Essential Oils for Stress and Anxiety

With Covid19 running rampant through our community, we just want to reach out and encourage you by saying whatever you are going through will not last. Our jobs may be on the line or lost completely, our families may be struggling after being confined in our homes for weeks on end, and the stores may not have every single thing we think we need. BUT we want to encourage you that this is only temporary.

In Psalm 30:5 we read that “His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may endure for a night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.” How blessed are we to live in a time where what the Enemy meant for evil has brought up new job opportunities, has brought families closer together, and has taught us what we actually need to live healthy lives. Joy is coming. Breakthrough is coming! It is up to us to take our health into our own hands, and begin to understand what makes us so susceptible to illnesses.

Did you know that stress directly affects the immune system? When we are stressed, our body’s ability to fight off antigens is reduced. The stress hormone corticosteroid suppresses our immune system by lowering the number of lymphocytes, which are needed to fend off illnesses. The way we cope with stress also greatly determines how our bodies will be able to defend itself. 

Alcohol sales have skyrocketed since the beginning of the outbreak. Alcohol can damage the immune system cells responsible for clearing viral particles from the lungs, making you more susceptible to illnesses like Covid19. It also kills the good gut flora responsible for promoting overall health as well as reducing your risk of infection.

If we instead focus on how we can manage stress while supporting our immune system, Covid19 will not have such a strong grip on our community. Using essential oils to keep your stress levels at bay is simple and very effective! It can be as easy as placing calming oils directly onto your palms and inhaling their scent, or it can be as elaborate as creating blends, making relaxing bath salts, or scenting your own candles. 

Using Essential Oils to Manage Stress

Energizing oil blends can help to alleviate stress symptoms by boosting your mood, inciting creativity, and improving metabolic functions. These oils include:

• Lemon
• Grapefruit
• Lime
• Sweet Orange
• Peppermint

Using more grounding oils can have lasting benefits and can help to create a calm atmosphere amidst the chaos.

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil can help to slow your heart rate and induce feelings of comfort, happiness, and peace.

Chamomile Essential Oil has antidepressant properties that help to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.

Clary Sage Essential Oil is known for its balancing, uplifting, and euphoric scent. It can be used to calm your nerves and relieve hypertension. This oil also has mild sedative properties to encourage a sense of calmness.

*Clary sage can stimulate contractions in pregnant women*

Patchouli Essential Oil has a rich, earthy smell that is known for its grounding, balancing, and calming effects. It can be used to reduce depression, relieve anxiety, and lessen stress symptoms. It also acts as a mild sedative.

Geranium Essential Oil can help to calm the mind and body. Its scent makes a wonderful perfume that also encourages positive emotions while serving as a natural sedative.

Sandalwood Essential Oil is well known for its centering and grounding effects. It encourages your body to remain in the restorative sleep phase longer. Getting quality sleep each night lessens your risk of stress-induced problems.

Bergamot Essential Oil can help to relieve depression, lower blood pressure, and can help with symptoms of stress and anxiety.

Lavender Essential Oil is well known for its calming and relaxing effects. It's ideal for adults and children and can be applied topically or diffused in the air.

Pine Essential Oil’s scent also encourages fortitude and strength. In times of over-work, stress, or disconnection from nature, pine’s aroma can be grounding and reconnect us to the natural world. 

Rose Absolute Essential Oil has a rich and long-lasting scent that, when diffused, will create a stabilizing atmosphere during times of stress, anxiety and grief. It can help to relieve depression symptoms by triggering your brain to release those wonderful feel-good hormones!

Our favorite Recipes:

Lavender and Geranium Room Spray:

• 18 drops Aura Cacia Lavender Essential Oil 
• 18 drops Aura Cacia Geranium Essential Oil 
• 2-ounce Aura Cacia Amber Mist Bottle 
• 2 fluid ounces water

Directions:
1. In a bottle, combine essential oils.
2. Top off with water, replace lid and shake until well blended.
3. To use, shake the bottle and mist the airspace.
 
Geranium Rose Bath Salts:

• 24 drops Aura Cacia Rose Absolute Essential Oil
• 4-ounce Aura Cacia Amber Wide Mouth Jar 
• 1/2 cup Himalayan pink salt
• 1 teaspoon dried pink or red rose petals, crushed
• 24 drops geranium essential oil

Directions:
1. In a mixing bowl, toss together Himalayan pink salt and crush rose petals.
2. Sprinkle mixture with oils and mix until well blended and salt granules are well saturated with aroma.
3. Transfer to the wide mouth jar.
4. To use, dissolve 1 to 3 tablespoons in a warm bath.
 
Cedarwood Rose Roll-on Perfume:

• 2 teaspoons Aura Cacia Jojoba Skin Care Oil
• 2 drops Aura Cacia Texas Cedarwood Essential Oil 
• 2 drops Aura Cacia Myrrh Essential Oil
• 2 drops Aura Cacia Dark Patchouli Essential Oil 
• 2 drops Aura Cacia Rose Absolute Essential Oil 
• 2 drops Aura Cacia Sandalwood Essential Oil 
• .31-ounce Aura Cacia Amber Roll-On Bottle 

Directions:
1. In your roll-on bottle, measure essential oils, top off with jojoba oil, replace cap and shake until well blended.
2. To use, anoint pulse points with 2 to 3 swipes of perfume oil.


Roll-on Temple Massage with Clary Sage:

• 2 fluid ounces Aura Cacia Grapeseed Skin Care Oil 
• 2 drops Aura Cacia Bergaptene-Free Bergamot Essential Oil 
• 2 drops Aura Cacia Clary Sage Essential Oil 
• .31-ounce Aura Cacia Amber Roll-On Bottle

Directions:
1. In a bottle, combine essential oils.
2. Top off with grapeseed oil, replace the lid and shake until well blended.
3. To use, shake the bottle and gently roll onto temples.

​Sandalwood Lemon Essential Oil Diffusion

• 8 drops Aura Cacia Sandalwood Essential Oil 
• 5 drops Aura Cacia Vetiver Essential Oil 
• 5 drops Aura Cacia Lemon Essential Oil 
• essential oil diffuser

Directions:
1. In diffuser, combine essential oils.
2. Operate the diffuser according to directions.
3. Refresh with additional oils whenever needed.