Essential Oils for Stress Relief and Sleep
Posted: June 28, 2019 | By: Stacy Croninger
Stress affects everyone and can have a negative effect on your mental health, as well as your physical health. That is why it is important to find ways to reduce stress in your day to day life so you can feel more motivated, which is essential for living a balanced life.
According to Psychology Today, “the olfactory nerve gives us our sense of smell and starts from our nose and enters the skull through tiny holes to connect directly to the brain. This nerve sends signals almost instantaneously to many parts of the brain, including the limbic system and amygdala, which are in charge of emotions, mood, and memory. These systems are also in charge of regulating our autonomic nervous system, which can either trigger a fight-or-flight response, quickening our breath, heart rate and raising our blood pressure, or can soothe us through turning on the parasympathetic nervous system, which relaxes our bodies. This theory helps explain why scents can so quickly trigger physical reactions in our bodies and have lasting effects after the scent is gone. Essential oils like lavender have even been shown to interact the same way biochemically that many anti-anxiety medications do on neuroreceptors.”
Essential oils are a great way to de-stress. They can be diffused, applied to pressure points (with appropriate carrier oils like grapeseed and jojoba), added to baths, and several other options.
There are several essential oils that can help reduce stress and aid with sleep. Here are a few to get you started.
Lavender
Lavender essential oil is known for its calming effects, which can aid in reducing anxiety and depression. This oil also works well for promoting healthy sleep and can aid in issues with insomnia. In addition, studies have shown that using lavender oil in aromatherapy can calm the nervous system, which can lower blood pressure. Youngevity carries a Lavender Chamomile Essential Oil Blend, to promote the benefits of lavender essential oil, as well as the soothing effects of chamomile essential oil.
Frankincense
Frankincense essential oil has been used for thousands of years. During ancient times, this oil was commonly used in medicinal practice. Today we use this oil for a number of reasons, such as pain relief, as an anti-inflammatory, and as an immunity booster. But, frankincense also has properties that reduce stress and anxiety, and can immediately produce feelings of peace and relaxation.
Ylang Ylang
Ylang Ylang essential oil is often used in aromatherapy to fight depression. This oil also helps lower blood pressure and acts as a sedative, which helps you relax as well as sleep.
Clary Sage
While most people think of Clary Sage essential oil for helping with women’s health issues, it is great for helping reduce stress by helping to induce a sense of well-being. Try inhaling this essential oil the next time you need help relaxing.
Youngevity carries all of these excellent stress-reducing oils, as well as a number of blends that promote relaxation, such as To Be At Peace blend, which is a sweet-smelling and peaceful blend that can be diffused, used in a bath, used in a mist, or applied to a tissue and slipped between the pillowcase and pillow for relaxation and induced sleep. For on-the-go options, several of these oils are available in roller bottles that are mixed with a carrier oil for easy application.
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