We’ve probably all been told at least once or twice in our life to “take a chill pill.”
As kids, it usually means you are being a little extra wild or maybe a little extra dramatic about that fruit snack that fell on the floor. As adults, we know that it could probably mean a little more under the surface. Hormones are a tricky thing to get into balance with each other, but they are so important for our mental and physical health.
We may not realize it, but hormones are at the root of many other issues that we experience — the same goes for our little ones. They may seem just a little more today than others, but there might be a few scales that need tipping back into place.
Today we are going to tackle the big topic of hormones. We are going to explain what they are and why their balance is so important. If you think you might be dealing with a few imbalances, there are medicinal and natural remedies that can help.
At The Natural Patch Co., we are all about doing things as naturally as possible, and essential oils are the perfect place to start. We’ve also rounded up a great list of the best essential oils to help get those levels back in your favor.
Defining Hormones
It’s a vast topic, but we like to do as much of the hard work behind the scenes for you as we can. Join us as we define hormones and discuss their roles in your life and overall health.
What Are Hormones?
Hormones are the chemical responses, or messengers to a degree, in our bodies that help perform different functions. Most of the organs in our bodies send some sort of hormonal response to each other to help your body work.
These hormones are triggered by actions, events, and needs that your body and brain have. Then, the organs produce chemicals known as hormones to help execute the necessary tasks.
Within the organs that secrete hormones are glands that create the chemicals. This all works together as a system to make your body function, at least partially. The system is called the endocrine system.
Think of this system as a chain of command. Your body asks for certain things; then the organs are triggered, creating a reaction from the glands that secrete specific hormones to your body that will aid in carrying out the functions necessary.
This doesn’t necessarily mean tasks such as waving or moving your legs. The tasks your hormones are responsible for are:
- Metabolism
- Blood pressure
- Growth and development
- Sexual function
- Reproduction
- Sleep/awakeness
- Overall mood
It’s only one piece of the puzzle, but hormones go a long way in regulating these functions. These are the organs and glands that make up this system:
- Hypothalamus
- Pituitary gland
- Pineal gland
- Thyroid
- Parathyroid glands
- Adrenal glands
- Pancreas
- Ovaries/testes
There are other glands and organs that create hormones, but they aren’t a part of this specific system.
What Is a Hormones Imbalance?
A hormonal imbalance is when our endocrine system is halted or secretes additional, unnecessary hormones.
It may not seem like a huge deal, but a hormone imbalance can lead to serious complications in your body. These include:
- Weight gain
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Hot flashes
- Weight loss
- Excessive sweating
- Hair loss
- Cystic acne
With a healthy lifestyle, which includes a proper diet and adequate exercise for your age group, these hormones should be in line. If you notice that nothing else has changed, including diet and exercise, but you are still experiencing some of these changes, you’ll want to seek out a healthcare professional.
While you may be able to pinpoint the issue yourself and basically chalk it up to hormone imbalances, only your physician will be able to determine which glands aren’t functioning properly.
What Factors Contribute to Hormone Imbalances?
The important thing to remember is that if you or your little ones experience a hormone imbalance, it might not have been something that could be avoided.
These are the factors that put you at risk for this to occur:
- Genetics
- Allergies
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
- Age
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Medications
- Thyroid complications
- Autoimmune diseases
These are some of the factors that can put you at risk for hormone imbalances. In fact, healthcare providers may bring these up at annual visits based on other health risks or lifestyle factors.
If you’re at risk and you or your physician suspect a hormone imbalance, a few tests can be done. Saliva, blood, and hair follicle tests are the top ways that healthcare providers will either pinpoint or rule out a hormone imbalance.
Why a Hormone Balance Is Important
As parents, we deal with a lot of these issues, regardless of what our hormones are doing to our bodies. Weight can fluctuate, and menopause is a normal occurrence as women get older.
