Essential Oils For Anxiety: Essential oils are aromatic substances that can be extracted from plants using distillation. It’s possible to obtain essential oils from many different parts of a plant, including, but not limited to the leaves, flowers, and roots.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, Some of the possible uses of essential oils in aromatherapy include things like managing pain, helping with digestion, and reducing stress and anxiety. While scientific evidence for many of these uses is lacking, research is ongoing to learn more about the benefits of essential oils.
The article below will examine 8 essential oils that may help with symptoms of anxiety. We’ll discuss:
Their potential benefits for anxiety and other conditions
How they can be applied
The things to keep in mind before using them
How essential oils are used
Essential Oils For Anxiety, One theory of how aromatherapy works is that essential oils can stimulate the smell receptors in your nose, which then sends messages to your nervous system. Some also believe that essential oils can have a subtle effect on the body’s chemical and energy systems.
Because of this, aromatherapy is often used as a natural remedy to help relieve anxiety and stress. Topical applications and inhalation are some common ways that essential oils can be used for aromatherapy.
Essential oils should never be ingested, despite claims on the internet that suggest otherwise. There’s not enough research on any one essential oil to prove it’s safe to swallow. Each essential oil is very different, and some are toxic.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, It’s important to know that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate essential oils, so be diligent in your practice. You should only use therapeutic-grade oils that don’t contain synthetic fragrance and only purchase from a trusted source.
Once you have an essential oil picked out and on hand, you’ll want to make sure you consider who is going to inhale it.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, Some essential oils are dangerous for children, others are not safe for pregnant and breastfeeding parents, and there are a number that are potentially toxic to pets. When applicable, consult a medical professional, like your pediatrician, OB-GYN, and veterinarian, before implementing use.
How we choose
Essential Oils For Anxiety, We had a few considerations in mind as we pulled together our list of the best essential oils for anxiety.
First, we looked for reputable companies that manufacture unadulterated, therapeutic-grade oils. While there isn’t an industry standard for that term, some companies use it to differentiate between higher quality essential oils, and others that are made synthetically or that come blended with carrier oils, which are made from nuts or seeds. (Note that if you apply essential oils topically, you’ll want a carrier oil to dilute it.)
Essential Oils For Anxiety, We also prioritized essential oils that come with certifications about their purity. Typically, that means gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) testing to confirm botanical origins and detect contaminants.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, Finally, we looked for companies that are transparent about their production methods and botanical sourcing. High quality essential oils that offer therapeutic value should be produced by steam-distilling or cold-pressed, and made with plant material only.
1. Edens Garden Valerian Essential Oil
Valerian is an herb that has been used since ancient times. Valerian essential oil comes from the roots of the plant and has a bold scent that may be described as woody, earthy, or musky. Some individuals may find this scent to be unpleasant.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, Valerian is thought to contain compounds that promote sleep and calm nerves. It can have a mild sedative effect on the body. Because of this, it’s often used as a sleep aid.
A 2020 review looked at the benefits of valerian for sleep and other associated disorders. In this review, seven studies on valerian and anxiety were examined. Six of these studies observed positive outcomes when valerian was used as a supplement for anxiety.
We like the oil from Edens Garden because the company tests every batch of essential oils and makes GC/MS reports available to confirm purity and therapeutic value.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, How to use: Add a few drops of valerian oil to an aromatherapy diffuser and inhale. Valerian may make you sleepy or relaxed.
Best used for: In addition to its uses for sleep and anxiety, valerian can also be used to help with headache, trembling, and heart palpitations.
2. Pure Jatamansi Essential Oil
Essential Oils For Anxiety, Jatamansi is in the same plant family as valerian. You may also see it referred to as spikenard. The essential oil is made from the roots of the plant and has an earthy or woody scent. Jatamansi is used in Ayurvedic medicine to calm the mind and encourage sleep.
According to a 2018 study in mice, a 7-day regimen of jatamansi extract had significant anti-anxiety effects. An increase in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and monoamine neurotransmitters were also observed in the brain, indicating that the anxiety-reducing effects of jatamansi operate through this pathway.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, The jatamansi oil from R V Essential is therapeutic grade and made with no fillers, pesticides, or harsh chemicals.
How to use: Massage diluted jatamansi oil into your temples or forehead. Make sure to use it one drop at a time to prevent it from accidentally getting into your eyes.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, Best used for: Jatamansi can be used as a sleep aid and to help ease symptoms of depression. It may also help relieve pain and inflammation.
3. Lavender
Lavender is one of the most popular aromatherapy oils. It has a sweet floral scent with a woody or herbal undertone.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, Lavender oil can be used to calm anxiety. It also has a sedative effect and may help with sleep troubles, including if feelings of stress or anxiety are keeping you up at night.
