More than a third of adults in the United States do not get the required seven or more hours of sleep a night. Fortunately, with the increasing essential oils market, most are starting to learn about essential oils. If you’re unsure if it’s useful, here is a guide to understanding aromatherapy.
What Is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is the inhalation of essential oil smells or vapor to enhance one’s health. As smell affects sleep, incorporating specific essential oils into your bedtime can help you sleep better. Essential oils are oils extracted from plants through steam distillation and the crushing of plant parts. They have been used as medical therapies since the olden days.
These essential oils can also be absorbed through the skin. During a massage, the massage therapist may add a drop of wintergreen oil to help relax tense muscles. With the variety of essential oils available, understanding which is best for you depends on the symptoms you want to alleviate and the scents you enjoy.
Lavender
Its aroma is soothing to many individuals and is frequently used to reduce tension and anxiety while also promoting better sleep. Many studies show that lavender has a beneficial effect on sleep in a wide range of people. People with insomnia reported improved sleep after smelling steam filled with lavender essential oil and some students experience reduced sleepiness once waking up after being exposed to lavender aroma at night.
As lavender can be quickly absorbed by the skin, it can be placed on a pillow to be inhaled throughout the night or mixed with other oils. Sleep is improved even more when the lavender is paired with sleep hygiene techniques.
Bergamot
Bergamot is a fragrant North American herb that is commonly planted to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. It has been shown to aid with a range of diseases and is sometimes consumed as juice or extract. Bergamot essential oil can be diffused in a room or inhaled.
When used as aromatherapy, bergamot essential oil can help to decrease blood pressure and promote mental health. Bergamot is supposed to help with sleep because of its soothing effects. However, many bergamot sleep studies use essential oil blends rather than bergamot oil alone, making it impossible to pinpoint the precise effects of bergamot essential oil on sleep.
In one study of healthy women, a blend of bergamot and sandalwood essential oils was reported to improve sleep quality in 64 percent of participants. Another study of participants in cardiac rehabilitation revealed that exposure to an aromatherapy blend of bergamot, ylang-ylang, and lavender improved sleep quality significantly.
Chamomile
It comes in two varieties, Roman and German. They are similar yet contain various active ingredients and have varied effects. German chamomile essential oil is recognized for easing pain, whereas Roman chamomile essential oil is known for calming anxiety.
Although the effect of chamomile tea on sleep is more widely studied, people also use chamomile aromatherapy for sleep. An essential oil combination for sleep that has been scientifically studied includes Roman chamomile, neroli, and lavender.
Choose Exceptional Senior Living at Morada Cy-Fair
Searching for a retirement community? Why not enjoy senior living with Morada Cy-Fair? We offer a variety of senior living options, ranging from Memory Care to Assisted Living, where you can enjoy high-quality amenities and our exclusive senior living programs. To find out more, do contact us today!
