Many Americans seek strategies to manage their stress and anxiety and reduce the harmful repercussions as we live in uncertain times around the country. Pressure over an extended period may have various detrimental impacts on the body and mind.
The long-term effects of stress may include impatience and rage and a host of other symptoms, including headaches, insomnia, digestive disorders, and even chest pains. Aromatherapy is a popular alternative to more conventional methods of stress reduction, such as exercise, counseling, and a good diet. You can even buy aromatherapy products online at Kumi and have them delivered conveniently to your doorstep.
We wrote this post to clear up any lingering doubts regarding aromatherapy’s ability to reduce stress, although we know some are out there. It turns out that aromatherapy is an excellent way to relieve tension.
Is it possible to get rid of tension using aromatherapy?
Yes, aromatherapy employs natural plant extracts to cure common health conditions and increase general well-being; therefore, this is the solution to your inquiry. Aromatherapy is a therapeutic art that uses pure essential oils in various methods to help the body heal and improve its defenses.
Aromatherapy may be a new concept to some, yet it has a long history going back to the year of our Lord, the year 100 AD. Essential oil distillation was employed by the Persians in their medical procedures as early as the 10th century, according to the Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA). The employment of resins, balms, and scented oils by Egyptian priests for religious rites, offerings, and embalming may be traced back to their history of aromatherapy. Aromatic oils were also being employed in ayurvedic therapies in China and India during this period.
When is the best time to use an aromatherapy treatment?
Stress and anxiety, headaches, and digestive difficulties are all frequent ailments for which aromatherapy is utilized. In this technique, the essential oils stimulate the limbic system of your brain to send signals that affect your emotions, memory, and learning style. The limbic system is produced, and our requirements may be communicated to the brain when we utilize aromatherapy.
When we are under stress, our bodies might feel the effects of that stress. If the long-term focus remains ignored, it may lead to a broad range of health issues. When used correctly, lavender oil has been shown in studies to relieve stress. This essential oil is ideal in times of stress and uncertainty because it relaxes the nervous system, decreases blood pressure, and helps the body feel relaxed. Many essential oils, including lavender oil, may be used in aromatherapy to reduce stress. If you’d want some inspiration, here are a few more oils you may use for aromatherapy and stress relief.
1. Lavender oil
Lavender oil, a popular aromatherapy essential oil, is recognized for its calming and soothing effects. If you’ve ever wondered how stress affects your ability to remember, research published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine could help.
Lavender aromatherapy improved performance compared to a placebo scent inhalation in anxious individuals. According to research published in the International Journal of Nursing Practice, workplace stress may be alleviated for three to four days by spraying garments with 3-percent lavender oil.
Bath salts and massage oil include lavender oil, which is used in aromatherapy. Lavender-infused herbal tea, available at many natural-food shops, is another way to enjoy the calming aroma of lavender.
2. Bergamot oil
Aromatherapy uses bergamot essential oil, which gives Earl Grey tea its distinctive scent. Citrus bergamia, a citrus fruit, is the source of this essential oil, which may help alleviate your tension. Some studies suggest that bergamot essential oil may help decrease stress and increase relaxation, although these studies are few and few between. There’s also a 2015 research that found that bergamot essential oil may reduce negative emotions and exhaustion and decrease saliva cortisol levels (a hormone often referred to as the “stress hormone”).
Before using bergamot essential oil to one’s skin or bath, it is recommended to dilute with a lubricant such as a jojoba, almond, or avocado. Some individuals are allergic to bergamot, which may cause dermatitis on the skin. In addition, sun exposure might cause redness, blisters, or discoloration of the skin due to this medication. Sprinkling a few drops of the oil on a towel or tissue or using an aromatherapy diffuser might also help you relax.
3. Lemongrass oil
The usage of the essential oil of lemongrass, which is extracted from the lemongrass plant, is an effective method of relieving stress for specific persons (Cymbopogon citratus). Aromatherapy may ease stress and tension by inhaling the oil’s smell or putting a small amount on the skin after mixing it with another oil.
A 2015 research published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found a significant difference between those who breathed lemongrass essential oils and control scents (tea tree oil or a placebo).
4. Neroli oil
Neroli essential oil, a sweet and spicy aromatherapy treatment, is occasionally used to help alleviate stress and anxiety. The benefits of neroli essential oil have been studied very little. Subjects breathed either neroli oil or a placebo (sunflower oil) in one trial before a colonoscopy. The neroli oil reduced systolic blood pressure (the highest number in a blood pressure measurement), but not anxiety or discomfort.
Some health care facilities outside the United States utilize neroli inhalation as a sedative. According to a press release, Neroli inhalation improved menopausal symptoms in women over 50 and decreased PMS symptoms in university students in a 2014 research.
5. Orange oil
Is it finally time to unwind? According to a preliminary study, inhaling the delicious scent of orange essential oil may help you relax. Participants who inhaled sweet orange essential oil, as opposed to those who inhaled a control aroma (tea tree oil) or a placebo, did not experience an increase in anxiety or tension during an anxiety-inducing situation, according to a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. According to 2017 research, another kind of orange essential oil known as bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) was proven to lessen anxiety during a simulated public speaking event.
Despite aromatherapy’s long history of usage, large-scale clinical investigations investigating its benefits on anxiety are still lacking. While massaging an essential oil into your skin or adding it to a bath might help you relax after a long day, you should always check your doctor before using essential oils for any ailment. While almost everyone suffers stress from time to time, it’s essential to be on the lookout for indicators of an anxiety condition.