5 Tips for Exposing Yourself to Essential Oils That Reduce Anxiety
A number of studies and a heavy dose of anecdotal data indicates that essential oils can help reduce symptoms associated with anxiety and depression. One study shows that 58 hospice patients experienced less stress and depression after exposure to bergamot, frankincense and lavender, and another study shows that elementary school teachers in Japan also felt calmer after inhaling bergamot. Even rats show lowered levels of anxiety after exposure to clary sage.
You may want to talk with a naturopath or an essential oils sales rep to see what essential oil blend for anxiety they recommend. Once you have the oils in hand, there are a variety of ways to expose yourself to them. Check out these ideas.
1. Use Essential Oils in Massage
Massage on its own can help to lower cortisol levels. That's the stress hormone in your body. If you want to get even more out of your next massage, you may want to ask your masseuse to rub essential oils into your skin.
If you can't get out for a professional massage, don't worry. You can simulate a lot of these benefits on your own. Consider giving yourself a relaxing hand massage using essential oils, or dip an electronic back massager into essential oil before using it.
2. Put the Oils in Diffusers
If you prefer to dispense the essential oils slowly, consider a diffuser. Diffusers are surprisingly affordable, and they work by heating up the oils and releasing their odours into the air.
When you inhale the scents of essential oils, you engage your limbic system. That helps to balance hormone levels and decrease anxiety.
3. Take Essential Oils on the Go
A diffuser can work at home or even in some offices, but if you have a busy life, you may not be in one place all the time. Luckily, you can take your anti-anxiety essential oils with you.
So that they are easy to sniff, pack some tissues or a few cotton balls. Then, as needed throughout the day, dose these items with essential oils, cup them in your hands and inhale deeply.
4. Mix Essential Oils With Lotions
If you don't want to deal with cotton balls and jars of oil all day, you may just want to apply your oils at the beginning or end of each day. To make that possible, mix some essential oils in with your lotion.
Just pull off the top of your lotion, add a few drops of the oil, mix and then use as normal. You may also mix essential oils with your laundry detergent so that these calming odours permeate your clothing as well.
5. Draw a Bath With Essential Oils
A relaxing bath is a great place to collect your thoughts and calm down after a busy day. To make your bath even more powerful, add a few drops of your favourite oils that help with anxiety.
If you like, you may also want to add epsom salts to your bath. The magnesium in epsom salts helps with detoxification. That cleans up your system and It also helps to eliminate migraines and helps your body to use its nutrients more effectively. That can indirectly help with anxiety.
Don't expect your essential oils to work on their own. You may also want to combine them with other tools. For instance, you may want to meditate. Whether you're in a room with a diffuser or in a bath with some essential oil, meditation is known to reduce anxiety levels. Your healthcare provider or an essential oil specialist may be able to recommend additional techniques for you to try.
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