Reduce Stress in 60 Seconds With Essential Oils

Negative emotions are a healthy part of the human experience (and in the current state of our country, we are growing more and more accustomed to them). However, no one wants to live in a permanently bummed-out state. So it’s smart to arm yourself with tools for dealing with anxiety, anger, sadness, and other less-than-stellar moods in an organic way. Not all of us can afford bi-weekly psychotherapy. But luckily, there is a quicker, cheaper (and less verbal) way to reach emotional wellness.

Enter: Aromatherapy.

Most of us are vaguely aware of the benefits of essential oils, but if you don’t know exactly how to wield them, they can be a bit mysterious. First, let’s discuss exactly what essential oils are and what they can do for your mood:

Essential oils are the concentrated essences of plants, flowers, and resins and they are able to interact with our bodies and minds in a synergistic way. When we breathe in essential oil, we’re bringing the transformative power of nature into our bodies and minds. The idea that a scent can alter your emotional state sounds like gobbledygook, but mainstream science does offer evidence for it. Your olfactory nerves are actually in your sinuses and they’re extensions of the olfactory part of the brain. 

When you breathe in essential oil, you are not just enjoying the scent, you are actually ingesting the quickly evaporating microparticles into the part of your brain that controls our emotions. So used the right way, essential oils can physiologically improve your well-being—and fast.

Want to know how to use essential oils to remedy every negative mood in seconds? Just keep scrolling.

Four Essential Oil Hacks

One of the biggest pluses of using essential oils to improve your mood is that they work instantly. To get the optimal result from an essential oil combine it with a few others into a synergistic blend. Just make sure to dilute your essential oils with a carrier oil, like jojoba, so they don’t irritate your skin or smell too strongly. (A good rule of thumb is to combine between one and five drops of each with 10 milliliters of fatty, odorless oil.)

Before we get into specific scent recommendations, here are a few techniques for how to use your essential oil blends:

1. Inhalations

Inhaling an essential oil is the quickest way to adjust your mood or negative emotional reactions. Simply sit in a comfortable position with your shoulders and legs relaxed. Then put two or three drops of your blend in the palms of your hands, and cup them over your face to inhale. Or, place the drops on a tissue, and wave it back and forth under your nostrils. Do this five times or until you feel more relaxed!

2. Topical application

You can inhale essential oils all day by applying them topically near your nose. Try dabbing them on your collarbones: As the oils evaporate, you’ll slowly inhale them off your skin. Or, to speed up the effects, place your oils on the “hot points” of your body, like the neck, chest, and shoulders.

3. In-shower aromatherapy

Turn your shower into a mini aromatherapy spa by placing a couple of drops of your blend onto the shower floor. The hot water helps turn the essential oils into a steamy world of relaxation. It’s a wonderful way to start the day.

4. Diffusers

To enjoy the positive effects of essential oils all day long, invest in an essential oil diffuser. Diffusers are a great way to get the benefits of essential oils. Just add a few drops to your diffuser, and fill any room with mood-enhancing benefits of essential oils.

An Essential Oil Blend for Every Mood

If You’re Sad:

The best oil to use is the one you like the most. The more you love an aroma, the more effective it can be. At the same time, certain oils are shown to target specific emotions more directly than others. To address feelings of sadness, try a mix of citrus and floral oils, like orange, grapefruit, bergamot, rose, geranium, and sandalwood. 

If You’re Stressed:

When life gets to you, try a little lavender, rose, vetiver, ylang-ylang, or bergamot essential oil to calm your nerves, and leave you feeling ready to take on the day. If you’re into traditional Chinese medicine, choose oils that encourage the free flow of qi, which many believe is associated with a healthy liver. Oils that detoxify a stressed liver include chamomile and carrot.

If You’re Exhausted:

If you’re feeling underslept, lethargic, or emotionally beat, reach for energizing scents like eucalyptus, lemon, basil, peppermint, and rosemary. These can all help perk you up.

If You’re Angry:

Is your boss or mother-in-law ticking you off? You might not think to cure rage with aromatherapy, but the right blend can serve as nature’s chill pill. Find your calm with ylang-ylang, lavender, chamomile, orange, or geranium. All of these oils can help you get centered.

If You’re Wired:

If you find your mind racing to the point that you can’t sit still much less fall asleep, breathe in a natural tranquilizer like lavender, rose, bergamot, geranium, frankincense, or elemi. These soothing oils can help you find your calm in the midst of the chaos.

If You’re Distracted:

Mind-wandering? If you find yourself feeling bored, try a blend of lemon, peppermint, eucalyptus, or rosemary, which are all great for energy and attention. By contrast, if you are having trouble focusing due to a stressful environment, multitasking, or just have too much on your mind, use meditative oils like sandalwood, frankincense, myrrh, and neroli.

Botanica Essential Oils

At our spa, we implement essential oils into many of our services! We understand the helpful properties of essential oils and there’s no better place than to quiet your mind and create relaxation that at the spa! Call us today to book your favorite service at 727-441-1711.

Love,

Gen