(Listen to the Full Episode Here)
The Power of Hormones
There’s a lot to consider with women’s health. This is because hormones are our key signaling molecules that interact with and provide feedback to every organ system. They have broad-ranging effects and impact all aspects of the body and mind, including our gastrointestinal system, immune function, nervous system state, brain and cognition, and mood.
Hormones are minute yet powerful, such that even small changes in their levels can profoundly influence our physical and emotional wellness. Due to the hormonal changes that occur with monthly menstrual cycles and throughout a biological female’s lifespan, each phase offers its own unique growth opportunities, wisdom, and bodily shifts. This is why having an awareness of how these alterations affect us, and what symptoms, diseases, and conditions we are most prone to as women is important.
In this incredible episode of the Essential Oil Revolution, we are joined by Dr. Anna Cabeca to discuss how to optimize female and sexual health naturally. Dr. Anna reviews all the basics you need to know about hormonal health, the major foundations for balancing hormones, and how to incorporate essential oils for supporting various endocrine and women’s health issues.
Dr. Cabeca is the go-to guru for these subjects. She is an internationally esteemed triple-board certified OB-GYN, functional medicine and anti-aging expert, author, influencer, formulator, lecturer, educator, innovator, researcher, and the beloved Girlfriend Doctor.
In this article, I will provide a summary of how essential oils can aid hormonal balance and an overview of the topics discussed during my interview with Dr. Anna.
Essential Oils and Hormones
Essential oils are one of nature’s remedies that can help women during various transitional periods. They have the ability to affect the hormonal-stress-brain axis due to their aromatic and bioactive properties. With one sniff, their odor can instantaneously change mood as their chemical constituents modulate molecular pathways related to endocrine and nervous system function. This results in easing tension, balancing biochemistry, and soothing the mind. For these reasons, essential oils are the perfect intervention to incorporate into any healthy hormone regime.
Below are some highlights from research articles that explore how several essential oils accomplish this hormonal and stress modulation in an all-inclusive way. Many of these essential oils were mentioned by Dr. Anna during the show as some of her favorites for supporting her patients during perimenopause and menopause.
- A study with twenty-two menopausal women in their fifties found that clary sage oil inhalation decreased cortisol, increased 5-hydroxytrptamine (the monoamine, serotonin), and elevated mood.
- In a randomized trial of sixty-three healthy postmenopausal women, researchers reported that inhaling the essential oil of neroli had positive effects on menopausal symptoms, stress, and estrogen levels.
- Another small study evaluated ten essential oils (clary sage, frankincense, geranium, lavender, jasmine absolute, neroli, rose otto, ylang ylang, orange, and roman chamomile) for their impact on salivary estrogen levels. Researchers reported that there was an “increase of salivary estrogen concentration induced by exposure to geranium and rose otto compared to control odor.” *
- One study with eleven pregnant women found that inhaling diluted clary sage oil modulated oxytocin levels in select subjects. All participants also experienced a decrease in cortisol.
- In another human trial with fifteen postmenopausal woman, ten essential oils were evaluated for their impact on oxytocin. The experiment consisted of each individual being exposed to a control and an essential oil for 20 minutes per day. Saliva was collected before and after the control and experiment conditions. The authors concluded: “salivary oxytocin concentrations increased significantly more after exposure to lavender, neroli, jasmine absolute, roman chamomile, clary sage, and Indian sandalwood than after exposure to the control odor.”
*It is important to note that this study’s participants were postmenopausal women. Their levels of estrogen were most likely already decreasing. Essential oils modulate estrogen levels to what the body needs. This is a different mode of action compared to estrogen replacement or “estrogenic” compounds. (Learn more.)
Women’s SickCare vs. Healthcare
Although there are natural methods, such as essential oils, to support women during hormonal changes, many physicians don’t have training in these effective integrative solutions. Furthermore, many women are not comfortable talking to their doctor about their desire for holistic approaches and/or the changes their bodies are going through. In fact, females often are settling for solutions that only treat symptoms and not the whole person. This can lead to suboptimal care, greater side effects, and negatively impact a women’s self-esteem and intimate relationships.
