Have you ever had a long day at work/school and the one thing that gets you through the hectic day is the though of you, laying on your soft, cool bed and getting a good night’s rest. Sigh.
We all know that our daily night’s rest (a.k.a sleep) is good for the body. But sometimes, it can be hard to fall asleep. If you’ve tried everything possible to help your sleeping habits, and nothing seems to change, essential oils can help.
It can help for anxiety too. According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, anxiety is a feeling of worry, unease, or nervousness, usually about an imminent event or an uncertain outcome.
Anxiety usually comes with a racing heart or an increased blood pressure and it feels like your body is in a “flight or fight” mode, even where there’s no real danger.
But what are these essential oils?
Essential oils are literally plant extracts. They are produced by steaming or pressing various parts of a plant —it could be flowers, bark, leaves or fruit— to retrieve the compounds that produce fragrance.
In addition to producing a soothing scent, essential oils perform other functions in plants too. The practice of using essential oils for therapeutic benefit is known as Aromatherapy.
If you’re craving some calm for your sleeping habits or anxiety, here are some essential oils that can help you out:
Jasmine Oil:
A 2010 study has compared jasmine oil to valium in terms of aiding sleep. So before you pop that sleeping pill, try a whiff (or two) of jasmine oil for a good night’s rest. This oils smells sweet, floral and warm.
Lavender Oil:
Research has shown that lavender helps reduce the time it takes for one to fall asleep. This essential oil is also known for increasing restorative, slow-wave sleep and improving sleep duration. Lavender oil is comparable to benzodiazepines and is a better, natural alternative for relieving anxiety. This oil smells light, earthy and herby.
Valerian Oil:
The valerian flowering plant is popular among individuals suffering from insomnia, particularly because it’s a very accessible plant with little side effects. Additionally, valerian root in tea form has been known to be highly beneficial for sleep. This oil smells earthy and vanilla-like.
Sandalwood Oil:
The Indian sandalwood is notorious for its sedative effects and boosting relaxation in individuals who get a whiff of it. The Australian sandalwood is also known for lowering stress and one’s blood pressure. Sandalwood usually smells woodsy, sweet and floral.
Chamomile Oil:
The calming effects of chamomile oil towards sleep is more general than specific. This oil’s properties is better activated when it is diffused in the air and the delicate floral aroma has a calming and relaxing effect on the mind. Roman chamomile with its fresh, apple-like fragrance is excellent for warding off anxiety. Charmomile has a herbal, sweet and smokey scent.
Peppermint Oil:
This oil is great for encouraging restfulness by clearing your mind, both figuratively and literally as the pleasant smell peppermint oil can be relaxing. This oil is also good for relieving one of any seasonal allergies or dust sensitivity. So be sure to add a drop or two of peppermint oil to your diffuser for a relaxing and satisfying sleep.
Ylang Ylang:
It might not be as potent as lavender oil for sleep remedy but ylang ylang shouldn’t be looked down upon. Ylang ylang lowers heart rate and blood pressure —just like lavender oil, thus effectively setting the body up for sleep. This oil gives off a very fruity and pleasing aroma.
Tips for using essential oils
- It is important to choose the right oil for your needs because essential oils serve different needs. In a nutshell, scents are a personal preference. Choose what makes you happy and calm.
- If you don’t want to topically use your essential oil (i.e. rubbing into the skin), you can put some drops into a diffuser, into your bath water, on your pillow or mattress just before going to bed, or into your body lotion.
