Today, more than ever, people have trouble sleeping. We’re sure the experts can weigh in on sleeping, as millions of Americans have poor sleep quality. From an aromatherapy standpoint, can sleep really be affected by smelling something? The nose is one of the most under-appreciated senses. When the Japanese made up the saying – See no evil, hear no evil, do no evil, the nose was not even a sensory option. No one said, Smell no evil. But the nose has the ability to warn the body, heal the body and protect the body.

How Does Aromatherapy Help You Improve Sleep Quality?

When it comes to a good night’s sleep, can the nose trick the body into resting? The answer is yes. How does it work? The nose smells the essential oils or essential oil blend. The signal is then sent to the brain for determining how to react to this signal. The characteristics of each essential oil affect the senses, moods, and emotions, thereby telling the brain to react a certain way. When the brain is lulled into an emotional relaxation state through the use of aromatherapy, the entire body will be signaled to relax, and in turn, sleep better.

When the body begins to relax because of certain scents, it then becomes a learned behavior. We know that the body reacts to smells which become learned behaviors. For example, when we smell the baking bread, our brain signals a jump in happiness and it may stimulate some hunger. The same reaction to food through smell can happen with sleep. Over time, it can improve sleep quality.

Why Sleep Is So Important:

Sleep is extremely important for your health and wellbeing. Getting the right amount of sleep at night affects your energy levels throughout the day, and your ability to concentrate and be productive. Lack of sleep is linked to certain health conditions, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, among others. Sleep is even important for your mental health. Doctors recommend an average of eight hours of sleep at night.

Essential Oils For Sleep:

• Lavender Essential Oil  – wonderful for calming the body and soothing feelings of anxiety, and nightmares.
• Mandarin Essential Oil – aromatherapy that creates a feeling of warmness and almost cocoon-like.
• Sweet Marjoram Essential Oil – an uplifting oil that helps create ease.
• Palo Santo Essential Oil – quiets the mind from random thoughts that trigger sleepless nights.

How to Use Essential Oils for Sleep:

Essential oils or essential oil blends can be used in many different ways.

Diffuser:

Essential oils are commonly used for aromatherapy with a diffuser. The essential oils can be placed in a diffuser or humidifier, before sleep, or during sleep, to improve overall sleep quality and relaxation.

Inhale:

Another use of essential oils is placing a few drops on the palms of your hands and inhaling the essential oil. It can also be inhaled from the bottle.

Massage:

It’s not recommended to ever apply the essential oil directly on the skin. It’s better to use a carrier oil, such as massage oil, or it can be added to your favorite shampoo or body wash.

Place on your Pillow:

For better sleep, you can add a few drops of the essential oil, or blend under your pillow. This can help you fall asleep, and stay asleep.

Bella Reina Spa’s Essential Oil Blend for Sleep:

Each essential oil can work independently, but when blended together in the Essential Oil Blend for Sleep, it makes it easy to put a few drops on your pillow or a tissue. Our Essential Oils Blend for Sleep was formulated to help you sleep better at night. You can shop online or at the Spa!