Table of contents:
Who has never been anxious in his life? Almost certainly, everyone has. When anxiety approaches, all you want is one, free from that anxiety. One way to relieve symptoms of anxiety disorders is to use aromatherapy made from essential oils. Come on, get to know what types of essential oils can treat your anxiety disorder.
Types of essential oil for anxiety
In fact, the use of essential oils alone has not been fully regulated by the FDA. Even so, some natural ingredients that are usually used as the basis for essential oils are known to have a number of properties, including for anxiety disorders.
Basically, any type of essential oil should be extracted and mixed with a carrier oil before use. This is because the main ingredients of this essential oil are usually solid or very thick.
1. Lavender
According to research published in 2012 in Natural Medicine Journal, lavender is one of the plants that can be extracted into essential oils that are useful for sufferers of anxiety disorders.
The use of lavender is believed to have the same properties as benzodizepine, a type of medicine to treat anxiety.
The way lavender oil works is that it affects the limbic system, which is the part of the brain that regulates emotions, so that it can calm the minds of those who use it.
How to use:
- Mix lavender oil with a carrier oil, such as tea oil or an unscented bath gel.
- Place the oil mixture in a bathtub filled with warm water before you shower.
2. Jasmine flowers
Apart from lavender, it turns out that jasmine flowers can also be used as an essential oil that has the potential to treat anxiety disorders.
This is proven through trials in 2013 in Journal of Health Research who researched the effects of inhaling jasmine flower oil on brain activity and emotions.
The study subjects showed that those involved in the study were better, more active, and fresher after inhaling jasmine oil. This condition may be caused by increased production of the hormones serotonin and endorphins.
These two hormones play a big role in changing people's moods to be happier and calmer. Therefore, jasmine essential oil is believed to help reduce symptoms of anxiety disorders.
There are two ways you can use jasmine essential oil as a way to treat anxiety disorders, namely:
- Inhale jasmine essential oil using an inhaler.
- Use diffuser so that the scent of jasmine oil spreads throughout the room.
3. Bergamot
Source: Consumer health advisory
In 2015 there was a study that tested the use of bergamot oil in humans and animals. As a result, bergamot oil has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects.
Researchers have also revealed that bergamot also has anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) properties that help reduce your stress.
How to use it:
- Pour a few drops of bergamot oil on a handkerchief or cotton ball.
- Smell the oil 2-3 times so that your anxious feelings begin to subside.
4. Roses
Did you know that the essential oil from rose petals is also useful for helping reduce symptoms of anxiety disorders?
There is a study on the use of rose oil as a foot bath mixture with warm water in women who are about to give birth. As a result, they are better able to control their anxiety.
This is because when humans breathe in fragrant scents, the sense of smell sends messages to the brain and affects your memory, thoughts, and emotions. After that, the memory of the smell releases hormones that are good for the body, namely enkephalin and endorphins.
Enkephalin is known as a hormone that reduces pain, while endorphins reduce anxiety.
How to use it:
- Mix rose essential oil in a bowl filled with warm water and mix thoroughly.
- Soak feet for a few minutes.
- You can also add rose oil when using an unscented or moisturizer shea butter and apply it to the skin while massaging it.
5. Basil
Not only used as a cooking spice, but basil can also be used as an essential oil to help sufferers of anxiety disorders. This is supported by research conducted on mice, to determine whether basil oil is anti-anxiety or not.
As a result, the phenolic compounds in basil essential oil can help relieve anxiety. However, this compound is not as potent as the drug diazepam, which is designed to calm people with anxiety disorders.
That is why more research is needed on how the phenol compounds in basil work to relieve symptoms of anxiety disorders.
Two ways to use basil essential oil:
- Inhale basil essential oil with the inhaler tube.
- Use diffuser so that the aroma of basil spreads throughout the room.
Although the five essential oils above can help relieve anxiety disorders, further research is still needed on the benefits of essential oils for anxiety disorders. Consult your doctor further if you want to use essential oils to treat your anxiety.
