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Are you looking for a way to relieve stress anxiety naturally? You may find that aromatherapy is just the solution you are looking for.
Does aromatherapy stress relief really work? I can tell you from first-hand experience that it does.
The key is to understand how to relieve stress anxiety naturally with essential oils. Once you do that, you will start to get the benefits of aromatherapy for anxiety.
What are Stress & Anxiety? How are They Different?
Stress and anxiety reflect the reaction of the body and the mind when over-stimulated.
Stress reflects the physical responses of the body when coping with daily pressures that exceed a person’s ability to cope or manage. These could be related to overwhelming financial and emotional responsibilities, a high-paced work environment, toxic relationships or rigorous physical labor.
Anxiety manifests as a mental and emotional response to the same types of pressures.
Stress and anxiety exist on a wide spectrum of intensity and expression. Some people experience physical symptoms without the accompanying anxiety. Others experience high levels of anxiety while exhibiting mild or no physical symptoms. Still others experience a mixture of stress and anxiety symptoms of varying intensity.
Physical symptoms of stress anxiety may include:
- Accelerated or Erratic Heartbeat
- Headaches
- Perspiration Especially On The Palms
- Dry Mouth
- Upset Stomach
- Stomach Ache
- Nausea
- Tense Muscles Which May Ache Or Tremble
- Breathing Difficulties
- Loss Of Balance And Equilibrium
- Fidgeting Or Other Restless Movements
Mental and emotional symptoms may include:
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Lack Of Concentration
- Mental And Emotional Strain
If you experience one or more of the symptoms associated with stress and anxiety on a regular basis, you must seek help from a qualified medical professional.
A qualified doctor can recommend appropriate clinical treatments and alternative therapies as necessary.
The importance of knowing how to relieve stress anxiety naturally with aromatherapy cannot be over-emphasized. Using aromatherapy for anxiety provides a gentle but effective way to reduce stress and anxiety levels and regain mental balance.
The Cost 0f Chronic Stress Anxiety
Stress and anxiety can become debilitating if left unmanaged.
Over a period of time, chronic stress can lead to high blood pressure, an increase in belly fat, increased heart rate, muscle tension, headaches, insomnia, and chronic fatigue.
In addition, it also wears down the immune system, increases insulin resistance leading to diabetes, hampers digestion and nutrient assimilation, contributes to poor decision making and indecisiveness and hinders mental clarity and emotional stability.
How Aromatherapy for Anxiety Works
Aromatherapy for stress anxiety relief works so well because it taps into the olfactory system, the group of organs and tissues associated with the sense of smell.
The olfactory system also shares an almost immediate connection with the limbic system. The limbic system controls the parts of the brain related to emotions, memory, breathing, heart rate, and digestion.
The strong connection between the sense of smell, the brain, and specifically the limbic system is what makes aromatherapy for anxiety for effective. When the vaporized molecules of an essential oil enter the nasal passages, they prompt the brain to send certain signals to the body, which have a healing effect.
Every essential oil possesses a unique set of characteristics, which makes it most effective for treating specific physical, mental and emotional conditions. A blend of oils imparts a blend of therapeutic results.
The results depend on which essential oils you use and whether you use them by themselves or as a blend. Even their concentration in the blend will affect the ultimate result.
What Essential Oils are Good for Stress and Anxiety?
The most important aspect of knowing how to relieve stress anxiety naturally with aromatherapy lies in understanding the properties of different essential oils.
Aromatherapy for anxiety and stress relief works only when you choose essential oils with relaxing, calming, and uplifting properties.
Essential oils that are good for anxiety and stress relief tend to have light and bright floral, citrus, or woodsy scents. Some examples are lavender, bergamot, Roman chamomile, citrus, fennel and clary sage.
These essential oils for anxiety may be used alone or in combination with the other oils listed as well as others that are not part of this list. Keep in mind blends should contain a complementary mix of oils in both scent and therapeutic characteristics.
Take a look at the 15 best essential oils for anxiety and stress and the different oils they can be blended with for best results:
Lavender
Lavender essential oil reduces stress and anxiety by inducing a sense of relaxation and calm.
This is a very versatile oil that blends well with most other essential oils. It is especially effective for stress anxiety relief when blended with citrus oils, chamomile, and clary sage.
Roman Chamomile
Roman chamomile oil has powerful relaxing and rebuilding properties, which makes it very effective for alleviating stress anxiety.
It blends well with rose, lavender, rose, clary sage, and geranium.
Clary Sage
Clary sage essential oil is very effective for reducing fatigue-induced stress.
This oil blends well with several oils including geranium, grapefruit, jasmine, juniper, bergamot, lavender, mandarin, patchouli, chamomile, frankincense, and tea tree.
Rose
Rose essential oil is known to lift mood and alleviate symptoms of depression and stress.
This calming oil blends well with cypress, frankincense, juniper, citrus oils, cedarwood, clary sage, patchouli, pine, rosewood, and sandalwood.
Ylang-ylang
Ylang ylang oil is very effective for relieving symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress and promoting relaxation.
It blends with sandalwood, anise, chamomile, cumin, bergamot, geranium, grapefruit, lemon, marjoram, and vetiver oils.
Neroli
Neroli essential oil works very well to lift mood, reduce stress and promote sleep.
