Feeling stressed? Is your anxiety out of control?
Well, aromatherapy is one of the easiest ways to bring stress levels down and calm nerves by doing next to nothing with this holistic healing treatment.
One form of aromatherapy is the use of scents from essential oils, typically through a diffuser, where you are inhaling molecules the oils release into the air.
The molecules travel up to the nose and get stuck to your old factory membrane, which contains highly specialized nerve endings called old factory receptors. These receptors then begin impacting neurons that go from your nose all the way up to your brain, which attaches a message to the brain to calm down brainwaves.
“In a 2014 study published in the journal Biomedical Research International, it was shown that a four-week aromatherapy program for older persons with chronic pain was effective in reducing levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.”
Very Well Mind
The reason why this type of therapy is worth a shot is because there’s absolutely no risk and at the very least, you’ll have a room filled with a great scent.
Lavender Essential Oils Relieve Stress
One of the most popular essential oils used for stress and anxiety is lavender. This versatile oil promotes relaxation, and the holistic community believes it can alleviate anxiety, depression, insomnia, fungal infections, allergies, nausea, eczema, and more!
“Lavender is one of the most popular aromatherapy oils. According to 2012 research, lavender aromatherapy is thought to calm anxiety by impacting the limbic system, the part of the brain that controls emotions.”
Healthline
Side note: Rubbing a couple of drops of lavender essential oil onto the bottom of both feet before bed has also been said to promote better sleep while alleviating anxiety.
How To Get Started
First, you’ll want to purchase a diffuser. Diffusers cost anywhere between $20-$50 and can be purchased almost anywhere including retail stores like Bed, Bath & Beyond, and Target.
Next, you’ll want to purchase a lavender essential oil. We recommend purchasing a lavender oil that is pure and plant based, as many oils on the market can be diluted with other unwanted properties.
We recommend the lavender oils at Sprouts Farmers Market, which cost around $12, and the Plant Therapy Lavender Essential Oil sold on Amazon for $7.49.
Once you have a diffuser and your lavender, fill up the diffuser with water and apply five to seven drops of the lavender essential oil into the diffuser.
Diffusers can be left on overnight as you sleep or throughout the day as you work; a majority of them turn off after they run out of water.
