Frazzled This Holiday Season? Check Out This List Of Calming Essential Oils

Unwind with the pleasant scents of aromatherapy

Think essential oils just make the room smell better?

Guess again.

The benefits of aromatherapy are well known and include improving sleep, balancing mood, and relieving stress.

Aromatherapy has been in use throughout much of human history. Ancient cultures in China, Persia, and India have used aromatic plants for both medicinal and religious purposes.

How aromatherapy works isn’t completely known but the effects of essential oils seem to trigger a response in our limbic system, the region of the brain responsible for emotions.

Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts harvested from various parts of the plant. They can then be combined with an inert carrier oil and used topically during massage, or mixed with water and inhaled.

Remember to always do a patch test for an allergic reaction if applying essential oils to the skin. And always dilute them with a carrier oil such as jojoba, almond, or coconut. Those with sensitive skin may want to avoid citrus-based oils since they can cause a photosensitivity reaction with sunlight.

Internal ingestion of essential oils is generally not recommended. Instead, enjoy a steaming hot cup of tea.

Store essential oils in a dark, cool place. Since oils can go rancid, do not use them if there is an “off” smell in the bottle.

Aromatherapy doesn’t need to be complicated. A few drops of oil can be dabbed directly on a yoga mat or mixed with water and spritzed onto a pillowcase. For those wanting the complete experience, diffusers that combine scent with light and even sound can be purchased.

What are some of the best essential oils for relieving the stress so many of us feel during the holiday season?

Lavender is one of the most popular essential oils for good reason. It not only smells great but has many uses. Aside from decreasing anxiety, lavender can help lower blood pressure and heart rate and improve sleep quality. It can also soothe pain associated with menstrual cramps and headaches.

If you feel you need more focus in order to remain calm, check out peppermint. This essential oil can help you wake up feeling alert and ready to face the day. Peppermint is also a good choice to support memory and mental clarity.

Drinking peppermint tea is a great way to stimulate digestion after a heavy holiday meal.

Most people recognize this scent for its starring role in Earl Grey tea, but bergamot is a great stress reducer on its own. Spraying a little bergamot in the room can provide decreased feelings of anxiousness and improve your sense of well-being.

As an added bonus, bergamot is effective as a natural bug spray.

Combine bergamot with lemon for an additional boost in mood, but be cautious of increased sensitivity to sunlight.

Another great essential oil often found in tea, chamomile is found in sleepy-time blends for good reason. Chamomile has been associated with a sense of calm and relaxation. It is also used as a natural headache reliever.

You may see two forms of chamomile, German and Roman. The German form of chamomile will contain a higher amount of active ingredient.

This essential oil is also known to relieve tension and lower stress. A few sprays in the air can help fight insomnia and improve mood.

For spicing things up during those long winter nights, reach for ylang-ylang. Many consider it to be an aphrodisiac.

Though the strong scent of eucalyptus may seem medicinal to some, it can also provide a burst of energy, focus, and calm. In fact, both eucalyptus and rosemary have been used during yoga practice to increase breath awareness.

The potent smell of eucalyptus can also help eliminate mildew odors since, like tea tree, eucalyptus oil contains natural anti-fungal properties.

These are just a few of the more popular essential oils for aromatherapy, but there are hundreds more to discover. Play with different combinations and create your own personal blend.

Your holiday season sanity will thank you for it.

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