basil oil for menstrual cramps

There are countless home remedies that can help us experience our menstrual cycles with greater ease and balance. And one of those remedies is the use of basil oil for menstrual cramps.

Basil essential oil ( latin name ocinicum basilicum) is an anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxing and mood enhancing oil that gives your body the holistic support that it craves during that time of the month.

So, in today’s post we’re going to look at:

  • The main period-friendly properties of basil oil.
  • Tips on how to use it during your cycle…safely.
  • Simple basil oil blends that you can put together at home to ease period pain.

Note: this post contains affiliate links and I earn a commission (at no additional cost to you) if you use them to make a purchase.

BENEFITS OF BASIL ESSENTIAL OIL FOR MENSTRUAL PAIN AND YOUR PERIOD

1. Relaxes Tight or Tense Muscles

Excessive uterine contractions (caused by inflammation and hormonal imbalance) are the source of period pain.

Since basil oil is a muscle relaxant, it can soothe the muscles of the uterus and therefore, reduce painful contractions.

2. Lowers Systemic Inflammation

Research shows that basil essential oil has high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity (source).

This has a double benefit because not only can basil reduce physical inflammation (i.e. pain) but it can also lower systemic inflammation.

Systemic inflammation contributes significantly to hormonal imbalances that eventually lead to cramps.

In particular, inflammation contributes to excessive levels of prostaglandins

When prostaglandins are too high, they create more contractions in the uterus and this is what causes painful periods.

3. Boosts Mood and Lowers Stress

Basil oil has historically been used to help slow down racing thoughts, ease feelings of overwhelm and induce relaxation.

Since, mood swings and anxiety can get worse during the menstrual cycle, using basil can be a natural way to boost your mood and energy.

4. Improves Nausea

Many women experience nausea both before and during their periods.

In some cases the nausea is caused by gastrointestinal issues. And in other cases it’s due to intense cramps.

Either way, basil oil helps with nausea and vomiting because it is soothing to the digestive system.

TIPS ON USING BASIL OIL FOR PERIOD CRAMPS

You can use basil oil by itself, or you can combine with other hormone-balancing or pain relieving oils.

Some hormone-balancing oils that blend well with basil include:

  • Clary sage
  • Geranium
  • Lavender
  • Neroli

As for pain-relieving oils that blend well basil, you can choose from

  • Ginger
  • Clove
  • Marjoram
  • Black pepper
  • Bergamot
  • Peppermint

Below are some period cramp recipes that use basil, along with some of the oils listed above.

I’ve also included links to essential oil brands that I personally like (in case you’re new to these oils and would like recommendations).

Please note that these recipes are all made at a 3% dilution.

In general, a 3 – 10% dilution is suitable for cramps.

So, if you find that the 3% dilution is not strong enough for your needs, you can gradually increase the dilution (up to 10%).

And if you’re not familiar with dilutions and how to calculate them, using my guide to essential oil dilution.

Note: if you don’t have other oils on hand, you can use basil essential oil by itself. To do so, simply use 27 drops of basil to create a massage blend as explained below. Also, diffusing basil oil is an easy way to use it for stress and anxiety).

basil oil for menstrual cramps pin essential oil bottle and woman in pain

Basil Oil Period Relief Massage Blend 1

Ingredients

12 drops bergamot

10 drops basil

5 drops peppermint

Carrier oil (such as almond oil)

1 ounce glass bottle

Instructions

  1. Add essential oils to the glass bottle.
  2. Fill up the bottle with your carrier oil.
  3. Close the bottle and shake well.
  4. Massage onto your lower belly several times a day for relief.

Basil Oil Period Relief Massage Blend 2

12 drops bergamot

10 drops basil

5 drops clary sage

Carrier oil (such as almond or grapeseed oil)

1 ounce glass bottle

Basil Oil Period Relief Massage Blend 3

9 drops basil

9 drops lavender oil

9 drops marjoram oil

Carrier oil (such as almond or grapeseed oil)

1 ounce glass bottle

Basil Oil Bath for Period Cramps

Combining basil with an oil like lavender – which has strong relaxation properties – is another way to soothe tense muscles that are causing menstrual pain.

According to the Tisserand Institute (one of the best authorities on essential oil safety), you can safely use essential oils in a bath by following one of these methods:

  • Mix 5 – 20 drops total of both basil and lavender in 1 tablespoon of a light liquid oil ( jojoba or fractionated coconut oil). Add the mixture to the bath water.
  • Combine 5 – 20 drops total of both basil and lavender with 1 tablespoon liquid castile soap. Add the mixture to your bath water. 

RELATED QUESTIONS

What can I do to reduce my period flow?

Essential oils like cypress, rose and geranium are very beneficial for heavy menstrual bleeding. In addition, ginger has been shown to reduce the production of excess prostaglandin hormones (which cause cramps). 

So, ginger is another home remedy you can use for a heavy period.

To learn more on each of these read these posts on essential oils for heavy periods and ginger root for heavy periods.

Which essential oil is good for menstrual cramps?

Aside from basil oil, other essential oils that help with cramps include copaiba, peppermint and clary sage (also excellent for balancing female hormones)

I recommend reading the following articles to learn more about each oil and how to use it:

What herb is good for menstrual cramps?

Cramp bark, cinnamon, nettle and dandelion are a few herbs that are known to ease menstrual pain.

This post on the best teas for menstrual cramps covers those herbs (and 6 others). 

Is Rosemary good for menstrual cramps?

Yes, according to a 2019 study rosemary is effective at easing period cramps. 

In that study participants were split into two groups. 

One group was given 250mg rosemary capsules, while the other group was given 250mg mefenamic acid capsules (prescription pain drug).

Both groups took the capsules during the first 3 days of their period.

The study showed that rosemary is just as effective as the prescription drug.

CONCLUSION

Whether you have mild or intense menstrual cramps, or you want to stress and anxiety during your period, basil essential oil can be a great ally.

For more tips on how to get rid of menstrual cramps once and for all, check out the list of resources at the end of this post.

I hope this post was helpful and if you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to leave your feedback below!


Related Posts and Additional Resources:

7 Home Remedies for Menstrual Cramps

Why You Need Chamomile for Period Pain & PMS (and How to Use It)

How To Make The Best Smoothies for Period Cramps

The Complete Guide to Eliminating Estrogen Dominance Naturally

7 Steps to Get Rid of PCOS Naturally

Top Causes and Fixes for Estrogen Dominance During Perimenopause