Essential oils for better sleep and less anxiety
Four essential oils for better sleep, from lavender to ylang-ylang. Exact drop counts, how to inhale, and a simple massage blend with coconut or almond.
Fresh TL;DR: Stress and anxiety are the main causes of poor sleep. A few drops of essential oil before bed can reduce stress and anxiety and help you rest. These essential oils for better sleep include lavender, valerian, sweet marjoram, and ylang-ylang. Inhale a drop from your palm, add 2 to 3 drops to a diffuser, or blend 5 drops with 3 ounces of coconut or almond oil for a massage.
Do you sleep well? Have you heard that a good night’s sleep solves any issue? Did you know that not sleeping well increases the risk of heart disease, changes blood pressure, and even causes diabetes? Some people say it even lowers your sexual desire.
But even though they know the importance of sleep, some people still can’t rest at night. Stress and anxiety are the main causes of poor sleep. According to research, when you are stressed or anxious, your brain doesn’t stop working for a single moment, which puts you in a constant alert state.
However, just a few drops of essential oil before going to bed can reduce your stress and anxiety, allowing you to have a restful night.
Lavender
Lavender helps fight anxiety and helps you relax, reducing insomnia and making your night more tranquil. You can also put a drop of lavender oil on each side of your pillow or put a drop of it on your fingertip and massage your temples.
Valerian
Another calming oil is valerian, which has soothing properties, helps fight anxiety, alleviates symptoms of nervous tension, and is a great ally of sleep.
Sweet marjoram
If you like oils with a sweeter aroma, try sweet marjoram oil. This one is great to lower nervous tension and hyperactivity, regulate blood pressure, and help you have restful sleep.
Ylang-ylang
If you want to build a calm and floral atmosphere, you can use ylang-ylang oil. It is perfect to create a tranquil ambiance for your nervousness and also helps reduce anxiety, tension, shock, fear, and panic.
How to use essential oils for sleep
To improve your sleep, do a simple inhalation with these oils. Apply a drop of your chosen oil on your hands and massage. Then breathe in and hold your breath for around 3 seconds, then exhale. Repeat the process 2 or 3 times.
If you have a diffuser at home, try adding 2 or 3 drops of essential oil to it to release the aromas in the ambient. Your room will be much more relaxed and perfumed.
If you prefer, you can also use essential oils to massage. In this case, mix 5 drops of your oil of choice with 3 ounces of vegetable oil, like coconut or almond. Do circular and gentle movements for 20 minutes.
The takeaway
If you have sleep issues, these tricks will certainly help you. Since each oil has a different effect, you’ll need to test all of them until you find which one works better in your case.
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Frequently asked questions
Why do essential oils help with sleep?
Stress and anxiety are the main causes of poor sleep. When you are stressed or anxious, your brain doesn’t stop working for a single moment, which puts you in a constant alert state. A few drops of essential oil before going to bed can reduce your stress and anxiety, allowing you to have a restful night.
Which essential oil is best for sleep?
Lavender helps fight anxiety and helps you relax, reducing insomnia. Valerian has soothing properties and is a great ally of sleep. Sweet marjoram lowers nervous tension and helps you have restful sleep. Ylang-ylang helps reduce anxiety, tension, shock, fear, and panic. Test each until you find what works for you.
How do you inhale essential oils?
Apply a drop of your chosen oil on your hands and massage. Then breathe in and hold your breath for around 3 seconds, then exhale. Repeat the process 2 or 3 times.
How much oil should I put in a diffuser?
If you have a diffuser at home, try adding 2 or 3 drops of essential oil to it to release the aromas in the ambient. Your room will be much more relaxed and perfumed.
How do you make an essential oil massage blend?
Mix 5 drops of your oil of choice with 3 ounces of vegetable oil, like coconut or almond. Do circular and gentle movements for 20 minutes.
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