The 8 Best Essential Oils For Stress Relief
If you feel like you are constantly battling stress and anxiety each day, you’re not alone. In fact, over 18% of the population deals with the effects of stress and anxiety every year. Having a natural go-to solution like essential oils is beneficial in that they can relieve the symptoms of stress without the negative side effects. There are hundreds of essential oils with many different uses, so it can be overwhelming to know where to start. We’re here to help. Here are 8 essential oils that are great for fighting off stress, plus tips on how to use them.
- Lavender
This common and widely used essential oil is valued for its calming effects on the mind and body and its ability to calm anxiety. You can find Lavender oil in a variety of aromatherapy products like bath salts and massage oil. Take advantage of this soothing scent by sipping lavender-infused tea, or by diffusing it before you go to sleep.
- Lemongrass
Sourced from the lemongrass herb, inhaling the scent of lemongrass oil or applying it to the skin sparingly after combining it with a carrier oil is known to promote relaxation and lessen anxiety symptoms. An added bonus: it will make your house smell very clean!
- Frankincense
The sweet and woodsy scent of frankincense essential oil can be used to unwind and relieve stress. Typically sourced from the gum of the boswellia tree, frankincense essential oil is also said to alleviate anxiety. Combine this essential oil with relaxing oils like lavender, rose, and orange drops and inhale by putting a few drops onto a cloth or tissue to help you calm down.
- Bergamot
If you have ever wondered what makes earl grey tea smell the way it does, it’s because of this essential oil. Bergamot comes from the peel of a citrus fruit, Citrus bergamia, and has been known to reduce stress and promote relaxation and positive feelings.
When using this oil, you should combine it with a carrier oil and apply it sparingly to your skin or to a bath. Bergamot can also be inhaled by sprinkling a drop onto a cloth or into a diffuser.
- Lemon
Rich in linalool and having sedative and anxiety-reducing tendencies, lemon essential oil is a great oil to have on hand when stress hits. Derived from the lemon, practitioners of aromatherapy often use this oil to release stress, improve mood, promote sleep, and alleviate symptoms of depression.
- Neroli
This aromatherapy remedy with a sweet and spicy scent can be used to take away anxiety and stress. Neroli is sourced from the flowers of the bitter orange tree and advocates claim that breathing in the scent can help promote calmness and put a stop to excessive worrying. This essential oil has also been found to lower systolic blood pressure.
- Yuzu
The Japanese yuzu essential oil is a known natural solution for relieving stress. By inhaling the citrus fragrance of this essential oil, it can suppress your sympathetic nervous system activity (the system that is responsible for your body’s fight or flight mechanism) which promotes relaxation. For the best results, diffuse and inhale for 10 minutes and your negative emotional stress will begin to melt away.
- Orange
Another citrus scent added to the list. If you need to unwind, try breathing in the sweet aroma of orange essential oil. Orange essential oil has been known to alleviate anxiety and take the edge off from high-stress scenarios, such as public speaking.
Regardless of which essential oil you use or prefer, any natural therapy that can calm the nerves and the mind is a great way to relieve stress and anxiety. We are all different so it’s best to experiment with a variety of essential oils. Pay attention to your body and find the blends that work best for you.
We’d love to hear from you. What is your experience like with using essential oils to relive stress and anxiety? Do you have a favorite blend? Let us know in the comments!
