Sleep Better Tonight: Essential Oils for a Good Night's Rest
It’s no secret that getting regular, high-quality sleep is essential for health and wellbeing, but for many people sleep is a luxury that’s hard to come by. Stress, anxiety, and the demands of life in general can all affect sleep, disrupting sleep patterns and leaving us tired and drained. While prescribed medications can be effective, natural remedies have gained much more popularity in recent years and one of the best ways to promote relaxation and support consistent sleep is aromatherapy.
So, do essential oils help with sleep? The short answer is yes, they have been used for centuries in many cultures across the world and are universally considered a great option when you’re chasing a restful night’s sleep. Here, we delve into some of the most asked questions about essential oils for sleep, so you can get the rest you deserve as soon as possible.
How Do Essential Oils Help Sleep?
Essential oils interact with the body and mind in many ways, but the most significant way is their ability to influence the central nervous system. This bodily system handles processing by receiving signals through the five senses, as well as movement. When the central nervous system is out of balance, we can experience increased stress and anxiety levels, leading to a poor night’s sleep. Aromatherapy helps to rebalance the central nervous system through the olfactory nerve, the nerve responsible for the sense of smell. It’s directly linked to the area of the brain that controls emotions and mood, so incorporating essential oils into your bedtime routine is a highly effective method of promoting great sleep.
What are the Best Essential Oils for Sleep and Relaxation?
- Lavender
Lavender is one of the most well-known essential oils for sleep, and for good reason. It’s extracted from the lavender plant and is celebrated for its calming effect. Studies have shown lavender can reduce stress and anxiety levels by slowing down the central nervous system, and it can also be beneficial for reducing the amount of time it takes to fall asleep, making it a perfect essential oil for sleep.
- Roman Chamomile
Chamomile has been used for hundreds of years as a natural remedy for insomnia and it’s known for its soothing properties. It contains compounds that have a mildly sedative effect, which helps to relax muscles to reduce pain. It also helps to relax the mind, working similarly to how some anti-anxiety medicines work. Chamomile is another perfect aid for sleep.
- Sandalwood
Sandalwood oil is notable for its grounding properties and calming power. This rich, woody scent is also thought to have a mildly sedative effect and has been used over the years in both meditation and holistic medicine. It helps you to achieve a quiet mind which facilitates restful sleep.
- Cedarwood
The aptly named cedarwood oil is derived from the wood of cedar trees and has a warm, earthy scent to create a grounded atmosphere for a comfortable sleep. Containing high levels of cedrol, cedarwood oil also has a sedative effect, promoting the release of serotonin which converts to melatonin, the sleep hormone. It’s thought cedarwood oil helps to reset the body’s natural clock, making falling asleep easier.
- Petitgrain
Petitgrain is a lesser-known essential oil obtained from bitter orange trees. It smells fresh, with a slightly more masculine scent than orange blossom. This essential oil has healing properties — it’s thought to reduce depression and anxiety as well as act as an anti-inflammatory. It’s perfect for creating a comfortable sleep environment and promoting feelings of relaxation.
- Bergamot
Bergamot is another essential oil procured from an orange plant, this time from the rind of bergamot oranges. It’s considered a citrus oil but rather than stimulating the senses as many citrus oils do, bergamot oil has a calming effect. It’s believed to help with the reduction of cortisol levels, the stress hormone that can keep you awake at night. By promoting the release of serotonin and dopamine, it enhances the mood while relaxing the body.
- Ylang-Ylang
Ylang-ylang oil has been used in ancient traditional medicine to lower blood pressure and create a sense of calm. Studies have suggested it works by slowing the heart rate and reducing cortisol levels, both of which are crucial for falling asleep and staying asleep.
- Clary Sage
Clary sage oil is powerful because of its ability to regulate hormones, promoting emotional balance. It’s particularly useful for women experiencing poor sleep during menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. It helps to reduce anxiety and inflict the feelings of peace and calm necessary for a deep sleep.
What Essential Oils are Good for Sleep in a Diffuser?
All of the essential oils we’ve listed here are good for sleep in a diffuser, and one of the main benefits of using a diffuser is being able to combine more than one. Adding a few drops of essential oils and some water to a diffuser is one of the most effective ways to use them, because the diffuser disperses the oil into the air, allowing you to inhale the aromas as you get ready for bed.
Blending essential aroma diffusers oils can create the most comfortable sleeping environment for you, and you’ll experience the benefits of all the oils at once. Some popular combinations are:
- Lavender and Chamomile, to reduce anxiety for a calming effect.
- Cedarwood and Bergamot, to ground and calm the mind to unwind.
- Ylang-Ylang and Clary Sage, to balance hormones and reduce stress.
Alternatively, purchasing a ready-blended essential oil for sleep will enhance your sleep even more. At Palm Beach Collection, we’ve developed our Sleep Essential Oil to calm the mind and soothe the senses so you can wake up feeling refreshed every day. We’ve mixed Lavender, Chamomile, Petitgrain, Sandalwood and more to bring you our tried and tested sleep essential oil, ready to add to your favourite aroma oil diffuser. Simply pop 2-8 drops into water in your diffuser and enjoy the sweet scent of aromatherapy to help you get the sleep you need. Join millions of people experiencing aromatherapy for sleep today and take a step towards wellness and a healthier you.