Essential oils are scented liquids that are made from flowers, plants, and fruits. According to research, aromatherapy with some essential oils may be of aid for anxiety and for encouraging relaxation.
Essential oils have been used for centuries and their usage dates to the Biblical days when myrrh and frankincense were mentioned as the oils that Jesus was anointed with upon his birth.
Essential Oils: Natural Relief for Anxiety?
Anxiety is a common problem for a lot of people today. In a study from 2014 done by the American College of Healthcare Sciences, 58 patients got hand massages once per day for a period of one week with a blend of essential oils diluted with almond oil.
They reported feeling less depressed and less pain. Below, check out the best essential oils for encouraging relaxation and reducing anxiety.
Five Best Essential Oils for Anxiety Relief
Rose
Rose essential oil aromatherapy can help with grief, shock, and panic attacks.
In one study done with women who were pregnant for the first time and published in the Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, the ones who got a 10-minute inhalation and footbath with this oil experienced reduction in their anxiety when compared to the control group.
Lavender
Lavender oil has a very relaxing and calming effect. It promotes healthy sleep, reduces tension and irritability, and helps relieve anxiety naturally.
Numerous studies have been done to determine this oil’s positive effect on anxiety. Lavender was also found beneficial in lowering anxiety in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery and during dentist’s visits.
If you want to use it for relaxation, add it to your diffuser, bathwater, or mix it with water in a spray bottle.
It’s excellent in combination with other essential oils like chamomile or geranium. Topical application is also an option. You can massage it onto the wrists, back of the neck, and temples.
Bergamot
Bergamot essential oil possesses calming properties and it helps with depression by boosting energy levels. It may also be of aid for insomnia and anxiety by encouraging the body’s relaxation.
Although it’s generally safe for use, it’s a photosensitizing oil which means that it elevates the chance for rashes and sunburns. This is why its use isn’t recommended within twelve hours of sun exposure.
Chamomile
Chamomile oil has a calming and peaceful scent and it soothes the inner harmony and lowers irritability, anxiety, and overthinking.
According to a study done by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, chamomile essential oil showed quality antidepressant activity.
In another study published in the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health journal, it was found that chamomile capsules helped alleviate the symptoms of anxiety.
Vetiver
This essential oil has a reassuring and tranquil effect and it’s used for increasing calmness and self-awareness. It lowers jitteriness and hypersensitivity and it can also be of aid in minimizing shock and panic attacks.
Another study from the Natural Product Research journal concluded that vetiver oil successfully relieved anxiety symptoms in lab mice.
Sources: