People have been using aromatherapy for centuries. Plenty of studies prove that essential oils help relieve anxiety and other conditions and illnesses. Some even use essential oils to maintain general wellness.

Nowadays, healthcare providers specializing in CAM offer aromatherapy services in clinics. If you are new to it, we suggest doing your research first. Since essential oils are potent and made from plants, you can have a negative reaction to them.

How Aromatherapy Works

Aromatherapy stimulates your nerves, brain, and spinal cord. When you inhale the scent, here’s what happens:

• The scent reaches your brain, which begins a chain reaction.
• Every part of your body responds to chemicals coursing through it.
• Essential oils release small molecules that travel through your nose. When inhaled, they tickle your olfactory receptors, sending your brain a message to relax.

These brief messages activate the limbic and hypothalamic regions of your brain. This gives you emotional control. You are, therefore, able to handle things with composure and serenity.

The brain then releases the following hormones:

Serotonin

• Mood Regulation: Serotonin is essential for maintaining a stable mood. It is connected to positive emotions.
• Sleep Regulation: Serotonin is converted to melatonin in the pineal gland, which affects sleep. It also assists in regulating the body’s sleep-wake cycles.
• Memory and Learning: It affects the creation and retrieval of memories and is important in cognitive processes, including memory and learning.
• Social Behavior: Aggression and social bonding are two social behaviors that are influenced by serotonin.

Endorphins

• Pain Reduction: Endorphins function as organic analgesics. They lessen one’s perception of pain.
• Euphoria: Known as the “runner’s high,” they can cause a state of extreme happiness or euphoria.
• Stress Reduction: Anxiety and stress are lessened by endorphins. This enables you to relax.

Dopamine

• Motivation and Drive: Providing a sense of reward and satisfaction for finishing activities or reaching objectives helps to motivate behavior.
• Mood Regulation: Dopamine plays a role in mood disorders, including depression, by influencing mood and emotional reactions.  
• Sleep Regulation: Dopamine influences waking and sleep patterns by affecting the sleep-wake cycle.
• Cognitive Function: It affects the ability to pay attention, solve problems, and make decisions.

Mental Health Benefits of Aromatherapy

The father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, considered aromatherapy to be the best medicine. Since aromatherapy has very strong roots, research on it continues to this day. A lot can be learned from the plants that give essential oils.

A quick search online will reveal thousands of books written on it. These include guides on how to use essential oils, the benefits of aromatherapy, and how to combine the practice with mindfulness.

A few common aromatherapy techniques include:

• Inhaling diffused essential oils
• Adding them to baths
• Massages

Here’s how essential oils work their magic:

Improve Sleep Quality

Sometimes, your body and mind stay awake due to stress. When a single night turns into a week of counting sheep, stress takes a toll on you. This is where the calming effects of aromatherapy come in. According to research, lavender not only improves sleep quality but also reduces stress. In fact, it is particularly helpful in stressful environments, such as in the ICU.

The research concluded that patients treated with aromatherapy experienced a reduction in their heart rate and blood pressure.

A review of thirty different studies looked at the benefits of aromatherapy in a neutral setting. It revealed that inhaling essential oils improves sleep quality by lowering fatigue, depression, anxiety, stress, and pain.

Reduces Anxiety

When you are about to go under the knife, you become a nervous ball. Awaiting surgery does not exactly bring happiness but more anxiety. That’s because when you are being rolled into the OR, all you can think about is whether you will make it out alive.

A review of twenty-seven studies reveals that aromatherapy eases such worries. It greatly reduces anxiety in patients who are about to have cardiac surgery. During the study, the three most used scents were rose, citrus, and lavender essential oils. Delivery modes included massage and inhalation.

Eases Depression and Boosts Mood

Numerous studies have shown the potential benefits of aromatherapy massage in reducing symptoms of sadness and elevating mood. According to a different study, receiving an aromatherapy massage after giving birth may help alleviate the “baby blues.”

It has also been shown that aromatherapy inhalation and massage can lessen discomfort and enhance quality of life throughout the menstrual cycle.

It’s advisable to visit a healthcare professional for an evaluation and treatment plan if you believe you are experiencing signs of depression. Aromatherapy provided at home should not be used in place of expert mental treatment.

Essential Oils for Mental Health

Several over-the-counter medicines are available in pharmacies. They cannot be used interchangeably and do not treat the same symptoms. All essential oils function similarly, with certain types offering distinct health benefits and others reducing stress. The following scents might be very useful in helping with stress relief:

Jasmine 

Jasmine oil, which is popular for its flowery aroma, might be the best oil for lowering the production of stress hormones. Indeed, it was found in a 2023 study to be the greatest essential oil for people with high levels of stress and generalized anxiety disorder. Inhaling jasmine oil may also lower elevated blood pressure brought on by anxiety.

