Is Essential Oil a Good Natural Treatment for Anxiety?
Using an oil burner is an easy way to enjoy the benefits of essential oils
The easy and truthful answer to that question is yes. Essential oils have been proven, scientifically, to have a significant effect on the activity of the central nervous system and the brain. This means that our reactions to stress and anxiety-inducing situations can be altered by using them as natural treatment for anxiety too.
Clinical trials on the effects of essential oils may be inconclusive, or show that they have very little effect, but when you think about how essential oils are used their calming effects begin to make sense. One of the best ways to get the benefits from essential oils is through massage. This way the oils are absorbed into the skin, which radiates heat and pulse points pump the scent out into the surrounding air. Massages as natural anxiety treatments relax the muscles and allow the recipient to wind down too, so you could argue that oils have more of a chance to get deeper into the nervous system this way. Another way to administer essential oil is in a bath. Here the pores are opened and oil can penetrate them and moisturise the skin. At the same time the steam from the bath traps oil within it, sending the scent into the humid air and the hot bath relaxes the muscles. This is the ideal combination for anyone suffering from anxiety; particular after they’ve taken part in exercise to use up their excess adrenaline.
So exactly which essential oils should you be using? Both lavender and bergamot are perfect, but is readily available in different forms than just oil. It’s easy to grow lavender in your garden, but many people (not just anxiety sufferers) mix the oil with emulsifying wax to make a ’sleep balm’. Lavender and bergamot oil smell quite good together and because their effects are quite similar a bath with drops of each oil in it will work wonders. If you’re anticipating an event where you need to stay focused, yet don’t want to be stressed and ‘over anxious’ then lemon grass oil is great too. Simply put 4-5 drops on a handkerchief and take it with you to sniff every now and then. Lemon grass oil will refresh your senses, making you feel ready for whatever is coming and with a positive attitude.
So before you dismiss essential oil as a natural treatment anxiety simply won’t respond to, try doing some personal research. You may find that some aspects of your nervous system are particularly susceptible to them. Having only mentioned 3 of hundreds of different oils you’ll find so many more that could be beneficial to you as well. Find them sold at most health food stores in handy 10ml bottles with droppers in the lids.