Thankfully, we do have compassionate physicians who are educated and can teach us how to navigate the changes women go through. In fact, we have the leading authority in women’s health care with us on this episode to guide us, Dr. Anna Cabeca. Dr. Anna, as she is fondly referred to by her patients, is on a mission to empower millions of women on their health journey as they also transform their lives for the better. Wherever they are in their life cycle, either before, during, or after menopause, Dr. Anna ensures all women have a safe, reliable source of health information from a doctor that they are as comfortable with as their closest girlfriend.
Dr. Anna is the author of three- best-selling books, The Hormone Fix, Keto-Green 16, and MenuPause. She has lectured at various prestigious conferences, trainings, summits, and universities and has been featured in popular press, podcasts, news, and media.
Dr. Anna is also the founder and CEO of The Girlfriend Doctor and is the host of the popular Girlfriend Doctor Podcast. Her website is a one-stop go-to for all topics and products related to female issues. She has traveled the world to learn from ancient healers and has formulated and patented women’s health products based on the best sourced ingredients that are science-based, natural, and effective.
Below is an overview of what we discussed during the show, but you will want to listen to the whole episode to enlighten yourself with this critical information.
What You Will Learn In This Episode:
- The far-reaching impact of hormones on the whole body (.45 sec)
- An overview of how essential oils support the hormone-brain axis (1.40 min)
- Anna’s bio and background (3 min)
- How Dr. Anna became interested in integrative women’s health and what led her to be a renowned women’s health advocate (6.40 min)
- Anna suffered many traumas, including the loss of her son. These, along with unrelenting stress, contributed to her being diagnosed with chronic diseases, premature menopause, and infertility at 39 years of age.
- When conventional medicine and some of the most prestigious specialists were out of answers to her premature infertility, Dr. Anna sought her own health solutions by traveling around the world.
- Through her own research and experience, she was able to regain her fertility, birth a daughter at 41 years old, and restore her hormonal cycles.
- She also was even able to reset her menstrual cycle a second time after perimenopause hit again at 48 years of age into her late 50s.
- She now seeks to share her knowledge of how the body can heal itself with other women to empower them.
- Why one would want to extend their hormonal cycle (11 min)
- Why hormones are so important, and which are the key players in overall health (12 min)
- The “school of hormones” including the students (estrogen, progesterone, vitamin D, and DHEA), professors (cortisol, insulin, and adrenaline), and the dean (oxytocin) (13 min)
- Learning the regulators of the reproductive hormones helps one to be in balance, happy, healthier, and connected. This allows one to get to the root causes of hormonal issues vs. symptom control of downstream hormone levels.
- The importance of connection and oxytocin for healing hormones (16.20 min)
- Key factors that throw off hormones (16.50 min)
- Inflammation
- Stress – increases acidity in the body and increases cortisol
- High insulin – causes a rise in cortisol and leads to insulin resistance, testosterone imbalance, and poor metabolism
- Ways to balance insulin and stress for hormone health (19 min)
- Dr. Anna suggests lifestyle shifts, dietary changes (lower carbs), and timing of food for managing blood sugar.
- The many roles of oxytocin and how to enhance it to support hormone balance (20 min)
- The most healing thing one can do for hormone balance (21 min)
- Why balancing blood sugar is important for overall hormonal and general health (22.45 min)
- How and which essential oils support the key factors of hormone balance (24 min)
- The sense of smell effects oxytocin release, which influences cortisol due to their inverse relationship.
- Everyone has different preferences and what oils their body needs during different seasons may change.
- Lavender oil is good for sleep, lowering cortisol, and promoting relaxation.
- Rose, bergamot, and frankincense oils enhance sensuality and healthy hormone levels, they are Dr. Anna’s three favorite essential oils.
- For menopause neroli, geranium, and clary sage are helpful because they aid hormonal balance and relaxation.
- Clary sage can support oxytocin, serotonin, and cortisol.
