One idea for how aromatherapy works is that essential oils stimulate the smell receptors in your nose, which then transmit messages to your nervous system. Some people believe that essential oils can have a modest effect on the body’s chemical and energy processes. As a result, aromatherapy is a widely spread natural medicine that helps ease anxiety and stress.
Aromatherapy essential oils are commonly used through topical treatments and inhalation. Despite internet promises to the contrary, essential oils should never be consumed. There hasn’t been enough research done on any one essential oil to establish it’s safe to consume. Each essential oil is unique, and some are even dangerous.
Valerian
Valerian is a plant that has been used since the beginning of time. Valerian essential oil is extracted from the plant’s roots and has a strong aroma that can be described as woody, earthy, or musky. This aroma may be unpleasant to some people, however, it is known to include chemicals that help you sleep and calm your tensions. It has the potential to have a modest sedative impact on the body. As a result, it is frequently used as a sleeping aid.
Multiple studies concluded that using valerian as an anxiety supplement resulted in beneficial results for your well-being. For the best result, add a few drops of valerian oil to an aromatherapy diffuser. Valerian can make you sleepy and relaxed. In addition to helping with sleep and anxiety, valerian can also aid with headaches, shaking, and heart palpitations.
Clary Sage
Salvia sclarea or clary sage is a Mediterranean Basin native flowering herb. The pure sage oil derived from the plant’s leaves and buds has a clean, refreshing perfume that can be used as a skin balm or inhaled softly as part of an aromatherapy treatment.
It has been further studied to see if it can be used as an antidepressant. One study found that clary sage oil could help with depression by acting as an anti-stressor. Another study with menopausal women found that inhaling quality clary sage 100 pure essential oil helped decrease cortisol, the stress hormone, and had an antidepressant-like effect.
To reap the benefits, simply dilute the oil in gentle carrier oil and rub onto the desired area of your body. Clary sage oil’s natural chemical components are among the most soothing and tranquil ingredients, making it a great oil for a soothing belly massage throughout the menstrual cycle.
Lavender
One of the most popular aromatherapy oils is lavender. It smells sweet and floral, with a woody or herbal undertone and appeals to the senses of almost everyone for that reason. Anxiety can be relieved by using lavender oil. It also has a sedative effect and may help with sleep disturbances such as high levels of stress. Though it should be part of everyone’s home medicine cabinet, you can easily substitute it with the beneficial clary sage 100 pure essential oil because of the similar aroma.
According to a 2012 study, lavender aromatherapy is supposed to reduce anxiety by influencing the limbic system, the area of the brain that regulates emotions. And then a 2019 meta-analysis looked at 71 trials that used lavender to treat anxiety. It was discovered that inhaling lavender might dramatically reduce anxiety levels as evaluated by a clinically established scale. Massages with lavender oil have also been shown to be beneficial.
To prepare a calming lavender bath, mix several drops of lavender oil with a teaspoon of carrier oil, such as almond or jojoba oil, or an unscented bath gel. Just before taking the bath, stir the mixture into the heated water. In addition to reducing anxiety, lavender oil can be used for a variety of other purposes. Some examples include using it as part of a skincare program to treat problems such as dermatitis, acne, and burns. It may also aid in the relief of muscle and headache discomfort.
Jasmine
Jasmine oil has a lovely floral aroma and is commonly found in perfumes and other beauty products. Jasmine is also used as a foundation for a variety of teas. Inhaling jasmine oil, according to a 2013 study, can increase feelings of well-being and passion. Jasmine oil, unlike some other essential oils used to treat anxiety, is supposed to relax the nervous system without creating sleepiness. It can have a stimulating effect on some people. In 2017, researchers investigated the effects of jasmine extract, and it was discovered that small doses of jasmine extract considerably reduced anxiety.
You can inhale jasmine oil directly from the bottle, by dabbing a few drops onto a tissue and inhaling, or by dabbing a few drops on your skin and using it as a natural perfume. You can inhale jasmine oil directly from the bottle, by dabbing a few drops on a tissue and inhaling, or by placing the tissue in your pillowcase while sleeping. You may also use a diffuser to allow the aroma to fill the space. Jasmine is also known to be an aphrodisiac, and in a combination with other oils known for their associations with romance, like aromatic clary sage 100 pure essential oil, ylang-ylang, sandalwood and rose, you can create your own mixture of love potion. Diffuse it in a diffuser and fill your home with the smell of love!
Eucalyptus
This essential oil is a purifying, cleansing, clarifying, and immune-boosting oil that can be used on the skin, in aromatherapy, as a surface cleaner, and as a fabric freshener. There are over 500 kinds of eucalyptus used in the manufacture of essential oils. They all have similar healing properties and a distinctive fresh, camphoraceous aroma, however, some are more potent than others.
The main source of eucalyptus oil is the Eucalyptus globulus species, also known as “Blue Gum.” Because of its antibacterial characteristics, surgeons began using eucalyptus oil in surgeries in the 1880s. The healing effects of eucalyptus oil include anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, decongestant, deodorant, and antiseptic characteristics, among others. Eucalyptus is still a popular essential oil that is used in vapour rubs, balms, rash creams, inhalers, ointments, and dental hygiene products to strengthen the respiratory system, improve oral health, and relieve physical discomforts.
I encourage you to give these oils a try, and the many more that didn’t make it to the list such as rose or frankincense oil and its use. And remember, the world of new sensory experience is just a sniff away!
