Essential Oils for Sleep

 

It’s confession time.  Who’s had trouble with sleep?  Ever?  Sometimes?  Never?

If lying in bed watching the hours crawl by isn’t something you can relate to, then this article most definitely isn’t for you.

But for those of us whose day often starts backwards:  feeling tired when it’s time to get up and wide awake when it’s time to go to bed, you can stop prying your eyelids open at first light because I discovered something that really helps.  A lot.

And no it isn’t something that might turn us into those lucky few who fall asleep the instant their head hits the pillow.  ‘Fess up husband of mine…we both know this is you!

But it will help stop those crazy middle of the night conversations we have with our mind.

You know the ones:

Us..”Please stop thinking and let me sleep.”  Mind:  “No, this is fun, let’s keep going over all those terrible decisions you’ve ever made in your life.”

You’re not alone

Bet you didn’t know that somewhere around fifty to seventy million people have sleep issues, or deprivation of one type or another here in the USA alone.  Lack of sleep totally impacts our ability to live abundantly in life. And worse, it can have a profound impact on our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual life.

See if you recognize any of these side effects in yourself.

• Difficulty staying focused.
• Judgement impaired.
• Greater irritability.
• Mood imbalance.

And this inability to get a good night’s sleep doesn’t just impact the whole hearted insomniacs amongst us, but the life and health of  those with lesser sleep disturbances can be chillingly similarly affected.

What do we do?

For many, the only alternative to losing so much sleep that their bodies get sick, is to turn to pharmaceutical somethings to help them get just a few zzzz’s.

And believe me, I’ve been one of them.  Lack of sleep was not only making me sick, but it was diminishing my creativity and fogging my brain.  Plus I felt rotten.

And honestly, those sleep aids you see touted on tv all the time, didn’t do much for me.  Some days I felt even worse.  And they never gave me the sort of restful, nourishing, rejuvenating sleep I was looking for.  The kind we all need if we are to thrive and flourish.

So I turned back to our roots. To those more traditional and natural remedies for sleep used throughout the centuries across the world.

Natural substances like essential oils.

What if I told you that using therapeutic grade essential oils helped me reverse my sleeping challenges.

What would you say?

What I have to say is, before passing judgement, why not test my recipe for essential oils for sleep?  It might just help you.

Just keep in mind that physiologically we’re all pretty unique so the exact formula that works for me might not be so effective for you.

So I recommend you listen to your body and intuition. And bear in mind any therapeutic grade essential oil that helps calm the mind and body will help reduce sleeping challenges.*

And other techniques for reducing stress are good too.  Like exercise, meditation, tai chi, and the food you eat for healthy nutrition.

Whatever works for you, use it, stick with it. And every now and then switch it up a little.  Our minds like a little variety.

 

Essential oils for sleep as used by me

The relaxing and calming aroma of some oils can create an environment that helps make zonking out at bedtime a piece of cake.

Diffuse any of these on their own or in a comforting blend or apply them topically as part of your nighttime routine to help ease yourself into sweet dreams.

Topical applications

Lavender Oil and Cedar Wood

A UK study showed that Lavender oil had some promising results for those with sleep challenges.  I bet that doesn’t surprise you. Right?

Blend a couple of drops of Lavender Oil with a couple of drops of Cedarwood on the palms of your hand and rub on the soles of your feet, or the back of your neck.

I have very sensitive skin but I don’t find the need to use a carrier oil for this.  Though, just in case this isn’t true for you, you can add a drop or two of avocado oil, or sweet almond oil to the essential oils before applying topically.

Diffusing

Atmosphere is everything.  Turn your bedroom into a sanctuary and leave your electronic devices in another room, or as far away from you as possible.  And create the perfect atmosphere for sleep.

Diffuse this calming blend to create the perfect atmosphere for drifting off to dreamland.*

5 drops Lavender

4 drops Cedarwood

1 drop Vetiver

Or you might like to add to your essential oils for sleep recipe, oils designed for relaxation such as:  Peace and Calming (my most favorite blend to diffuse at any time.  We’ve used this blend when selling homes over the years, and it’s amazingly attractive!)

And this essential oil for sleep, designed for kids, works great for adults too. SleepyIze.*

Remember what W.C. Fields said.

“The best cure for insomnia is to get a lot of sleep.”

And hopefully dear heart…these essential oils will help you do that, as much as they’ve helped me.

Here is the important thing to remember…keep trying the oils until you find what works for you, whether it’s a single, a blend, or your own blend.

Don’t give up! We are so blessed to have these wonderful gifts from nature, and they work!

Each of us is unique – you’ll find what you need ?

Meanwhile,

Encourage one another.

Love Elle

xox

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Young Living products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.