9 Best Essential Oils for Thyroid Health: Natural Remedies for Hyper & Hypothyroidism
Let’s be real—for thousands of years, people have been using essential oils to treat thyroid issues even when they had no clue what was actually going wrong with their bodies back then. Crazy, right? Your thyroid is such a underrated workhorse in your body, right? It’s the gland that pumps out triiodothyronine and thyroxine, the two hormones that basically run almost every single metabolic process you’ve got. Think about it: protein synthesis, vitamin absorption, tissue growth, cell development, even all those tiny little bodily functions you don’t think about every single day? All controlled by those two thyroid hormones.
And guess what? The amount of thyroid hormones your body makes is totally controlled by another hormone called thyroid-stimulating hormone, or TSH, which gets made in your pituitary gland right in your brain. It’s a super delicate balance, and it’s so easy to throw that off. I don’t have to tell you how messed up feeling when your thyroid is out of whack can be, am I right?
First off, if your thyroid is making too much hormone, that’s hyperthyroidism. Symptoms include that swollen gland in your neck, constant anxiety, jitteriness, excessive sweating, random muscle weakness, unexplained weight loss, weird heart palpitations, changes in your menstrual cycle, and trouble sleeping. This can be caused by stuff like Graves’ disease, toxic adenomas, thyroid cancer, or even pituitary gland problems. On the flip side, hypothyroidism is when your thyroid isn’t making enough hormones, and that brings its own garbage: weight gain, mood swings, constant exhaustion, constipation, hair loss, brain fog, and high cholesterol. Common causes here include iodine issues, lithium exposure, or autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s.
Now, don’t panic—there are formal medications and medical procedures for both of these conditions, but more and more people are turning to essential oils as a natural way to support their thyroid health. Let’s dive into the good stuff, shall we?
Full List of Essential Oils for Thyroid Health
Before we break this down by hyper and hypothyroidism, let’s quickly run down the top 9 oils that work best for supporting your thyroid overall: frankincense, lemongrass, myrtle, rosemary, geranium, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, and cedarwood. Got it? Good, let’s split this up so you can find what works for your specific situation.
Essential Oils for Hypothyroidism
Rosemary Essential Oil
Okay, rosemary oil is a total multitasker, okay? If you’re dealing with joint pain, hair loss, unexplained weight gain, or that constant tired fog that comes with low thyroid, this oil is your new best friend. It cuts down inflammation, helps stimulate healthy growth, and gives you a much-needed energy boost when you’re totally drained.
How do you use it? Well, you can rub a tiny drop directly into your scalp to help with hair growth, or mix it into a carrier oil blend for your skin. A lot of people swear by dabbing a single drop on the back of their neck or their temples for quick pain relief too. Super easy, no fancy tools required!
Myrtle Essential Oil
Here’s a hidden gem: myrtle oil. Unlike some oils that only fix one specific issue, this one is a total adaptogen. It doesn’t just slap a band-aid on your symptoms—it balances your whole body’s metabolism to get things back on track. That means it works for both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, which is pretty awesome, right?
My go-to uses? Put a couple drops between your palms, rub ’em together, and massage it into your neck and chest area. Or toss 5 drops into your bath water at night and just soak—total relaxation plus thyroid support. Win-win!
Geranium Essential Oil
Geranium oil has some serious superpowers: it’s got great antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. For anyone dealing with hypothyroidism, this is perfect because it helps calm down inflammation in your gut, blood vessels, and nerve pathways. That’s a big deal, since thyroid issues can mess with your digestive system a ton. It also helps fight off a lot of the common hypothyroidism symptoms too.
You can add a few drops to your regular lotion or skincare products so it gets absorbed really well, or dilute it with a carrier oil and rub it directly onto any sore or inflamed spots on your body. Super flexible!
Frankincense Essential Oil
Frankincense is basically the OG of wellness oils, and it’s amazing for thyroid health. Hypothyroidism can cause all kinds of random symptoms, from irritated skin to stomach cramps and constipation. This oil cuts down inflammation all over your body, helps kickstart your digestion, relieves constipation, and even boosts your brain function—hello, goodbye brain fog!
