Anxiety Relief – Best Essential Oils to Use & Why

A synergy blend of essential oils is often more effective for helping to promote symptomatic relief and healing than any single essential oil. The best pure essential oils to use in synergy to calm your nerves and give symptomatic relief for anxiety, worry and fear, include: Petitgrain, Vetiver, Frankincense, Ylang Ylang, Bergamot and Spikenard.

VETIVER ( vetiveria zizanoides ) – A rare and mysterious fragrance Vetiver’s scent is rich, earthy and sweet with spicy undertones. Its aroma has a powerfully grounding and reassuring effect that may be relied upon to relieve stress, anxiety or panic.

The strong and hearty roots of this tropical grass reach deep into the earth. Many countries plant Vetiver for protection against soil erosion. Vetiver can tolerate and survive even the severest conditions.

Harvesting the roots for a single pound of material for the distillation of essential oil requires removal of 1,000 pounds or more of earth. A powerful immune and circulatory stimulant Vetiver’s neuro-receptor process has been well-documented in controlled experiments explaining Vetiver’s action on the circulatory system.

Vetiver’s action to stimulate the production of red blood cells makes it useful for relieving stress and tension held in the body. A mild sedative Vetiver promotes rest and relaxation. Helpful as a sleep aid!

BERGAMOT ( Citrus bergamia ) – A lightly sweet and refreshing aroma Bergamot’s fruity and warm scent uplifts and balances the mind and emotions.

Bergamot has an inviting and supportive quality and is highly valued in the perfume industry. Often used in perfume blends like Eau de Cologne Bergamot

Bergamot promotes a cheerful and friendly attitude.

Paoli Rovesti, a professor at the University of Milan, Italy conducted research at several psychiatric clinics with essential oils showing their benefits for depression, anxiety and hysteria. He described the most important psychological benefits of Bergamot oil for relieving fear and calming anxiety. Studies have also shown Bergamot oil to effectively balance the activity hypothalamus gland, seat of our more intense emotions such as terror and rage.

Bergamot has a regulating influence and can act as a relaxant or a stimulant and tonic depending on the needs of your body, mind, emotions and spirit. This makes Bergamot a very versatile oil.

FRANKINCENSE ( Boswelia fereana ) – Frankincense is probably best known for its enduring emotional and spiritual support. Excellent for grief and loss support! Frankincense is beneficial for releasing negative mental and emotional states such as low self esteem, lack of confidence, insecurity and anxiety. A powerful and enticing wood aroma Frankincense sweetly sparkles with freshness and a hint of spice. Frankincense maintains its integrity in any blend.

Frankincense slows and deepens cellular respiration and has the characteristic effect of comforting and centering you during times of distress. One of the ‘Holy’ oils from ancient times Frankincense was considered more valuable than gold.

Traditionally Frankincense was used as an anointing oil as it was thought to possess miraculous powers to heal almost every conceivable malady.

In Ayurvedic Medicine, an ancient system of healing practiced in India, the sweet wood aroma of Frankincense is used to regulate and pacify Vata imbalances. Symptoms of Vata imbalance are restlessness, insomnia, nervousness and anxiety or worry.

PETITGRAIN ( Citrus aurantium ) – has a warm, refreshing orange aroma that sparkles with brightness. Petitgrain is a top note often used in perfumery. Almost all cologne waters contain some petitgrain oil.

Petitgrain oil has a lovely fresh and revitalizing scent. The finest aroma qualities for therapeutic benefits are obtained from the leaves of the bitter orange tree. Petitgrain from the bitter orange tree is longer lasting than most other citrus oils. A powerful oil for uplifting the psyche and stabilizing the emotions Petitgrain has a reputation for calming individuals with high-strung temperaments and volatile dispositions!

Petitgrain lifts the mood and stabilizes your emotions. Petitgrain’s sedating and tranquilizing effect on the mind and emotions make it especially useful for inducing restful sleep. Helpful for coming off tranquilizers, blend with Spikenard to enhance this effect!

A phytoestrogen Petitgrain promotes hormonal balance in both men and women and has an especially good synergy with Clary Sage.

Petitgrain promotes mental clarity and the mind responds with softer thoughts about any life situation you may be experiencing.

SPIKENARD ( Nardostachys jatamansi ) – A deep rich, mellow-spice aroma that’s woody, earthy and sweet Narde is lasting and gives depth to any blend. A valued oil since ancient times Narde has been used in religious ceremonies. It was supposedly used in the foot balm Mary Magdalene used to anoint her master’s feet in the New Testament of the Bible.

A tranquilizer and relative of valerian Narde has the most powerful sedative action in aromatherapy and is helpful for easing anxiety and stress. Narde has grounding and relaxing properties that make it especially effective for balancing the mind and emotions. Spikenard is a wonderful aid for contemplation and clarity of mind.

Spikenard may be helpful for balancing extreme mental and emotional states, including depression, rage, confusion, hysteria, grief, loss, terror and panic.

YLANG YLANG ( Cananga odorata ~ True Ylang Ylang ) – Softly sweet and warm Ylang Ylang has an intoxicating aroma (pronounced “eelang”) with sensual overtones. Ylang Ylang in the Malayan language means “flower of the flowers.” A native flower of Madagascar and the Reunion Islands Ylang Ylang’s fragrant pale yellow blossoms are used to grace a new marriage bed with a blessing of love and lasting happiness.

Ylang Ylang is high in sesquiterpenes. Ylang Ylang III, the last fraction collected during the last hours of distillation, is slightly thicker, earthier and less sweet oil, and is composed almost entirely of sesquiterpenes.

Sesquiterpenes are a class of chemicals common in higher plants that are naturally occurring alcohols. Sesquiterpenes rarely exist in volatile aromatic oils. When distilled from plant matter sesquiterpene compounds are known to stimulate the liver and endocrine glands.

Sesquiterpenes give Ylang Ylang its powerfully antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Ylang Ylang is an excellent remedy known for soothing tachycardia and hypertension!

One of the first essentials oils to consider when needing help for regulating and balancing the nervous system. Inhalation of Ylang Ylang may help deepen your respiration for slower more rhythmic breathing. Helpful for panic!

Research studies indicate Ylang Ylang stimulates the Central Nervous Systems and may be helpful for alleviating depression.

PLEASE NOTE: There are many cheap, synthetic copies of aromatic oils, but these are not recommended for therapeutic use. For best results purchase the highest quality oils you can possibly find. Use certified organic essential oils, or oils that have been tested and are pesticide free.

Holistic MindBody Therapy, including pure essential oils, are gentle, noninvasive complementary forms of health care for balancing and synchronizing your body, mind and spirit and a natural, safe and effective way to enhance your health and well-being. Holistic health care may produce satisfying results where other methods have failed. Please consult with your physician regarding serious health concerns and do not attempt to self diagnose.