How Aromatherapy Can Help Manage Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety are sometimes just a part of our lives but they can get the better of us. Here's how aromatherapy can help you deal with it.

What is aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy has become hugely popular in recent years.

Where previously you had to go to specialist health food shops for aromatherapy products, they're now readily available in pharmacies or supermarkets across the country.

According to Psychology Today, aromatherapy is an "alternative medicine practice that taps into the healing power of scents from essential oils extracted from plants in order to balance your mind, body, and spirit".

Essential oils can be rubbed directly onto the skin, diluted in water and diffused into the air or added to candles and bath products.

How can it help my stress and anxiety?

Aromatherapy works by activating the areas of your brain which control your emotions, mood and memory.

This is why certain smells can trigger a childhood memory as your brain is associating the smell with that specific time in your life.

Therefore, certain essential oils can have a relaxing effect on the mind and help to reduce stress and anxiety.

Lavender, lemon, bergamot, ylang-ylang and jasmine are five well known essential oils proven to have positive effects on reducing stress and anxiety.

Aromatherapy is a passive activity which means it can be done while doing yoga, meditating, listening to music or even while chilling out in the evenings watching Netflix.

If you're looking to start using aromatherapy Kotanical is a great Irish brand that sells organic and cruelty-free essential oils and diffusers.

They even have a section on their website dedicated to essential oils for stress relief, to make getting started that bit easier.

So, if you use aromatherapy, what are some of your favourite essential oils to use?