Aromatherapy is considered a holistic approach to therapy that can help with different ailments or challenges on the mind and body level, through the use of essential oils and plant extracts. These oils can have a strong effect in improving and balancing oneself emotionally, mentally, and physically. Plant extracts have been used for thousands of years for their powerful healing abilities and therapeutic properties. Inhaling the essential oil aromas actually stimulate a specific part of the brain, called the limbic system, which is largely responsible for forming memories. It also plays a very important role in our emotions, behaviour, sense of smell, and long term memory.

One very prevalent use of essential oils is for aid in sleep, one of the more common challenges being experienced currently. There are several ways to use the oils for this, including, putting them in your diffuser, adding them to a warm bath or rubbing them on your body in spots such as your wrist, temples, or neck.

 Here are three ideal oils that can be used at home to help with sleep:

Lavender

Seeing as that lavender is well-known for its relaxing effects, it is no wonder that it’s a very popular choice as a sleep aid. It has been known to help with sleep quality and increased time spent in deep sleep. Researchers have also found it to be effective in slowing heart rate and in muscle relaxation.

Jasmine

 The essential oil from this flower is actually known to tackle insomnia, having a molecular structure similar to some sleep medications. In addition to increasing sleep quality and cutting down on restless sleep, it actually can also increase daytime alertness and lower anxiety. 

Sandalwood

Being a very earthy, grounding plant, it’s no surprise that Sandalwood essential oil is a powerful one to use as a sleep aid. It has been used historically for relaxation and anxiety relief. Sandalwood contains a very high concentration of an alcohol called santilol, which is known for its grounding effects, as well as promoting a greater sense of calm and more grounded emotions. In addition, Sandalwood has shown to have a sedative effect, as demonstrated in a Japanese study. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17879595/