Since stress and anxiety have become common issues in our everyday lives, everybody that leads such a fast and busy lifestyle wants to relax from time to time. One of the best ways to help you achieve that is through the use of aromatherapy and pure essential oils.
Essential oils have always been widely known for their calming and soothing effects. Hence, consider trying this method of relaxation whenever you are in need. Now, let’s learn a thing or two about essential oils and which ones are the best when it comes to relaxing.
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What Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are a gift from the earth. They are 100% natural products extracted from plants. There are many plants that have highly potent chemical compounds hidden in their roots, seeds flowers, or bark. These natural compounds are actually the pure natural essential oils. The essential oils give a plant its scent, protect it from hazardous environmental conditions, and may even assist it with pollination, among all the other important functions and benefits.
Later, these natural products are distilled in order to bring the power of nature into your home. These oils often have a much stronger smell than the plants they come from and contain higher levels of active ingredients. As a result, pure natural essential oils have numerous benefits including lifting the mood, helping you with insomnia, reducing pain and body aches, muscular aches, headaches, and many others.
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Manufacturers use them to create diverse products. For instance, the cosmetic and makeup manufacturers use essential oils to create perfumes, add fragrance to creams, body lotions and washes, and even as sources of natural antioxidants in some beauty care products. Then, natural medicine practitioners, such as aromatherapists, use these oils diffusing them into the air. But most commonly, they are used as part of relaxing massages. Professionals are massaging them into the skin to deliver the active compounds to the body.
All in all, you should know that not all plants produce essential oils. But from those that do, here are the ones that can help you relax and relieve stress when most needed.
The Best Essential Oils for Relaxation
Lavender
Lavender can be undoubtedly called the king of essential oils since it’s used for almost every purpose these oils have. Therefore, it’s one of the most common for relaxation too. Lavender oil is a must if you often experience stress and anxiety. It is prized for its calming effects on the body and mind.
Lavander oil has been proven to restore the nervous system by lowering the blood pressure and the heart rate. It has also been known to improve sleep and general wellbeing. Let’s not miss that it helps tone and revitalise the skin as well. It’s useful for all types of skin problems such as acne, oily skin, boils, burns, sunburn, wounds, etc. And seeing your skin in a great condition can also have a relaxing effect on you, don’t you think?
Source: Ecomodernessentials.com
Ylang Ylang
This is a substance long used in aromatherapy. It is extracted from the Indonesian Cananga tree. This essential oil is quite sedating. It helps promote feelings of comfort and joy, and may help with feelings of depression, irritation and anger. In addition, it simultaneously reduces heart rate and may help lower blood pressure. It has a calming effect on the nervous system as well. If you don’t like the smell of lavender, this can be a wonderful alternative.
Frankincense
This is an essential oil with a sweet and woody scent. Frankincense essential oil helps to overcome nervous fatigue, to unwind and ease stress, and stimulate and improve circulation. It is commonly used in meditation rituals since it helps deepen the breath and still the mind. Also, it is revered for its ability to beautify and revitalise the skin when applied topically and to promote cellular health and immunity.
Clary Sage
With its beautiful earthy smell, Clary sage is a highly effective essential oil for relaxation, stress relief and calming anxiety. Plus, it is a renowned antidote to mild depression. Acting as an antidepressant, it promotes feelings of wellbeing and inner peace. Many women use Clary Sage because it is a great hormone balancer – it helps reduce symptoms of PMS, spasming and painful periods while encouraging regular, healthy cycles. Also, it may assist in easing the symptoms of menopause.
Source: Medicalnewstoday.com
Lemongrass
This essential oil is extracted from the leaves and stalks of the lemongrass plants, therefore this oil has a powerful, citrus scent. For natural relief of anxiety, many people turn to aromatherapy involving the use of lemongrass essential oil. Its scent promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety symptoms. This essential oil is also characterised by antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties. It also helps digestive health. Another interesting feature of lemongrass oil is that it can be used as an insect repellant.
Bergamot
Bergamot oil is produced from the peel of the aromatic citrus fruit and it has a slightly sharp scent. Its citrusy sweet scent soothes our upsets and gives us the peace to let our troubles drift away. Furthermore, bergamot essential oil supports the immune system and acts as an appetite stimulant. It is often used in traditional Chinese medicine to enhance the flow of energy and fight bacterial infections. Bergamot brings balance to the body by improving blood circulation, stimulating hormonal secretions and digestive health.
Now that you know which pure essential oils are recommended for relaxation, the next thing for you to do is to make a good research on how to properly use essential oils. Since there are numerous ways, you have the option to choose and see which way will best affect you.
