“I’ve always disliked the necessity of sleep, like death it puts even the most powerful men on their backs.” This is a famous remark made by Frank Underwood In the movie House Of Cards, and which is true in all its bits. Regardless of your social status, sleep is just something you can’t do without. However, as much as the essence of a good night sleep cannot be underestimated, most people find it hard to go to sleep let alone get enough of it due to disorders such as insomnia. Approximately 70 million Americans have insomnia, and if you happen to be among them, then we are glad to let you know essential oils are the natural solution for the long nights you’ve had to endure. Here is how these oils work and also the best way to use essential oils for insomnia treatment.
How Essential Oils help in Insomnia Treatment?
The benefits of essential oil go beyond their delightful scents. They help strengthen the immune system, keep your skin glowing, and now help you get quality sleep. Because they are transdermal, they interact with the brain in a way that promotes relaxation, putting your mind into a state of rest, hence making it easy even for someone who suffers insomnia to drift into a peaceful sleep.
How they Achieve that?
Our sense of smell is usually directly linked to the brain’s center of memory and emotions known as the limbic system through the olfactory nerve. This is why a certain smell takes you back to days when you were young or of someone. In respect to that, the effectiveness of essential oils is enhanced by the fact that they boast of aromatic molecules which unlike other scents, can quickly cross the blood and brain barrier and interact with this center of the brain, causing relaxation. Being in a relaxed state, in turn, stimulates the production of the sleep hormone known as melatonin, hence enabling one to gain quality sleep.
Here are the best essential oils for Insomnia Treatments
Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Roman Chamomile, Cedarwood, Bergamot, Neroli, Geranium and Frankincense.
How to use Essential Oils for Insomnia Treatment?
Diffusing/Aromatherapy – There are many ways to use these delightful oils for insomnia, but the best way to do so is by diffusing them into the air through a diffuser. Add a few drops of the oil of your choice with a little bit of water into the diffuser, set it by the bedside, switch it on, and within a few minutes, you will be in dreamland. A diffuser is effective as it spreads the molecules throughout the room, hence ensuring that everyone within it enjoys the relaxing effects of the oil thus helping them treat insomnia. Therefore, before purchasing an oil diffuser, you should read reviews to seek expert opinions on which are the best and top notch essential oil diffuser that you should use.
Topical Use – Topical application is yet another way to use them for insomnia treatment. Gently apply these oils on your pressure points such as the inside of your wrists, behind your ears, the bottom of your feet or the back of your neck. Rub any leftover oil between your hands and inhale, like diffusing, this offers immediate relaxation. You can also ask someone to massage you with this oil before you sleep for better relaxation.
Add to your Bathing Water – If you like soaking up before you sleep, then maximize on your soaking time by adding drops of essential oil to your bathing water. This enables you to enjoy the beautiful scents, while at the same time experiencing the relaxing effect of water and the oils. Schedule your bath times an hour before you go to sleep.
Direct Inhalation – You can also directly inhale the pleasant aroma of your favorite essential oil to enjoy its effects. To do so, add several drops of whichever oil you choose on a cotton ball and place it on your pillow during bedtime. Or add a few drops directly on your pillow. Also, to have the scent on you, add a few drops of the oil to your laundry during the last rinse cycle, for instance, your pajamas to enjoy the relaxing aromas when you wear them during bedtime.
Through Ingestion – Lastly, some essential oils have been proven safe for ingestion. Add a few drops of this to your favorite drink, a smoothie or even the food you are cooking for ingestion. However, ensure you consult a professional aromatherapist so they can help you identify essential oils that are safe for ingestion.
Essential oils are the best thing to use for insomnia treatment as they not only smell blissful but are also natural, hence have no side effects. Because they come in different scents, the trick is identifying one that your body responds to best, as our bodies react differently to them.
