Stress and Essential Oils - Which Essential Oils Can Alleviate Stress?

When it comes to essential oils and stress relief, all are potentially beneficial through various methods of application. It is important to consider your smell preference as when we inhale an aroma that we love it will immediately have a positive effect on us. You may experience immediate relief from stress and tension, feel relaxed or energised, emotionally uplifted and calm. They will strengthen your immune system which is often depleted when one is stressed.

Some symptoms of stress can be feeling agitated and annoyed at the simplest or smallest of things. Some may feel teary, angry or impatient. Other symptoms can be broken sleep or feeling tired all the time.

There are many causes of stress - financial or relationship problems, family, work, pressure from many different sources. Here I will offer some recommendations keeping in mind that there are some very common essential oils that are used by Aromatherapists and that each individual may respond differently.

Essential oils to reduce stress:

Bergamot, Black Pepper, Cardamom, Chamomiles, Cedarwood, Clary sage, Cypress, Eucalyptus lemon, Frankincense, Geranium, Ginger, Grapefruit, Jasmine, Juniper, Lavender, Lemon, Lemon myrtle, Mandarin, Neroli, Orange sweet, Patchouli, Peppermint, Rose, Rosemary, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Tea tree lemon, Violet leaf, Ylang Ylang.

I personally recommend and find direct inhalations and/or baths the fastest and most effective way of treating stress, anxiety, tension and depression. Using an aromatherapy body spray is another very effective and pleasing application. Room sprays are another very useful way of using essentials. Essential oil burners and diffusers can be used to enhance your moods however the end result will not be as long lasting as using direct inhalations having a bath or using an aromatherapy body spray.

Here are some examples of blends to use for reducing stress and associated symptoms along with a suitable application method.

Bathing:

Frankincense, Rosewood and Lavender are calming and bring peace.Neroli, Sandalwood and Clary Sage is a wonderful relaxing blend.Bergamot, Vetiver and Sweet Orange is very calming and is uplifting to the emotions.Geranium, Patchouli, Ylang Ylang is balancing and reduces stress and anxiety.For a healthy adult use 6-10 drops in total. For pregnancy, children, the elderly or fragile people halve the amount of essential oil drops.The amount of water has no relevance to the amount of essential oil drops used. When you are bathing you are actually receiving two pathways of absorption via the olfactory (our sense of smell) and integumentary (our skin) systems.

Inhalations:

These can be done by placing a few drops of your desired essential/s oil on to a tissue or hankie inhaling as you need.

Using a disposable inhaler is a very efficient way of doing dry inhalations; otherwise steam inhalations can be used. Be careful with steam inhalations as some essential oils can irritate your mucous membranes. Some essential oils I like to use:

Cardamom, Lemon Myrtle, Sweet Orange and Peru balsam are emotionally invigorating, uplifting, happy oils promoting a sense of lightness of being.

Peppermint, Rose and Lemon, assist in calming a racing mind and assisting with clarity. Bergamot, Mandarin and Grapefruit are uplifting to the emotions.

Body and Room Sprays:

Sprays are fabulous and easy to use on a daily basis and you can carry them with you where ever you go. I recommend you use a coloured or opaque glass bottle, 50-100ml and to carry with you 25-30ml is good. Place purified water in the bottle, around half way, then you add your chosen essential oils. Some aromatherapists prefer to use a disper; however I don't like to add anything but a floral or filtered water or a true hydrosol. Give the bottle a gentle shake before each use.

Suggested blends:

Geranium, Sweet Orange, Bergamot, SandalwoodLemon, Grapefruit, Cardamom, rosewoodRose, Neroli, Champa, Cinnamon30ml bottle 5-30 drops in total50ml bottle 10-30 drops in total100ml bottle 10-50 drops in total

I have given you a guideline in the amount of drops to use above, however it will depend on your personal sense of smell as to how many drops you use.

Enjoy as you bring a smile into your day!

If you have any questions or are unsure about using essential oils, speak to a qualified Aromatherapist or you may contact Julie@aromatiqueessentials.com.au or go to http://www.aromatiqueessentials.com.au/

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