There’s nothing like a global pandemic to create the perfect storm of stress and anxiety. Because stress can significantly weaken your immune system, it’s critically important to your health and well-being to find simple ways to manage and relieve it.
The following list of essential oils and blends addresses the range of emotional and psychological challenges you may face during this time of uncertainty and upheaval.
These oils can be used in an electric diffuser. If you don’t have a diffuser, you can use a potpourri burner, add a little distilled water to the bowl and 10-12 drops of the oil or blend. Drops of oil can also be added to a cup of Epsom salts to be used in a hot bath; added to distilled water in a spray bottle and used as a mister, or added to a handkerchief or tissue for inhalation.
Tension, Crankiness, Anger or Frustration
Diffuse a citrus essential oil like orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime, lemongrass, and tangerine or blend a few to create a cheerful, mood-lifting environment to combat crankiness, anger, and even depression.
Alternately, try a blend of lavender, clary sage, chamomile, geranium and cedarwood to melt away tension and anxiety.
Fear and Vulnerability
Fend off fear with drops of vetiver, sandalwood, cedarwood, frankincense or jasmine. Wood oils tend to be thicker than most other essential oils and can clog a diffuser so it’s best to blend them with other oils and put them into a mister. Use a dilution of 2-3%, approximately 20 drops per ounce of water. You can also dab a drop or two onto your wrists and inhale.
Isolation, Disconnectedness, Sadness or Grief
Find relief in the natural scents of rose, geranium, bergamot, lavender, neroli, Roman chamomile, and cypress. These oils can be diluted in a carrier base like coconut or jojoba oil and gently massaged around the heart area. Use the same dilution as with a mister.
Mental or Emotional Fatigue
Ginger, grapefruit, spruce, peppermint, eucalyptus and rosemary can be used in any of the ways already described.
A Good Night’s Sleep
Draw a “sleepy time” bath using about 8-10 drops of lavender, chamomile, marjoram and/or clary sage essential oils in 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 cup of Epsom salts. This blend will help you or your kids wind down and set yourselves up for a night of restful sleep.
Many of the oils mentioned here also have powerful immunostimulant properties. Please follow common safety guidelines for using essential oils which you can find here: https://bit.ly/ATSGS.
By Donya Fahmy
You can read this article in our Summer 2020 issue
