The use of essential oils dates back to ancient times—3000 B.C., to be exact. Five thousand years later, these powerful extracts are still widely used for their incredible health benefits. Studies have shown these extracts have the ability to balance hormones, fight infections, improve digestion, and reduce stress. But that’s only scratching the surface of the power packed into these highly concentrated oils.
Essential oils are extracted from plants through a distillation process and used for aromatherapy, massage, natural medicine, skin care, and much more. There are plenty of ways to use essential oils including, rubbing them directly on your skin and inhaling directly from the bottle, but using a diffuser is arguably the most popular (and low-maintenance) way to reap the benefits of essential oils.
Essential oil diffusers work in a similar way as humidifiers. All you have to do is add water and a few drops of your essential oil to the diffuser and let the magic happen. One of the best ways to harness the benefits of essential oils is to place a diffuser in your bedroom and let it run while you sleep. This is especially easy because you can set your diffuser on a timer and let it lull you to sleep without having to worry about turning it off.
If you’ve yet to work essential oils into your wind-down routine, here are five benefits to sleeping with an essential oil diffuser.
- They Lower Stress
One of the most widely known benefits of essential oils is their calming nature. Research shows essential oils lessen feelings of anxiousness and stress. This is why spas have essential oil diffusers pumping the aromatic mist into their lobbies and your masseuse works these oils into your session. They want you to de-stress.
The use of essential oils helps you get to a state of relaxation quicker. Some of the best essential oils for stress and anxiety are lavender, Roman chamomile, orange, rose and frankincense. After a long day at work, turning on your essential oil diffuser might be just the thing you need to wind down and prep for sleep.
- Deeper Sleep
Speaking of prepping for sleep, essential oils are a great natural remedy to sleep. Lavender, in particular, is known for its sedative properties. The positive effects essential oils have on sleep deprivation is highly related to their ability to reduce stress.
That’s because stress and sleep have an intricate relationship. Cortisol, known as “the stress hormone”, should naturally decrease at night. However, when you are under loads of stress, cortisol levels stay elevated. This increases our alertness and prevents us from relaxing to fall asleep. When you incorporate the use of essential oils in your wind-down routine, you are much more likely to see these stress levels melt away and catch your quality ZZZs.
- Increases Immunity
Did you know that essential oils can also help your body fight infection? That’s right. These oils are loaded with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral. Antiseptic, and anti-fungal properties that boost your immune system. Some of the best essential oils for kicking sickness to the curb of oregano, myrrh, ginger, lemon, eucalyptus, peppermint, and cinnamon.
Resistance to antibiotics is becoming more prevalent than in recent years. The use of essential oils alone or in conjunction with other medicines can help fight bacterial infections in a more safe and natural way.
- Improves Respiratory Health
Did you know indoor air quality can be worse in your home than outdoors? It’s true. There are many airborne toxins and allergens lurking in our home that we inhale every day and night. The good news is, essential oils can help detox the air in your home. This will aid in your respiratory health and prevent sleep disturbances caused by irritated breathing. Peppermint and eucalyptus are among some of the popular essential oils for promoting lung health.
Sleep is integral to our overall health and wellness. If you struggle with restless nights on a regular basis, take a look at your sleep health from a holistic point of view. Is your mattress is providing proper support? Are you having a coffee too late in the day? There are a variety of factors at play when it comes to getting the sleep we need. Essential oils may be an answer to part of the problem!
