Are you feeling sad, hopeless, or maybe worried and afraid or your feelings are more intensive than usual? Take a moment and think about it. We live in uncertain and stressful times, where the coronavirus pandemic has taken over the news, our everyday life, and our mental health. However, facing chronic stress is not a new thing and many have been experiencing it long before COVID-19.
Having ups and downs and concerns over certain things in life is normal, but if you are experiencing symptoms that last for two weeks or more, it may be an indication that you are struggling with too much stress, anxiety, or maybe both. If you’re going through a difficult time and feeling overwhelmed, make sure to talk to a therapist who can determine your condition and suggest the right treatment.
If you’re looking for natural ways to ease symptoms, essential oils might be exactly what you need. You can find a huge selection of anti stress essential oils and choose your favourite scent. They are concentrated plant extracts that can help enhance your mood, improve sleep, and reduce stress levels. Aromatherapy is a nice and safe way to release negative emotions and make a significant change in your daily life.
List of Essential Oils for Stress Relief and Anxiety
There are many essential oils like Revive that can help you fight stress and anxiety or you can use them to improve sleep or to balance your mood while meditating. And while scientific evidence for some of their uses is lacking, research is ongoing and we can learn more about the benefits they provide for our overall health and well-being. Here are some of the most often used anxiety and stress essential oils and a brief introduction to each one of them.
Lavender
There are many different uses of lavender oil and creating an overall calming effect on the body is one of them. Lavender is one of the main choices of essential oils for anxiety with a floral, aromatic scent and herbal or woody undertone.
Frankincense
Coming from the resin of the Boswellia tree, this is an essential oil with a musky and sweet scent. Frankincense oil provides a soothing aromatic experience that may help manage stress and reduce anxiety.
Ylang Ylang
This essential oil has a sweet floral aroma and is a great choice if you want to rest without any sedative effect as it can create a relaxing effect and lower blood pressure, so you can enjoy it fully.
Clary Sage
This is a flowering herb with a floral but mildly earth scent, best known for its effect on cortisol, the stress hormone. It can be used for decreasing the level of cortisol and creating a calming effect, therefore lowering the risk for anxiety and depression.
Rose
Distilled from the rose flower, this stress essential oil is known for its gentle floral aroma and the stress-reducing properties it carries. It’s known to relax the senses and lower levels of anxiety and pain.
Geranium
A sweet, floral aroma comes from the geranium essential oil distilled from the plant with the same name, which is known for its sedative properties.
Jasmine
If you like the smell of the jasmine plant, then you will surely enjoy this essential oil derived from the white flowers of the plant. It’s part of the anti stress essential oils options with its calming and uplifting properties, and as such can help improve overall mood. It’s a good choice if you are looking for a scent that can calm the nervous system without causing sleepiness.
Bergamot
This is an anxiolytic essential oil. It’s sourced from the peel of Citrus bergamia, hence the citrus aroma it has. It may help reduce stress and promote relaxation and positive feelings.
Chamomile
If you’ve ever had chamomile tea, then you are familiar with the sedative effects of the chamomile plant. It has relaxation properties that can help improve sleep thanks to its pleasant scent that promotes calmness.
Sandalwood
The East Indian sandalwood tree is considered one of the most valuable trees on Earth and its wood and roots are the sources of the sandalwood essential oil. It has a warm and earthy scent and features anxiolytic properties.
Vetiver
This essential oil is steam distilled from the vetiver plant and is most often used as an addition to a bedtime routine to calm the nervous system and help with sleep. Also, it can be used to alleviate feelings of stress.
Marjoram
Used in traditional medicine to treat nervousness, these days the marjoram essential oil is mostly used to ease headaches caused by high levels of stress and anxiety as well.
Use Essential Oils Carefully
There are many different ways to relieve stress and anxiety, but when it comes to using anti stress essential oils, it’s very important to follow the specific instructions for each product you try. As previously mentioned, they are highly concentrated oils and it’s very important to use them with great caution, especially if trying them for the first time.
There are a few different ways to use essential oils, from applying them topically to diluting with water and inhaling the scent. If applying your essential oil topically, make sure to use it in moderation and the best thing to do before you start is to test the product on a small area of skin to identify a potential reaction.
Regardless of which essential oils for stress you are using, keep in mind that they must be diluted with a carrier oil first, such as coconut, almond or jojoba. If you opt for inhaling them, then make sure you are in a room that’s well ventilated. And remember that essential oils are not safe to be ingested as they may cause significant poisoning.
Before using any, talk to your doctor first as he or she may recommend another treatment, more suitable to your condition and your needs. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have any underlying medical condition, make sure to consult your doctor before indulging in aromatherapy same as if you are thinking about using essential oils on children. Lastly, keep in mind that not all of them are created equal, so always buy from a reputable source and read the product description thoroughly.
