I believe many of us have heard about essential oils. It’s that beautiful mild scent of fragrance that is diffused through the air. It can help you relax, promote calm, it can invigorate you or simply be in the background while you work. Essential Oils can be part of your tool box to help reduce and manage stress better.
What are Essential Oils?
Essential Oils are compounds extracted from plants. These compounds include the fragrance or essence of the plant that are combined with a carrier oil to be used for aromatherapy (diffused through the air).
It has been used for ages and many people would say it in fact has an an effect on our health and well-being and can have a very significant therapeutic effect. Studies are starting to show there is merit to these claims. Some of these therapeutic effects I will be talking about in the next few articles include:
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- Stress
- Insomnia
- Inducing labour
Stress
Stress is a common part of our lives. Our bodies are adapted to produce a fight or flight response as a reaction to a perceived danger. It was once a response developed to heighten our senses to avoid being prey to predictors in our environment. We no longer have the same dangers now. These same instincts are now triggered in response to emotional stresses. Pressures from our bosses or family, overwork, over stimulation. All of these can now trigger our bodies to go into increased production of cortisol (our stress hormone), circulatory changes, increased alertness and temporary increase in energy. This over long periods of time can cause other aspects of our health to suffer. Such as fatigue, sleep disruption, pain, muscle tension, irritability, anger, frustration and agitation can all be symptoms of long term stress wreaking havoc on our bodies.
Essential Oils can be one tool in helping the body deal with stress better. Here’s what you can do and how you can use them.
Finding the Right Essential Oil:
There are a lot of brands and companies now selling Essential Oil products. It is important to ensure you are getting pure oils from companies that use minimal pesticides and chemicals in their plants. The company we use is Young Living Essential Oils.
Stress Reducing Essential Oils:
There are many different options to choose from. I am going to walk through the 3 most popular ones. I hope you are able to find your calm with them.
1. Lavender
This is a soft floral scent that help to promote a sense of mental calm, reduce agitation and promote relaxation. Ways to use it include:
a. Placing 5-8 drops into water and diffuse it into the air using a diffuser.
b. Placing 1 drop on your wrist and rub between your wrists. Once mixed on your wrist, inhale the scent directly from your wrist.
c. Place 2-4 drops into 2 tbsp of olive oil or coconut oil. Massage this mixture under the soles of your feet (the most permeable area of your body)
2. Peppermint
This scent is pungent and refreshing. This can be used to relieve tired tense muscles, relieve headaches and invigorate you if you feel tired. Ways to use it include:
a. Placing 2 drop of essential oil into olive oil or coconut oil and rub onto tense muscles.
b. Rub 1 drop of essential oil into the temple area and back of neck to help relieve headaches. Caution this scent is very strong and too much can irritate the eyes.
3. Orange Essential Oil
This essential oil properties include: reducing inflammation, promoting calm, reducing anxiety, boosting the immune system and much much more. The orange essential oil is derived from the peel of the orange. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory, the peel of the orange helps to regulate the liver, helping to promote proper blood flow to help counter the effect that stress has on the body. Ways to use it include:
a. Diffuse 4-6 drops into water and diffuse into the air.
b. Place 2 drops of essential oil into olive oil, coconut oil or avocado oil and massage under the sole of your feet.
c. Placing 2-4 drops of Orange Essential Oils and 2-4 drops of Lavender essential oils into a warm bath. Soak for 15-20 minutes.
Using Essential Oils are easy to do and can help you manage your stress successfully. Incorporate essential oils into your daily routine to help you feel better and gain back control of your life. Stress reducing essential oils can be part of your tool box. Try it today!
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