Sleep Naturally - Best Essential oils for Sleep
It is common knowledge that good quality sleep is important for all human beings. It is also no secret that essential oils can greatly support our sleep. Here are a few essential oils that can provide relief for disrupted sleep and help you relax mentally and physically. You can diffuse a couple of drops and/or apply on the bottoms of your feet, palms of your hands and inhale deeply before you go to sleep.
1. Lavender
Lavender is one of the most popular essential oils for sleep and relaxation. It has a soothing scent that has a deep calming effect. It also has beneficial effects on reducing sad and anxious feelings and relieving aching muscles and joints. But it’s best known for its sedative effects that improve sleep quality and sleep time, and elevate daytime alertness.
2. Bergamot
Bergamot has the ability to reduce sad and anxious feelings, helps promote positivity, and soothe away physical tension in the body. This makes it a very good relaxant, as it calms down nerves and reduces stressful feelings. Additionally, Bergamot essential oil signals to your system that it is time for bed by slowing down your heart rate.
3. Sandalwood
Sandalwood’s rich, woody, and earthy scent has an ancient history of use for relaxation and reducing anxious feelings. It helps to increase the amount of non-REM sleep. One of the most popular uses for Sandalwood oil is for meditation, due to its mood-enhancing properties.
4. Jasmine
With its sweet, floral scent, Jasmine essential oil promotes relaxation and improves sleep quality. It decreases restless sleeping, and increases daytime alertness. It is also known to uplift the mood, as it gives off a calming and euphoric aroma.
5. Rose
Rose oil has a very pleasant floral scent that is shown to reduce stressful and anxious feelings. It helps improve your mood and allows you to have a good night’s sleep. When you apply or diffuse Rose oil, you will most likely experience greater relaxation, as well as a decrease in breathing rate and support blood pressure already within the normal range.
6. Clary Sage
Clary Sage essential oil is a natural mild sedative that can provide a calming effect, and help you fall and stay asleep. This essential oil has been shown to balance a slight imbalance of hormones thus reducing stressful feelings, which is the key to helping your body prepare for a good night’s rest.
7. Vetiver
This essential oil has a very exotic and unique aroma. It’s a member of the grass family. Unlike other grasses, the root system of Vetiver grows down, making it ideal for helping to prevent erosion and providing soil stabilization. Due to its rich, exotic and complex aroma, it is used extensively in perfumes. Its calming and grounding aroma makes it an ideal oil to use in massage therapy. It can also be rubbed on the feet before bedtime to prepare for a restful night’s sleep.
8. Petitgrain
Petitgrain essential oil is derived from the leaves and twigs of the bitter orange tree, which has a long history of use in traditional health practices. Historically, Petitgrain essential oil has been used for cleaning purposes and internally to support healthy immune and nervous systems’ function. Emerging scientific evidence provides support for these traditional and other uses. It helps ease feelings of tension, calm the nervous system, and promote restful sleep. Before going to bed, add a drop of Petitgrain along with Lavender or Bergamot to pillows and bedding.
9. Roman Chamomile
Roman Chamomile provides a sweet, floral aroma. The plant has been nicknamed the “plants’ physician” because it has positive effects on plants growing nearby. Ancient Romans used Roman Chamomile oil for courage during war. Roman Chamomile essential oil is known for its calming effect on the skin, mind, and body. Diffuse or apply Roman Chamomile to the bottoms of your feet at bedtime.
10. Juniper Berry
With the ability to cleanse and purify the air, the fresh aroma of Juniper Berry essential oil can produce a calming, grounding experience. Derived from the coniferous tree, Juniper Berry essential oil has a rich history of traditional uses and benefits. When diffused, Juniper Berry helps cleanse and purify the air while creating a grounding environment. Combine in a diffuser with Lavender and Roman Chamomile for a restful night’s sleep.
MAINTAINING A BEDTIME ROUTINE TIPS:
- Put a drop of Serenity blend, consisting of Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Marjoram, and Roman Chamomile, Hawaiian Sandalwood and Vanilla on your pillow at bedtime.
- Diffuse Serenity or apply a few drops to the bottoms of the feet at bedtime.
- Take one to two Serenity Restful Complex Softgels before going to bed.
- Give yourself a foot massage with Vetiver and Petitgrain to unwind at night.
- Add two to three drops of Serenity blend, Lavender, or other relaxing oils to bath prior to bed to promote relaxation.