How Aromatherapy Can Help You Manage Stress and Improve Your Mental and Physical Health

Overwhelmed? Stressed out? Worried about your mental health, or simply wish that you felt calmer and more on top of your to-do list? If you feel like you’re always on the go or struggle to keep all the balls you’re juggling in the air, you’re not alone. 

The fact is that today’s hectic lifestyles may require stress management strategies to offset the ongoing demands most of us feel. Many people find that a mix of stress-relieving techniques seem to produce the most effective relief. For one person, that may be a combination of exercise, meditation and spending time with friends and family. For another, that may mean journaling and enjoying hobbies; the key is determining what works for you. For many, alternative health modalities like aromatherapy are essential, effective tools in their stress management “toolbox.”

Aromatherapy involves using essential oils to ease stress; lift your mood; and to help address symptoms commonly associated with skin problems, muscle aches, digestive issues and inflammation. Aromatherapy has been used for a variety of purposes for centuries and continues to be used today due to its general affordability and natural ingredients.

You can find essential oil products online and in brick-and-mortar stores, ranging from individual oils or combinations of oils that work well together. You can also make your own at home with common herbs and ingredients. Oils can be used on the skin, such as with lotions, soaps or creams, or diffused throughout the air via humidifiers, infusers or candles.

Most essential oil products are relatively mild, but you should always talk to your health care provider about any practices or products you use that may impact your health, or if you are dealing with health issues that cause you concern.

Please see the below resource, Aromatherapy Self-Care Guide, for more about this effective stress management technique.