The stress response is activated when you are unable to adjust your behaviour or deal creatively with demanding circumstances.  Effects of stress can be psychological, emotional and physical and can range from anxiety, panic attacks and depression to digestive disorders, high blood pressure and breathing problems (among others).

How does Aromatherapy relieve stress? In several ways:

1. By creating a “balanced terrain”
2. By boosting the immune system
3. By enhancing positivity
4. By relieving the physical symptoms associated with and caused by stress

Before we get into the details of how Aromatherapy relieves stress, it’s probably useful to define the different types of stress.

It’s actually part of our original survival response that keeps our drive for self-preservation intact to sharpen our reactions and keep us alert in stressful situations.  This is referred to as normal stress and is a result of chemicals released by the adrenal gland. Epinephrine and Norepinephrine are released into our blood and causes our heart to race and pump blood to where it is needed (usually the brain) to help us make those split second decisions required of the moment.

Chronic stress is referred to as distress and is dangerous because it can lead from muscle tension and insomnia to more life threatening conditions such as hardened arteries, cardiac arrest and stroke.

Eustress is considered the ideal stress.  It’s the stress we feel when we are totally buzzed about something we are engaged with and super excited about something within our control, where there is great energy flowing and everything is going well.

Enter essential oils.  They relieve stress by:

1. Creating a “balanced terrain”
2. Boosting the immune system
3. Enhancing positivity
4. Relieving the physical symptoms associated with and caused by stress

Creating a balanced terrain

By using essential oils to creative spiritual intellectual and emotional balance, disease ceases to exist.  In many cultures the mind is believed to be the source of illness, so if your mind is in balance, your health will be, too.

Boosting the immune system

Certain essential oils have the ability to strengthen the immune system.  During times of stress our immune system takes a hit, weakens and leaves us leaving us susceptible to opportunistic infections.  If we are physically healthy, we can work on dealing with the causes of the stress rather than the symptoms.

Enhancing positivity

Certain essential oils are stellar at enhancing positivity, which in turn has a positive effect on our health.  Scientists are now aware of the deep connection between positivity and our health.  In fact, positivity lowers the levels of stress hormones that are released and increases growth-related and bond-related hormones.  It also increases levels of dopamine & opioids and enhances the immune system.  Positivity actually bathes you in a different biochemical soup*

Relieving the physical symptoms associated with and caused by stress

Depending on the cause of the stress, the type of stress and it’s symptoms, there is an essential oil combination appropriate for every individual, whether it be muscle tension and insomnia or high blood pressure, to treat the physical symptoms manifested.

Just like people, essential oils are flexible and adaptable.  They also combine amazingly to create more than the sum of their parts.  This is something we call “synergy” and it’s a form of alchemy that makes Aromatherapy such a powerful healing tool.   Even more amazing is that an oil perfect for one of your symptoms will also be perfect for another symptom you have, because our symptoms, no matter how unrelated they might seem, often are interlinked by the same root cause.

The Aromatherapy treatment that is right for you will depend on the following:

1. Age, current health issues & medical history
2. Causes of stress
3. Symptoms of stress

It is recommended that you speak with a professional Aromatherapist to determine the most effective treatment for you.

There are around 350 essential oil and tens of carriers oils and hydrosols that could be used as part of an effective treatment plan.  Here is a short list of some of the essentials oils that are well-known for their stress relieving therapeutic properties:

Top Notes:

Grapefruit, Yarrow, Lemon, Bergamot, Basil, Mandarin, Petitgrain, Tangerine, Eucalyptus

Middle Notes:

Roman Chamomile, German Chamomile, Lavender, Clary Sage, Geranium, Rosemary, Marjoram, Melissa

Base Notes:

Rose, Sandalwood, Frankincense, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Neroli

Carrier Oils:

St Johns Wort, Evening Primrose Oil

Ensure all hydrosols, carrier oils and essential oils are either organic, bio dynamic or wild crafted in addition to being therapeutic grade.

*Source: Positivity by Dr. Barbara Fredrickson

Other sources: A Fragrant Pharmacy by Valerie Ann Worwood,  Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit by Gabriel Mojay