THE BEST ESSENTIAL OILS FOR ANXIETY (In these times?)
When you start to search the research studies on the anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects of essential oils, lavender usually comes up in every search. Does this mean that lavender should be the go-to oil for everyone battling panic and stress? Not necessarily.
Tucked away in the collection of lavender studies are golden nuggets suggesting that other oils can also have a profound effect on anxiety. In 2013, for example, the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine published an article that evaluated the effects that aromatherapy had on anxiety, sleep quality and vital signs within an intensive care unit (ICU) patient population.
The researchers blended lavender, roman chamomile, and neroli and discovered that this aromatherapy (AT) strategy “significantly” lowered anxiety and improved sleep quality compared with conventional nursing intervention. Interestingly, blood pressure was also lower in the AT group. This should give hope to people with cardiovascular disease-related insomnia as the connection between the two is well-established in the literature.
A systematic review of the literature suggests that these oils are the most potent in managing anxiety:
Angelica archangelica rad. (angelica)
Cistus ladaniferus (labdanum)
Citrus aurantium var. amara fol. (petitgrain bigarade)
Citrus aurantium var. amara per. (orange bigarade)
Citrus bergamia (bergamot)
Citrus sinensis (sweet orange)
Cymbopogon martinii (palmarosa)
Eucalyptus staigeriana (lemon-scented ironbark)
Lavandula angustifolia (lavender)
Litsea cubeba (may chang)
Ocimum basilicum (basil)
Origanum majorana (sweet marjoram)
Pelargonium graveolens (geranium)
Pogostemon patchouli (patchouli)
Valeriana officinalis (valerian)
Aromatic and topical use of these oils during an anxiety attack or particularly stressful moments can do wonders!
These, however, aren’t the only oils that can help with anxiety. There are other studies suggesting that the following oils also have significant calming effects: clary sage, lemon, roman chamomile, rose, rose-scented geranium, sandalwood and ylang ylang.
Essentially, any natural therapy that calms your mind and body helps with anti-anxiety. A good rule of thumb is to stick to whatever is working, and always listen to your body. What works for you will not necessarily work for your friends and family. We are all biochemically unique and we need to find just that right protocol for us. What a thought....one size DOES NOT FIT ALL!
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