Sometimes being a human is hard. Our prehistoric relatives used stress responses to fend for their lives. Fight or flight. Now most of us don’t have those same life-threatening stressors but yet the response remains.
Amazingly enough, resources from the wild can lessen this response. Through using calming essential oils, you can help reduce your daily stress and begin to heal naturally.
This article covers the 10 best calming essential oils for anxiety and stress, the basics of essential oils and how to use them therapeutically. Lavender is number one but the remaining nine are in no particular order.
What are essential oils?
Almost every part of the plants around you contains aromatic compounds that produce a fragrance. These compounds can be distilled from the plant as an oil and voila essential oils at your service. Essential oils have a broad range of benefits. This list is specific to calming essential oils that offer natural solutions to anxiety.
Best Essential Oils for Anxiety
Lavender oil is yellow or pale yellow in color, not actually purple as pictured.
1. Lavender
(Lavandula angustifolia; English Lavender);
The main two types of lavender are French and English Lavender. English Lavender is the star of the show when it comes to anxiety. If you are looking to learn even more about lavender, download the lavender guide here.
Lavender essential oil benefits: Studies show lavender may interact with the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Acetylcholine plays a role in the sympathetic nervous system which is in control of anxious fight or flight. Ah and the circle is complete. In this system lavender helps with anti anxiety and anti depressant activities. Lavender has been tested in many clinical trials showing positive results for producing calming effects.
2. Jasmine
(Jasminum officinale, Jasminum officinale forma grandiflorum)
Who knew you could make a room smell delicious and calm your nerves at the same time? Jasmine oil has an amazing floral smell explaining why it is often used in perfumes and fragrances.
Jasmine essential oil benefits: Scientists performed brain scans after exposing people to the aroma of Jasmine essential oil. They found that the it enhanced the effects of GABA on the brain. GABA is an important neurotransmitter, when it comes to anxiety. Enhancing it helps soothe the mind and relax the body. The best form of this calming essential oil is Jasmine Absolute.
3. Vetiver
(Chrysopogon zizanioides, Vetiveria zizanioides)
This tropical herb comes from the vetiver root and has been used for hundreds of years in Ayurvedic Medicine. It grows naturally in India, Tahiti and Haiti. Vetiver essential oil blends well with jasmine, lavender and ylang ylang.
Vetiver essential oil benefits: It is used to ease stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.The sedative nature of vetiver makes vetiver essential oil for sleep a perfect addition to any bedtime routine.
4. Bergamot
(Citrus bergamia)
The bergamot herb comes from the blossoms of the mall tree. Citrus essential oils can be irritating to the skin. For this reason, try using citrus bergamot as an aromatherapy instead of a bath or message.
Vetiver essential oil benefits: Citrus bergamot contains nerol and linalool, which have anti-depressant properties. It also contains limonene which is known for its uplifting and antioxidant effects.
5. Chamomile
(Matricaria recutita; German Chamomile OR Anthemis nobilis; Roman Chamomile)
Curl up right before bed with chamomile oil diffused into the air and it will help you fall asleep with a clear mind.
Chamomile essential oil benefits: Chamomile helps ease worry and inflammation associated with anxiety. A component in chamomile called apigenin may bind to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain that help you relax, some studies show.
6. Rose
(Rose damascena)
This rose is slightly different then the ones people receive on valentines day. It still has a delicious fragrance and is arguably as beautiful. This oil does costs a pretty penny since Rose damascena has low oil content. A large number of flowers is needed to fill one bottle. If a bottle is priced low, it most likely has no therapeutic benefits.
Rose essential oil benefits: Compounds in rose essential oil are suggested to act on GABA. One study used rose essential oil with hemodialysis patients. These patients have high stress due to chronic disease and showed an improved emotional state after breathing in rose water.
7. Ylang ylang
(Cananga odorata)
Ylang ylang has a heavy floral scent that is stronger than most so less is more when using this tropical herb.
Ylang ylang essential oil benefits: The ylang ylang flower resembles a banana peel and is used to lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety. Studies on inhaling ylang ylang essential oil show that there is a decrease in blood pressure after breathing in this flowery aroma. Decreasing blood pressure helps relax and calm the body.
8. Clay Sage
(Salvia sclarea)
This earthy scented essential oil blends well with its close relatives lavender and bergamot.
Clary Sage essential oil benefits: Salvia sclarea is a specific type of sage that can be used to relieve anxiety. A review on Clary sage essential oil shows that it may interact with dopamine. This is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and mood. The results of the interaction? Anti-stressor effects of course!
9. Frankincense
(Boswellia Carterii; Boswellia Seratta)
Frankincense essential oil has a rustic, foresty like aroma.
Frankincense essential oil benefits: It’s effects uplift the mood, calm stress and improve concentration. Limonene, a component in Frankincense, is the main culprit for these results. Studies show limonene may act on GABA receptors.
10. Lemon
(Citrus limon)
Lemon essential oil can be used for aromatherapy but due to citrus skin irritation there are better alternative if you want you use it in a bath. Lemongrass essential oil is a good non-citrus substitute for Lemon essential oil. It has a similar fragrance and contains limonene.
Lemon essential oil benefits: The fresh smell of lemon oil is uplifting and relieving all in one. It’s no surprise that Lemon oil also contains limonene so at uptick in GABA may be at play.
How do essential oils work?
When calming essential oils interact with the brain they may signal it to release messengers like serotonin and endorphins. These messengers encourage the nervous system to relax.
Studies have been done using aromatherapy for people in high stress situations. For instance, hemodialysis, cancer, postpartum and neurology patients. Many of these studies show positive increases in mood and emotional state of the patient when using calming essential oils.
Essential Oils Uses
Essential oils can be used in a variety of ways, some include:
- aromatherapy diffuser
- essential oil bath mixed with carrier oil or bath salts
- warm compress
- message using essential oils
You can easily use calming essential oils at home through aromatherapy or by soaking in a bath. Aromatherapy typically uses an essential oils diffuser that mixes the oil with the air you breath. Essential oils absorb into the skin when soaking in bath water.
A great way to decompress is by adding calming essential oils to your bedtime routine. An important tip for the bath is to mix 5 to 10 drops of the essential oil with carrier oil, milk, or bath salts. This protects your skin and helps the bath water combine with the essential oil. Strong essential oils like Ylang Ylang and Rose demascena only need 1 or 2 drops due to their overpowering aroma.
To Sum it Up…
Calming essential oils are a great resource to help you take a deep breath in and appreciate the moment. Life is demanding and it is important to demand time for yourself. Different essential oils hold up better in heat versus others so be sure to read more about the essential oil that grabs your interest to determine the best way to enjoy it.
The quality of the oil you purchase is also important so be sure to read the ingredients and choose a reputable company. Now sit down, relax and try to turn down the volume in your head. If you don’t have much time to spare, diffuse essential oils into the air while you move along with whatever task is at hand. It is time to calm your restless mind.