Essential Oils Guide for Stress Relief

Have you heard about the health benefits of essential oils?

There are so many natural ways to lower stress levels and deal with anxiety. Many of my posts are related to self-care and how to overcome stress and anxiety. One of the first posts I wrote was about Five Ways to Fight Anxiety & Depression.  There is a light at the end of the tunnel!

I am always looking for new tools to add to my self-care practices. For instance, there is so much information about using essential oils for health reasons.  I reached out to a fellow Blogger, Noelle Collins, to chat about her knowledge and experience with essential oils.

Noelle has been using essential oils for about 5 years and explains how they have helped her and her family improve their health and combat anxiety. In addition, she is a Nurse who was introduced to essential oils by a friend and has been hooked ever since.

History of Essential Oils

Essential Oils have been in use for thousands of years. They are a hydrophobic liquid containing chemical compounds derived from specific plants. Evidence of essential oil use can be found in recipes recorded on the walls in Egyptian hieroglyphics and also in ancient Chinese manuscripts. Well-preserved oils were even found in King Tut’s tomb!

– Reference Guide for Essential Oils by Connie and Alan Higley

Benefits of Essential Oils

• Antioxidants are powerful nutrients that are known to strengthen the immune system, slow down aging, and prevent diseases.
• Aromatic and have the ability to purify the air when diffused.
• Promote emotional, physical, and spiritual healing.
• They are small in molecular size, so they can quickly penetrate the skin.

Negative Effects of Essential Oils

• Be mindful if you are ingesting essential oils because they may affect people who have sensitive stomachs.
• Be careful when applying directly to skin and test in a small area first. Use a carrier oil like coconut or olive oil when applying to the skin just in case of sensitivity.
• Some may experience detox symptoms from using certain oils.
• Be aware of using cheap brands that are not high quality and not made from trusted sources.
• Never ingest any essential oil, unless it’s marked on the bottle that it’s safe to do so.

  ---

What Essential Oils May Help

• Stress Management
• Digestive issues
• Mental Clarity & Focus
• Muscular Tension
• Sinus issues
• Sleep

Photo credit- Massage Magazine

---

How to Use Essential Oils

Topically- apply at the bottom of your feet, inside your wrists, neck, stomach, or sternum. Always dilute, especially for children (1-3 drops of essential oil to 1 Tbsp carrier oil, such as coconut or sesame). Mix in with your favorite lotion. Placing a few drops in the bath helps to unwind and gives it a nice aroma.

Aromatically– using a diffuser or just by inhaling and taking a deep breath in.

Internally – Make sure it says GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe). Never use an oil internally that does not have this designation.

* Noelle’s Tip- Put a few drops of essential oil on a cotton ball or wooden clothespin for a quick refreshing scent in your car

For more tips on the use of Essential Oils from a trusted company click here.

Recommendations

• Know the source and research where the oils come from.
• Educate yourself and learn the different ways that oils can and should be used.
• Make sure your pets can leave the room if needed when diffusing.

The cost varies greatly depending on the specific oil and brand. Generally speaking, the brands you will find at most health-food or general merchandise stores are not pure and contain fillers that will not be as effective and the worst case can make you sick by introducing additional concentrated toxins to your system.

Noelle’s family prefers to use the Young Living brand as they are more transparent about their sources and processes. This brand maintains complete control over the production process to ensure the purity and quality of their products. Young Living uses the Seed to Seal process, and therefore they know where their plants come from and how they are raised and are not exposed to pesticides.

5 Picks for Anxiety

1. Lavender

2. Peace and Calming Blend of Ylang Ylang, Orange, Tangerine, Patchouli, and Blue Tansy

3. Stress Away Blend of Lime, Lavender, and vanilla extract.

4. Orange

5. Cedarwood

Research Links

Click here to see a study on lavender and effects on sleep

Which essential oils can relieve anxiety?

Efficacy and safety of lavender essential oil (Silexan) capsules among patients suffering from anxiety disorders

Visit Noelle Collins at Living and Loving our Best Life (https://livingandlovingourbestlife.com/) and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/livingandlovingourbestlife/. Her email is ourbestlifenc@gmail.com and her Young Living link is http://bit.ly/NoelleYoungLiving. Check out her Blog post about Essential Oils here!

Make sure you know the source of the oils you use. Call the company and ask questions.

What steps do they take to maintain quality control?

Do they participate in third party independent testing to ensure their quality?

Essential oils are not FDA regulated but neither is any other natural supplement on the market so just do your due diligence when researching before using anything.

As always, check with your medical doctor before adding anything to your self-care plan especially if you suffer from mental health or other physical conditions. Tell me about your experiences using essential oils!

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

Subscribe to my Lifestyle Blog!