Anxiety and stress have become extremely common today. It affects approximately 40 million individuals aged 18 or older in the United States every year. Who is to blame for the rising stats? It is due to how fast-paced our lives have become. It looks like every individual is a part of a race and that everyone is trying to win it. The constant pressure and stress have a significant negative impact on mental health, which is clearly evident in the increasing number of people suffering from anxiety disorders.

Anxiety can worsen if it is not treated on time. However, did you know that there is a non-medicine way of managing and treating anxiety? If you feel anxious and stressed out and you think visiting a mental health professional and taking anti-anxiety medicines is your only resort, we would like to break the good news to you. There is a form of therapy known as ‘Aromatherapy’ that can help alleviate the signs and symptoms of anxiety and help you feel relaxed and happy.

What Is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy has been around for hundreds and thousands of years. It promotes feelings of relaxation and calmness. Aromatherapy involves the use of pure essential oils. As you can tell by the name, it is the aroma of essential oils that helps treat stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Aromatherapy is a natural treatment that works by stimulating the parts of the brain that are known to control emotions and feelings. It is one of the most effective ways of getting rid of negative emotions and combating stress and anxiety.

Best Essential Oils For Anxiety

Not all essential oils are effective in the management and treatment of anxiety. We’ve listed down the essential oils that have the most profound effect and are the most beneficial for anxiety

1. Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender oil is the most commonly used essential oil for the treatment of anxiety disorders. It is distilled from the lavender plant, Lavandula Angustifolia. It is proven to promote relaxation and treat anxiety disorders. Apart from these, it is also said to be beneficial for treating allergies, fungal infections, eczema, menstrual cramps, nausea, insomnia and depression. Lavender essential oil lowers the blood pressure and heart rate and helps restore the nervous system. It calms down your nerves, improves sleep quality, and appeases restlessness.

You can apply lavender essential oil directly on your wrists and temples or combine it with a carrier to make a massage oil to reap its anti-anxiety benefits.

2. Rose Essential Oil

Who knew roses could be a lot more than an expression of love and ornamental flowers? Rose essential oil is extracted from the petals of rose flowers. Its scent is known for its soothing effects. It not only helps soothe your emotions, but it can also help in the treatment of headaches and hormonal imbalances. Rose essential oil strengthens the heart in times of grief, depression, and stress and helps you combat anxiety efficiently.

To enjoy the anti-anxiety benefits of rose essential oil, you can either apply it directly on your skin or add a few drops in your warm bath. You will actually feel your mood lift.

3. German Chamomile Essential Oil

German chamomile essential oil is known for its calming effects. It calms the nervous system and helps reduce anxiety. Chamomile essential oil is also associated with numerous other health benefits, including reduction of digestive tract inflammation, mood enhancement, stress alleviation, and sleep regulation. You can use chamomile essential oil in combination with a carrier oil and apply directly on your belly button and solar plexus for its anti-anxiety effects.

4. Jasmine Essential Oil

Jasmine is one of the most loved flowers in many parts of Asia. Jasmine essential oil is known as a natural remedy for stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. People in China have been using Jasmine for several decades to detox their respiratory systems. Jasmine essential oil is a natural sedative, and it can also stimulate parts of the brain that can aid in the improvement of energy levels and mood. You can add a few drops of Jasmine essential oil to a hot bath or apply the oil directly to your neck or wrists and feel your nerves calm down in no time!

5. Valerian Essential Oil

Valerian is an herb used for ages for its incredible health benefits. Valerian essential oil is saturated with compounds that are known to calm nerves and promote sleep. Valerian essential oil has a mild sedative effect on your body, which helps you in times when you’re feeling overly anxious or stressed out.

To enjoy its calming effects, add some drops of Valerian essential oil to an aromatherapy diffuser and slowly inhale the scent. You will instantly feel relaxed and even sleepy.

6. Holy Basil Essential Oil

Holy basil essential oil contains a compound, eugenol that gives it the characteristic minty aroma. Do not confuse holy basil with the basil that you use in making lasagna. The two types of basil belong to the same family but differ in composition. Holy basil is considered to be an adaptogenic herb that promotes physical and mental wellbeing by alleviating physical and mental stress.

Only a few drops of the holy basil essential oil are enough to impart its relaxing effect on the brain. Thanks to the strong fragrance of the holy basil essential oil, you will feel your body relax and drift off to a place where you won’t feel any anxiety or stress in no time!

7. Sweet Basil

Sweet basil is the herb that you use in cooking. It is considered one of the best essential oils for anxiety and mood disorders. It does not just secure a highly valuable spot in culinary but is treated as a sacred herb for its numerous health benefits. Sweet basil essential oil has a thoroughly calming effect on the nervous system that significantly reduces anxiety, depression, fatigue, and mental strain. Sweet basil essential oil is a natural stimulant that promotes clarity of mind.

Simply add a few drops of this essential oil to an aromatherapy diffuser and enjoy its soothing aroma!