This oil blends with clary sage, lemon, mandarin, myrrh, orange, frankincense, geranium, juniper, ginger, chamomile, grapefruit, jasmine, lavender, rose, sandalwood, and ylang ylang.
Bergamot
Bergamot oil has a refreshing aroma that helps alleviate depression, anxiety and stress.
It blends well with jasmine, juniper, chamomile, cypress, ylang ylang, eucalyptus, geranium, lavender, lemon, and patchouli.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood oil has powerful cooling and calming properties that is very effective for relieving stress and anxiety.
Sandalwood oil blends with mandarin, myrrh, patchouli, cypress, frankincense, lemon, spruce, and ylang ylang oils.
Cedarwood
Cedarwood essential oil acts as a sedative and relaxant, soothing anxiety and stress.
This essential oil blends with lavender, rose, neroli and rosemary, bergamot, benzoin, cypress, cinnamon, frankincense, juniper, jasmine, lemon and lime oils.
Frankincense
Frankincense oil acts as a sedative, and induces calm, relaxation, and mental peace.
It blends with benzoin, bergamot, lavender, myrrh, lime, lemon, orange, pine, and sandalwood.
Geranium
Geranium essential oil works with the chakras to release toxins from the body and helps to release negative memories and relieve tension and stress.
This is a very versatile oil that blends well with all other oils.
Jasmine
Jasmine essential oil boosts confidence and optimism and induces calm, relaxation, which help to alleviate stress anxiety.
Jasmine blends well with geranium, helichrysum, lemongrass, mandarin, Melissa, bergamot, frankincense, orange, palmarosa, rose, rosewood, sandalwood, and spearmint.
Wild Orange
Wild orange oil alleviates anxiety, boosts mood, and promotes a sense of happiness and well-being.
It blends with bergamot, clove, cinnamon, lavender and all other citrus oils.
How To Relieve Stress Anxiety Naturally With Aromatherapy
There are several different ways you can relieve stress anxiety naturally with aromatherapy.
Diffusers
A diffuser disperses essential oils through the process of evaporation so their scent permeates a room or space.
I prefer using a portable device such as this for the added convenience. You can carry it with you everywhere you go.
If you do not want to invest in a diffuser you can use a simple DIY diffuser technique to get the benefits of aromatherapy for stress relief.
A tissue with a few drops of essential oils becomes a diffuser when left on an out of the way surface for the oil to evaporate.
Another option is to boil two cups of water and add up to ten drops of essential oil to it. The heat will cause the essential oil to evaporate more quickly to scent the room.
A candle diffuser also uses heat. The diffuser has a bottom portion to hold a tea light candle and a small bowl resting on top. A few drops of essential oil are placed in the bowl which the lit tea light warms and causes the scent to permeate the room.
Here are a few budget aromatherapy diffusers that cost less than $20 on Amazon.
Bath Oils and Bath Salts
Soaking in a tub of warm water to which you have added a few drops of essential oil is one of the best ways to use aromatherapy for stress relief.
Add a few drops of any one essential oil or your favorite blend to a tub of warm water. Agitate the water to let the oils blend well before stepping into the bath.
If you do not agitate the water, the essential oils will float on the surface, causing irritation or burning if the concentrated oil comes in contact with the skin.
Bath oils and baths salts act as carriers to ensure the essential oils remain diluted and dispersed in the bath water.
Aromatherapy Candles
If you love to use candles around your home, and who doesn’t, instead of lighting regular candles, look for aromatherapy candles. These contain essential oils and disperse the vapors into the air as they burn.
When choosing this method, be sure to always buy high-quality aromatherapy candles that contain natural essential oils as well as natural wax ingredients.
My favorite stress-relief candle is the Aromatherapy Eucalyptus Spearmint Scented Candle by Bath and Body Works. It is scented with eucalyptus and spearmint essential oils, both of which work together to provide very effective stress-relief. This 3-wick candle burns for approximately 25 to 45 hours, making it well worth the price.
Read my review of the Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Stress-Relief Candle or buy it directly from Amazon by clicking the image below.
Direct Inhalation
You can enjoy the therapeutic and relaxing effects of essential oils for sleeping by putting a few drops on your pillow when you go to sleep. As you breathe in, the aromas will help soothe your stress anxiety and help you sleep well.
Aromatherapy Massage Oils, Gels, and Creams
Getting an aromatherapy massage is another effective way to get the benefits of essential oils for stress anxiety relief. The physical massage itself is relaxing and soothing and the healing effects of the essential oil make it even more so.
Remember, essential oils are very strong and can cause reactions when applied directly to the skin in concentrated form. They should also be diluted with a carrier oil before application.
As a general rule, add 2 drops of essential oil to one teaspoon of carrier oil, unless you are using a recipe that says otherwise.
When you are looking for how to relieve stress anxiety naturally with aromatherapy, you should know that all of the above methods are equally effective. The method you choose will depend on your lifestyle and personal preference.
As with any therapy practice, educate yourself about the pros and cons of including essential oils in your stress management plan. Talk to your doctor and an aromatherapist. They can evaluate your medical history and make the appropriate recommendations for your successful use of aromatherapy for stress and anxiety.
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to serve as medical advice. Please consult your physician before using essential oils. See Full Disclaimer here.
