Combating Insomnia With Essential Oils For Sleep

By Ryan Foster


From struggling to fall asleep to the inability to stay sleeping for a healthy duration, insomnia is a problem that manifests itself in various ways. Fortunately, there are various aromatherapy treatments which are more effective to conventional medication, most of which carries side effects of some sort. Such include essential oils for sleep which are highly effective in promoting relaxation before one goes to bed, thus enabling them overcome insomnia.

In the quest to find cures for insomnia, lavender was discovered to possess soothing qualities. This can be attributed to its constituent alcohols and esters, which themselves possess intrinsic soothing capabilities. For the best results, you have to use pure lavender as it's reportedly more successful than nearly all other variants.

A little lavender in a footbath works wonders in promoting blood flow, not to mention the activation of process in the autonomic nervous system that are linked to relaxation. Experts suggest blending it with some carrier oil before administering it prior to bedtime. Other application techniques include rubbing down the temples or neck, or even splashing one or two drops over your pillow.

Roman chamomile has successfully been used to remedy sleeplessness in children. This is because it has a delightful, calming aroma that complements its soothing capabilities. Other potential areas of application include suppressing nightmares by alleviating anxiety.

The exact manner in which Roman chamomile brings about these effects is not fully understood, although they seem to be psychological in nature. You can either diffuse it or rub a few drops on your temple prior to going to bed. It can also be used for meditation and for assisting people express their honest feelings, in which case it is applied over the throat area. Due to its mild irritating properties, you may want to dilute it before use.

One would be surprised to know that despite its effectiveness in relieving anxiety and stress that characterizes mild depression, bergamot oil isn't well known. One particular study focused on the result of inhaling a mixture of bergamot and water vapor. Here, it was discovered to work superbly in calming anxiety and enhancing mood. For application, you can use various techniques. You only need to avoid direct sunlight exposure when applying on skin.

Because essential oils aren't tightly regulated, one needs to be careful when shopping. You should only go for pure, unadulterated products that carry the botanical name and region of origin. Beware of fragrances and perfumes; synthetic oils don't possess the same therapeutic effects as the natural ones. It would also help to experiment with different methods of application to know which works best for you. People with sensitive skin should dilute the products using carrier oils to avoid irritation and infection.

While aromatherapy has varying degrees of success in curing sleeplessness, it may not necessarily provide a remedy if your issue stems from a different illness. As such, you need to check with your doctor in order to eliminate this possibility, especially if you've tried a few solutions with no luck. All directives issued by the manufacturer should also be followed to the letter.




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