We’ve all been there when our daily lives get too hectic and becomes out of our control. Whether you are struggling with your job, relationship, or getting to all your errands, being overly anxious about catering to your responsibilities can be detrimental to your long term health. With its damaging effects to the brain and the rest of the body, high levels of stress leads to vulnerability to outside disease and a negatively affected mentality. Luckily, there are ways to relax that are proven to help you manage your stress over time. One method in particular that is not as commonly mentioned by stress management experts is practicing aromatherapy. Involving the use of a variety of essential oils, it is a highly effective segment of holistic therapy and is often used during peaceful meditation. Your body will reap the benefit of a more balanced mood, less anxiety, and most importantly, a recharged energy level to carry you through your daily tasks.
What is Aromatherapy?
As a holistic method of practicing mental rehab and stress management, aromatherapy has been around for thousands of years and is ingrained in the culture of countries around the world. It is frequently used by people to improve their mood, change uncomfortable cognitive states and serve as a supplemental medicine. A significant part of aromatherapy is the process of creating synergy. This is a term for the combination of a variety of essential oils that can together create a far more effective healing than each oil would have if used by itself. However, as some specific oils can trigger allergies or other side effects in users, it’s important to dilute the mixture with a carrier oil to make the concentration less strong to your body. For managing stress, there are aromatic compounds from many different essential oils that are known as relaxants which soothe the mind. Most people who practice aromatherapy use these oils at home as it is extremely simple to mix and has been studied in depth for its health benefits.
Outstanding Oils
The essential oils of chamomile, bay, basil, lavender, anise, eucalyptus, rose, and thyme in particular all provide magical effects to improving stress management. From boosting the immune system, lowering allergen level, or releasing a sedative effect, these oils are crucial to any meditation or relaxation regime. Some of the best essential oils for igniting stress relief is lavender, bergamot, peppermint, vetiver, and ylang ylang essential oils. These are all extremely affordable and can be found to purchase at any local grocery or health food store in your area. To incorporate it, it is recommended by aromatherapy experts to first procure a couple pieces of rock salt and place them in a small vial. The rock salt serves as an absorbent to avoid any spills from happening in the future. Then, gently add a few drops of the oil of your choice and store the vial in a safe place. Whenever you feel stressed, open the vial and slowly breathe in the scent.
Another method to adding essential oils is to use an oil diffuser in different rooms of your home. To begin using one, first fill the tank of the diffuser with warm water. Then, make sure to add about ten to fifteen drops of the essential oil of your choice, close the tank lid, and turn the diffuser on. Most diffusers can run for several hours for a single charge and emit the scent of the oil almost immediately. Ultimately, choose whichever method is most convenient and effective for your lifestyle. With more tips about using diffusers, Elevate Rehab explains in more detail with this infographic about different essential oils one can experiment with to aid their meditation.
Road to Less Stress
Whether you decide to practice aromatherapy or not, it’s easy to see that it provides a variety of benefits that lead to a lasting improvement in stress levels, daily energy, and overall mood. Take the initiative and explore what types of practices work best for you and your schedule!
