Lavender Essential Oil for Relaxation & Deeper, Natural Sleep
Sleep, Everybody Needs It
Sleeping is a basic need of every human being. Sometimes our bodies do it willingly while other times our bodies fight sleep relentlessly. The American Medical Association recommends that adults get 7-8 hours of sleep a night. What happens when we try to go to sleep, even going early, yet we lie in bed counting the minutes while our bodies fight the onset of sleep? Our bodies do not get the rest that is most needed. Lavender essential oil can help promote a deep, restful sleep while relaxing the body.
Lavender Plant
Why Lavender?
Scents have an amazing effect on the body. Some smells make us more energized and some smells make us sleepy. Lavender essential oil is used for the promotion of sleep and relaxation. The smell of lavender calms nerves which may otherwise contribute to a wakeful night. A study done at Weselyan College in conjunction with The Sense of Smell institute, found that lavender essential oil, when inhaled, improved the length and the quality of sleep in both men and women. The controlled study found that with the use of lavender oil, patients underwent a slow wave or a deep sleep period. Lavender essential oil was also found to make patients more alert the next day due to the previous night’s excellent quality of sleep.
How To Use Lavender Essential Oil for Sleep
Lavender essential oil can be used in a variety of ways to promote a deeper, more relaxed sleep. Essential oils can be used diluted in teas, potently in baths or massaged onto the skin. Lavender essential oil used in a hot bath relaxes the body but the scent also promotes sleepiness. Massaging a diluted lavender essential oil onto the shoulder and neck area can help with a deep slumber. Massage not only relaxes the muscles in the body but the scent of lavender essential oil eases the tension and stress from your body. This in turn eases your body into a restful state and promotes a deep sleep.
Other Essential Oils For Sleep
Lavender is the best, most common and most useful essential oil for promoting sleep, but there are other essential oils that can also be used together with lavender or on their own. Citrus, Lemon, Rosewood, Sandlewood and Orange essential oils are soothing and calming oils that can also promote a deep, restful sleep. The more calm and relaxed your nerves, the better sleep you will get.
Frankincense and Patchouli essential oils have a deeper smell but they are also relaxing to the body and mind. These last essential oils work well in incense form to promote sleep rather than placing them directly onto the skin. Mixing these oils with lavender essential oil will improve the length of your sleep but also the quality of your slumber.
Other methods of getting a good night’s sleep include eating the right foods, exercise such as yoga and other techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation.
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This post is part of the series: Essential Oil’s for a Healthier You
Essential oil scents for various ailments, afflictions and everyday health.