Essential Oils & Best Practices for Calming the Nervous System
If you deal with anxiety, even small things can make you feel overwhelmed, stressed, and unable to focus and relax. Chronic anxiety can result in high blood pressure, sleeplessness, and depression. Fortunately, you can practice a few specific activities regularly, including using essential oils to enhance your bathroom rituals, exercise routines, and meditative time spent in nature. The thoughtful use of various essential oils can help you overcome this very common condition and soothe your nervous system. Essential oils are extracted from flowers, leaves, and bark or roots of plants. They are oils that are not diluted with chemicals or additives and provide relief and healing for a variety of ailments, including a natural remedy for anxiety.
Essential Oils & Bathroom Essentials
Nothing is much more relaxing than a hot bath … except an essential oil bath. Lavender, for example, is one of the most commonly used essential oils for anxiety and is considered a nervous system restorative because of its calming and tranquil energy properties. (Some people like to rub a drop on their wrists at night before going to sleep.) If you have no idea what to add to your bath, here’s a recipe from Natural Living Ideas that calls for 10 drops of Frankincense, 5 drops of lavender, 5 drops of bergamot, and 1 cup of milk. Mix the essential oils in the milk and stir well. Add the mixture to your hot bath. Ahhhh, relaxation at last! Feel the tension melt as you sink into the tub. Another way to experience calm and relaxing feelings is by turning your bathroom into your own private sanctuary with a few personal touches. Maybe it’s as simple as adding a plant to your powder room. People who are exposed to indoor plants report lower stress levels than those without plants in their houses. Try adding peace lilies, eucalyptus, or bamboo into your space. If you’re feeling luxurious, you could add rose petals to your bath, a practice dating back to Roman and Greek times. Rose petals are supposed to release toxins from the body and brighten the skin. Plus, they smell nice.
Essential Oils & Exercise
The brain, spinal cord, and nerve fibers that transmit messages from the brain throughout the body make up the nervous system. The nervous system is responsible for all physical reactions and telling each body part to move. Aerobic exercise is the most beneficial exercise for the nervous system and weight management, especially among children. If you need a bit of motivation to hit the gym or the road or need a pick-me-up, you can take a single sniff of peppermint oil to get you ready. To support good breathing, you can rub a few drops on your chest about five minutes before starting your exercise. Make it part of your routine. When the shoes go on, so does the peppermint oil. Lemongrass is another essential oil that supports a great workout because of a compound called citral, which is known for supporting the production of heat in the body. Lemongrass is high in citral. Lemongrass supports healthy weight management and higher energy. Rub several drops on your feet before working out. Grass Fed Girl recommends combining lemongrass oil with basil, clary sage, and fractionated coconut oil for the best results and rubbing it on your skin.
Essential Oils & Meditation in Nature
If exercise is yin, then meditation is yang. With meditation, you are relaxing your mind and body, like taking a mini vacation from the day’s stresses. Go to your favorite place, whether it’s in your backyard, in the woods, or even a sacred space in your house, and take a breather. To aid in your experience of promoting calm, try adding earthy essential oils to your meditation session. Grounding oils like sandalwood, patchouli, vetiver, and atlas cedarwood can enhance your relaxed state. The preferred application is using an oil diffuser to disperse the aromas into the air. Everyday stress triggers the nervous system, but there are many ways to ease anxiety naturally. Anxiety doesn’t have to control you. Take time for yourself every single day, use essential oils in a variety of ways, and see what works best for you.
Somatic coach (therapist) in Canton, GA, and Worldwide Life Coach dedicated to inspiring and assisting people worldwide through candid conversations about anxiety. Having personally battled general anxiety, panic disorder, and OCD, I understand the daily challenges those grappling with anxiety face. My journey involved searching for the right therapist, medication, and natural supplements and undergoing various tests. It was only after deciding to reclaim my life that I finally overcame anxiety’s hold. I’m passionate about helping others conquer their struggles and discover their life purpose.