Essential oils to diffuse to reduce stress
Who is not stressed these days? We are living in a fast-paced, high-energy world. Whether you feel stress from work, school, family, friends, or relationships, it’s everywhere. Fortunately, essential oils can be a fantastic way to ease that tension in your home.
What are essential oils? Essential oils have many benefits. Many of them not only smell wonderful, but can also have a positive impact on your health. If you’re not sure what they are, essential oils are organic compounds that have been extracted from plants and are said to have a number of healing properties. Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils for healing purposes that can include physical, mental, and emotional health.
Healing plant oils have been used for thousands of years by many different cultures. They have a number of uses including relaxation and stress reduction, natural body care, natural household cleaning, and natural medicine as directed by a qualified provider.
One drop of an essential oil is extremely concentrated. So a little goes a long way when using these oils. They are usually created through a distillation process and have been extracted directly from a plant or tree.
How essential oils can be used:
1. Aromatically – This would be through the diffusion process to deactivate the essential oil in the air. Inhalation of these oils is believed to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Not only do you get the health benefits, but you also get a great smelling home.
2. Body Care: Homemade body care is a fantastic way to add an oil to your daily routine. Oils are added to these products and are absorbed into the skin when applied topically. These homemade products can include body lotions, shampoo and conditioner, dental care, lip balm, and more.
3. Ingestion – Ingestion of these oils should be used with some caution and is generally only recommended under the guidance of a qualified physician. Some oils such as lemon, frankincense, peppermint, and oregano can be taken with water, but must be diluted.
Combinations for stress reduction: Although there are many ways to use essential oils, in this article I am referring to diffusion in the air. It is a perfect way to enjoy a peaceful environment in the comfort of your own home. Plus, it’s nice to smell a calming, relaxing scent when you walk into your home.
About 10 drops of each oil in your diffuser with water is enough. You may decide you like a stronger or lighter scent, so you may need to experiment a bit. I suggest buying your favorite and preferred brand of high quality. There are many, but Rocky Mountain Oils, DoTerra, and Auracacia are some wonderful brands. When buying any of these oils, make sure the ingredient list is ONLY the oil you want to use without including any carrier oils.
My favorite essential oil combinations:
Lavender + Orange
Lavender – Soothes and calms an overstimulated nervous system and balances everyday stress and tension.
Orange: Orange essential oil provides a calming yet cheerful effect; It can help clear stagnant thoughts, reduce nervousness and tension, and strengthen focus.
Lavender + Grapefruit
Lavender – Soothes and calms an overstimulated nervous system and balances everyday stress and tension.
Grapefruit: Promotes the balance of daily mental fatigue, tension and stress, while relieving the feeling of exhaustion due to jet lag.
Ylang Ylang + Lavender
Ylang Ylang – Calms the mind and calms the nervous system and reduces mental fatigue.
Lavender – Soothes and calms an overstimulated nervous system and balances everyday stress and tension.
Ylang Ylang + Cinnamon
Ylang Ylang – Calms the mind and calms the nervous system and reduces mental fatigue.
Cinnamon – Supports healthy blood sugar levels, increases the effectiveness of other essential oils, and maintains a healthy and balanced endocrine system.
Incense + Pine
Frankincense – The warm oil not only promotes a healthy immune system, but also supports digestive function, helping to relieve bloating in the abdomen, and promotes healthy urinary and respiratory systems.
Pine – Fostering positive and calming emotions.