According to 2012 research, lavender aromatherapy is thought to calm anxiety by impacting the limbic system, the part of the brain that controls emotions.
A 2019 review evaluated 71 studies that used lavender to ease anxiety. It found that inhaling lavender could significantly lower anxiety levels measured using a clinically validated scale. Massage with lavender oil was also found to help reduce anxiety levels.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, Plant Therapy’s lavender oil is 100 percent pure and therapeutic grade. The company’s oils are lab-tested for purity and come with a risk-free, 100 percent satisfaction guarantee.
How to use: Enjoy a relaxing lavender bath by combining several drops of lavender oil with a teaspoon of carrier oil, such as almond oil or jojoba oil, or an unscented bath gel. Stir the mixture into warm bathwater just before entering.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, Best used for: In addition to helping lower anxiety, you can also use lavender oil for many other things. Some examples include as part of a skincare regimen to help with conditions like eczema, acne, and burns. It may also help ease muscle pain and headache pain.
4. Jasmine Essential Oil
Jasmine oil has a gorgeous floral scent and is often used in perfumes and other cosmetic products. You may also see jasmine used as a base for various types of teas. According to a 2013 study, inhaling jasmine oil can promote a sense of well-being and romance.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, Unlike some other essential oils used for anxiety, jasmine oil is thought to calm the nervous system without causing sleepiness. In fact, it can actually have a stimulant effect in some individuals.
A 2017 study looked at the effects of jasmine extract on rats. It found that lower doses of jasmine extract significantly lowered anxiety.
We like the oil from Rainbow Abby because it’s 100 percent pure jasmine oil with no additives or fillers.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, How to use: You can inhale jasmine oil directly from the bottle, by adding a few drops onto a tissue and inhaling, or by placing the tissue in your pillowcase as you sleep. You can also allow the scent to fill the room through a diffuser.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, Best used for: Jasmine can be used to help regulate your mood. It may also be used as an aphrodisiac.
5. Organic Sweet Basil
Sweet basil essential oil comes from the same herb that you use to make marinara sauce. It has a crisp, herbal scent.
In aromatherapy, sweet basil is thought to help calm the mind and relieve stress. Research into using sweet basil for anxiety is rather limited, with many studies focusing on animal models.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, According to a 2015 study in mice, the phenol compounds in sweet basil oil helped relieve anxiety and had a sedative effect. These compounds were found to be less sedating than the anxiety medication diazepam.
A 2018 study, also in mice, looked at sweet basil extract’s effect on stomach ulcers. In addition to showing an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect, the mice that were given the extract also showed reductions in anxiety-like behavior.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, Healing Solutions sweet basil oil is 100 percent pure. If you don’t love it, the company offers a money-back guarantee.
How to use: Add several drops of sweet basil oil to a room diffuser or inhale through an inhaler tube.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, Best used for: Sweet basil oil may be used for digestive upset, skin care, and pain or inflammation.
7. Chamomile Essential Oil
Chamomile oil comes from the daisy-like flowers of the chamomile plant. It’s well known for its relaxing and sedating properties and pleasant scent. In fact, you may often see it as an ingredient in herbal teas that aim to promote peaceful sleep.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, There isn’t much research on chamomile essential oil for anxiety. A 2017 study looked at using chamomile supplements for individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Researchers found that chamomile supplementation reduced the symptoms of mild to moderate GAD. However, it did not reduce the rate of relapse of anxiety symptoms.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, The chamomile oil from Rainbow Abby is therapeutic-grade quality with no synthetic ingredients.
How to use: Massage diluted chamomile oil into your skin or add it to a warm bath. It’s important to note that chamomile oil is strong, and a little can go a long way.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, Best used for: Chamomile oil can also be used to help with digestive upset, healing of wounds or ulcers, and easing pain and inflammation.
8. Rose Essential Oil
Rose essential oil is extracted from rose petals. Roses have an enchanting sweet, floral scent known to relax the senses.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, A small 2011 study looked at the effects of self-massage with a mix of essential oils, including rose oil, on menstrual pain and anxiety. It found that aromatherapy self-massage of the abdomen with the essential oil mixture was associated with lower levels of pain and anxiety.
A 2014 study examined the use of a rose aromatherapy footbath in pregnant women during labor. Women who used the aromatherapy footbath reported lower levels of anxiety than those who used a footbath containing warm water only.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, How to use: Soak your feet in a basin filled with warm water and diluted rose essential oil. You can also add rose oil to your favorite non-scented moisturizer or shea butter and massage into skin.
Essential Oils For Anxiety, Best used for: Rose oil may help lift mood or ease the symptoms of PMS, such as menstrual cramps. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and may help with wound healing. Some may choose to use it as an aphrodisiac.
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