- Why sexual health is important (27 min)
- The “Three D’s” that drive down libido/sex drive (28.50 min)
- Desire, disconnect, and discomfort all impact libido.
- The Blue Zones, locations with high amounts of healthy centenarians, all have community, connections, long marriages, and spiritual practices in common. These social factors increase oxytocin.
- What health issues, besides sexual discomfort, vaginal dryness can lead to (31.15 min)
- Incontinence, anal fissures, and the loss of the ability to orgasm
- What can interfere with desire and the surprising link to springtime (32.30 min)
- Libido killers: medications, antihistamines, and psychological beliefs
- The difference between vaginal estrogen, oral estrogen, and DHEA for vaginal health issues and which is safest (34 min)
- Vaginal estrogen can impact one’s male partner on contact, but it is not systemic.
- Oral estrogen is linked to many side effects such as stroke and heart issues.
- Vaginal estrogen only works on one layer of the vagina, DHEA works on all three levels.
- DHEA does not negatively impact one’s male partner.
- DHEA is associated with lower rates of cancer, there are safety studies using it in those with breast cancer.
- How Dr. Anna’s natural vaginal cream contains the safest hormone to support vaginal health as well as a specific patented, natural stem cell source (36.40 min)
- Learn more about the product.
- Musculature exercises should be used in conjunction with it.
- How to use essential oils with Dr. Anna’ natural vaginal cream (40 min)
- A pea to dime size of the cream can be applied from front to back of the perineum.
- One can create more pleasure and sensuality by adding a drop of rose or geranium oil to the cream.
- The importance of regular pap smears to check on the health of the uterine lining (41 min)
- The vital roles of adaptogens for supporting hormonal health (44.32 min)
- These herbs are used for resiliency during times of stress. They support detoxification, sexual health, energy, hormonal balance (DHEA and progesterone), and the adrenal glands.
- Dr. Anna’s Mighty Maca product is full of effective adaptogens.
- An essential oil vaginal lubricant DIY (46 min)
- Mix in equal parts fractionated MCT oil with aloe vera gel and add 2-3 drops/oz of your favorite essential oil to a pump container.
- 2-3 oz of the pump is all you need per serving.
- Can essential oils increase estrogen and hormonal levels? (47 min)
- Essential oils are balancers.
- It is important to rotate essential oils to help synergize hormones.
- Lavender, clary sage, peppermint, basil, neroli, geranium, and vitex-agnus oils can help to balance hormones.
- Studies stating essential oils are estrogenic are poorly done and have endocrine disruptors used in the study that increase estrogen, the issue is not related to the pure essential oils.
- Why detox and avoiding chemicals is critical for hormonal balance (49.30 min)
- Our “Second Spring”: The belief systems around menopause and how it impacts our health (51 min)
- The importance of pleasure in our lives (56 min)
- A bonus trick to Dr. Anna’s DIY! (58.20 min)
- Closing Questions to get to know more about Dr. Anna – so inspiring! (58. 50 min)
Be sure to access the full episode and show notes here.
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Links to Learn More About Dr. Anna Cabeca, DO, OBGYN, FACOG:
- Dr. Anna Cabeca’s Website
- YouTube @thegirlfrienddoctor
- IG @thegirlfrienddoctor
- FB @thegirlfrienddoctor
- TikTock @thegirlfriendoctor
- The Girlfriend Doctor Podcast
- The Capathia Collaborative
Books by Dr. Anna Cabeca, DO, OBGYN, FACOG:
Dive in More with Dr. Anna Cabeca, DO, OBGYN, FACOG:
- Take Dr. Cabeca’s Hormone Quiz
- Find Out More About Your Menopause Symptoms and Solutions
- Dr. Anna’s Products
- Dr. Anna’s Beauty Bundle
- Julva for Vaginal Dryness (Affiliated)
- Mighty Maca Plus
- Free 10 Day Masterclass
- Sexual CPR
- Menopause Masterclass
Additional Resources:
- Essential Oils for Hormones: Holistic Support for Healthy Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone, Thyroid, and Oxytocin Balance
- Continuation of the Lavender-Tea Tree-Hormone Controversy: In Defense of Essential Oils Synergy and Nature’s Wisdom (Are Essential Oils Estrogenic?)
