The Power of Smell
The right blend of aromas can even soothe you to sleep. With rest being directly tied to our sense of smell, we think it deserves more attention.
Scents are an underutilized tool for rest and relaxation. While noise, light, and room temperature all play a role, the right aroma or essential oil might be the key to unlocking the sleep your body needs to regenerate.
The olfactory nerve, which controls the sense of smell, connects directly to the brain. That’s why scents can trigger memory, alter your mood and prompt physical responses. Certain scents may cause your breath to quicken or heart rate to rise (lemon), while others have the opposite effect, calming the body, reducing anxiety, and relaxing the mind and muscles. Using the right essential oils at bedtime can induce those tranquil effects and help your body get the deep sleep it needs.
The Best Essential Oils for Sleep
Lavender and Geranium Flower Oil
Lavender is much more than a pretty garden flower; it’s the source of one of the most powerful essential oils. Lavender oil calms the nervous system and makes brain waves more relaxed, two beneficial states when you need to sleep. The evidence isn’t just anecdotal. Various studies support the anti-anxiety properties of lavender, while others revealed that the essential oil can lower blood pressure and reduce heart rate and skin temperature. Geranium Flower oil Alleviates Anxiety promotes emotional wellness, it relieves stress, improves circulation and depression.
Ylang Ylang and Valerian Root Oil
Ylang Ylang hails from the flower of a tree that grows in Southeast Asia. Studies support the theory that the floral, aromatic fragrance works as a stress reliever and lowers heart rate and blood pressure. The scent helps relax the body and can even serve as an antidepressant, an ideal essential oil for sleep. Valerian Root Oil has long been known to help sleep difficulties, along with restlessness, stress and even mild tremors. One of the best sleep aids available.
Bergamot and Tangerine Peel Oil
A cross between a lemon and an orange, bergamot is a hybrid fruit with a sweet citrus scent. Studies have shown that when bergamot essential oil is used in aromatherapy, and on the skin can relieve anxiety, reduce stress and calm the body and mind in preparation for sleep, couples with Tangerine oil peel which also relieves muscle spasms, and is great for insomnia relief, along with other benefits.
Cedarwood Oil and Frankincense oil
As the name implies, cedarwood oil comes from the wood of the cedar tree. According to studies, the rich, woody scent has a sedative effect that promotes restfulness. This essential oil is also great for insomnia as it helps the body release melatonin, which aids in sleep. Frankincense oil in aromatherapy, inhaling the scent of an essential oil (or absorbing it through the skin) is thought to send messages to the limbic system, a brain region that influences our emotions and nervous systems. Proponents suggest that essential oils may affect a number of biological factors, such as heart rate, stress levels, blood pressure, breathing, and immune function.
Frankincense essential oil is also used as an ingredient in perfume, incense, and skin care products. Frankincense essential oil is also used to alleviate stress and relieve pain.
Roman Chamomile
Roman chamomile is a plant native to northwestern Europe and Northern Ireland. It has long been used in the treatment of insomnia, but most reports of its effectiveness are anecdotal. Though the essential oil hasn’t been studied in depth, some findings indicate it reduces stress and anxiety and promotes relaxation, so why not try it for insomnia?
How to Use Essential Oils for Sleep
To use these and other essential oils for sleep, release the scent into the air with a diffuser or gently rub a few drops onto pulse points on the body, like the back of your neck, center of your wrists, or soles of your feet. Regularly use these essential oils as part of your bedtime routine, and you may finally enjoy the full nights of deep sleep you’ve been missing.
9 Essential Oils That Will Make You Fall Asleep in 5 Minutes Flat
If your beauty sleep is in need of a serious boost, we've got just the remedy: essential oils. Sure, they smell amazing, but their benefits go beyond their scents. These incredible concoctions provide an all-natural alternative to the average sleep supplement. Not only do essential oils with a sedative effect promote sleep, but they can also diminish anxiety, lower blood pressure, and relieve stress that builds up throughout the day. Apply them in a variety of ways: through a diffuser or rub on pulse points as discussed above. You may also add them to a cream for hydration of the skin as well. SLEEP WELL!