How to Use Essential Oils to Relieve Stress and Anxiety?

There might be times when you want to release all the fatigue after a long tiring day at work, school, or even at home. Over time, all sorts of essential oils for different purposes have emerged. Here is everything you need to know about essential oils as tools to ease stress and anxiety.

What Are Essential Oils?

Through distillation, essential oils can be obtained from plants. Plant components can be extracted, including leaves, flowers, and roots. In addition to being used as smells for consumers and natural products, one can also use it for health. Aromatherapy is used to improve health.

How Does Aromatherapy Work?

These oils can derive various medical and therapeutic benefits. They can be a valuable product in your medicine cabinet due to their antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral characteristics.

According to one theory, essential oils can activate your nose's scent receptors and send messages to your nervous system. This idea explains why some scents can evoke memories and generate strong emotions.

Some think essential oils can slightly impact the body's energy and chemical systems. Ongoing research and studies have shown possible uses such as managing pain, helping digestion, and reducing stress and anxiety.

What Essential Oils Are Best for Anxiety?

1. Sandalwood

Diffusing Sandalwood before meditation is popular in helping to manage feelings of fear and anxiety. Sandalwood oil proved beneficial in lowering participants' anxiety, according to a small study from 2006. The outcomes seemed promising, although the respondents were small.

Others call it liquid gold; Australian Sandalwood is a highly powerful essential oil with a slightly sweet, woody, and grounding fragrance.

Here's one you can try:

Australian Sandalwood Essential Oil

2. Lavender

Lavender is one of the most famous ones for beginners and experts. A 2013 study demonstrated that applying a three percent lavender oil spray on garments can lower stress at work. It also has anti-anxiety properties and can create an overall calming effect.

There are various uses for lavender, which has a floral, gentle, and balancing scent. You can mix it with other products or oils, put a few drops into a diffuser, or apply it directly to your skin.

Here's one you can try:

Lavender Essential Oil

What Essential Oils Are Best for Stress?

1. Bergamot

It is known for being a stress-soother that promotes emotional balance and other benefits. Bergamot is known for its aroma, which is sweet, fruity, and citrusy. Along with other positives, it is famous for being a stress-soother that improves emotional balance.

Topical use is not recommended as it can burn your skin if you're under the sun. It is best used by inhaling directly or through a diffuser.

Here's one you can try:

Bergamot Essential Oil

2. Ylang Ylang

This one is known for its sweet and floral scent. It has properties that may help ease both anxiety and stress. Ylang Ylang can also be a mood-lifter and an aphrodisiac. It can be inhaled directly using a tissue or room diffuser. Applying to the skin is also safe when diluted.

Here's one you can try:

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

Ways to Use Essential Oils

As mentioned above, it can activate the nose's scent receptors. Here are ways to use them correctly.

1. Inhaling Directly

This method is a common way to use these oils. You can also put it on your palm or cotton ball. Then smell it or let the scent disperse. Be careful, as some oils are not supposed to touch the skin.

2. Use a Diffuser or a Humidifier.

Diffusers can release essential oils into the air. You can use several kinds of diffusers for this. Always read and follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

essential oil diffuser — Essential oil aroma diffuser humidifier diffusing water articles in the air.

3. Dilute

For this, also known as the steam method, a basin of hot water and a towel are needed. Add a few drops of essential oil and set the bowl on the table. Put a towel over the bowl and your head. For several minutes, close your eyes and take long, deep breaths of the steam. Then, repeat these a couple of times.

4. Topical

Apply a mixture of diluted essential oils and carrier oil to your skin. You can gently massage the oil into pressure areas like your wrists, third eye, and temples. Additionally, you can apply a few drops of the oils to your nose and use them to massage your feet.

You may also use essential oils in your preferred toners, serums, and muscle rubs. However, always remember first to dilute the essential oil in a carrier oil.

Conclusion

Aromatherapy may reduce anxiety, according to a study, but it cannot replace a visit with a healthcare provider for chronic anxiety that interferes with your daily activities. But if you've had a difficult day at work or are anxious about a crucial appointment, an aromatherapy session or two can be just what you need.