5 Essential Aromatherapy Oils To Sleep Better (and Pamper Yourself)

Kill two birds with one with one stone by using aromatherapy oils to lull yourself into a replenishing sleep and pamper yourself a bit at the same time. Here are five essential oils proven to calm the mind and help you gently fall sleep.

1. Frankincense

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Frankincense has one impressive resume. Its laundry list of health benefits covers a little bit of everything. As far as its sleep benefits go, Frankincense works as a sedative to calm the mind and help you reconnect with your spirituality. If the day’s events still have you strung out by the time your head hits the pillow, Frankincense can ease your anxiety, relieve your stress, and quell your anger. Before long, you’ll feel yourself relaxing into a satisfying state of peace of mind.

2. Lavender and Chamomile

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This fabulous duo is probably the most famous in the aromatherapy scene. Lavender is such a powerful sleep inducer that it is actually a common alternative for major sleep issues, like insomnia. It can help quiet your nerves and relieve your anxiety if the events of the day are leaving you mentally restless, unable to settle into sleep. Lavender has also been found to stimulate blood circulation and lower blood pressure, which is a very common symptom of sleep apnea. You can blend it with chamomile to intensify both of these oils’ calming effects on the body.

3. Palma Rose

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Palma Rosa essential oil is beneficial for nerves, anxiety, anger and fighting fatigue. It’s uplifting effect on the mind can help sleep apnea patients maintain a positive attitude toward complying with their CPAP therapy. Patients can try mixing this oil, which smells like roses (hence the name), with geranium, bergamot (whose aroma is found in Earl Gray tea), or lime for an extra special twist on an already soothing aroma.

4. Vetiver

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Similarly to lavender, vetiver is also known to treat insomnia due to its sedative qualities. For more common issues, it subdues irritability, anger, anxiety, and restlessness. It blends well with lavender and grapefruit, if you want to try something a little less usual. And since this post is also about simultaneously pampering yourself, you should know that vetiver is also an aphrodisiac.

5. Ylang Ylang

Source: puremassageoils.com

This one is just fun to say. If you’ve never heard of it before, it’s pronounced EE-lang-EE-lang. The essential oil from the flowers of this plant combines the health benefits of the previous four oils. It calms nervous afflictions, anxiety, anger, stress, lowers blood pressure, and is even an aphrodisiac. Plus, it’s used in high-end perfumes like Chanel No. 5. Blend it with some fruit or wood smells for a fabulous DIY aromatherapy experience.