Fed up because you can’t sleep?
Tired everything from a warm bath, hot chocolate and having the window open?
Well, why not give an essential oil a go?
Available in many health food shops and chemists, essential oils are a fantastic way to help ease you to sleep the natural way.
Mixed with a carrier oil (we like sweet almond oil) you can gently rub them into your neck or the bottom of your feet and let their magic get to work. Alternatively, they can be used with a burner and the smell will have you nodding off in no time.
Today there are more oils on the market than ever, and the right one, or combination of several, can have you sleeping like a baby in no time.
Bergamot
Bergamot is a citrus fruit and the oil is cold pressed from either the rind or the peel. Many citrus oils have a stimulating effect, not what you want at night-time, but bergamot is in fact calming. The flavonoids in Bergamot oil are relaxants that soothe nerves and help reduce anxiety, stress and tension – often then causes of insomnia.
Cedarwood
Cedarwood essential oil is a natural sedative. It has a calming, soothing effect on the mind and helps take away tension. The scent encourages your body to release the feel good hormone, serotonin, which is then converted by the brain into melatonin which encourages sleeps so you’ll drift off and awake refreshed.
Lavender
Many people know about lavender and it is believed to help ease anxiety and insomnia. Lavender has a fresh, calm scent that not only helps take away tension and stress but also eases migraines and depression.
Marjoram
You might not know much about marjoram, but you need to know about it. This wonderful oil is great for easing the joint and muscle pain that can prevent sleep. It works because the sweet smell is calming and has a sedative effect that helps lower blood pressure and ease nervous tension, which can stop you from sleeping.
Roman Chamomile
Chamomile is a popular essential oil, but it is Roman Chamomile that really helps with aiding sleep. This ancient herb is well documented for its calming, soothing and relaxing properties and this is down to its sweet, herbaceous scent that creates a calm, peaceful atmosphere that is conducive to sleep.
Sandalwood
Often used in aromatherapy and blended into perfumes, sandalwood oil has a deeply relaxing effect on the nervous system. It has a rich, seductive scent that triggers the feel good endorphins that can calm the brain and help you sleep.
Vetiver
Taken from the roots of the vetiver plant, this oil is great at helping to relax the nervous system and dealing with over stimulation. This was used as a traditional medicine in Asia for centuries and in India it is known as the ‘oil of tranquillity’. You might be surprised at the strong, earthy scent of this oil and to start with, you might want to mix it with a lighter oil such as chamomile or lavender so your senses aren’t overwhelmed but in time you will grow to love it and effect it has on your ability to sleep.
Remember, find an oil that is right for you and whichever one you use, a little goes a long way so don’t overdo it.
Team Pure Beauty