Gynae VP Paths & Oils Flashcards
AMENORRHOEA & IRREGULAR MENSES
What is it?
What advice would you give a client?
What EOs would be appropriate?
What would you prepare and how would you advise them to use EOs?
Absence of menses for >3/12 if have already had a regular bleed, or if 18 & no bleed.
1 - Are they pregnant?
If between menarche & menopause (< 45 yo) refer!
Pregnancy, stress, xs weight loss, xs exercise, heavy drinking, emotional factors & some medications can affect irregularity.
Important to check if any underlying medical reasons.
Post pregnancy &/or contraceptive pill/implant - several months for cycle to settle.
EMMENAGOGUES can be useful, esp. those high in trans-anethole i.e. Sweet Fennel & Aniseed.
Carrot Seed, Chamomiles, Rose, Lavender
Sweet Fennel - Emmenagogue, Oestrogenic
Lavender - Emmenagogue, Tonic
Rose - Emmenagogue, Reproductive & Uterine Tonic
DYSMENORRHOEA
What is it?
What advice would you give a client?
What EOs would be appropriate?
What would you prepare and how would you advise them to use EOs?
Painful periods -
Primary - no organic cause.
Secondary - symptom of underlying issue eg cysts, infection, fibroids, endometriosis, IUD, PID
Any severe pain on bleeding needs investigating - refer!
Cramping, spasming sensation can come & go - abdomen or back.
- Avoid smoking, xs alcohol.
- Exercise, yoga, relaxation, massage, hot water bottles, evening primrose, Ca & Mg supplements, ginger tea, black cohosh may all help - it’s v. personal.
High fibre, whole food diet helps excrete xs oestrogen.
ANALGESICS, ANTISPASMODICS
Clary Sage - Antispasmodic, Tonic
Lavender - Analgesic, Tonic
(Aniseed - Analgesic, Antispasmodic
Lavandin - Analgesic)
MENORRHAGIA
What is it?
What advice would you give a client?
What EOs would be appropriate?
What would you prepare and how would you advise them to use EOs?
Abnormally heavy bleeding, linked w/ Dysmenorrhoea - possibly the same cause.
Needs investigating - may be linked w/ Thyroid dysfunction & anaemia, fibroids or other uterine growths.
XS oestrogen or oestrogen dominance? PCOS, PID, menopause can all be causes.
Ablation - surgical removal of womb lining or hysterectomy may be needed.
HORMONAL BALANCERS, MENSTRUAL REGULATORS, ANALGESICS, ANTISPASMODICS, VASOCONSTRICTORS, VEIN TONICS, ASTRINGENTS, ANTIDEPRESSANTS.
Clary Sage - Antispasmodic, Emmenagogue
Geranium - Hormonal regulator, Phlebo tonic (vein), Astringent
Cypress - Styptic, Astringent, Vasoconstrictive, Emmenagogue
PRE MENSTRUAL SYNDROME / TENSION
What is it?
What advice would you give a client?
What EOs would be appropriate?
What would you prepare and how would you advise them to use EOs?
Caused by XS levels of oestrogen 2-14 days before menstruation, stopping when blood flows. (not days 2-14 of cycle!)
Presents in a variety of ways - understand how for each client.
Treat presentations - Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Weepiness, Headaches, Insomnia, Appetite or digestive disturbances, Abdominal bloating, Pelvic or low back pain, water retention, tachycardia, skin disruptions.
Encourage a lifestyle approach - dietary improvement (high fibre & whole foods decrease XS oestrogen), Exercise releases endorphins & increases blood flow, full spectrum UV light.
HORMONE BALANCERS, MENSTRUAL REGULATORS, EMMENAGOGUES are all useful alongside treating particular symptoms.
Clary Sage - Emmenagogue, AntiD, Antispasmodic
Geranium - Hormone Regulator, AntiD, Calmative
And another oil for other presentations…
FIBROIDS
What is it?
What advice would you give a client?
What EOs would be appropriate?
What would you prepare and how would you advise them to use EOs?
Non-malignant tumours in uterus - linked w/ menorrhagia.
Seem to be linked to XS Oestrogen - tendency to grow in 1st half of cycle - oestrogen dominance.
Some have natural shrinkage after menopause.
Conventional treatment - hormone treatment & surgery.
AT will support & nurture. Some benefits w/ HORMONAL BALANCERS esp. Geranium w/ a following reduction in size on scan.
