Sleep is the natural stress-relieving mechanism of the body. A good sleep is essential for a healthy body & mind. However, with the increased pressure, tension, anxiety & frustration of the modern life, insomnia is increasing quickly not only amongst the seniors but also amongst the middle & even younger age groups. Using essential oils for sleep can be an effective alternative & side effect free way to solve this problem.
Inability to fall asleep or a disturbed sleep can take a serious toll not only on the physical & mental health of the person but also on his personal & professional life. Lack of sleep is sure to impact work efficiency & performance negatively & it can also damage your appearance aesthetically making you look tired and exhausted all the time. Let us take a look at why you should choose essential oils for sleep,
The common treatment of insomnia & the dangers involved
The current allopathic treatment for insomnia & sleeping disorders involve prescription medications that are effective but comes with a great dose of side effects. These medicines are habit forming & one often needs to add up the dose of the medicine in order to keep up the effectiveness. Some of the common side effects of sleeping pills involve alteration in appetite, constipation, stomach disorders, dizziness & many others. So, while not sleeping sufficiently is unhealthy for you, gulping down the sleeping pills is even more dangerous.
Aromatherapy essential oils for better sleep
Aromatherapy can work miraculously when it comes to treating nervous system related disorders like insomnia. Moreover, aromatherapy, being a holistic process, has no negative side effects on the body & it is not even habit forming. So, if you are finding it difficult to fall asleep or you are suffering from sleep disorders, aromatherapy can be the most effective & healthy rescuer.
Best essential oils for sleep
There are some particular essential oils that have high impact on the nervous system & can be helpful to calm down the brain helping you to fall asleep quickly. Check out the best essential oils for good sleep,
Lavender is an aromatic perennial subshrub that is native to the mountains bordering the snowline in the western Mediterranean. The plant naturally grows in higher altitude & with more exposure to the sun rays the amount of the volatile oil in the plant is increased. Lavender essential oil is extracted from the flower buds just before they start to open. To yield 1 kg pure lavender essential oil through steam distillation, around 130 kg of flowers are used. Lavender oil is non-toxic, non-sensitizing & non-irritating.
Lavender essential oil has a wide range of therapeutic effects including strong anti-bacterial & anti-fungal properties. When inhaled or massaged after diluting with carrier oil, lavender essential oil can eliminate tension, stress, anxiety, depression & can be most helpful to treat insomnia, helping you to fall asleep quickly. It is also one of the most effective essential oils for sleep apnea.
Lemon essential oil
Lemon is a small thorny tree native to India & is commonly grown across California, Florida, West Indies, South & Central America. The essential oil is produced from the fresh fruit peel. The process involves mechanical abrasion of the fruit & then separating the essential oil from the other constituents by using a centrifugal separator. For producing a kilogram of lemon essential oil, around 3,000 lemons are used.
Lemon essential oil is known for its antiseptic, anti-viral & bactericidal properties. It is often used for conditions caused by infections. Lemon oil has a calming effect on the central nervous system which makes it effective in promoting sedative actions, ensuring better sleep.
Rose essential oil
There are many species of rose that vary in size, shape & colour. These herbaceous shrubs are native to areas across the world with temperate climate. Currently it is cultivated commercially in different parts of the world. The flowers & the buds after discarding the calyces are used for extraction of the essential oil. This non-toxic, non-sensitizing & non-irritating essential oil is extracted through steam distillation. Over 4500kg of flowers & buds are used for yielding 1kg of rose essential oil.
Rose essential oil is known not only for its antiseptic properties but also for its amazing anti-inflammatory actions. It also works as an antidepressant & cardiac tonic. Rose essential oil is considered as one of the best essential oils for sleep due to its natural calming & relaxing effect on the nervous system.
Sandalwood essential oil
Sandalwood is a tree with a smooth bark that is native to the dry forests of South India. The plant naturally grows in rocky, hard & ferruginous soil that supports production of richer scent in the tree. Sandalwood trees are also grown in Indonesian islands. Heartwood & roots of matured sandalwood tree are used for extraction of the essential oil. By weight, higher percentage of oil is produced from the roots compared to the heartwood. This oil is non-toxic, non-irritating & non-sensitizing.
Sandalwood oil has excellent antispasmodic & antidepressant properties. It is a well know aphrodisiac, antiseptic & works extremely well as a nervine sedative. Sandalwood oil is effective in treating anxiety, stress, irritability, tension, anger, depression & promotes excellent sleep.
There are also other essential oils with sedative properties but these four are certainly considered amongst the best available choices.
How to use essential oils for sleep
You can use essential oils in different ways for a better sleep, inhalation, bathing & massaging being the most common.
In aromatherapy inhalation is often chosen over other ways as it ensures a quick action. Taking few drops of the essential oil on a tissue & deeply sniffing it repeatedly is the most commonly suggested way. After sniffing, you can also place the tissue beside your pillow for even better action. Inhaling the essential oil taking a few drops on the palm can be useful in case of emergencies.
Adding 6-8 drops of essential oil in your bathing water & then soaking in it for 15 minutes at least, before going to bed can be really helpful to induce a better sleep.
Lightly massaging a non-toxic, non-irritating & non-sensitizing sleep inducing essential oil mixed with a proper carrier oil, on the temples, behind the ears & neck can be highly relaxing & will also help to induce quick & deep sleep.
So, now as you know how to use essential oils for sleep pick the way that suits you best.
The ultimate essential oil solution for sleep
Our product “Sweet Dream”, developed through years of research, is an all in one blend of pure essential oils of Lavender, Lemon, Sandalwood & Rose. While Lavender oil relieves anxiety & emotional stress, Lemon oil offers a calming effect that relieves mental fatigue, exhaustion, anxiety, nervousness & tension. Alpha -santalol & Beta-santalol present in Sandalwood oil has sedative effect on the Central Nervous System & the Rose oil present in the blend works as a relaxant & natural healer for depression, grief & tension.
To make “Sweet Dream” even more effective, we have also added a mixture of herb extracts with this potent essential oil blend. The herbs used in Sweet Dream include,
Champa: Has a cooling and calming effect.
Swetchandana: Creates a feeling of pleasantness; nourishes sense organs, relieves tiredness and fatigue.
Raktachandan: Acts as a natural coolant, reduces tiredness and fatigue.
Aswagandha: Relieves fatigue, stress and weakness. Provides hypnotic effect. Works as a depressant on the Central Nervous system, causing sense of tranquillity and relaxation – making sleep easier to achieve.
So, stop spending sleepless nights & start enjoying “Sweet Dream” with this one of its kind, completely natural, natural aromatherapy based composition.