What Essential Oils Are Good for Sleep?
Do you struggle to fall asleep, sleep restlessly, or wake up feeling groggy and tired? Insomnia and sleep issues can have a debilitating effect on your life and it can be frustrating trying different sleep aids only to fail.
Essential oils used in aromatherapy have shown promise in helping people fall asleep and have a restful night. This is especially true in cases of mild sleep disturbances.
Keep reading to find out what essential oils are good for sleep.
What Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are extracted from plants using methods that retain their original properties and aromas. These oils come from the entire plant including flowers, leaves, twigs, roots, stems, and even seeds.
A herbal extract is produced using the plant’s active botanical constituents in a liquid form that is dissolved into a solvent.
The Best Essential Oils for Sleep
These are the most commonly used essential oils for relaxation and aiding sleep:
Lavender – May increase slow-wave sleep, slow heart rate and aid in muscle relaxation
Chamomile – Helps to reduce anxiety and stress and therefore aiding in calming the mind when preparing for sleep
Jasmine – Research has shown that jasmine can help to improve sleep quality and reduce restless sleeping
Sweet Marjoram – the aroma is extremely calming, aiding a good night’s sleep
Sandalwood – helps to relieve stress and anxiety and some research suggest a sedative effect
Vanilla – Has sedative effects on the body by reducing hyper activeness and may help to lower blood pressure.
Bergamot – It may help to lower heart rate and blood pressure which aids sleep
The most research has been conducted regarding lavender, which has shown huge promise has a calming, sleep aid oil.
Alternatively, there are many blends available that use a few different oils to create a powerful sleep tonic.
Check out some of these options here.
How to Use Essential Oils to Help You Sleep
There are a few ways that you can use these essential oils to help you sleep and improve your sleep quality.
You can apply the oils to your skin directly. Try pressure points such as the wrists, behind the ears or give yourself a light massage. Be aware not to apply essential oils undiluted, as in concentrated for they are very strong. Either buy diluted oils or mix a few drops of concentrated oil in a carrier oil such as coconut or jojoba oil.
You can also add a few drops of oil to a diffuser in your room. This is a fantastic way to have the scent released the entirety of your sleep.
If you don’t have a diffuser or don’t want to keep it running, add a couple of drops of the oil to your pillowcase before heading to sleep.
Now You Know What Essential Oils Are Good for Sleep – Try It Yourself
You’re armed with the knowledge about what essential oils are good for sleep, now you just need to put it to practice. Experiment with different oils and blends to find out what works best for you and look forward to that restful Zzzs.
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