Stress has a -ve impact.
Attention to diet is useful - eliminating xeno-oestrogens & improve ability to breakdown & excrete XS oestrogen - increasing fibre & whole foods helps this process.
Geranium - Hormonal Balancer, AntiD, Calmative
Alongside analgesic if pain but stress reduction is main factor.
ENDOMETRIOSIS
What is it?
What advice would you give a client?
What EOs would be appropriate?
What would you prepare and how would you advise them to use EOs?
Where endometrial cells appear outside the uterus, mainly abdominally.
They are oestrogen sensitive cells that shed during menstruation and bleed even when not in the uterus.
Can cause severe pain around menstruation & ovulation.
Sometimes seen as a failure of the immune system - as it’s responsible for inhibiting cells from moving from their proper place.
Stress management & a dietary approach - reduce xeno oestrogens & increase fibre & wholefoods to aid processing & elimination of XS oestrogen.
ANALGESICS, ANTISPASMODICS, ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES, HORMONAL REGULATORS.
Geranium - Hormonal regulator
Clary Sage - Antispasmodic
Lavandin - Analgesic, Antispasmodic, Anti-inflammatory
(Lavender, Peppermint, Orange, Plai)
POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME (PCOS)
What is it?
What advice would you give a client?
What EOs would be appropriate?
What would you prepare and how would you advise them to use EOs?
Ovaries release many unreleased & only partially stimulated eggs. Linked w/ XS oestrogen again.
Women w/ PCOS have a tendency to increased Androgens - prevent normal cell cycle development in ovaries.
Amenorrheoa, irregular menses, XS body hair, XS body fat.
XS androgens also linked to tendency to diabetes, heart disease & obesity.
Distressing condition needs a sensitive whole person approach.
Attention to diet - especially avoiding abnormally highs & lows of sugar - normalise insulin secretion as has effect on androgens.
Increase wholefoods, fibre, fruit & veg, decreasing weight & stress management are all helpful.
EOs that support the feminine & are HORMONAL BALANCERS or that support liver function/HEPATICS are useful physiologically & emotionally.
Geranium - Hormone regulator
Rose - Hepatic, Tonic for reproductive system
Sweet Orange - Hepatic, Tonic for NS
(Carrot Seed - Hepatic, Depurative)
FERTILITY, CONCEPTION SUPPORT
What is it?
What advice would you give a client?
What EOs would be appropriate?
What would you prepare and how would you advise them to use EOs?
Causes of infertility can be very complex - physiologically & psychologically.
AT may be helpful where no obvious physiological cause.
Also useful during fertility treatment as stress management is advised.
Aromas liked by client & partner can be used for self massage at home or vapourised in bedroom.
GROUNDING, CALMATIVE, SEDATIVE, EUPHORIC, Pheromonal or APHRODISIAC are good choices.
Jasmine, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Vetiver, Ginger, Ylang Ylang, Rose, Neroli.
Jasmine - Aphrodisiac, Euphoric
Sandalwood - Aphrodisiac, Sedative
Rose - Aphrodisiac, Sedative
*Work as if client is pregnant if any chance she could be - if in 2nd half of cycle days 15-28!
MENOPAUSE
What is it?
What advice would you give a client?
What EOs would be appropriate?
What would you prepare and how would you advise them to use EOs?
Where menstrual bleeding has stopped for >12 months. Perimenopause is time during fluctuations.
Important to know how client experiences symptoms & work w/ eos to address these.
Support stress management & adrenals - v. beneficial as oestrogen production shifts from ovaries to adrenal glands!
Commonest symptoms - hot flushes, night sweats, headaches, dry itchy skin & vagina, palpitations, anxiety, depression, forgetfulness, inability to concentrate.
HORMONAL BALANCERS, EMMENAGOGUE, MENSTRUAL REGULATORS, ANTISUDORIFICS, ANTISPASMODICS, HYPOTENSIVES, SEDATIVES, EUPHORICS.
Sweet Fennel, Aniseed, Sages, Geranium, Rose, Cypress - all very useful but need a tailored approach working w/ physiological & psychospiritual presentations for each client.
Diet & lifestyle also very important, especially for heart & bone health longterm.
Clary Sage - Emmenagogue, Sedative, Hypotensive, Euphoric.
Geranium - Hormone balancer, Antidepressant, Calmative.
Rose - Tonic, Sedative, Emmenagogue, Antidepressant.
