Anxiety is a vague uneasy feeling of discomfort or dread accompanied by an autonomic response. For most people, the source of this feeling is unknown. When feeling anxiety individuals are sensing impending danger and the body is preparing to deal with the threat.
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It is important to realize you are not alone, anxiety is reported to affect approximately 40 million adults in the United States. Common symptoms of anxiety are headaches, trouble sleeping or panic attacks.
There are many steps you can take to help lower feelings of anxiety, but it is important to reach out for help if you feel that you cannot cope.
Essential Oils for Anxiety
Essential oils are well known for supporting our emotional well-being. Let’s look at the various oils that people use to treat anxiety.
Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)
Lavender is one of the most well-known aromatics for treating anxiety. Many commercial products are scented that promote relaxation and stress reduction. However, those products will not work as well as a true essential oil. To use lavender as an anxiety treatment it can be added to a carrier oil and used in a warm bath or in a personal inhaler.
Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
This essential oil comes from a special type of orange called a bergamot orange. Bergamot oil is known for its ability uplift emotions, reduce depression and mental fatigue. It can also improve blood flow and offer an energy boost. You can use it by adding a drop to a cotton ball and inhaling it deeply two or three times a day. The oil is highly phototoxic so should not be used topically.
Roman Chamomile (Chamaelmelum nobile)
This essential oil brings calm to your body and mind and increases your ability to sleep. Many people report that it also reduces pain and cramps. An effective way to use it is to dilute with a carrier oil and massage into the skin. You can also put it into your bath.
Rose Otto (Rosa x damascena)
Rose oil is made with rose petals and has a light non-perfume smelling scent. It can help restore self-esteem and encourage forgiveness in ourselves and others. Taking a nice warm bath with rose oil, or getting a pedicure with rose oil, can help reduce anxiety. Just be cautious with topical use as the oil can cause skin irritation.
Orange (Citrus sinensis)
This fresh-smelling essential oil can wake you up, give you more energy, and lower your stress, thus helping reduce anxiety. One of the best ways to use it is by diffusing it with a diffuser so that your whole room has a scent of orange and makes you feel better.
Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata)
If you need fast relief, put a little of this florally scented aromatic on a cotton ball and inhale. It has been used for mood swings and nervous tension. Use some caution though as some people are sensitive to the scent and may develop a headache.
Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorium)
Used for centuries to treat insomnia, this flower’s oil can help you sleep better and reduce anxiety. It is said that jasmine can improve your sex drive. If you overcome your anxiety enough to sleep, you’re going to feel so much better. You can use this oil in a diffuser or diluted as a perfume with other oils.
A friend and colleague Leslie Moldenauer has written a great book Emotional Healing with Essential Oils that takes a deep dive into 50 essential oils that can benefit your mood. Pick up a copy to explore more.
I have a love of gardening so I often turn to things I can grow in my garden.
Herbs for Anxiety
Gotu kola (Hydrocotyle asiatica)
This small creeping subtropical plant can easily be grown in pots. Drink this as a tea to help reduce anxiety. Do not use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)
Is another plant that can be used to calm the nerves and reduce anxiety. Although again caution is necessary as it can bring on delayed menses so should not be used if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Smells like sweet lemons. Herbal teas made with almost any plant are truly an amazing way to support your overall health. During menopause women tend to be more sensitive to stress, lemon balm is an ideal herb to support these mood changes.
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
The petals from the poppy are used to decorate desserts. It has been used by Native Americans as a pain killer. Poppy can be useful for aiding relaxation during times of stress. It is important to know the variety of plant because opium poppy can cause undo anxiety.
German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
Above we mentioned the benefits of Roman chamomile, German chamomile is also supportive of our nervous system. This variety grows wild in many locations so is often used for chamomile tea.
Further care for anxiety
As you continue to work through your anxiety ensure that you are eating a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, and getting a good amount of sleep. It is important to take a full life approach to our health and not expect one thing to “cure” us.
It is important to remember you can’t control everything. If you are feeling overwhelmed seek help, don’t try to do things on your own.
