Can Aromatherapy Help with Anxiety & Stress?

Can Aromatherapy help with Anxiety & Stress?

Hi! and welcome to part two of our Aromatherapy series, where we will uncover some strategies to combat both of these things.

Trying to describe what anxiety is or how it feels is nearly impossible because we all experience it so differently.

Anxiety is a very different experience for each person, but when you know you have it… you know! It can range from a simple nervous feeling to a full-on anxiety attack where you can’t catch your breath and feel almost paralyzed.

A simple explanation is that anxiety is an inappropriate response from the body that tells you basically that a saber-tooth tiger is in the area, and you are on the lunch list.

Long-term anxiety and panic attacks can cause your brain to release stress hormones on a regular basis. So, as we can see, stress and anxiety walk hand in hand and it’s important we lower stress to calm anxiety.

The good news is, is that Aromatherapy is a wonderful at combatting stress and in turn combat anxiety.

As with any negative emotion or physical response we need to come at it from a “holistic” approach and not a one size fits all approach. It’s not about a magic pill, but rather a whole approach and finding out what works best for you, and your body/mind/spirit. Think of aromatherapy as a support system while you navigate what works best for you.

There are many essential oils that can calm the nervous system and the first one that usually comes to mind is Lavender. Lavender has two important chemical constituents that make it perfect for this. One is “Linalool” and the other “Linalyl Acetate”. Both are slightly sedative and cause our minds to relax. Here are some other essential oils that are wonderful for combatting both stress and anxiety.

• Lavender
• Bergamot
• Sweet Orange
• Sweet Marjoram
• Roman Chamomile
• Spearmint
• Mandarin

One of my favourite blends, and one you can use at home is; Lavender + Bergamot + Roman Chamomile. For example, if you are placing 10 drops into your diffuser it would look like

• 5 drops of lavender
• 3 drops of bergamot
• 2 drops of roman chamomile

This simple blend put onto your pillow or in your diffuser at night will help calm the body and mind preparing you for sleep. This can also be diluted into a roller ball to take with you while you’re at work or out running errands. Remember to always dilute your essential oils into a carrier oil before applying them to the skin. Keep in mind bergamot can cause the skin to be more sensitive to sunlight so don’t put it on any part of the body that will be exposed to the sun.

 Exhale aromatherapy spray is a quick way to stop anxiety and panic attacks right away! When you spray exhale over the body, you are stimulating the limbic system straight way, and it's a convenient way to carry and use aromatherapy anywhere you go. This blend has been developed to produce immediate calm and a deep sense of euphoria when you don't have a diffuser handy. It also comes in a roller ball to slide into your pocket.

Most importantly, be kind and gentle with yourself always and know you are doing your best! One day at a time

If you have any questions about aromatherapy, essential oils, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me personally or respond to this newsletter. I am here for you.

Yours in wellness – Kelly xo