Essential oils are known for their pleasant fragrances and many useful benefits. They have been used in medicine for thousands of years, but recently pure essential oils are gaining popularity all over the world because of their calming properties, cost-effectiveness, and harmless nature.
They are made by extracting oil from different parts of plants: roots, leaves, flowers, stem, bark, etc. The plant then goes through a process called steam distillation, which separates the oil from the plant. Essential oils are also known as “aromatherapy oils” because of their concentration and strong aroma.
Stress and anxiety are not the same. Similarly, their causes and cures are different. They can only be treated well if their root cause is understood well. Undoubtedly, essential oils are known to be one of the best remedies for stress as well as for anxiety. Here are the top 10 essential oils for stress and anxiety along with their other benefits and uses.
1. Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil is the most popular essential oil used in the world. Even the Egyptians used this oil in their mummification process. Although this oil was initially quite famous because of its antimicrobial property, it has gain popularity in the health sector due to its soothing nature. This essential oil is known to improve overall sleep, calmness, and is used to treat migraines.
Lavender oil is usually used in two ways. The first is the aromatic use where you can sprinkle or diffuse a bit of lavender oil in your bedroom, living room or any place where you seem to rest to have a peaceful effect on your nerves. The second way is to apply it physically on your body, behind ears or on your forehead.
2. Orange Essential Oil
Orange (Citrus sinensis) essential oils are the second most used oil in the world. This essential oil is taken from the peels of orange by cold compression. It is accomplished by soaking the rind of the orange in warm water then pressing against the rind to absorb the essential oil. This oil is known for its ability to remove plaque and also to strengthen the immune system.
Of course, the orange essential oil is not only used for oral cleanliness but also to improve tiredness, fatigue, low libido, and poor digestion. Because of its strong acidic nature, it can also be used as a home cleaner which will not only leave home cleaned but also scented. As with lavender, this oil can be used aromatically by sprinkling it in the parts of the home especially the kitchen or topically by applying it physically on different parts of the body. It can also be used forMONQhaling by inhaling its heated mist into the mouth and exhaling it from the mouth.
3. Grapefruit Essential Oils
Grapefruit (Citrus Paradisi) essential oils are a bit more expensive than the other ones as they are extracted from the peel of grapefruit. They are widely appreciated due to their stimulating, uplifting and cleansing effects. It is commonly used for massage to eliminate the harmful toxins from the human body, specifically from human skin. But it is also known for its marvelous effects, which include clarification of mind when under tension or constant pressure.
4. Cedar Wood Essential Oils
Cedar (Juniperus Virginiana or Cedrus Deodara) grows in the higher and colder places of the world and cedarwood essential oil is extracted from cedar wood chips. They are extracted from the tree using the same ancient process of steam distillation. This oil is famous for the beneficial components present in it such as alpha and beta cedrene, cedrol and widdrol. All these components are used for health purpose and for treating issues like anxiety and stress naturally.
5. Rose Essential Oil
Rose (Rosa Damascena) is the world’s favorite flower with its timeless beauty and soft fragrance. Its oil provides many health and mental benefits. Its benefits and uses are so wide-ranging that it is used globally as everything from a cure for acne to anxiety. Maybe the fragrance of roses is coded into our nerves that whenever we are down, anxious, depressed or sad, they lift us up and enhance our good mood. It is widely in use to improve a libido suffering from severe stress.
6. Roman Chamomile Essential Oil
Chamomile (Chamaemelum Nobile) is one of the most primitive medicinal herbs known to humanity. This herb has become a household name for its delectable and healthy tea enjoyed by millions of people each day. The healing property of this oil can relax any upset or disturbed mind. It reduces inflammation from the body, improves the digestive organs as well as the skin. One of the most common and best ways to use this oil is by diffusing it in the environment. It calms the nerves, soothes the mind and can trigger emotions.
7. Sandalwood Essential Oil
The scent of sandalwood (Santalum Album or Santalum Spicatum) is quite famous all around the world. It is a common scent found in holy spaces and temples as it is used in the construction materials. Sandalwood’s fragrance is beneficial for the mind as it provides calmness, clarity, and peace. It improves the overall mood of humans and sharpens attention. Rubbing it on wrists, behind ears, on the forehead, and diffusing it in the air are some ways of using sandalwood essential oil for daily use.
8. Clary Sage Essential Oil
Clary sage (Salvia Sclarea) has been a part of medicine for thousands of years. It is used for aromatic treatment. Although all of the essential oils are beneficial for every human, clary sage oil has special effects on women. It improves circulation, brings balance, maintains eye health, and helps the digestive system. Clary sage oil is usually used by women to maintain hormonal balance and reduce severe muscle discomfort.
9. Jasmine Essential Oil
Jasmine (Jasminum Officinale) has been in use for centuries for emotional maintenance helping with both depression and anxiety. Its fragrance has a direct effect on the human nervous system which provides calmness and clarity of mind. It also has strong benefits for regulating breathing, body temperature, heart rate, and stress rate as well as on alertness of mind. Because of its libido boosting properties, Jasmine oils are well respected and admired even in old times.
10. Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint (Mentha Piperita) has always been a part of medical treatments in much of the world. People from different places take advantage of the benefits of peppermint through both its aromatic use and topical uses. It is known for its cooling, soothing and refreshing nature. It is also anti-microbial which means it resists micro-bacteria. Furthermore, peppermint essential oil is widely used for irritable bowel syndrome and for helping to calm an upset stomach.