Lavender

The most well-known oil for reducing stress is probably lavender essential oil. According to recent studies, it has been used for a long time as a relaxing aroma. Anxiety seems to lessen thanks to lavender oil’s ability to soothe the central nervous system. According to a 2013 study, lavender may also help control mood, reduce hypertension, and function as a prophylactic to preserve brain function.

Bergamot 

Stress may also be relieved by bergamot. This citrus fruit is frequently used in essential oils. In a 2017 study, patients in a mental health treatment facility received aromatherapy treatments using bergamot essential oil. Upon comparing the results to the control group, participants’ mood and stress level improved after 15 minutes of aromatherapy.

Clary Sage

The Mediterranean native clary sage has long been utilized for medical purposes. Because this essential oil affects the autonomic nerve system, it is frequently used to lessen labor pain and menstrual cramps. According to recent studies, clary sage essential oil might also soothe the limbic and autonomic nerve systems, which would lessen anxiety and stress symptoms.

Lemon

According to the same 2018 study, lemons might also be utilized to lower anxiety. Stress and blood pressure can be decreased by adding a few drops of this oil to other essential oils, such as lavender oil.

The limbic system of the brain is intimately linked to the olfactory system, which can be stimulated by inhaling essential oils like lemon. The limbic system influences behavior, memory, and emotion. As a result, the aroma of lemon essential oil has the power to elicit physiological and emotional reactions that support stress reduction and relaxation.

Chamomile

In addition to being a popular essential oil for relaxation, chamomile tea is one of the best natural remedies to relieve stress. People have been using chamomile essential oil for generations to alleviate a variety of ailments, including hay fever, inflammation, and insomnia. Therapy with chamomile extract also lessens stress, particularly when the stress is brought on by sleep deprivation or ongoing discomfort.

Peppermint

Peppermint oil might help lessen stress and anxiety symptoms. In particular, persistent discomfort brought on by a medical condition. It also relaxes the body prior to an uncomfortable operation. A 2019 study discovered that patients undergoing intravenous catheterization experienced less discomfort and anxiety when using peppermint-scented essential oil diffusers.

Rose

Rose has been used for decoration and is known for its pleasant scent, but it may also have therapeutic benefits for the mind and body. Research shows that when rose is pressed, the resulting oil has antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Because of its relaxing effects on the body and mind, rose oil can also be used to foster happy emotions.

Orange

Not only is orange a delicious addition to your meal, but orange essential oil has anti-stress properties as well. However, not every citrus fruit has the same calming properties. According to a 2018 study, ylang-ylang, another citrus fruit, and sweet oranges may be more beneficial in reducing stress-related symptoms.

Note: When looking for a citrus oil to reduce anxiety, steer clear of neroli oil. The bitter orange tree yields this oil. Neroli oil may be useful for chronic pain, but it is unlikely to lower stress levels.

Frankincense

Frankincense oil was once utilized as a perfumed resin for therapeutic and religious purposes. This essential oil is being used today, with users reporting that it naturally elevates mood and reduces stress. Proponents assert that the essential oil of frankincense lowers corticosterone levels and soothes the neurological system.

The finest essential oil for reducing anxiety doesn’t exist. Different anxiety symptoms may respond well to different essential oils. Chamomile oil can help soothe anxiety brought on by sleep deprivation, while lavender oil soothes anxiety brought on by CNS disturbances. The effectiveness of these oils for anxiety has not been thoroughly studied, so keep that in mind before using them.

Living a Stress-Free Life with Essential Oils

Essential oils can support traditional treatments for mental health issues by encouraging relaxation, elevating mood, and lowering anxiety. However, they shouldn’t be considered a replacement.

There are hazards associated with using essential oils. Diffusers for essential oils are generally safe to use, but they do require periodic cleaning. Additionally, since the CDC has previously recalled faulty diffusers that contained dangerous bacteria, you should only buy from reputable retailers.

Essential oils should be diluted before being used topically or in the bath. It is important to study instructions prior to using a new essential oil because most brands address safety concerns on their website or the label. It is only appropriate to apply diluted essential oils to the skin or submerge them in water.

Since the FDA does not regulate essential oils, not all of them are created equal. Make sure you select an essential oil from a reliable brand when making a new purchase. Synthetic oils that don’t offer the same advantages as stronger oils might be available in mass-market options.

If you are searching for quality essential oils, visit the Maverick Oils website. They offer all types of essential oils and cooking oils in various sizes.