But if left untreated, some specific issues can become permanent; We won’t be able to balance out our physical or mental health with proper diet, exercise, and essential oil use alone.
Even something that seems innocent to us, like drinking a lot of coffee throughout the day, can throw off our mental state. It’s critical to examine every aspect of our day-to-day life if things don’t feel right.
Keeping our hormones in check allows us to function at our absolute best, mentally and physically, at all times. This means that as adults and as parents, we are always ready for whatever our kiddos throw our way.
Having the physical and mental stamina to keep up with kids is crucial to a healthy and happy home. So keeping our hormones in line is vital.
Essential Oils to the Rescue
Essential oils have been used for hundreds of years by communities and indigenous tribes to help alleviate ailments and even repel mosquitoes and even other insects.
Thankfully, they can even help us balance out our hormones. Experts have done intense studies that point to essential oils helping balance out hormones.
Keep in mind that if left untreated long enough, prescription medications and certain lifestyle changes may also be necessary. Still, essential oils can be added to your daily routine to help with this issue.
Essential Oils for Hormone Balance
There are a few oils that you can use to help combat hormone imbalance. While they each perform different tasks when used as a blend together, these oils help alleviate a lot of symptoms:
- Lemon: antibacterial and helps relieve swelling in the body
- Grapefruit: helps boost mood and stimulate cognitive functioning
- Bergamot: helps to reduce inflammation and boost mood
- Lavender: essential for its calming ability and can aid in going to sleep
- Atlas Cedarwood: helps strengthen the nervous system and arteries
- Peppermint: great for reducing inflammation in the body and stimulating the mind
- Mandarin: helps alleviate anxiety and reduce inflammation in joints
The Best Places To Apply Essential Oils
Different areas of the body can aid in alleviating hormone imbalances in various areas. The top areas to apply essential oils to help aid in hormone balancing are:
- Liver
- Neck and shoulders
- Behind the ears
- Wrists
- Over the thyroid or adrenal glands
- Bottom of the feet
Again, the best use of these hormone-balancing essential oils is in blends. Each separately can help one specific aspect, but creating a blend of oils will be able to tackle multiple facets of hormonal imbalances at once.
We’ve Got a Better Solution
Generally, kids don’t like the texture of oils and lotions rubbed into their skin. We have to fight, wrestle, beg and sometimes even bribe them to put even a small amount on their skin.
Even if these tactics work, kids usually wait for us to turn around and then rub the oils clean off. Not to mention the fact that most of the oils and lotions only last an hour or two before you have to reapply.
However, with patches from The Natural Patch Co., you have relief for eight hours at a time and you never have to worry about kids rubbing them off. Why? Our stickers go on clothes, not on skin. Kids love stickers and won’t want to take them off (which all parents who have packed birthday party goodie bags know).
Plus, we have many options to ensure your specific needs are met. Each of our stickers is full of all-natural essential oils in the perfect blend to fit your needs.
If you have trouble controlling your stress and anxiety levels, add our ZenPatch to your outfit in the morning, and your mood will be chill all day.
Many times, hormone imbalances can lead to insomnia. If this is something you have trouble with, add our SleepyPatch to your pajamas. The lavender-based blend will have you catching zzz’s fast.
Stress eating is something a lot of people deal with. Not to mention that weight gain can be a side effect of a hormone imbalance, and it can be hard to lose the extra pounds.
Adding our CravePatch to your clothing can help you curb bad habits with food and get your diet back on track with ease.
No Matter What Hormone Imbalance Looks Like for You
No matter what role hormone imbalances play in your life, the bottom line is this. Essential oils have been proven to be effective against these hormonal issues, and relief is easy to get.
With essential oil-infused stickers and patches, you’re one fun sticker away from an essential boost to your day-to-day routine.
Sources:
Hormones: What They Are, Function & Types | ClevelandClinic
Hormone Imbalance | Lucas Research
Focus: Plant-based Medicine and Pharmacology: Essential Oils and Health | PMC
