Natural Insomnia Remedies with Essential Oils
Aromatherapy a Sleep Aid for Anxiety Insomnia Relief
Nov 12, 2009 Victoria Anisman-Reiner
For the millions of people who suffer from insomnia, it's more than a sleep problem; it can affect your entire life. Fortunately, there are natural sleep aids and insomnia remedies including aromatherapy essential oils that can do the trick and ensure a full night's sleep.
What is Insomnia?
According to the Mayo Clinic, the definition of insomnia covers almost any kind of sleep problem – trouble falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night and finding oneself unable to fall back asleep, or anything else that keeps a person from getting a full night's rest.
Mayo Clinic doctors estimate that one third of adults have trouble sleeping at some point in their lives, due to a variety of insomnia causes, and 10 to 15% suffer from chronic or repeated bouts of insomnia – most of them avoiding treatment or resorting to medication rather than holistic or natural sleep insomnia treatments.
Insomnia in and of itself is not really a problem. It's the insomnia side effects that create trouble: things like daytime fatigue, irritability, depression, anxiety, indigestion, headaches, inability to focus, slower reaction time and increased likelihood of accidents.
Sleep Insomnia Causes
There are any number of factors that can contribute to or cause insomnia. Some of the most common include:
- stress and overactive thinking
- anxiety about work, home, family, or other concerns
- chemical imbalances caused by depression
- medication side effects
- health or medical conditions that keep you awake at night – e.g. indigestion, pain, nausea, or headache
- jet lag, daylight savings time, and other changes in sleep schedule
- eating heavily in the evening
Essential Oils are Natural Sleep Aids
Sleep insomnia can be long-lasting and debilitating, but it's relatively easy to treat with the right natural sleep aids. There are many ways to treat insomnia without drugs, from changes in personal habits to natural herbal insomnia remedies. One of the most effective methods is with aromatherapy essential oils, a proven insomnia cure for many people.
Essential oils are natural liquid essences pressed from plants. They contain many chemicals that oxygenate and nourish the cells, and many of them have properties that affect the brain and the body's biochemistry in soothing, relaxing ways. Aromatherapy oils have been used as sleep aids since ancient times, with the Ancient Egyptians and Greeks using them medicinally for sleep, relaxation, and many other purposes.
Some of the best essential oils to use as insomnia remedies include:
- lavender
- orange
- lemon
- cedarwood
- chamomile
- rosemary
- angelia
- sandalwood
- rosewood
- valerian
- vetiver
- spruce
These oils, singly or in combination, can be applied on the soles of the feet, shoulders, back of the neck, massaged into the spine and back, or on your pillow right before bedtime for insomnia relief.
Essential oils are valuable healing tools, but not all aromatherapy products are created equal. For details on safety and essential oil quality, see The Real Quality of Essential Oils.
References:
- Essential Science Publishing (compiled by), Essential Oils Desk Reference, 2nd Edition. USA, Essential Science Publishing, 2001.
- Mayo Clinic Staff, "Insomnia," MayoClinic.com, 2009.
Lavender on Pillow is a Natural Sleep Aid
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