Essential oils are great for so many reasons. They have been used for hundreds of years as solutions to unpleasant odors, for homeopathic remedies, and have even proven effective as repellent to certain bugs.
Essenial oils stem from from plants, nuts and seeds that have beneficial properties in them. These range from anti-fungals to natural antibiotics, anti-virals and compounds that calm the nervous system. The scents themselves are also lovely to have around the house so that you do not have to spray air freshener or light candles (two products that can protentially harm the nervous system if not natural).
How to Use Essential Oils for Sleep
To include essential oils in your sleep schedule and routine, you can do it in a few different ways. You should choose which scents you better prefer and also make sure you do not have an allergic reaction to any of them before jumping in bed and having them around all night.
To see what kind of reaction you will have on your skin, it is best to do a skin patch test first. You can do this by rubbing a bit of the oil on your wrist or the soft spot where your elbow bends.
You may want to try applying an oil to your skin paired with a carrier oil like coconut, jojoba, avocado or even olive oil to dilute the essential oil. Some oils are very potent and will burn your skin if you apply them directly so always use your oils mixed with a carrier.
You can choose which essential oils you want to use for sleep and create a mixture of them with the carrier oil and rub it directly on your arms or neck. You can also diffuse the oils in a diffuser and allow the aroma to circulate through the air.
Your other option if you do not want to directly apply the oils to your skin or to diffuse them in the room would be to to put them lightly on your pillow before sleep. This way you can implement essential oils into your sleep schedule to help you fall asleep more easily and stay asleep.
5 Essential Oils for Better Sleep
1. Lavender
Lavender is a go-to essential oil for sleep. You really can’t go wrong stocking up on a few bottles of this oil. Lavender is anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and also possesses calming properties. Not to mention, it smells great.
If you like the smell of lavender then you can diffuse this in your room as a room freshener. As a result, it will also help calm you down and prepare you for sleep. Whether you are stressed and worried, or if you just need help winding down in the evenings, lavender essential oil will help you feel relaxed and calm enough to nod off to sleep.
2. Chamomile
Chamomile is probably not a surprise for you to see here as many are already used to drinking tea with chamomile before sleeping. It is a natural relaxant and helps to calm down your anxiety and stress levels.
Chamomile is also great for your digestion and helps to keep you more regulated. This will help to free you from upset stomach in the evening and potential heartburn.
If you suffer from seasonal allergies like hay fever, you may find that chamomile helps to deal with those symptoms. You’ll notice that you are less congested and can breathe easier through the night, hopefully without snoring and waking your partner.
3. Valerian Root
Valerian root essential oil has historically been used to help not just with normal sleep patterns but particularly insomnia. If you are having chronic sleep issues or you are unable to sleep through the evening, you may have insomnia. This oil could be extremely beneficial to you as well as for cats (That’s right! Valerian is safe for cats!).
Valerian root has not been completely proven to solve anxiety and depression issues, but many studies suggest that it can. In many cases, it has been seen that both depression and anxiety have been alleviated thanks to the use of Valerian root.
4. Bergamot
Bergamont is actually in the citrus family and native to Italy, and has been used for a variety of things including sleep and skin care. Bergamont has been shown in studies to even help alleviate some of the most difficult skin conditions when paired with UV light.
Bergamont has also been used to help keep parasites at bay (and that includes lice)! So it may be good to put a little on your pillow and your hair brush from time to time.
Bergamont has great calming properties and promotes relaxation of the body. It is often used as an anti-anxiety herb as it can help calm you down and truly relax before bed time.
5. Ylang Ylang
Ylang Ylang is a great oil to help you get a pleasant sleep. Similar to bergamot, it can also help prevent lice from wanting to crawl into your hair, so if you have kids around, be sure to put some on their brush before they head off to school!
Ylang-ylang is great for you if you have high blood pressure, and since it lowers your blood pressure, you will feel that your body is more relaxed. Ylang Ylang can also be used as an antibacterial for cuts, scrapes or burns. Just be sure to use it with a carrier oil if your skin is really sensitive.
While there are many causes for poor relaxation and sleep, there are also many solutions. If you would like to try natural remedies for yourself, it’s good to take a look at your routine and see what changes need to be made.
You can add essential oils easily into any routine by simply diffusing them in your room or placing them on your pillow and blankets. You can also safely apply them with a carrier oil to your skin and they will have the same effects on your body to ensure you get that solid sleep you really need.
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