Three Essential Oils for Better Sleep

Many people who suffer from insomnia may not realize that essential oils can help their tossing and turning at night.
Whether the insomnia is from stress, anxiety, depression, worries about finances, hyperactivity or suppressed anger, essential oils can help.
Three commonly used oils; bergamot, lavender and chamomile, can help calm and balance the body for a deeper, more refreshed sleep.
Bergamot, which comes from the peel of a small citrus fruit, has a fresh clean scent. Chamomile has a sweet, herbaceous, apple-like aroma while lavender has a sweetly floral, yet fresh and clean aroma.
While the oils smell wonderful, it’s important to realize that they have a therapeutic effect on the body.
The oils of bergamot, lavender and chamomile enter the bloodstream and have a sedative effect on the body. The scents go right to the brain to relax you and lull you to sleep.
These oils can be used in a variety of ways.
One way is to scent a pillow with the oil.. A few drops on a cloth tucked into the pillow case will lightly scent the pillow, which will be inhaled by the sleeper through the night.
Another simple and popular method is to put several drops of the oil into the bath water. Or you can dilute them slightly in an ounce of vegetable oil before adding to the bath water. Either way, the oils smell wonderful and enhance the bathing experience. Combined with the warm water, the oils calm the body. When the bath is over, the bather should have no difficulty drifting off into a warm, relaxing sleep.
If there isn’t enough time for a bath, essential oils can also be used by massaging them on the body. When using essential oils this way, it’s important to know that they need to be diluted in a carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil, before massaging into the skin.
Put several drops of essential oil into 1-2 ounces of carrier oil and put it in a small vial to keep near the bed. That way, when you feel the need to use them, you won’t have to get out of bed.
Before bed, get comfortable and make sure the room is warm enough. Dim the lights as much as possible to enhance the preparations for sleep.
Slowly massage the oil in a circular motion on the belly or upper chest area. You can also rub the essential oils on the temples or rub them onto the soles of your feet. If you’re lucky, you can have a partner massage them onto your body for greater relaxation.

You may also consider layering the way essential oils are used. For instance, use the pillow method along with the bath or massage method. Be careful that you don’t overdo it or over-use essential oils. They are powerful and need to be treated with respect.
As some oils have contraindications, it’s important for pregnant or nursing women to check that information before using them.