You will have heard of aromatherapy being an effective remedy for stress — in fact, de-stressing with stress relief oils is probably one of the most popular methods to combat stress and relieve anxiety. Stress relief oils are a gloriously aromatic way to decompress.
The most common ways to use them are in electric diffusers and reed diffusers. The second most common method is scented candles. Lighting a lemon verbena candle after a long day at work, or a lavender lilac scented one in the bathroom as you slip into the tub for a long soak is something we all do. Another aromatherapy method is to use a spray that has the right mix of oils and spritz it on your pillow. Lavender has been found to specially helpful to help you relax and sleep better. Added to this, you could also carry a helpful roll-on that sits discreetly inside your purse and rub a few drops on your temple on those high pressure days at work. And for decades, scented potpourri has been a favourite in living rooms all over the world.
Stress relief oils help you unwind and focus more on your inner calm. In tense situations, cortisol runs roughshod through your system, causing our jaws to clench, muscles to strain or tighten, and our blood pressure to rise. All of this, added to any external cause such as an irate boss, a rude store assistant, or just bad weather, can weigh you down and make you internalize the feeling of stress more so than usual. Aromatherapy works on one of your key senses, i.e., the sense of smell. The aromatic molecules directly impact your brain, helping your nervous system to calm down from the inside. Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? And it works!
Stress Relief Oils: My Top Picks
Lavender oil: This is a no-brainer. The health benefits of lavender oil are numerous, stress relief being the top benefit. Lavender oil has been proven to help alleviate tension, provide relief from pain, to treat respiratory issues, as also combat blood stagnation. Added to this, lavender, along with tea tree oil, has been found to be a great skin and scalp disinfectant. This is my top pick for when I feel a panic attack coming on, or if I am dealing with a persistent bout of insomnia, and it hasn’t failed me so far.
Bergamot oil: Dr. Mercola has this to say about bergamot oil: “More than just offering a familiar scent or flavor, bergamot oil is bursting with a powerhouse of benefits.Bergamot has an uplifting aroma that makes you feel you are walking through a lemon orchard. This has both stress relief benefits as well as energizing benefits, helping you to focus on the positive. Bergamot’s unique scent combination of being both uplifting and relaxing makes it my second go-to aromatherapy choice when under stress. Stress, I have found, makes me feel bogged down by an invisible burden on my shoulders, and sometimes, one whiff of bergamot is all I need to move on from that place. I use this specially at work. It has a pleasing after scent that seems to agree with everyone around me, and one dab of it my wrists, and voila! I have what it takes to either move on or engage in high pressure meeting at the workplace.
Ylang Ylang: What first stayed with me was the name, and I am all about alliteration and rhyme in language. This scent has so many benefits going for it, that you could call this the “antioxidant” the environment sometimes needs. Just consider this list: anti-seborrheic, antidepressant, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, hypotensive (helpful in reducing blood pressure), AND a natural sedative. Usually paired with patchouli or lavender, ylang ylang is one of my my all-time favourites when I want to feel like a child walking through rows and rows of sunkissed sunflowers.
Sandalwood: The earthy, woodsy aroma of sandalwood has long been the family favourite. I remember that our wardrobes would have scented sachets of sandalwood, and every time I opened the wardrobe to take something out, I would be hit by this gentle wave of earthiness rising from the musty interiors. Sandalwood is known for not just its aromatherapy benefits, but also this from Organic Facts: “The health benefits of Sandalwood essential oil can be attributed to its properties as an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antiphlogistic, antispasmodic, astringent, cicatrisant, carminative, diuretic, disinfectant, emollient, expectorant, hypotensive, memory booster, sedative and tonic substance.”
What’s your favourite? Is there any particular scent that you swear by?
