Essential Oils for Sleep

Essential oils for sleep are beneficial in promoting relaxation and rest. While we are unconscious, complex biological processes are taking place. Your brain and heart are busy taking care of other important jobs that help you stay healthy and function at your best. So when you don't get enough quality sleep, it does more than just make you feel tired. It can affect your physical and mental health, thinking, and daily functioning.

Sleep disorders are conditions that disturb your normal sleep patterns. There are more than 80 different sleep disorders. Some major types include

• Insomnia - being unable to fall asleep and stay asleep. This is the most common sleep disorder.
• Sleep apnea - a breathing disorder in which you stop breathing for 10 seconds or more during sleep
• Restless leg syndrome (RLS) - a tingling or prickly sensation in your legs, along with a powerful urge to move them
• Hypersomnia - being unable to stay awake during the day. This includes narcolepsy, which causes extreme daytime sleepiness.
• Circadian rhythm disorders - problems with the sleep-wake cycle. They make you unable to sleep and wake at the right times.
• Parasomnia - acting in unusual ways while falling asleep, sleeping, or waking from sleep, such as walking, talking, or eating

Some people who feel tired during the day have a true sleep disorder. But for others, the real problem is not allowing enough time for sleep. It's important to get enough sleep every night. The amount of sleep you need depends on several factors, including your age, lifestyle, health, and whether you have been getting enough sleep recently. Most adults need about 7-8 hours each night.

If you are already familiar with essential oils, you probably know several oils promote relaxation and may help you get into a restful state ready to sleep. In fact, insomnia has been effectively treated with essential oils. Some studies have shown that Lavender is more effective for inducing sleep and relaxation than prescribed medication. In another 2010 study, jasmine was as effective for calming nerves as a sleeping pill or sedative drug except without the side effects.

Simply adding a few drops of a relaxing essential oil to a bedside diffuser is one of the most pleasant ways to enhance the sleeping experience.

Not only do specific essential oils smell nice, but they also train your mind to unwind and allow your body to relax and drift off to sleep. Try adding essential oils to your bedtime routine and train your brain to associate a specific scent with falling asleep.

Of course, essential oils are not a “magic pill.” What may work for some people, may be ineffective for you. This is because essential oils are adaptogens and have different effects on different people. Be flexible and try different oils until you find the best fit for you.

Certain essential oils are energizing and stimulating. You will want to avoid using these at bedtime. The best essential oils for insomnia are oils that are calming, reduce anxiety and stress. Government studies conducted suggest specific using essential oils before retiring can alleviate mild sleep disorders.

Some of the ways to use essential oils for sleep include the following:

- Running a diffuser in the bedroom 15 minutes before going to bed.

- Diluting essential oils in massage oil and applying them over the body such as joints, back of the neck, and feet. Applying essential oils topically can be quite beneficial since the oils will permeate your skin due to their transdermal properties.

- Creating a room spray or linen spray and spritzing your pillow and bedsheets.

- Taking a warm bath with essential oils added to Epsom salts and soak for 15-20 minutes before sleep.

Lavender being something of a particular oil in itself, has been used throughout the ages as a calming and antidepressant oil. Lavender helps to promote anti-anxiety and anti-insomnia properties. As a bonus to Lavender’s properties has been known to be effective in wound healing within the body to support the quick recovery of cuts, bruises, and scars.

Bergamot is known for its antidepressant properties as well as being known for helping the promotion of sleep to the body. Calming down the body is a recipe for a good sleep. In addition to the relaxation properties, it can also help to relieve muscle pain within the body.

Frankincense has been used since ancient times for its use in cosmetics and incense burning. Frankincense has been proven to help combat stress, anxiety, and even anger. Promoting proper relaxation and calmness to the body to maintain a good night’s sleep.

Vetiver is a grass root with its grounding and calming scent to promote peacefulness in the body. Quietude can be achieved with Vetiver's ability to soothe anxiety and nervousness. Further, Vetiver has been known to remedy insomnia.

Cedarwood is a powerful oil that comes from the cedar tree. Cedarwood has a grounding scent along with its sedative properties; it calms the mind and body. Cedarwood also has features to boost the recovery of skin conditions such as Eczema and anti-inflammatory properties to help arthritis.

Insomnia is not a great thing to deal with when trying to get a good night’s sleep. These oils are calming, sedative, and anti-anxiety to help combat insomnia. With the many stresses of life, it makes it hard to sleep, and it needs a way to calm down. These essential oils are natural and help to promote a night of better sleep and a better tomorrow for whatever life brings.