14 Apr These Essential Oils can Help you Sleep Better
Increasingly, the world over, people are waking up to the importance of sleep. And today’s fast-paced, social-media-ridden existence is adversely impacting the quality of our sleep.
When sleep quality suffers, our cognitive and other bodily functions slow down.
People experiment with various things to improve the quality of their sleep. We try everything from expensive mattresses and ergonomic pillows. Meditation and journaling have also become popular aids. All, to get the rest we so deserve! To this list, we can add essential oils.
The top essential oils that help you sleep better
Some essential oils help clear the airways in the body. They hence, relax the body. They are known to help with conditions such as insomnia and sleep apnea. Others have a calming effect on the nervous system and help to induce sleep.
Here are the most popular essential oils that have proven to help with sleep.
Lavender
No surprises here! Lavender is perhaps best known for helping us reach the land of nod with its soothing fragrance. (No wonder it is used in so many baby products; to help babies and their parents feel relaxed and sleep well.)
Several studies have shown how lavender helps reduce anxiety and improve the quality of deep sleep. Lavender helps improve slow-wave sleep. And also works wonders for people with insomnia.
Chamomile Roman
You may already be familiar with how beneficial chamomile tea is for relaxation. However, Chamomile Roman essential oil is even more effective.
The oil is well-known for its hypnotic properties. It is natural then, that it would also help us to fall asleep faster. Inhaling this sweet herbaceous essential oil reduces anxiety and promotes better quality sleep.
Clary Sage
Essential oil made of clary sage reduces the level of cortisol hormone in the body. Cortisol is the stress-related hormone and when it is high, our bodies remain in the fight-or-flight mode.
The lowering of cortisol levels in the body helps us relax and sleep more easily. And that is what this essential oil helps immensely with.
Vetiver
Vetiver essential oil is one of those that helps clear the air pathways in the body. It is hence particularly helpful for people who have snoring problems.
The rich and earthy fragrance of vetiver has a grounding effect on our emotions which is helpful to soothe the nerves. Experiments show how vetiver is also very helpful in reducing anxiety. Again, something that we could do with less of when trying to fall asleep.
Geranium (Egyptian)
The Egyptian Geranium essential oil is another beautiful floral scent that fills your senses and promotes restful sleep. It was used in ancient Egypt as well, to balance the hormones, improve mood, and reduce symptoms of anxiety and tiredness.
Geranium reduces stress and that allows us to travel to the land of sleep far more easily than we would otherwise.
So before you try any extreme measures to help you sleep better, consider aromatherapy. Inhaling a scent is any day safer than popping a pill.
Incorporate any of these essential oils into your evening routine. You can use them in a diffuser or topically through a relaxing massage. Alternately you can also inhale directly from the bottle a few times.
Make this your nightly ritual to end your long and busy days in the most luxurious way possible. This is self-care at its best!
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