How to use it? You can dilute it with a carrier oil and rub it onto any inflamed areas, or if you get food-grade frankincense, you can take 1 to 2 drops straight for quick gut relief. Just make sure you’re using a pure, food-grade oil so you don’t run into any issues!
Essential Oils for Hyperthyroidism
Cedarwood Essential Oil
Hyperthyroidism is a little less common than the hypo version, but it’s just as annoying. If you’re dealing with this, cedarwood oil is a game-changer. It helps cut down excessive sweating, boosts your immune system, and has a super calming effect that helps you get a good night’s sleep—something that’s so hard when your heart is racing and you’re all jittery.
The best way to use it? Mix 4 or 5 drops with a carrier oil like almond oil, then gently massage it into your neck and chest. A lot of people also swear by putting a single drop on their pillow or their temples right before bed to help them relax and sleep better. Total game changer for insomnia!
Lemon Balm Essential Oil (Melissa)
Wait, hold on—this is often called lemon balm, not just lemon oil, okay? It’s packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, and it’s perfect for anyone dealing with the random stomach issues, anxiety, and weakness that come with hyperthyroidism. It also helps stimulate your appetite, which is a huge help if you’ve been losing weight without trying because of your overactive thyroid.
A lot of people pop a few drops into their diffuser throughout the day to keep their symptoms under control while they’re at work or hanging out at home. Super simple, and it makes your whole room smell fresh too!
Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil
If you’re dealing with hyperthyroidism, you know that anxiety, stress, insomnia, and crankiness are par for the course—plus a lot of people get irregular heartbeats too. Ylang-ylang oil is made for this! It instantly calms those jittery feelings, helps you feel grounded and relaxed, and also works with your cardiovascular system to keep your heart beating normally.
You can rub 3 or 4 drops onto your wrists and neck to get that soothing scent all day long, or toss a few drops into your diffuser for a whole-house calming treatment. Either way, you’ll feel way less stressed in no time.
Jasmine Essential Oil
Hyperthyroidism can mess with your head big time. Even if you feel like you’re buzzing with energy all the time, you’ll probably also deal with brain fog, exhaustion, and even depression sometimes. Jasmine oil is perfect here: it helps calm both your mind and your body, and it fights off that creeping depression that so many thyroid patients deal with.
My favorite way to use it is to run a diffuser in my bedroom right before bed. A lot of people also put a couple drops directly on their pillow to melt away stress while they sleep. It smells so lovely too—way better than that weird chemical air freshener!
Sage Essential Oil
When your thyroid is overactive, your brain can feel like it’s stuck on fast forward—you can’t shut off your thoughts, and falling asleep feels impossible. Sage oil is here to save the day! It’s super soothing and helps calm your anxiety and racing thoughts so you can finally relax.
There are a few easy ways to use it: you can rub a drop or two onto your skin at the start or end of your day, take a quick whiff straight from the bottle, or even add 2 or 3 drops to a pot of boiling water and breathe in the steam. It instantly calms your nerves and helps you slow down, I promise.
Important Safety Notes
Now, before you go running to grab every essential oil on this list, let’s talk real quick about safety. Essential oils can have a big impact on your hormone balance, especially when you’re already dealing with thyroid issues. And hey, if your thyroid is really out of whack, these oils aren’t going to replace proper medical care—seriously, if you think you have a thyroid problem, go see a doctor first! They can run tests and get you on the right track for serious cases of hyper or hypothyroidism.
Also, a lot of people have allergies to certain essential oils, especially if you have sensitive skin. Always do a patch test before using a new oil full-time, and dilute it properly with a carrier oil so you don’t irritate your skin. Better safe than sorry, right?
Scientific References
- https://europepmc.org/abstract/med/2986571
- https://www.kyu-dent.ac.jp/files/uploads/matsuzakironbun4.pdf
- https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4614-4310-0_39#page-1
- http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/9/10276
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2225411016301961
- http://www.juniperus.org/uploads/2/2/6/3/22639912/99-1991sprverlag159-173.pdf
- http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/act.2004.10.309
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0962456298800039
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=dSwS6Cbq7rsC&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=hyperthyroidism+jasmine+oil&ots=GiRlGKnYMm&sig=aIILTbuqLp8xQYFI9sRcfK92nm4#v=onepage&q&f=false
- https://bmccomplementalternmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6882-14-396
