If you have been feeling tired, stressed, overwhelmed with so much to do, or mentally exhausted, you may need some help to calm down, relax, relieve the stress and boost your energy. Available in an infinite variety of scents and brands, Essential Oils are a tool used by aromatherapy for multiple purposes, including to fight stress and anxiety. To find out the best Essential Oils for stress relief, check this article out!

Aromatherapy is a millennial practice of alternative medicine that uses plant extracts to promote health and improve well-being. More recently, this unconventional form of therapy has increased in popularity with the spread of a new tool: essential oils. Multiple studies have been conducted about those oils, which are basically an essence compound extracted from plants, once they have been gaining a lot of space and relevance. Obtained through mechanical methods – like cold pressing – or through distillation, essential oils are then diluted using carrier oils for final consumer use.

By inhaling the aromas from essential oils, areas of our limbic system can be stimulated. This brain mechanism is responsible for controlling some of our unconscious physiological functions, like breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate, besides playing a role in our emotions, behaviours, and memories. For this reason, studies show that essential oils can actually have a physical effect on our bodies. A massive variety of essential oils are available in the market and their purposes are extremely broad, varying from fighting headaches to helping sleep better. Their usage methods are also vast: they can be simply inhaled from its packaging, massaged or applied to the skin on different body regions, added to water or food, or inhaled using a diffuser.

When it comes to stress, data shows that an average of 43% of people tries using some source of alternative therapy to combat its symptoms. Under this scope, initial aromatherapy research has presented quite positive results. Isolated or in times associated with conventional therapies, essential oils seem to be mostly effective. Still, even if there is not enough scientific evidence capable of proving its results and efficiency, essential oils are an accessible and helpful alternative. To help you relax and get rid of the accumulated stress, here is a list of the top 5 must-have essential oils to fight stress symptoms:

1. Lavender

One of the most popular scents, the lavender essential oil has anxiolytic properties that can develop calming effects on the body and mind. It eases feelings of tension, which makes it extremely useful to relieve stress and beneficial to mental health. Studies show lavender was effective in reducing workplace stress. This essential oil can be used on a diffuser or applied directly to the skin.

2. Lemongrass

Some studies demonstrate that the lemongrass essential oil has anti-inflammatory properties that help promote relaxation while relieving stress, tension, and anxiety. It can be used for cooking, directly to the skin or on a diffuser.

3. Bergamot

With a citrus aroma, the bergamot essential oil has calming properties that promote relaxation and reduce stress. Studies show that inhaling this oil for 15 minutes can improve feelings of positivity. This invigorating oil can be directly inhaled or used on a diffuser, since when exposed to the sun, it can irritate and damage the skin.

4. Clary Sage

The clary sage essential oil can have an effect on cortisol, the stress hormone, which makes it perfect to relieve tension. It is a calming, soothing, and balancing scent. Studies showed that this essential oil decreased cortisol levels and acted like an antidepressant for women in menopause. It can be applied to the skin, directly inhaled, or used on a diffuser.

5. Ylang-Ylang

The ylang-ylang essential oil is perfect for when you wish to relax since it has a relaxing effect that helps decrease the blood pressure. According to studies, this oil helps promote a sense of peacefulness and lifts the mood, while reducing stress and improving self-esteem. Great to be used in massages and hot baths, it can also be applied to the skin or inhaled.

Those are just a few of the infinite essential oils you may want to try to help relieve your stress. Many other options are available in the market in a variety of brands. If you are on your limit, under chronic stress, and worried about your mental and physical health, give those essential oils a try!

Published by HOLR Magazine.