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Aromatherapy for Anxiety: 7 Essential Oils for Calming

Over 40 million U.S. adults suffer from anxiety. Many are seeking natural solutions such as aromatherapy to relieve symptoms.

Aromatherapy uses natural substances like herbs and flowers to enhance the body’s natural healing mechanisms. The healing power of plants and flowers is extracted into essential oils which are the main ingredients in aromatherapy.

The ancient Egyptians used essential oils to preserve the bodies of the pharaohs. During World War II, essential oils were used to help treat injured soldiers at a time when medicine was scarce.

As I said, powerful stuff!

Essential oils, once inhaled, stimulate the limbic region of the brain helping to regulate stress, breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, and even hormones.

Use aromatherapy in the following ways:
  • Hot water vapors
  • Directly inhaling the scent from a bottle, inhaler, or drops placed nearby
  • Essential oil infused perfume, soaps, lotions with essential oils that are absorbed into the skin
  • Vaporizers
  • Humidifiers
  • Aromatherapy diffusers

Aromatherapy for Anxiety: 7 Best Essential Oils

Use one or a combination of these oils to enhance results when using aromatherapy.

Lavender

Lavender is the rock star of essential oils when it comes to reducing anxiety symptoms because of its calming effect on the mind and body. Sleep, irritability, panic attacks, and general tension can be improved by using lavender essential oil.

Lavender has a remarkable ability to lower stress and anxiety of those about to undergo surgery and dental procedures.

Bergamot

Anyone who’s had Earl Grey tea knows the pleasant floral taste and aroma of bergamot. This same ingredient that gives Earl Grey its distinctive taste plays a double agent for inducing relaxation and improving sleep. Two things anxiety sufferers struggle with regularly.

Chamomile

Famous for calming the mind and helping induce sleep, Chamomile is clinically proven to ease anxiety symptoms.

Frankincense

The next time you get anxious, try some meditation, and don’t forget the frankincense-infused incense. That’s right, the same essential oil used to anoint Christ two thousand years ago, provides calm tranquility, and even pain, and depression relief.

Ylang Ylang

If lavender oil is the rock star of essential oils for relieving anxiety then Ylang Ylang is the cheerleader. Using Ylang Ylang as part of your aromatherapy routine will uplift you, provide courage, build optimism, and dampen fear.

Vetiver

Panic attacks are, in most cases, the main identifying symptom of anxiety disorders. Put panic attacks in their place by using aromatherapeutic infusions using Vetiver. A Natural Product Research Study links vetiver essential oils to lowering anxiety in lab rats.

Rose

Second most popular essential oil, next to lavender, for relieving anxiety and depression. A study published in the Iranian Crescent Medical Journal showed rose oil's effectiveness in calming anxiety in pregnant women.


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