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Diffusing essential oils for stress relief is one of my favorite ways to use essential oils. We live in a world full of stressors. School and jobs are demanding, peer pressure is everywhere and for millions of people, marriage and financial pressures are enough to push you over the edge. There never seems to be enough hours in the day to get everything done and it’s difficult to get the sleep you need for your body to heal and your mind to rest. All of these factors, plus much more, add to your stress levels and ultimately begin affecting your health.

Excessive stress can cause digestive problems, headaches, and insomnia, and it can weaken your immune system. It can also affect your blood sugar levels, weight, and even cause premature aging. Dealing with stress can make you feel depressed, angry, and sad, and it can make it difficult for you to interact with others. But you don’t have to let stress take over your life. Many users agree that essential oils can relieve stress by helping you relax and feel calm even when things seem to be spiraling out of control. Are you ready to give them a try?

Many essential oils contain therapeutic properties that make them a good option for relieving stress. Here are my choices for the best essential oils for stress relief:

Lavender – has calm, relaxing properties to relieve stress and nervous tension
Sandalwood – has grounding, uplifting properties that relieves tension and calms agitated nerves
Rose – the uplifting scent soothes the emotions, especially during times of grief
Petitgrain – eases tensions and helps calm the mind when emotions are running high
Basil – promotes feelings of clam and focus and eases head and neck tension
Bergamot – calming oil that is soothing during times of sadness and grief
Ylang Ylang – calming oil that eases the mind, releases nervous tension, and helps the whole body relax
Cedarwood – helps create calm from the chaos and negativity around you
Spikenard – balancing oil with soothing qualities that promotes a sense of peacefulness and relaxation
Geranium – helpful in easing the tension associated with the stress of daily life, gently harmonizing, and uplifting
Clary Sage – balancing oil with a calm, relaxing aroma, particularly helpful for women’s issues
Frankincense – soothing, relaxing, and and mood balancing, especially in times of sorrow
Jasmine – uplifting scent that relieves stress by evoking feelings of peace, joy and self-confidence
Vetiver – grounding oil that calms the mind
Marjoram – has soothing, calming properties, promotes relaxation before sleep
Juniper Berry – grounding aroma with calming effects on nervous tension
Tangerine – has a soothing, relaxing aroma, clears the mind
Roman Chamomile – soothing, gentle, relaxes the mind, promotes restful sleep

(my favorite essential oil suppliers include Simply Earth and Rocky Mountain Oils)

You can use these oils individually or mix some of them together to create your own unique blend. Experiment with the different oils and blends to find the ones that suit you perfectly. Once you choose the best oils for your personal use, there are several ways to take advantage of them.

Diffusing essential oils is one of the best ways to relieve stress but it’s not your only option. You can also add them to your bathwater or inhale them straight from the bottle. Using them as massage oil is another popular option for relieving stress and tension. One of my favorite ways to use essential oils to relieve stress is to make a personal inhaler by adding 15 drops of essential oils to one of these aluminum personal inhaler tubes. Actually, I make three of these at a time when I’m having a particularly stressful period so that I can keep one at my bedside, one in my purse, and one in my office. Anytime I am feeling the physical effects of stress, I inhale deeply, take a few breaths, and enjoy the calming effects of my favorite stress-relieving essential oils.

While you’ll likely want to experiment with the essential oils that work best for you, here is a blend that I’ve created that works well for me. It would be a good place for you start if you are in need of a stress-relieving essential oil blend for yourself right now. I create a “master blend” in a 10cc bottle and simply use it to add the 15 drops to my personal inhaler. A few other ways it can be used include:

Add 6-8 drops to your diffuser and breathe in the soothing, calming aroma
Add 10 drops to a 10cc roller bottle, top off with your favorite carrier oil, and apply it to your wrists or back of neck
Add a few drops to a cotton ball and place it in the air vent of your car during a long drive
Add a few drops to 2 cups of Epsom salts and add to a warm bath

Stress-Relieving Essential Oil Master Blend

Clary Sage 30 drops (3)

Lavender 30 drops (3)

Marjoram 20 drops (2)

Roman Chamomile 10 drops (1)

Sandalwood 10 drops (1)

Sweet Orange 30 drops (3)

Ylang Ylang 30 drops (3)

The number next to the name of the oil is the amount you should add to a 10ml glass bottle to create a master blend. If you’d like to just make one personal inhaler, the numbers in parentheses are the amounts you would add to one of those.

Precautions

Never use essential oils undiluted, in the eyes or mucus membranes. Do not ingest unless working with a qualified practitioner. Keep essential oils away from children. If applying an essential oil to your skin always perform a small patch test to an insensitive part of the body (after you have properly diluted the oil in an appropriate carrier oil).

For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.