How To Use Lavender Oil For Sleep and Anxiety?
Do you often have a hard time falling asleep? Do you sometimes feel restless, tense, or even anxious? Don’t worry, we experience it too!
Sometimes when you are stressed at home, had a hard day at work, or are even too nervous or excited for tomorrow, it can be hard to find sleep. You can spend hours lying awake in your bed at night, tossing and turning, fidgeting, on edge, and wide awake. And while this is ok to happen once in a while, it is certainly not maintainable or healthy to be experiencing it every night.
Not getting enough sleep or good enough quality of sleep can lead to detrimental mental and physical effects in the long run. From compromised cognitive function to stress to body aches and pain, lack of quality sleep can severely affect your health and well-being.
And while you may have high anxiety levels, learning how to cope with them and even manage them could make a big difference in your quality of life. That is why many people use essential oils to help them sleep. Whether they can help you relax or destress, essential oils are a great natural option for those who find themselves too anxious, wired, or restless at night to find sleep.
Benefits of Lavender Essential Oil For Sleep and Anxiety
One of the best essential oils to have in your collection, lavender oil is often recognized as the queen of all essential oils. Thanks to its versatility and many benefits, lavender oil is often referred to as the jack of all trades – essential oils-wise. With powerful anti-inflammatory, sedating, antimicrobial, antioxidant, relaxing, antidepressant, and immunostimulant properties, lavender essential oil is a great choice for those who are looking to manage their anxiety levels and get better sleep.
With a sweet gentle floral scent, lavender essential oil is known to be one of the best for promoting relaxation, relieving stress, and reducing anxiety. Its unique chemical compositon have shown it to be particularly effective in reducing insomnia and improving sleep quality. Study participants that used lavender essential oil before bedtime have reported experiencing better quality sleep and less anxiety before bedtime. Lavender essential oil’s sedating properties can also help promote sleep by slowing down the central nervous system and inducing feelings of calmness and relaxation. These sedating properties can help quell racing thoughts, reduce nervous fidgeting, and calm the mind just in time for bedtime.
Lavender oil can also help reduce pain for those who are finding difficulty getting to sleep due to muscle soreness or inflammation. Lavender oil’s antioxidant, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties can help promote blood circulation, reduce inflammation, ease pain, and promote cellular and muscular repair, so you can finally get a good night’s sleep.
In addition, using lavender for sleep can help alleviate symptoms of sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome. Alleviating these symptoms can help enhance sleep quality, reduce mid-nighttime wakeups, and increase total sleep time. Lavender essential oil can also help reduce blood pressure, which can help contribute to better sleep quality.
Check Out - Best Essential Oils For Sleep And Anxiety
How To Use Lavender Oil For Anxiety and Sleep
The way you chose to use lavender for anxiety is up to personal preference. Whether you prefer diffusion or topicall applicaiton, we have provideed a few options for you to chose from.
Inhalation
One of the most common ways to use lavender oil for anxiety is through inhalation. You can add a few drops of lavender oil to a diffuser, humidifier, or inhaler, and breathe in the scent.
Alternatively, you can add a few drops of lavender oil to a bowl of hot water and inhale the steam. You can even place a towel or sheet over your head to trap in the steam for better results.
Inhaling lavender essential oil is a powerful way to use the essential oil and take advantage of its benefits in its purest form. Without using a carrier oil or water, inhaling lavender oil without dilution can help give you the best results.
Topical application
Topical application is another popular way to use lavender essential oil for sleep and anxiety. Simply use your favorite carrier roil to dilute the essential oil before placing it on your skin. Massage the essential oil onto your wrists, temple, shoulders, arms, or neck to help reduce anxiety and relax the nervous system. Topically applying lavender essential oil can help calm you down as well as reduce any tension in your body before bedtime.
Diffusing
One of the best ways to use lavender for sleep is diffusing. Simply add a couple drops of lavender oil to your diffuser an hour before bedtime, and let it diffuse the calming scent all night long. Many of those who struggle falling asleep and staying asleep prefer diffusing lavender oil instead of other methods, as the scent is diluted and not too overwhelming or overpowering. With diffusion, you can also set your diffuser to diffuse throughout the night, keeping you relaxed, sedated, and grounded throughout the entire night.
Lavender pillow spray
- 1/2 cup distilled water
- 2 tablespoons witch hazel or vodka (this will help the oil mix with the water)
- 10-20 drops of lavender essential oil
Mix the ingredients together and give your lavender sleep spray a shake before spraying on your pillow before bedtime. This will help you relax and reduce any anxious feelings before bedtime.
Bath
Simply add a few drops of lavender oil to your nighttime bath to help create a relaxing and calming atmosphere. This can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety before bedtime.
Also Read - How Sleep Affects Physical and Mental Health?
Lavender Essential Oil DIY Recipes For Sleep And Anxiety
Lavender sleep aid diffuser blend
- 3 drops of lavender essential oil
- 2 drops of cedarwood essential oil
- 2 drops of bergamot essential oil
Lavender and orange massage oil
Mix 1/4 cup of sweet almond oil, 10 drops of lavender essential oil, and 5 drops of orange essential oil in a small glass bottle. Massage onto your temples, neck, and wrists before bed to promote relaxation and sleep.
Lavender and bergamot room spray
Mix 1 cup of distilled water and 15-20 drops of lavender and bergamot essential oils in a spray bottle. Shake well and spray around your room to create a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere.
Lavender and peppermint inhaler
Add 5 drops of lavender essential oil and 5 drops of peppermint essential oil to a small inhaler. Inhale the scent deeply whenever you feel anxious or stressed.
