Essential oils have been used for hundreds of years for a variety of purposes. One of the uses for essential oils is to help with stress. Most of us undergo stress on a regular basis, whether it is our job, personal life, finances, and so on. It is good to have strategies to help with stress, and essential oils are an easy way to provide stress relief.
Lavender
Proven to lower the blood pressure and heart rate, and restore the nervous system, it is definitely a must-have for anyone’s home aromatherapy and first aid kits who’s prone to experiencing chronic stress. Its calming and soothing properties have long been known to humankind, so it’s no wonder it’s been around for hundreds of years for improving sleep, tension, headaches, migraines, and panic.
Moreover, besides calming one’s spirit, nerves, and improving the mood, it’s also part of the essential oils for anxiety that are famous for the antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. In this aspect, it comes in handy with treating insect bites, and lice, as much as acne, asthma, colds, and throat infections.
Ylang Ylang
If you’re looking for essential oils for stress relief that also prove to be helpful with elevating your mood, look no further than this one. In addition to being comforting and uplifting, taking its natural sedating properties into consideration, it’s great with beating feelings of depression, as well as anger and irritation. Once you start using it, you’d notice how easy it is to bid those negative emotions farewell!
German Chamomile
It’s not surprising this oil has found itself on the list, given that a cup of chamomile tea has long been used as the solution to calm the nerves. Things aren’t different with the essential oil, though given that German chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) has more of the beneficial chamazulene ingredient than the Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis), and that’s why it’s among the suggested options.
Since it’s great for promoting a sense of inner calm, you should include it in your oils for anxiety kit. Not only would it offer assistance when you need to calm your nervous system, and regulate your stress levels, but it would also prove to be of use with improving your digestion, curbing symptoms of allergies, as well as treating dry and sensitive skin.
Clary Sage
Inducing a state of well-being, this oil can help alleviate the effects of stress as it elicits feelings of relaxation and as such has been linked to the dopamine hormone. This isn’t the only benefit you can expect to reap from this amazing option which is part of the essential oils for depression. It’s in fact every woman’s best friend given that it’s key for easing menopausal symptoms and allowing for comfortable and carefree periods by reducing pain and cramps.
Lemon Balm
Also known by the name Melissa, and the mighty “elixir of life” that was commonly used in the past, this antioxidant essential oil has uplifting and medicinal properties. Calming the mind, reducing feelings of alertness, and reducing the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, are among the advantages it provides. Though they aren’t the only ones because it’s also great for immune boosting, increasing neuronal activity, and improving concentration. So long blue Mondays!
Neroli
If you want to relax both body and soul, you’ve got to include this oil among your list of essential oils for stress relief. Promoting calm, overall well-being, and putting excessive worrying to a halt, there’s no denying it’s just as helpful as the previous oils we’ve covered. There’s no surprise as to why the exotic fresh and sweet aroma that regulates the metabolic system and generates happy feelings has been part of the ancient Egyptians’ healing and purifying rituals centuries ago!
How Do I Start Using Essential Oils?
Let’s get one thing clear: just because essential oils are easily found pure and organic doesn’t mean they’re free of side-effects. Same as with medications, it’s important to learn as much as you can about them prior to using them, and stick to what specialists recommend, to be on the safe side. It doesn’t matter how many essential oils for stress relief you start with, so long as you implement the right strategies when making them part of your daily relaxing rituals.
Also – keep in mind that essential oils should generally not be used around pets. Do your research so that your pets stay safe.
Give Inhalation a Go
Okay, this has got to be one of the easiest ways to welcome aromatherapy into your day to day life. Simply open up the bottle of your favourite oil, inhale for a couple of minutes with deep breaths, and let the olfactory membrane in your nose do the job. Repeat several times throughout the day for best results!
Other ways you can surround yourself with the amazing scents of these potent natural remedies are adding a few drops on your bedding, a cotton ball to carry with you when out and about, or in the shower (add the cotton ball near the drain) for a refreshing experience. And, of course, for that ultimate spa-like result, reach for help from diffusers and vaporisers that would turn your oils into lovely air-fresheners too.
Dilute Then Apply Topically
Topical use has got to be one of the most effective approaches, though it can lead to unwanted skin irritation if handled without caution. Having in mind essential oils are highly concentrated, it’s crucial to dilute them using carrier oils. To ensure you don’t get any side-effects, it’s important to know the dilution ratios which are different for adults from those for children.
For instance, the one drop of essential oil diluted with five or more drops of the carrier oil of choice for adults equals to one drop of essential oil diluted with 10 or more drops of the carrier oil. While we’re at pieces of advice, read up the labels, avoid sensitive areas like eyes, broken skin, inner ears and inside the nose and store the oils away from direct sunlight. These are just a few heads-up for playing it safe to guarantees long and proper use of aromatherapy.
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