- Not All Maca Is Created Equal: A Review of Colors, Nutrition, Phytochemicals, and Clinical Uses (Study Review)
Links to Learn More About My Offerings and Education on Essential Oils:
- My Essential Oils Community Membership
- My Resource Page
- My CEU Course for Practitioners on the Clinical Use of Essential Oils
Bio of Dr. Anna Cabeca, DO, OBGYN, FACOG
Dr. Anna Cabeca, DO, OBGYN, FACOG is a brilliant, passionate, compassionate internationally esteemed triple-board certified OB-GYN, functional medicine and anti-aging expert, author, influencer, formulator, lecturer, educator, innovator, researcher, and the beloved “Girlfriend Doctor.” Dr. Cabeca earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Nova Southeastern University and completed her residency in Gynecology Obstetrics from Emory University. She holds Board Certifications as an Obstetrician Gynecologist and in Integrative Medicine and Anti-Aging Medicine & Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Cabeca is Fellow of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Education. She also has certifications in Functional Medicine, Sexual Health, and Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy.
Dr. Anna is on a mission to empower millions of women on their health journey as they transform their lives for the better. She is a respected authority on all topics related to women’s health and hormones. Dr. Anna is the author of three- best-selling books, The Hormone Fix, Keto-Green 16, and MenuPause. She has lectured at various prestigious conferences, trainings, summits, and universities. These include the Biohacking Conference, International e-Congress of Aesthetic and Anti-Aging Medicine, ACOG, ANMG, AMEC, Emory University, Keto Symposium, Mind Share Leadership Summit, and Mastermind. She also has been featured in popular press, podcasts, news, and media such as InStyle, GOOP, SHAPE, People, POOSH, mbg, Forbes, ABC, NBC, For Women First, USA Today, Huffington Post, and Style.
Dr. Anna is the founder and CEO of Golden Isles Medical, Inc DBA The Girlfriend Doctor and is the host of the popular Girlfriend Doctor Podcast. Her website is a one-stop go-to for all topics and products related to female issues. Dr. Anna has traveled the world to learn from ancient healers and has formulated and patented women’s health products based on the best sourced ingredients that are science-based, natural, and effective.
Wherever they are in their life cycle, either before, during, or after menopause, Dr. Anna ensures all women have a safe, reliable source of health information from a physician that they are as comfortable with as their closest girlfriend. Dr. Anna emphasizes the importance of women taking control of their own health and being proactive in understanding their bodies. She guides them in how to gently support their well-being while also encouraging self-compassion, self-care, and connection to one’s inner truth and spirit. She can speak from personal experience on how to heal the mind-body-spirit, having recovered from various traumas, two menopausal periods, and relationship upheavals.
Of all her extensive accomplishments, Dr. Anna is most proud of her role as a mother, grandmother, and an advocate for women’s health. She is a shining example of how a doctor is not only a teacher, but also a partner and co-traveler with their patient on a sacred journey of wholeness and restoration. You can find Dr. Anna at https://drannacabeca.com/. Dr. Anna also currently offers integrative women’s health support at the Capathia Collaborative in Dallas, TX.
References:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/basics/womens-health/hlv-20049411
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24802524
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4082953/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28326753/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29216912/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32013535/
Disclaimer: This material is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prescribe for any illness. You should check with your doctor regarding implementing any new strategies into your wellness regime. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. (Affiliation link.)
This information is applicable ONLY for therapeutic quality essential oils. This information DOES NOT apply to essential oils that have not been tested for purity and standardized constituents. There is no quality control in the United States, and oils labeled as “100% pure” need only to contain 5% of the actual oil. The rest of the bottle can be filled with fillers and sometimes toxic ingredients that can irritate the skin. The studies are not based solely on a specific brand of an essential oil, unless stated. Please read the full study for more information.
Thanks Pixabay and Canva.