8. Neroli Essential Oil

You might already know about the citrus fruit Neroli. Neroli essential oil is derived from the same citrus fruit and is known for its incredible health benefits. The most prominent health benefits of Neroli essential oil is its effect on anxiety and stress disorders. It is said to heal the body, mind, and soul. Its sedative action helps in the regulation of the metabolic system and also releases anger, worry, and irritability. It induces relaxation of both the body and mind.

Neroli essential oil can be massaged directly on the skin or added to a hot bath for its anxiety relief effects.

9. Melissa Essential Oil

Melissa or more commonly known as the Lemon Balm, is known its uplifting and medicinal qualities. It has been used for hundreds of years and is still among the best essential oils for anxiety. Melissa essential oil is known as the ‘elixir of life’ for all the right reasons. It boosts immunity, strengthens the nervous system, and calms the mind. It helps alleviate the feelings of worry and sadness and can act as an antidepressant.

It can be applied directly to the skin or added to a warm bath for its deeply relaxing effects on the mind and body.

10. Bergamot Essential Oil

Extracted from the peel of the citrus fruit Bergamot, the bergamot essential oil is a part of traditional Chinese medicine. It is known to fight bacterial infections, support digestive health, and enhance the energy flow. Its mood-enhancing characteristics make the bergamot essential oil a very effective antidepressant agent. It can promote feelings of freshness, joy, and energy. Bergamot essential oil also improves the circulation of blood and digestive health, stimulates the secretion of certain hormones, and promote balance in the body.

11. Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

Ylang ylang essential oil is extracted from the Cananga tree that is native to Indonesia. It promotes joy and feeling of comfort. It is known to reduce the heart rate and uplift mood. If you feel anxious and surrounded by negative emotions, aromatherapy with ylang ylang essential oil can help you combat stress, negativity, and serve as a natural remedy of anxiety and depression.

12. Clary Sage Essential Oil

Clary sage essential oil has a refreshing characteristic earthy smell that makes it one of the best essential oils for treating anxiety. It promotes the feelings of calmness and hence reduces the signs and symptoms of anxiety. Clary sage essential oil promotes inner peace and wellbeing and is an excellent antidepressant. It is also proven to be an incredible hormone balancer. Thus, if you’re suffering from serious premenstrual syndrome, aromatherapy with clary sage essential oil can really boost your mood.

For the maximum effect of clary sage essential oil, combine it with chamomile essential oil. Add a few drops of the mixture to a hot bath and feel your nerves relax.

13. Vetiver Essential Oil

Vetiver essential oil is a lesser-known essential oil, but it is definitely not less effective when it comes to managing anxiety symptoms. It is extracted from the vetiver plant that is native to India. It has an earthy, a rather sweet fragrance and is a popular aphrodisiac. Its anti-anxiety properties are similar to diazepam, which is one of the most commonly used anti-anxiety drugs. For its excellent anti-anxiety effects, you can either massage it directly using the diluted oil or add it to your aromatherapy diffuser.

14. Frankincense Essential Oil

Frankincense essential oil is extracted from the resin of the Boswellia tree. It has a sweet, musky aroma that has a profound effect on the brain and body. Frankincense essential oil is known to reduce anxiety. A simple hand massage using a mixture of frankincense essential oil, bergamot essential oil, and lavender essential oil can ease anxiety significantly. Aromatherapy using frankincense essential oil is said to help combat anxiety, depression, and pain in people who are suffering from terminal cancer.

15. Patchouli Essential Oil

Patchouli is an ayurvedic medicine that is known to relieve stress, anxiety, and depression. Patchouli essential oil is often used in combination with other essential oils like lavender. It promotes feelings of relaxation and calmness. For its anti-anxiety benefits, you can inhale the patchouli essential oil directly or add diluted oil to a hot water bath or aromatherapy diffuser.

16. Fennel Essential Oil

Fennel is one of the most widely used spices in cooking. Fennel has an anise aroma and is used widely for the treatment of anxiety and digestive problems. Fennel essential oil can provide relief from menopause-related anxiety. Adding fennel oil to a warm bath can readily ease your mind and body and help you get relief from anxiety, stress, and depression.

17. Geranium Essential Oil

Geranium essential oil is produced from the geranium plant. Inhaling geranium essential oil can reduce anxiety effectively. According to a study conducted in 2015, geranium essential oil significantly reduced anxiety in women who were in their first stage of labor. If you want to reap the anti-anxiety benefits of geranium essential oil, simply add a few drops to a cotton ball and waft it under the nose a few times.

18. Oregano Essential Oil

Oregano or sweet marjoram essential oil can help reduce anxiety and promote calmness. It can also provide relief from anxiety-associated headaches. It has been used as a folk remedy for anxiety by aromatherapists, even though no solid proof is present to support its anti-anxiety properties. Rubbing marjoram essential oil to the temples or wrists after mixing with a carrier oil is said to provide anxiety relief.

Closing Word

Essential oils are so named because of the numerous benefits that they are often associated with. As far as management and treatment of anxiety and stress disorders are concerned, it looks like aromatherapy or massage using essential oils is all you need!