Essential Oils for Restful Sleep
Essential oils can help calm your mind, promote relaxation, and provide a more restful sleep.
It’s the one thing we all need and rarely get enough of… SLEEP. We lay our heads on our fluffy pillows, snuggle up under blankets, and then stare at the ceiling. Tossing and turning all night while dreading the inevitable sound of the alarm clock.
According to the National Institutes of Health’s National Center on Sleep Disorders Research (NCSDR), sleeping disorders affect about 70 million Americans, and to find relief more and more people turn to prescribed hypnotic medications (sleeping pills). Shocking numbers have been reported of up to 10% of adults in this country taking a hypnotic drug. These medications come with a plethora of negative side effects. This brief list is provided by the Mayo Clinic and does not include the more uncommon, or rarely discussed possibilities of trouble caused by hypnotic drugs:
Dizziness or lightheadedness, which may lead to falls
Headache
Gastrointestinal problems, such as diarrhea and nausea
Prolonged drowsiness, more so with drugs that help you stay asleep
Severe allergic reaction
Sleep-related behaviors, such as driving or eating when not fully awake
Daytime memory and performance problems
Many insomniacs understand the dangers of pharmaceuticals and turn instead to “natural” melatonin (a human hormone). Unfortunately, melatonin can only serve as a periodic, short-term solution and still carries its fair share of side-effects. It’s also unsafe for use with children or adults with certain medical conditions or medications for diabetes, immunosuppressants, contraceptives, and many others. Long-term use of melatonin (like any other form of hormone replacement therapy) is also likely to negatively affect your body’s natural hormonal balance and production.
The safer and more effective alternative:
Linalool, a compound found in many essential oils, is known for its calming effects. Studies show that essential oils high in Linalool help reduce stress levels naturally. Once essential oils containing Linalool are safely inhaled and reach the olfactory system, they cause the emotional part of the brain to release neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin. These chemicals cause you to feel calm and relaxed, and serotonin triggers your body’s natural production melatonin (the hormone that causes you to be sleepy).
To take a natural approach and finally get some sleep, we at By Faith Essential Oils recommend running a diffuser in a well-ventilated room an hour before going to bed, as well as through out the night. We have a specific blend designed by our aromatherapist to take the complicated part of blending oils off your to do list. Tranquility Blend offered through By Faith is our most popular synergy blend: A comforting blend that encourages calm and rest. Tranquility is soothing and peaceful to promote quality, restorative sleep. Tranquility is available in a neat (undiluted) 10ML bottle to be used in your diffuser (4-6 drops), or in our convenient diluted roller for topical application (back of neck, bottom of feet, and temples).
Other oils that promote sleep and relaxation that are provided through By Faith Essential Oils are:
If congestion is adding to your discomfort at night, we recommend our Breathe Blend, Eucalyptus, or Peppermint.
Any of these oils can be combined together to create your own blend. Only 4-6 drops total are needed in your diffuser to start a stress-free night of restful sleep.
Now get to sleep! A well-rested person can change the world. Feel free to contact By Faith Essential Oils for any and all of your Aromatherapy needs.
www.ByFaithOils.org
