Lavender oil has gained a reputation as being a good natural remedy for anxiety.
We often hear people recommend putting a little on your pillow at night to help you sleep, or using it diluted with a carrier oil for massage. This aromatic may also be diffused, so its pleasant, soothing scent travels through a room.
Lavender Essential Oil for Calming
(This post contains affiliate links, and if you purchase a product I receive a commission, at no extra cost to you.)
But is there any evidence that lavender essential oil can really help calm our nerves?
Lavender Essential Oil For Stress
For years, I’ve been using lavender (along with other essential oils as well) to help insomnia. For me, even in the absence of scientific studies, I’d continue to do this, because it seems to help. I’m not one that waits for all the modern evidence before I try a natural remedy. That’s because I also look to its historical use, and I rely upon the opinions of various online natural healers I trust.
But, just in case you’re interested, there is research showing that lavender oil may be able to take the edge off.
Lavender Essential Oil for Anxiety
I developed adrenal fatigue after a period of intense stress. (Actually, this happened twice, and I recovered both times.) My adrenal problems also appeared to trigger chronic inflammation. This targeted my nerves. For a few years, I was in so much pain I could barely walk.
The last time, especially, this condition seemed to disrupt my sleep and wake cycle. Homeopathy helped a lot. But my sleep problems never really went away, until I discovered essential oils. These have been so helpful. I only wish I had discovered aromatherapy sooner in my battle with adrenal exhaustion.
Essential Oils For Sleep and Relaxation
Now, I take the fact that I will get a good night’s sleep for granted. I’m so happy insomnia seems to be part of my past. I am even happier to have discovered essential oils. Many nights, I sprinkle lavender essential oil on a cloth or a tissue, which I place by my pillow. I either use it alone, or I mix it with another oil, such as clary sage or cedarwood essential oil. These aromatics are also considered good for relaxation. For me, lavender seems to work best when I rotate it or mix it with something else. But it does seem to work.
Lavender Essential Oil for Relaxation
Please understand that I’m not a doctor. So I can’t give medical advice, or suggest that any natural remedy I try will work for anyone else. All I ‘m doing is sharing my own experience of how I use essential oils. I really do hope my story of regaining my health with natural remedies will inspire my readers to take a more pro-active approach to their health.
At one point, I was so sick that I knew I couldn’t continue this way much longer. So I got really serious about regaining my health. I used various other of natural remedies to help me sleep. This includes lavender essential oil.
Also, I took a lot of herbs to help reign in my out-of-control inflammation. You can read about some of the ones I used here. I’m so grateful to God that he healed me, and for the wonderful and amazing plants He created.
Lavender Oil Stress Relief
As I mentioned earlier, I’m personally less interested in the research than I am in the fact that lavender has a long-standing history of use for anxiety. But now there’s some hard-and-fast scientific evidence to support this.
The Benefits of Lavender Essential Oil
The University of Maryland Medical Center has published information on aromatherapy. Unlike many mainstream healthcare facilities, the UMMC does not automatically discount the value of certain alternative therapies for certain conditions. So it’s a pretty good source for alternative medical research. The UMMC noted that lavender does have a “slight calming, soothing, and sedative” effect when it’s inhaled. Also, according to the UMMC, German doctors may legally recommend lavender tea as a remedy for insomnia, as well as restlessness.
Where To Buy Lavender Oil
Lavender essential oil products are now readily available and easy to find. But it’s important to buy them from a reputable source. That’s because essential oil fraud is rampant. Also, there’s a related plant known as lavendin. This is often passed off as lavender oil, even though it doesn’t smell as nice. So there’s a motive to doctor it with chemicals, before it goes to market.
Where to Find a Good Brand of Lavender Essential Oil
You do not have to worry about this if you buy lavender essential oil from a trusted supplier, such as Plant Therapy. This company works with a world-famous essential oil safety expert. Also, its oils are tested twice for purity. In my own humble opinion, this is an excellent alternative to the MLM oils, if you don’t prefer to shop that way. I’ve bought a number of Plant Therapy products, including its lavender oil. I’ve been so impressed with the quality of these oils that I often recommend this brand to my readers.
Plant Therapy Lavender Essential Oil
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.