Meditation, yoga, tai chi, deep breathing, and listening to music can help tame stress. Sometimes, you don’t want to meditate or listen to music because you will only fester and become more agitated. If you want to combat stress without exerting a lot of effort, sitting down and inhaling the scent of essential oils can be a great idea. It is a low-maintenance practice that has proven to be very effective. 

The olfactory system affects the part of the brain that regulates emotions. That’s why certain smells can trigger memories or feelings, both negative and positive. A 2016 review of studies found that aromatherapy was effective at reducing pain when combined with regular treatment. Aromatherapy can also be a useful tool to help reduce stress and anxiety. Many people report that aromatherapy helps to establish a general state of calm. 

How Do You Choose?

Many research studies have found that various essential oils exhibit stress-reducing and anti-anxiety properties. Generally speaking, you can use essential oils safely, save for a few that should not be used by certain groups, for example, pregnant women. Essential oils require dilution to prevent adverse reactions, so keep concentration levels below 5%. Pay attention to the dosage, purity, and application method. Some oils are perfectly safe when inhaled, but not when applied to the skin, which is why dilution is necessary. When you diffuse essential oils for stress relief, keep the following in mind:

• Follow proper dilution guidelines. 
• Diffuse intermittently, typically for 30 to 60 minutes on and 30 to 60 minutes off. 
• Make sure you diffuse in a ventilated area.

Sandalwood Essential Oil

Sandalwood oil comes from the wood and roots of the East Indian sandalwood tree. Many consider this tree to be one of the most valuable trees in the world, primarily because of the health properties. A small study from 2006 found that sandalwood oil was effective at reducing anxiety in participants. Unfortunately, the sample size was too small to draw conclusive evidence, but results were promising. 

Lemon Essential Oil

Sourced from the leaves of the lemon plant, lemon essential oil may exhibit sedative and anxiety-reducing properties. Lemon essential oil offers a bright aroma that may help boost your mood and contribute to a positive outlook. A 2018 study found that lemon essential oil had a positive effect on dopamine activities in mice. A previous study from 2005 found that lemon essential oil improved cognitive performance, concentration, and attention span in students during the learning process.

Jasmine Essential Oil

A beautifully scented oil, jasmine essential oil comes from the flowers of the floral jasmine plant. It has been known for its ability to calm the mind and uplift mood. A 2010 study examined jasmine essential oil and found that it increased blood oxygen saturation, breathing rate, and blood pressure when compared to a placebo. A 2013 study found that participants who inhaled the aroma of jasmine essential oil experienced a significant decrease in negative emotions and had an overall mood boost. 

Clary Sage Essential Oil

Clary sage is a flowering herb native to the Mediterranean region. It may help reduce stress levels because of its ability to decrease cortisol (the stress hormone), as per a 2014 study. This study, which included menopausal women, also found that clary sage essential oil provided antidepressant effects. 

Orange Essential Oil

Orange essential oil exhibits anxiolytic properties, meaning it helps reduce anxiety. Because orange essential oil has a vibrant aroma, it may increase alertness or heighten the senses. In conjunction with its calming effects, orange essential oil may help balance your mood and regulate anxiety levels. Unfortunately, it did not have the same effects as tea tree oil did in a controlled study. 

Chamomile Essential Oil

Perhaps you drink a cup of chamomile tea if you want to unwind before bed. The chamomile plant is said to have sedative effects, and chamomile essential oil is no different. Chamomile essential oil may exhibit relaxation properties that can aid with sleep. An eight-week study from 2017 found that 58.1% of the participants experienced a reduction in symptoms of severe generalized anxiety disorder after using chamomile extract. A smaller 2018 study found that chamomile therapy was able to reduce symptoms of anxiety and decrease cortisol levels. 

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

Growing on the Cananga tree, ylang ylang is a yellow, star-shaped flower native to countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, India, and parts of Australia. Ylang ylang essential oil may have a relaxing effect by way of decreasing blood pressure. Preliminary research shows that it helps decrease blood pressure, but more research is necessary to confirm these findings.

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Aging is a natural part of life, but seeing the physical results of this process is never exciting. The “damage” that results from aging comes in the form of wrinkles, fine lines, and loose skin. What can be done about this unsightly, yet natural process? While there are foods that encourage optimal collagen production and scrubs or masks that tighten skin, sometimes you just need a few powerful essential oils. 

Essential oils are extremely concentrated plant extracts that exhibit therapeutic benefits. Many essential oils offer antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. They can help improve complexion, give life to dull hair, reduce the appearance of stretch marks, or even tighten loose skin. As long as you dilute essential oils in carrier oils, you can safely use them on your skin. To figure out the best carrier oil for your skin type, click here. Keep in mind that it’s always wise to do a patch test on a small area of skin to make sure you don’t negatively react to the oil. 

