Do Essential Oils Help You Sleep Better?

Essential oils have been around for centuries. They have significantly proved useful in promoting better mental and physical health among individuals.

Essential oils find their uses in relieving anxiety, stress, headaches, and migraines, among other benefits.

The reason why so many people are using essential oils lies in their ability to enhance sleep quality and improve sleep habits.

You can achieve this benefit in a couple of ways, the most therapeutic of which is to put essential oils in a humidifier.

But before we look into that, let’s take a look at which oils work best for sleep.

Essential Oils That Help You Sleep Better

Here is a quick look in some of the top essential oils you can use.

• Lavender

Lavender is among the most commonly used essential oils. Why?

This oil has impressive calming effects. Lavender relaxes your body muscles, slows down the heart rate and blood pressure, and calms your nervous system. All of these form the perfect combination for a good night’s sleep.

Another scoring point is that it goes well with all ages, from babies to adults. 

Furthermore, Lavender is one of those few essential oils that can be applied directly, without dilution. That probably makes this oil your go-to solution for a restful sleep.

• Valerian

There are times when you feel sleep is miles away. You toss and turn in restlessness, hoping for a peaceful few hours.

That’s when you need to turn to Valerian. What Valerian does is ease tensions and occasional restlessness, thus promoting deep sleep.

Valerian does its job by maintaining GABA neurotransmitter levels, which is responsible for inducing sleep and reducing anxiety among individuals.

• Bergamot

Bergamot is a citrus fruit, and while most citrus fruits are stimulating for your nervous system, this one has the opposite effect.

It has a calm, soothing effect and a sunshiny smell. It also helps in reducing the heart rate and blood pressure, thus inviting deep sleep.

While Bergamot helps improve sleep quality, one needs to keep in mind that it is photosensitive. For this reason, avoid applying it before going out while the sun is still out.

Now that you know which essential oils you can use to enhance sleep let’s see exactly how to do that.

Can You Put Essential Oils in a Humidifier? 

This question occupies the mind of many. The simple answer is yes.

When you put essential oils in a humidifier it breaks down the oil and water particles into tiny molecules and spreads them across the air.

The result is a pleasant aroma in the room, along with positive health effects.

However, you need to be careful with selecting humidifiers and essential oil if you wish to use the humidifier successfully for aromatherapy.

Not all humidifiers are designed for aromatherapy. Using regular humidifiers with essential oils is not recommended.

On the other hand, aroma humidifiers come with a built-in container for essential oils. This feature ensures that oils’ use does not shorten their life span and working quality.

Nevertheless, you would still need to clean the oil tray often to prevent mold and fungus growth.

Now that you know the basics about using essential oils in a humidifier, are there other ways to use these essential oils for health purposes? Read on to find out.

Other Ways to Use Essential Oils

You can inhale essential oils by applying them on the bedsheet and the pillowcase before sleeping.

Additionally, you may even apply them directly to the skin after mixing them with other regular oils.

Conclusion

On a final note, it is safe to conclude that essential oils are pleasant-smelling and health-enhancing for both you and your house. Their multiple usage methods also make them quite convenient and easy to use.