With everything that is going on I have to admit, it’s given me a bit of anxiety. The stress of keeping your family safe, homeschooling your kid, worrying about your bills, and wondering if we will ever get out of the house again! It can build up and really cause anxiety to start in. I’m not big for prescription anxiety meds (which if they help you, that’s great!) I prefer to try some natural remedies whenever possible. Recently I have been trying my hand at essential oils – I believe there is a place for for modern medicine, and that there is also a place for natural remedies and help as well. So through my journey these have been the best essential oils for anxiety that I’ve found.
Aromatherapy is one of the best ways to use essential oils to help improve your well-being. By stimulating the smell receptors in your nose, they can send a message to your nervous system. They also are known to have a subtle effect on the body’s chemical and energy systems. Aromatherapy is often used as a natural remedy to relieve anxiety and stress.
The FDA doesn’t regulate essential oils, so make sure to do your research. You should only use pure, therapeutic grade oils that do not contain synthetic fragrances. If the price of an oil seems too good to be true, it probably is!
With most essential oils you will want to dilute them with a carrier oil before you apply them to your skin. This actually helps protect your skin so it’s not irritated, and actually helps get the oil deeper into your skin. For about every 15 drops of oil, you want to dilute with about 1 oz of carrier oil, such as fractured coconut oil.
Some essential oils are safe for ingestion, however again, please make sure you do your research. To be honest I wouldn’t ingest anything but Doterra or Young Living oils (everyone has their preference, and also certain oils are not made to ingest, no matter what the brand, so make sure that you are super careful!)
Lavender
Lavender oil is often considered a must-have oil to keep on hand at all times due to its versatile uses, including calming and relaxing properties that promote peaceful sleep and ease feelings of tension when used internally
Internal use: Dilute one drop in 4 fl. oz. of liquid.
Topical use: Apply one to two drops to desired area. Dilute with a carrier oil to minimize any skin sensitivity
Bergamot
With both calming and uplifting abilities, Bergamot oil can dissipate anxious feelings while simultaneously providing cleansing and purifying benefits. A 2015 study in the journal Forschende Komplementärmedizin (Research in Complementary Medicine) found that people who inhaled bergamot essential oil (diffused with water vapor) had reduced levels of stress hormones, improved mood, and reduced fatigue when compared with a control group.
Internal use: Dilute one drop in 4 fl. oz. of liquid.
Topical use: Apply one to two drops to desired area. Dilute with a carrier oil to minimize any skin sensitivity.
Wild Orange
With multiple health benefits from internal use and an uplifting, energizing aroma when used aromatically. Sweet orange essential oil, extracted from the peel of the orange fruit, has been shown to improve markers of post-traumatic stress disorder in mice. And in a 2015 randomized clinical trial published in the Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, women in labor who were exposed to orange essential oil had lower anxiety scores than those exposed to distilled water
Diffusion: Use three to four drops in the diffuser of your choice.
Internal use: Dilute one drop in four fluid ounces of liquid.
Topical use: Apply one to two drops to desired area. Dilute with a carrier oil to minimize any skin sensitivity.
Chamomile
A 2015 review published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine noted that chamomile’s “antianxiety, stress relieving properties ease out depression, worry, and overactive mind. Its use before sleep for bath can relax both mind and body and brings on sleep, with a peaceful and spiritual awareness
Diffusion: Use three to four drops in the diffuser of your choice.
Internal use: Dilute one drop in four fluid ounces of liquid.
Topical use: Apply one to two drops to desired area. Dilute with a carrier oil to minimize any skin sensitivity
Basil
The spicy, yet herbal nature of Basil oil makes it a versatile oil that can be used to create a calm, relaxed environment or to add a little extra flavor while cooking. According to a 2015 study Trusted Source on mice, the phenol compounds in sweet basil oil helped relieve anxiety. These compounds were found to be less sedating than the anxiety medication diazepam.
Diffusion: Use three to four drops in the diffuser of choice.
Internal use: Dilute one drop in four fluid ounces of liquid.
Topical use: Apply one to two drops to desired area. Dilute with a carrier oil to minimize any skin sensitivity.
So far these are the best oils for anxiety that I have found – as I delve deeper into the essential oil world, I will make sure I update this post!
