How to Use Essential Oils for Better Sleep

I recently posted 6 Steps to Natural Beauty where one of the steps was getting a great night’s sleep. But a lot of us have a hard time with that at one time or another. Others struggle with it regularly and their body fights to keep up. You can use herbs for better sleep, but if you are looking for a simple diffuser method, then use essential oils for better sleep and help to relax and calm your mind for sleeping.

So what do you do on those nights when your mind is going a mile a minute, you’re excited, or you’re nervous and worried and know you need to calm down but just can’t?

There are many methods I’m sure that you have already implemented at one time or another, but have you considered using essential oils to help you sleep and battle insomnia?

What Works?

There is not just one, but many essential oils that are renown for their calming, relaxing effects. Everyone’s body chemistry is different so there is not one magic concoction out there that’s perfect for everyone, but you can easily decide what works for you by using…your nose.

There are many organic stores that carry essential oil samples. So if you are not familiar with a particular oil, or maybe you know the name, but are not familiar with the smell, you can go there with a pad and pencil and take note of your favorites.

I have a list of essential oils that are known for their calming effect, but with essential oils it’s best to “listen” to your nose. If you love it, use it.

*** Just make sure you learn all you can about your favorites. Most essential oils are very potent and can effect your body in multiple ways. Learn more about essential oil safety here.

Essential Oils to Help you Sleep

I’ve divided these oils into two categories, because some people find it hard to just calm down, de-stress, let go and relax. While others struggle with anxiety, sadness, depression, and emotional issues that cause them to lose sleep. hopefully you can find the oil that you love the most.

My personal favorites are Ylang Ylang and Patchouli (not together) and Frankincense and Clary Sage (together). I have a Patchouli soap, as well as a Frankincense/Clary Sage soap that truly is aromatherapy for me. And I use Ylang Ylang as a perfume. It is so calming for me. To each their own, so follow your nose and what your senses tell you.

**Some of these should not be used if you are pregnant**

Calming/Relaxing

• Tangerine – calming, soothes inflammation, promotes good cell growth and helps to cleanse blood.
• Melissa – soothes digestion, great for the stomach, reduces fevers, lowers blood pressure, calms, and heals nervous system disorders.
• Clary Sage – can affect hormone balance by increasing libido and can cause contractions, lower blood pressure, and helps to heal and cleanse uterus.
• Lavender – Very mild. Can be used on children. Can reduce skin inflammation, calm nervous system, and calm an upset stomach
• German and Roman Chamomile – do not use if you’re allergic to ragweed. Heals nervous system, eases digestion
• Patchouli – uplifts, fights depressions, promotes good cell growth, helps to cure fever and reduce inflammation from fever
• Valerian – calms and relaxes nervous system, often used for menstrual cramps, restless legs, tension headaches.

Uplifting

• Jasmine – considered an anti-depressant
• Bergamot – anti-viral, anti-bacterial, relaxes nervous system, increases metabolism causing an uplifting feeling. Don’t use in sunlight.
• Orange – uplifts, fights depressions, increases libido and eliminates gas, good combo 🙂
• Sweet Marjoram – anti-aphrodisiac so be aware, but also an antiviral and pain killer, uplifter and anti-depressant.
• Ylang Ylang – soothes nervous system and reduces blood pressure. Increases libido.
• Vetiver – can effect hormone balance, boosts libido, lifts mood, boosts immune system and calms at the same time.

A website I greatly appreciate to help learn more about essential oils is Organic Facts and Experience Essential Oils. Consult these and other sources to learn more about essential oils before using them. They are powerful oils.

Using Essential Oils for Better Sleep

There are definitely different ways essential oils can be used. A few are:

1. In a Defuser– So that you can lie there and take slow, deep breaths of the aroma in the air.
2. Don’t want to get a defuser? Just inhale slowly 10 times. If you can smell it, then you are breathing in tiny particles. Not only are those particles able to enter your bloodstream via your lungs, but we react physically to smells initially as well.
3. Take a Bath – Draw up a nice warm bath and put 15 drops or so of your favorite oil in the bath water. Not enough? Place those drops on a clean, dry washcloth and lie with it on your chest in the tub.
4. Use Shower Discs – make up some essential oil infused shower discs that will let off an aroma as they dissolve on your shower floor. Find a recipe here.
5. Apply directly to the skin. Most essential oils must be diluted first, otherwise they can be too strong for your skin and even burn you. Dilute the oil in something like sweet almond, grape seed, mango, or apricot oil at a ratio of 5 drops carrier oil to 1 drop other essential oil. Some that do not need to be diluted are lavender, ylang ylang, and patchouli. Lavender is safe to use on children’s skin. But as always, everyone is different so try on a wrist first and see how you react. Apply to the temples, sinus cavities, wrists, below ears, bottom of feet. This is nice because you can do it in bed without even getting up (keep the oils on your bedside table).

I truly help that this helps. Keep that oil beside your bed and use it in need.

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