Essential Oils For Sleep - How Do They Work

Sleep is essential for our overall health and happiness. However, silencing our minds in order to get a good night's sleep is not the easiest task. Struggling to fall asleep is a common problem cause by our hectic lifestyles. It’s hard to slow down and rest in this fast world. If you’re struggling too, it’s time to try essential oils for sleep!

Essential oils have been used for thousands of years to support the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of humankind. Scents influence our mood and the way we feel because our olfactory sense is connected to the part of our brain that is responsible for mood and memory. Therefore, natural scents derived from plants, such as essential oils help us to relax and enhance sleep.

Aromatherapy as Sleep Aid

Relying solely on our sense of smell, aromatherapy is an alternative medicine form that uses scents for medicinal purposes. Since certain scents promote relaxation and positive mood changes, essential oils are used in aromatherapy for a variety of purposes including sleep aid.

Essential oils help people to relax their bodies and minds, which leads to deeper sleep and reduced fatigue. Many people prefer essential oils to sleep pills because they are natural and don’t cause drowsiness or other side effects typically associated with sleep medication.

How Essential Oils Can Help You Get A Good Night Sleep

When you first start using essential oils for sleep, you’ll immediately notice their soothing benefits. Incorporating essential oils into your bedtime routine can significantly improve your sleeping patterns, reduce insomnia, and induce a deeper sleep. On top of that, your brain will associate the specific smell with falling asleep and it will relax faster.

However, not all essential oils are meant for sleep and relaxation. Some scents, such as peppermint and lemongrass have the opposite effect. They energize and refresh the body and the mind. Since that’s exactly what you’re trying to avoid when heading to bed, it is best to stay away these scents and, instead, look for scents that are calming.

The Best Essential Oils for Sleep

Different scents, different results. Also, different bodies, different results, thus we recommend testing different oils and techniques to determine which ones work best for you. You can choose pure oils or experiment with blends. Either way, it is important to choose high-quality essential oils that are 100% organic.

Lavender Oil

Lavender essential oil is one of the most prevalent essential oil because it has many therapeutic benefits. It soothes the body, mind, and spirit. Additionally, it provides wellness and beauty benefits. And it is the perfect sleeping aid as well. Just a few drops of lavender essential oil can take you to dreamland.

The natural relaxant properties and the nice nurturing scent help create a peaceful and calm atmosphere that diminishes stress and promotes sleep. Lavender essential oil can be used as a natural remedy against stress, anxiety, sleep irregularities, and even insomnia.

Calming Sleep Blends

Essential oil blends bring together the benefits of different essential oils. Consequently, they work faster than pure oils. For example, Renewed Calm Blend combines the calming properties of Red Mandarin and Mandarin Petitgrain with the soothing and relaxing properties of Lavender and Sweet Marjoram in an essential oil blend that helps reduce the mental tension that keeps you awake at night.

Red Mandarin and Mandarin Petitgrain essential oils reduce tension and discomfort by relaxing your muscles and balancing your inner energy.

The Lavender and Sweet Marjoram essential oils create a relaxing and soothing atmosphere and stabilize your emotions.

Together, the four essential oils help you unwind faster, soothe any tension you may experience, eliminate stress, and create the perfect scenario for a restful sleep.

How to Use Essential Oils for Sleep

Essential oils have incredible healing and soothing powers and you can use them in many different ways to help with stress relief and insomnia. Some people love diffusing oils, while others swear by topical application. No method is better than the other. You have to try different methods and see which one you prefer. Here are some of the most common methods:

Diffusing Essential Oils

Diffusing is the standard method of using essential oils. Aside from the obvious benefit – the nice smell that spreads through the room - people prefer inhaling oils to other methods because it’s the safest way to use them. Some people have sensitive skin and local application is not advisable.

You can diffuse essential oils in two different ways: with a diffuser or with a humidifier. Always remember to combine your essential oil of choice with a carrier oil before diffusing. Generally, for every one drop of essential oil, you should add a teaspoon of carrier oil.

You shouldn’t diffuse essential oils for more than 30 minutes. After 30 minutes of diffusing, the essential oils can saturate the air and cause headaches, numbness, and can even lead to poisoning. So you should never leave the diffuser on overnight. Diffuse essential oils for sleep 30 minutes before heading to bed. Once you’re ready to sleep, stop the diffuser.

Another option for inhaling essential oils is to rub a few drops of oil into your hands and take a few deep breaths.

Topical Application

Topical application means massaging essential oils onto your body. For a good night's sleep, you can massage essential oil onto your forehead, wrists, and neck. Through topical application, you will not only inhale the oils but they will also enter your bloodstream quicker because they are transdermal and they get absorbed through skin.

If you have allergies or sensitive skin, avoid applying essential oils topically and stick to other methods.

Facial Steaming

Facial steaming is a great snoring remedy because it provides relief for nasal congestion. Try facial steaming during the evening ad see if it helps you sleep better.

To do it, boil water into a pot. When the water is boiling, remove the pot from the stove and add a few drops of essential oil. Sit over the pot with a towel covering your head for approximately 10 minutes.

Aromatic Bath

Many people take a bath when they cannot fall asleep. Baths help relieve tension and soothe the muscles, allowing the body to relax and get ready for sleep. To maximize their effects, turn your regular baths into aromatic baths by adding essential oils.

Combine up to 12 drops of a soothing essential oil such as lavender with carrier oil and add the mixture to your bath. Stir the bathwater before soaking in to be sure the oils are distributed evenly.