Stressed? Anxious? Find Out How You Can Relieve Anxiety and Nervous Tension by Using Essential Oils

Stressed? Anxious? Find Out How You Can Relieve Anxiety and Nervous Tension by Using Essential Oils

Anxiety and tension can affect a person's mental and emotional wellbeing. Often it is a result of stress and can lead to a wide range of physical symptoms such as rapid breathing, excessive sweating, fatigue, restlessness and depression.

Aromatherapy can be a gentle and effective way of alleviating these feelings.

In severe cases, it is wise to consult a medical practitioner, in which prescribed medication and counselling can be very effective. However the use of essential oils can also be safely used in conjunction with these treatments.

A good way to help relax is to take regular aromatic baths to ease anxiety and nervous tension. There are many suitable essential oils to choose from according to your blend preference. Add no more than 10 drops in total to a warm bath, and then soak for at least 15 minutes inhaling the relaxing aromas.

The following oils are recommended for reducing anxiety and nervous tension: Clary Sage, Sandalwood, Lavender, Frankincense, Bergamot, Geranium, Cypress, Ylang Ylang, Lemon, Sweet Orange, Patchouli, Cypress, Cedarwood Atlas, Vetiver, Jasmine, Rose, Neroli and Marjoram.

If short on time, an easy alternative is to enjoy a 5-10 minute steam inhalation. Combine a few drops of your chosen oils in a small bowl of steaming hot water. Drape a hand towel over your head while leaning over the bowl and inhale the soothing scent for at least 5 minutes. It is important not to overdo the number of drops as it could be too heady.

Regular massage is another excellent way of enjoying the soothing effects of essential oils. It helps to release the tension in muscles and relieve anxiety. Use any of the above essential oils listed and make up your own blend in 25 ml base of Sweet Almond oil. Mix up to a total of 12 drops in the blend. If you are experimenting with different oils, remember to follow the basic precautionary notes on using pure essential oils - for instance if you are pregnant, suffer from high blood pressure, are epileptic or have a hypersensitive skin.

You can also just simply use any of the recommended oils in a vaporiser at home or in the workplace. If that is not possible, put a few drops of your chosen oils on a tissue to carry around with you and inhale deeply when needed.

On an additional note- in a study conducted by a university clinic in Austria they concluded through trial work that essential oils of Lavender and Sweet orange reduced anxiety in dental patients!

As an anxiety sufferer myself at times, I have found using oils to be very helpful. They are easy and inexpensive to try, and as a bonus, they smell good too!