One of the best remedies to anxiety is with the use of essentials oils. These aromatic oils can help to promote relaxation and relieve anxiety. Most of the essential oils for anxiety are pure and very concentrated. Diluting essential oil with a carrier oil like olive oil or sweet almond oil is recommended by the manufacturers to avoid toxicity. Before using an essential oil, you need to do a patch test on the skin to check if will cause some allergic reaction or skin irritation.
There are many ways to get benefits from diluted essential oils. One can use it with a special diffuser or apply the oils to fabrics and soft furnishings like beddings, cushions, or pillows, massaging oils in your skin, and mixing oils with bath salts or lotion.
This article will provide ideas on the best essential oils that are recommended for anxiety such as valerian, jatamansi, lavender, jasmine, holy basil, sweet basil, bergamot, chamomile, rose, vetiver, and many more. There are also particular essential oils for headaches such as peppermint oil, rosemary oil, and eucalyptus oil. Chamomile and lavender oils can both treat anxiety and headaches because of their relaxing and sedating effects.
1. Valerian
Valerian is known as essential oils for anxiety. This kind of aromatic oil is used during ancient times because of its sedative qualities that are safe and effective as an all-natural remedy for stress and sleep. It has an earthy aroma that when inhaled can promote a feeling of relaxation and improve the quality of sleep.
2. Lavender
Lavender is one of the most popular aromatherapy essential oils for headaches. It works as an anxiolytic (an anxiety reliever) that can give relaxation and calmness during sleep. Aside from anxiety reliever, lavender can also help fight fungal infections, allergies, depression, insomnia, eczema, nausea, and menstrual cramps. There is a study that lavender oil can also help acute management of migraine attacks and it shows that after inhaling the lavender oil it may reduce pain from a migraine.
3. Jasmine
Jasmine is one of the best essential oils that come from the white flowers of the jasmine plant. Base on research, jasmine oil can promote a sense of romance and well-being. Some of the essentials oils used for anxiety and promote sleep, but jasmine oil are thought to calm the nervous system without causing sleepiness.
4. Holy Basil
Holy basil is not the usual basil that is typically used in pasta, but both are from the same family. Holy basil is known as essential oils for anxiety that contains eugenol. It is a compound that gives a spicy and minty aroma. Adding a few drops of it in your diffuser and inhale as it dispersed throughout the room can help to promote sleep as well as calm the mind.
5. Sweet Basil
Sweet basil is typically used as an herb in the kitchen, especially in marinara sauce. However, it is used also as aromatherapy essential oils for anxiety. Based on the 2015 study, sweet basil has is rich in phenol compounds that help to relieve anxiety. It can also stimulate, clarify, fortify, calm, energize, and uplift your mind.
6. Chamomile
Chamomile essential oil has many health benefits and one of them is the best essential oils for anxiety. It is recommended for relaxation and sedation benefits to relieve anxiety. It is a popular choice for massage. Aside from relieving anxiety, it offers relief for aches and pains, digestive issues, and wound healing. Chamomile essential oil is not recommended for pregnant women because it carries a risk of miscarriage.
7. Rose
Rose is one of the best essential oils that can reduce anxiety in pregnant women during labor. It is extracted from rose petals and has an enchanting floral scent. Pregnant women can use this essential oil by simply soaking their feet in the basin filled with warm water and diluted rose oil.
8. Bergamot Orange
Bergamot orange comes from Citrus bergamia tree, and the oil is extracted using cold pressing the rind from oranges. Base on the study, bergamot oranges is effective essential oils for anxiety. Inhaling of bergamot orange aromatic oil has an anxiety-reducing effect compared with inhaling water vapor. It can reduce anxiety in people waiting for minor surgery.