Part 2
Go here to read Part 1 “Why You Should NEVER Use THIS Sleep Enhancer”
Sleep can be so elusive sometimes: pregnancy, stress, busy mind etc… there are a million reasons why sleep escapes us at times. Don’t fall into the marketing trap of Febreze and other chemical sleep aids. For times when you just can’t get to sleep skip the synthetic sleep aids and rely on essential oils.
Meet Aromatherapy…
Aromatherapy has been used for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years. It uses essential oils to heal the mind, body and spirit. It goes way beyond the idea of a few spritzes here and there to make your house smell nice (although it does a great job of that), it can be used as an effective means of healing! The best part is each essential oil provides you with a different experience. Our ancestors learned this by trial and error, luckily they did all the work for us!
But how does it work?
Simply put, every time we inhale an aroma, its molecules are carried through our nasal passages to to the part of the brain called the limbic system. The limbic system influences the endocrine system and the autonomic nervous system.
Our endocrine system secretes hormones that regulate such things as our mood and metabolism, into our bloodstream. AHA!
Our autonomic nervous system regulates the functions of our internal organs such as heart rate, digestion, respiration rate, salivation etc… AHA AGAIN!
Tell me more!
Knowing all this, I’ve put together a list of a few of my favorite essential oils. Read on then choose your fave to use for your DIY sleep mist.
Lavender
Soothing, balancing and calming. It also helps stabilize mood swings, depression and PMS. A study at Wesleyan University connected smelling lavender before bed with an increased amount of time spent in slow-wave sleep. *Avoid in early pregnancy
Roman Chamomile
A low growing, perennial herb. Great for balancing and deeply relaxing the body and mind by releasing tension. Great for meditations.
Neroli
Originates from a citrus fruit. Used for calming (great for anxiety and panic attacks), can also relieve insomnia. It also promotes digestion.
Frankincense
Extracted from the gum of the Frankincense tree. Helps calm fears, anxiety, nervous tension and stress. It is deeply calming. Traditionally it was used to keep bad spirits away.
Clary Sage
Extracted from the buds of the clary sage plant. It is deeply relaxing and useful to counter depression and anxiety. It is also a useful aid to meditation. *Avoid throughout pregnancy
Sandalwood
Extracted from the wood of the sandalwood tree. It is revered in the Hindu religion as holy. It is useful against anxiety, fear, stress, and nervous tension. It thereby induces relaxation, calmness, concentration, and positive thoughts. A Useful aid to meditation.
DIY Natural Sleep Mist
Supplies: Dark 2 oz glass bottle with spray nozzle (like this one)
Essential Oil
Purified Water
1. Fill bottle to just below neck with purified water. *de-chlorinated water is important to avoid inhalation of chlorine molecules.
2. Put 16-20 drops of chosen essential oil into bottle.
3. Shake gently and spray pillow cases, blankets, sheets and mist air just before bed.
*NB When working with essential oils always check with your health care practitioner for safety and possible interactions.
References
Also shared with: Domesblissity