Bergamot Essential Oil

If you drink Earl Grey tea, you are familiar with bergamot’s aroma. It comes from the rinds of the citrus fruit that the bergamot tree produces. Aromatherapists commonly use bergamot essential oil to promote calm and relaxation. The oil contains limonene, which is a potent antioxidant that is essential for optimal skin health. It also offers nerol, myrcene, and geraniol, all of which work to tighten skin and improve complexion.

Frankincense Essential Oil

Frankincense essential oil is held in high regard, as it offers many benefits for overall health. The molecular structure helps it penetrate the deep layers of the skin, working to encourage the health of existing skin cells. By oxygenating these cells, frankincense helps to improve elasticity, which ultimately tightens the skin. Frankincense essential oil also helps to encourage the growth of new skin cells. It has been most effective around the eye area. 

Neroli Essential Oil

The more common name of this oil is orange blossom essential oil. It’s a common ingredient in many fragrances or fragrance blends, as the aroma is inviting and floral. The anti-fungal and antimicrobial properties, along with the diverse antioxidant profile, makes neroli essential oil an excellent choice to tighten and firm up loose skin. According to several studies, it exhibits the most regenerative properties to make the skin supple and taught. 

Geranium Essential Oil

Working to repair collagen and improve the skin’s elasticity, geranium essential oil is an excellent choice for skin tightening. By boosting elastin fibers, this essential oil can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. In fact, many people use geranium essential oil to help get rid of stretch marks. It nourishes the skin and gives it a youthful glow, while making skin more taught in the process. 

Jasmine Essential Oil

Jasmine essential oil helps to encourage blood circulation, which promotes the regeneration of skin cells. As new skin cells produce, the body can hydrate the skin and provide it with more elasticity. This process can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and scars by tightening the skin. Jasmine essential oil pairs best with sweet almond oil as a carrier oil. 

Myrrh Essential Oil

Myrrh essential oil has historical and religious importance, being one of the gifts that the three wise men brought to the baby Jesus. Religious history aside, myrrh essential oil has proven to oxygenate skin tissues, which improves toughness. Many people incorporate myrrh oil into their skin care routine to moisturize and prevent skin from cracking. Lastly, this oil can help give the skin a more youthful glow, which makes the skin’s new flexibility look even better. 

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When it comes to stress and anxiety, many of us are constantly on the hunt for remedies that can help us find relaxation. Although the usage of oils, which come from botanical families, has been around for centuries, essential oils have become increasingly popular due to the proven beneficial effects they have when used both topically and for aromatherapy.

Here’s how it works: when you breathe in the aroma of an essential oil, cells in the nose receive the aroma molecules and send signals to the limbic system of the brain, that is, a system of nerves concerned with basic emotions and mood. The limbic system is also connected to the parts of the brain that control blood pressure, stress levels, and hormonal balance. Feeding this system with essential oils can balance emotions and the other functions that the limbic system controls.

Essential oils can be used for many things, from headaches to DIY beauty products. When it comes to dealing with stress and anxiety, it is crucial to know which oils are best for the job. Below are some of the best essential oils for stress and anxiety.

Lavender Essential Oil

Considered to be one of the most commonly used essential oils, lavender’s calming floral aroma makes it excellent for nerves and anxiety issues. It has an impact on the nervous system, and can remove tension and emotional stress, while also increasing mental activity.

Lime Essential Oil

Due to the fresh and natural tart lime scent this oil offers, it helps to improve the mood and invigorate the senses. It can also help with stimulation, overall well-being, and emotional balance. If you’re feeling down or uninspired, try diffusing lime oil for an uplifting mood boost.

Jasmine Essential Oil

Previously compared to the drug Valium, jasmine oil has a positive effect on the body’s stress response, heart rate, body temperature, alertness, breathing, and blood pressure. Jasmine tea, for instance, also works to promote relaxation and healing.

Bergamot Essential Oil

This oil contains a citrus-like fragrance with a distinctive spicy floral quality. It has a good sedative effect, due to the calming, warm aroma it provides. You can also try combining this with Frankincense essential oil to help reduce pain and depression.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil

With its strong, cooling minty aroma, Eucalyptus oil is recommended when you’re feeling sluggish or mentally exhausted. Being a stimulant, it can be effective in treating stress and mental disorders as inhaling its vapor helps increase blood circulation to the brain.

Cedarwood Essential Oil

This warm, woody scent can offer grounding effects for the mind and body. Biologically, the aroma of cedarwood can promote the release of serotonin, a natural mood stabilizer.

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