Essential Oils for Anxiety: What Works and What to Avoid

When it comes to managing anxiety, essential oils can be a great natural remedy. From lavender to tea tree, there are many essential oils that can help reduce stress and improve mood. But it's important to understand the potential risks and benefits of using these oils, as well as the best ways to use them. Lavender is one of the most popular aromatherapy oils.

It has a sweet floral scent with a woody or herbal undertone. Lavender is one of the best-known essential oils used to relieve stress. It has a strong floral scent that is calming and relaxing. According to Dr.

Gangadharan, tea tree has a warm, camphor scent that can be soothing and refreshing. It's also good for boosting immune support. Bergamot is used to reduce stress and even improve skin conditions such as eczema. It has a sweet citrus scent with a touch of floral notes, making it uplifting and relaxing, and it blends well with lavender.

Ylang ylang is known for its sedative qualities, while chamomile is used to improve mood and is a relaxant. It has a fruity and herbaceous scent that soothes, especially before bedtime. Eucalyptus has a fresh, slightly sweet scent that is energizing and relaxing and can help reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety. Vetiver has a rich, earthy scent that is both calming and relaxing, making it best to use it before resting or meditating. Many essential oils rich in the chemical component linalool are well known for their ability to reduce feelings of sadness and anxiety.

Lavender is high in linalool and when taken internally reduces feelings of anxiety. It's important to note that some essential oils are considered safe if inhaled, but can be irritating if applied to the skin in concentrations as low as 3 to 5 percent. Unlike other essential oils used for anxiety, jasmine oil is believed to calm the nervous system without causing drowsiness. If you tend to have trouble falling asleep, valerian oil can help you feel more relaxed and calm your nerves at bedtime. Some also believe that essential oils can have a subtle effect on the body's chemical and energy systems. To do this, essential oils should never be applied directly to the skin and should be diluted with a base or carrier oil.

Johns Hopkins also discourages the use of essential oil diffusers, small appliances that create scented vapor. We strongly recommend that you research to determine the best ratio of essential oil to base oil to avoid irritating or damaging the skin. Some studies indicate that the use of essential oils has a benefit, while others show no improvement in symptoms. There are several ways to use essential oils for stress relief, from applying them topically to inhaling the aroma after diluting them with water. But certain types of these fairly cheap oils can really help you feel less anxious and stressed. When using essential oils for anxiety relief, it's important to understand the potential risks and benefits of using these oils, as well as the best ways to use them safely. Because pure essential oils are potent, diluting them in a carrier oil is the best way to avoid a bad reaction when applying directly to the skin. The best essential oils depend on the symptoms you want to relieve or what fragrances you prefer.

You can add a few drops to a diffuser, apply it directly to the skin or combine it with other products or oils. In conclusion, essential oils can be an effective natural remedy for reducing stress and improving mood when used correctly. However, it's important to understand the potential risks associated with using these oils before incorporating them into your wellness routine.