Clary sage oil is one of the best essential oils for balancing women’s hormones at all ages. It improves menstrual pain, improves PMS and regulates the menstrual cycle. At the same time, it also helps hot flashes and other menopausal disturbances. Adding it to coconut oil or olive oil and rubbing the abdomen relieves cramping and spasms. It can stimulate menstrual flow so should not be used during pregnancy.
Clary sage oil is a natural sedative and calms the nervous system. It is especially helpful for stress, depression, and insomnia. Studies have shown it to promote relaxation during childbirth and ease the pain of labor. It contains high levels of esters that help relax muscular spasms and improves pain related to stress and nervous tension. Using the oil in a diffuser or on a cotton ball to inhale its wonderful fragrance will give you these health benefits.
The Journal of Phytotherapy Research published a study showing that inhalation of clary sage oil reduces cortisol by 36 percent. It also improved thyroid hormone levels. Twenty-two post-menopausal women in their 50s, some with depression, participated in the study. The report states that “clary sage oil had a statistically significant effect on lowering cortisol and had an anti-depressant effect improving mood.”
The relaxing effects of clary sage can open the blood vessels and increase blood circulation. This allows it to lower blood pressure naturally by relaxing the arteries. Recent research showed that a group using clary sage oil experienced a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure when compared with the control group and with a group using lavender oil. Diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly compared with the lavender oil group.
They also observed a significant decrease in the respiratory rate compared with the control group in the study. The relaxation also extends to the bronchial tubes of the lungs. Clary sage oil helps treat respiratory ailments like colds, bronchitis, and sore throat and asthma.
Clary sage oil is often used to improve vision and help tired or strained eyes. The clary sage plant (salvia sclarea) is a close relative of the common garden sage. A perennial herb, it is native to the northern Mediterranean, and parts of North Africa and Central Asia. It has a long history as a medicinal herb and gets its name from the Latin word “clarus,” which means “clear.” As with most other essential oils, clary sage oil should be diluted with a carrier oil like coconut oil or olive oil.
Always make sure that you only use therapeutic grade essential oils like Clary Sage 100% Pure, Best Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil – 10ml. (As an Amazon Associate I earn a small amount from qualifying purchases.)
In spite of clary sage’s benefits, it should never be used if you’re consuming alcohol or taking any narcotics. With its powerful sedative properties, clary sage oil can enhance the intoxicating and narcotic effects of alcohol and drugs. People with low blood pressure should also avoid using this herbal oil because of its blood pressure lowering effects. Consult a physician or an experienced aromatherapist before using clary sage oil internally.
Read on for more health benefits and ways to use clary sage oil below!
Benefits of Clary Sage Oil
Regular sage oil (Salvia officinalis) and clary sage oil possess similar therapeutic properties, but the former is often associated with adverse reactions. Aromatherapists prefer clary sage oil, and consider it safer.
Clary sage essential oil can help fight bacteria that may thrive in your digestive system, urinary tract, and excretory system. It exhibits moderate antibacterial activity against various strains of bacteria like the Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella, and Proteus mirabilis species,6 and potent antifungal activity against strains of Candida,7 Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium species.8
This essential oil can be particularly helpful for women because of its hormone-like components. In Europe, clary sage oil is employed to ease menopausal discomfort, menstrual pain, and regulate menstrual cycles. Due to its esters, it can help relax muscular spasms and pains that may arise from stress and nervous tension.9
The oil from the clary sage plant can also provide the following benefits to your health:
How to Make Clary Sage Oil
To produce the essential oil, clary sage herbs undergo steam distillation, and this process yields a colorless or pale yellowish-green oil, with a sweet, nutty, and balsamic aroma. The composition of the oil may differ depending on what species of Salvia is used for the extraction.
How Does Clary Sage Oil Work?
Clary sage oil can be used topically and inhaled. It can also be ingested, as the US Food and Drug Administration classifies it as generally safe for human consumption (GRAS) and approves it as an additive for foods.10 Below are some specific ways to enjoy clary sage oil benefits: