5 Best Essential Oils for Stress Relief

Stress relief is something that everyone is always trying to achieve. People seek to relieve stress through a multitude of activities, whether it be exercise, increased sleep, or meditation.

One of the most effective ways to achieve reduced stress is aromatherapy. Essential oils offer a variety of benefits, and by using the right ones through diffusers, topical application, and direct inhalation, you can significantly relieve stress and reduce anxiety.

The Range Products store offers over 500 essential oils in Perth for stress relief, repelling insects, and other basic aromatherapy purposes. The store also keeps many other natural ingredients in stock in case you want to try some homemade recipes for stress relief!

Top 5 Essential Oils for Stress Relief

Lavender Essential Oil

Properties and Benefits

Lavender oil is one of the most popular essential oils in the world. This is because it has a multitude of different benefits, alongside stress relief. As a study on the effects of Lavender essential oil and its clinical implications in dentistry confirms, lavender oil is known for its soothing and healing properties, including:

• anti-inflammatory
• anxiolytic
• antioxidant
• antimicrobial

Usage for Stress Relief

One of the main reasons that lavender oil is so popular is because of its effectiveness in relieving stress and reducing anxiety. The study of Lavender and the Nervous System indicates that lavender oil improves generalised anxiety comparable to 0.5 mg/daily lorazepam.

The best way to apply lavender oil to help relieve stress and anxiety is to place drops in a bathtub to create an essential oil bath, or place the oil in a diffuser for some aromatherapy.

Safety and Precautions

Lavender oil, for the most part, is safe to use topically and medicinally. For some people, it may cause side effects like headaches and skin irritation. Be sure to dilute lavender oil in a carrier oil, such as coconut oil. Moreover, it’s always important to try a patch test before using any essential oil topically.

Chamomile Essential Oil

Properties and Benefits

One of the main benefits of using chamomile essential oil in the past has been as a digestive relaxant. It has been used medicinally as an anti-inflammatory, as well as an effective treatment for various gastrointestinal disturbances, including:

• flatulence
• indigestion
• nausea
• ulcers

Usage for Stress Relief

There is plenty of emerging research, however, into the fact that chamomile essential oil can be used as a treatment for depression, anxiety, and general stress relief. It has also been shown to promote relaxation and improve the quality of people’s sleep.

A study in particular, the effects of Lavender and Chamomile essential oil inhalation aromatherapy on depression, anxiety and stress in older community-dwelling people, shows the effectiveness of chamomile essential oil, when inhaled, at reducing general stress levels.

Safety and Precautions

Chamomile allergies are not uncommon, so try to avoid all contact with anyone who is allergic to this essential oil. It is also recommended to avoid chamomile if pregnant, and to avoid contact with children, and pets when using this essential oil.

Peppermint Essential Oil

Properties and Benefits

For the most part, peppermint oil mainly offers benefits in the realm of pain relief. For instance, there is evidence to suggest that inhaling peppermint oil can help reduce throat pain and help unclog sinuses.

Usage for Stress Relief

There is also some evidence to suggest that peppermint oil could be very helpful in reducing general anxiety and stress.

The study, effect of Peppermint essence on the pain and anxiety caused by intravenous catheterization in cardiac patients, states that the inhalation of peppermint aroma provides a stimulus for the nervous system, and by releasing endorphin and noradrenaline (norepinephrine), the neurons generate positive psychological and physical effects.

Safety and Precautions

Peppermint oil is generally one of the safest essential oils to use, both topically and orally, on the market. When taken orally, however, it could cause dry mouth, heartburn, and abdominal pain for some people.

Frankincense Essential Oil

Properties and Benefits

Throughout its history in the essential oil market, Frankincense essential oil has been used:

• as an antibacterial medicine
• to strengthen skin
• to improve skin tone and elasticity
• In skin care products as a defence mechanism against bacteria

Usage for Stress Relief

Frankincense does not directly target the neurons in your brain that relate to stress relief. Instead, it helps reduce anxiety and stress in many users by increasing the quality and quantity of their sleep.

The best way to reap the benefits of Frankincense oil is by turning on a diffuser with the essential oil, before hitting the hay.

Safety and Precautions

There isn’t much research or evidence that Frankincense oil has any detrimental side effects. It may cause skin irritation for some users when being applied topically, and it may cause slight headaches. When placed in a diffuser, you’re unlikely to run into any safety concerns.

Cedarwood Essential Oil

Properties and Benefits

Cedarwood essential oil is a jack of all trades when it comes to benefits. It can be used to:

• deodorise rooms (due to its pleasant aroma)
• help repel insects
• help improve your mood
• soothe skin issues

Usage for Stress Relief

Cedarwood oil can be placed in a diffuser to produce a pleasant smell and help you relax. This form of aromatherapy is extremely popular when paired with this oil. Many people also mix cedarwood essential oil with massage oil to use for massages, which helps reduce stress significantly.

Safety and Precautions

Cedarwood oil, like most essential oils, should not be applied directly to the skin, so as to avoid irritation. Instead, first dilute this oil with a carrier oil, or water, before applying it to your skin.

Overview of Essential Oils for Stress Relief

Essential Oil	Properties and Benefits	Usage for Stress Relief	Safety and Precautions
Lavender	Anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects	Relieves stress and anxiety; can be added to a bath or diffused	Mostly safe, but may cause headaches and skin irritation for some Patch test recommended
Chamomile	Used for digestive issues Beneficial for depression, anxiety, stress relief, and sleep quality	Reduces general stress levels when inhaled	Avoid contact with those allergic Not recommended for children, pets, and pregnant individuals
Peppermint	Offers pain relief benefits; can reduce throat pain and unclog sinuses	Helpful in reducing general anxiety and stress; creates positive effects when inhaled	Safe for topical and oral use May cause dry mouth, heartburn, and abdominal pain when ingested
Frankincense	Used as an antibacterial medicine Strengthens skin and improves its tone and elasticity	Indirectly aids stress relief by enhancing sleep quality; can be added to a diffuser	May cause skin irritation and slight headaches Generally safe in a diffuser
Cedarwood	Deodorises rooms, repels insects, improves mood, and soothes skin issues	Used in a diffuser for relaxation or mixed with massage oil	Should be diluted before topical application to avoid skin irritation

How to Use Essential Oils for Stress Management

Diffusion

Benefits of Diffusing Essential Oils

Other than creating a pleasant aroma throughout a specific room, using a diffuser has multiple other benefits, including:

• Feelings of calm and relaxation
• Increased mental clarity
• Improved focus
• Helps ease aching joints
• Helps clear airways and makes it easier to breathe

Best Practices in Diffusion

Here are a few diffuser tips and tricks to help you effectively get the most out of the above-mentioned benefits:

• Place your diffuser in the middle of the room to help purify all air
• Put a towel underneath your diffuser to help catch any excess or leaking water
• Fill your diffuser with room-temperature water instead of hot or cold water
• Add only 3 to 5 drops of your essential oil, or else the scent will be overwhelming

How to Choose a Diffuser

Below are a few things you should consider when picking out a diffuser to use your essential oils in.

• Timer: Some diffusers can run continuously, while others have specific times set for shorter bursts of aromatherapy.

• Lights: Most diffusers come with lighting options that could help create a certain mood in the room you place it in.

• Cleaning and Maintenance: Depending on the shape and size of the diffuser you choose, you may be forced to do more cleaning and maintenance than you like.

• Bluetooth and Music: Some modern diffusers give users the option to connect Bluetooth devices and use them as a speaker.

Topical Application

Dilution and Application Techniques

Topical application means direct application to the skin. This is one of the most popular ways to use essential oil. It is recommended that you always dilute your essential oils before applying them to your skin, to avoid irritation.

You can dilute your essential oils with a carrier oil like sesame oil or by diluting them with water. For adults, it is recommended that a 2% dilution is done. This means that you should add 10 to 12 drops of essential oil to 30 ml of carrier oil or water.

For children over the age of 3, 1% dilution is recommended. This is approximately 6 drops of oil for every 30 ml of water.

Safety and Skin Patch Tests

Since we’re talking about direct skin application, you should always take the right safety measures. Skin patch tests are the best way to find out whether you will have a negative reaction to the essential oil in question.

How to do a patch test:

1. Dilute the essential oil as instructed
2. Wash your hands and arms with mild soap and dry
3. Apply to the skin on the inner arm or inner elbow
4. Cover the area with a plaster or adhesive bandage
5. Leave it on for 48 hours (reactions usually take 24 to 96 hours to develop)
6. Do not wet the area or remove the plaster
7. Check the area for any irritation or reactions after 48 hours

This test should show you if you’ll have a negative or positive reaction to the essential oil in question.

It’s important to note that if you feel any discomfort or irritation during the patch test, you should stop the test and wash the oil off your skin immediately. Use a mild soap and be sure to pat the skin dry, not rub.

Effective Areas for Application

The best areas to apply essential oils, especially when combating problems like stress, include:

• The wrists
• The temples
• The back of the neck
• The shoulders
• The chest

Inhalation

Direct Inhalation Techniques

Direct inhalation is one of the easiest methods when it comes to using essential oils. Open up your bottle of essential oil and breathe in deeply, through your nose, a couple of times.

Some individuals also benefit from inhaling essential oils with steam. Put a few drops of your chosen oil into a bowl of hot water. Cover your head with a towel to create a “mini sauna” over the bowl. Keep your eyes closed and inhale for a few minutes.

Precautions and Guidelines

Direct inhalation can cause headaches when certain people use certain essential oils. It may be best to try your oil in a diffuser, to see if the aroma causes any negative effects.

When directly inhaling essential oils, you also need to avoid coming into direct skin contact with the undiluted oil.

Essential Oil Baths

Preparing Essential Oil Baths

Adding essential oils to something as relaxing as a bath is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety. This is because soaking in a bath is already so therapeutic – adding essential oils will double the relaxation effect.

To prepare an essential oil bath, you’ll need to create a good blend of bathwater and oil. A good rule of thumb is to start by adding 5 to 20 drops of your favourite essential oil, diluted with a carrier oil like sesame oil. You can always add more from that point if you feel like you need it.

Safety and Precautions

There are a few safety considerations you’ll need to make before taking an essential oil bath:

• Make sure you don’t have any scratches, scrapes, or open wounds on your skin.
• Always do a patch test with the essential oil you plan on using before taking a bath.
• Be sure to dilute your essential oils with a carrier oil before adding to the bath.

 

FAQs

Who Should Avoid Essential Oils?

In general, essential oils are quite safe to use for most people. There are, however, certain groups that could be more negatively affected than others when using essential oils.

Children and the elderly (60+ years old) are more likely to experience negative effects, like headaches, skin irritations, etc. when using essential oils.

How Do Essential Oils Help Reduce Stress?

Using essential oils to help deal with the symptoms of stress is done via aromatherapy. Aromatherapy works by triggering certain neurons and chemicals in your brain.

Essential oils used in aromatherapy send trigger messages to your brain's limbic system, which controls your emotions, mood, memory, and how you learn.

How Should I Store My Essential Oils?

The number one rule to help make your essential oils last for a long time is proper storage. In general, you’ll want to keep your essential oils away from direct sunlight.

Store your essential oils in a cool, dark place, like a cupboard or bathroom, or anywhere that isn’t frequently exposed to light and temperature fluctuations.

What is the Best Essential Oil for Sleep?

Getting a good amount of high-quality sleep is one of the best ways to help reduce stress and anxiety. As mentioned above, chamomile essential oil is excellent when used as a remedy for poor sleep performance.

Get All Your Essential Oils From Range Products

So, you now understand which essential oils are best at helping reduce stress and anxiety. Range Products offers an extensive selection of essential oils, so you’re guaranteed to find exactly what you need!

Our store is brimming with essential oils and other natural ingredients sourced from sustainable sources. We also accept bulk orders if that’s what you’re looking for!

Contact us at 0893584448 or email us at sales@rangeproducts.com.au