in the bath? Feel free to post questions here too.

New book: The Healing Power of Essential Oils

March 19, 2018 By Trudy Scott Leave a Comment

The Healing Power of Essential Oils: Soothe Inflammation, Boost Mood, Prevent Autoimmunity, and Feel Great in Every Way by Eric Zielinski, launched last week and I promised you a book review so here goes. I have always loved Dr. Z’s research-based approach and practical how-tos when it comes to essential oils and was so excited for this book. Well, all I can say is that this is one of the best books I’ve read this year! I read it cover-to-cover in one sitting and I have lists of things I want to try!

It’s perfect for you if you’re:

a total newbie to essential oils and have been hearing how great they are and want to learn the basics (and the science)
someone like me who does has been using essential oils for a few years but could really take things up notch in terms of therapeutic use and how to use blends
someone who is well versed in using essential oils therapeutically, making your own cleaning products and self-care products and wants the science behind each essential oil
looking for a great resource to give a loved one like your sister or mom, or to a friend, and if you’re a practitioner, as a resource for your clients and patients, so they too can benefit by what you already know
looking for a non-branded resource (Dr. Z has no brand loyalty but does teach you how to find quality brands of essential oils)

Here are some of the many reasons I love this book:

Dr. Z emphasizes biochemical individuality – just like with food and nutrients there is no one size fits all with essential oils and you have to find what works for you. He teaches you how to figure that out in the recipes sections
He addresses the ‘overwhelmed and where do I start’ aspect – he calls it “paralysis by analysis”. One way he does this in a few ways: 7 steps to start using them, a daily morning and/or evening practice and the tops oils everyone should start with. Here’s another idea (from me): start with a calming essential oil like lavender or neroli!
The background information is excellent: the source of the essential oil (for example cinnamon bark vs the leaf); why knowing the chemotype is important in terms of their different therapeutic effects; shelf life; how to find quality oils; why plants native to an area are better; dilution rules; inhalation, topical use and ingestion of oils
The research is comprehensive and best of all he refers to studies where the essential oil has been shown to provide therapeutic value, rather than referencing studies on various constituents
There is extensive coverage on carrier oils (like jojoba, coconut oil, fractionated coconut oil etc.) and emulsifiers (like Castile soap and aloe vera oil). He also shares that liquid stevia is a solubilizer (this one intrigues me)
All the wonderful recipes – from home cleaning to personal care products to many products for addressing specific health conditions like aching muscles, wounds, candida, dandruff and much more. Here are a few ways he shares how peppermint essential oil, one of my favorites, can help: as a digestive aid (I use it topically in coconut oil, together with lavender at night and love it!), to ease muscle tension, to clear sinuses, as a potential solution to antibiotic-resistant infections (I’ve used lavender and lemongrass when I had a boil but wasn’t aware peppermint had similar properties), to give you focus and provide an energy pick-up and much more. Here is one application for your hair/scalp:

A few drops of peppermint essential oil included in your shampoo and conditioner will tingle your scalp and wake your senses. As a bonus, peppermint’s antiseptic properties can also help prevent or remove both lice and dandruff.

Here is a safe and effective bathroom cleaner recipe from the book – and it smells wonderful! I love the added bonus of getting a mood boost while cleaning!
Tea Tree Citrus Bathroom Cleaner

The star of this blend is orange essential oil, which is a known mood booster. You’ll be happier even though you’re stuck cleaning the bathroom!

1 tablespoons Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap

2 tablespoons baking soda

20 drops tea tree essential oil

15 drops orange or lemon essential oil (or 7 drops of each)

15 drops lemon eucalyptus or lemon myrtle essential oil

2 cups distilled water

Supplies: 32 oz spray bottle, preferably glass
1. Combine the liquid soap, baking soda and essential oils in the spray bottle and mix well.
2. Pour in the water and shake well
3. Use as you would any other bathroom cleaner. Shake before use.
Elsewhere in the book, Dr. Z writes about how eucalyptus is highly antimicrobial, helping to clear surfaces of potential germs (and says you can use regular eucalyptus in the above recipe too).
There is a big focus on women’s health and anxiety and depression, so it’s perfect for you. The recipes for PMS, perimenopause and menopause are fabulous – with help for anxiety, depression, insomnia, vaginal dryness and much more. Here is one where clary sage helped with depression (anxiety was not assessed but we know high cortisol and low serotonin impacts both anxiety and depression)

Clary sage offers antidepressant effects as described in a 2014 study that was conducted on twenty-two women in Korea. The trial measured neurotransmitter levels found in blood samples of menopausal women and discovered that, by simply inhaling clary sage oil, levels of the stress hormone cortisol dropped considerably and serotonin levels were elevated. The result was an overall improvement in depression symptoms.

There is an entire chapter on essential oils for fertility, pregnancy and postpartum
Photosensitivity is explained and he lists all the oils that fall into this category (such as bergamot and expressed lemon)

Some essential oils can increase the photosensitivity of your skin. For example, chemicals in the citrus family such as bergapten are notable for their phototoxic effects. When bergapten is left on the skin and then exposed to the sun, it can amplify the effect of UV rays, potentially causing sunburn and leading to sunspots. Some people just decide not to use any bergapten-heavy oils topically, but simply avoiding the sun after use (for example, by applying them at night) is sufficient.

He addresses the concerns about lavender and tea tree being estrogenic and explaining why they are not (I get this question a lot!)
Plenty of oils and recipes for digestive support like a SIBO blend of a 1:1:1 ratio of caraway, lavender and neroli (which I am very interested in exploring further)

As you can see, this book is comprehensive, research-based, practical and I would even say pretty exciting and fun! Here is the official blurb about the book:

Eric Zielinski, D.C., host of the Essential Oils Revolution summits, offers a soup-to-nuts guide to mastering essential oils for vibrant health and well-being, featuring dozens of recipes and formulations for restful sleep, reduced inflammation, balanced hormones, and more.

Achieving true health is not an easy task. For many people, it might be easier to pop a pill or push aside lingering discomfort in favor of finishing everything on your to-do list. In The Healing Power of Essential Oils, Eric Zielinski, D.C. shows readers how to make their health a priority with the life-changing benefits of essential oils. Essential oils are the natural solution to everything from anxiety and depression to deep-seated inflammation.

For beginners, Dr. Z teaches everything you need to know to get started, including the top seven oils you should stock from Day 1 and the commonly used techniques and tools. He illustrates daily practices you can follow to enjoy the properties of essential oils, including a five-minute devotional using frankincense and neroli to set you up for a productive and stress-free day, and a simple bedtime routine harnessing the soporific effects of lavender.

Backed by extensive research, Dr. Z also supplies essential oil blends that promote hormone balance, reduced inflammation, improved digestion, increased immunity, and so much more. You’ll be armed with over 150 recipes for every health need, and a special section on women’s health includes dozens of formulations for PMS, fertility, pregnancy, candida, and menopause. Even those well-versed in essential oils will benefit from this thorough approach. With your newfound knowledge, you can begin tailoring an essential oils practice to your unique pain points and lifestyle right away – and start experiencing amazing results.

Grab a copy from your nearest bookstore or online store such as Amazon (this is my amazon affiliate link)

Be sure to grab the bonus gifts here after you’ve purchased the book

And let us know what you think and some of your favorite recipes and how they have helped you!