Best Essential Oils for Sleep

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Best essential oils for sleep

There's no doubt about it, we all need a good night's sleep. Unfortunately, restful sleep isn't always easy to come by. It is estimated that around a third of adults in Western countries experience sleep problems at least once a week.[1]

So, how can essential oils help you to get a good night's sleep?

We've gathered recommendations from aromatherapists, looked at the scientific studies, and put it all together for you to try at home.

Read on to find out more.

Contents

Struggling to get into sleep mode

Signs and symptoms of sleep problems

Before we dive in to how essential oils can help, lets be a bit more specific about what we mean by sleep problems. These are the main issues:

  • Trouble falling asleep
  • Difficulty staying asleep
  • Feeling exhausted after waking up
  • Sleep disturbance

Causes

Unfortunately there a wide range of causes, narrowing it down can be tricky.

Small adjustments to your routine can help, like having half an hour without any screens before bed, or a relaxing bath. Sometimes though, more serious things are causing it, for example:

  • Stress
  • Illness
  • Medical conditions including depression or anxiety

Effects

The effects of sleep problems can really follow you around and make your day difficult. Here's some of the main effects:

  • Irritability
  • Lack of focus when performing tasks and/or increased mistakes
  • Tiredness during the day
  • Forgetfulness.[2]

Why Use Essential Oils for Sleep?

Many essential oils can help people with mild sleep problems.[3] This makes them well placed to help improve sleep quality.

Essential oil molecules can directly affect the limbic system which connects to vital functions of the body such as heart rate, breathing, stress levels, memory, and blood pressure.[4]

Essential oils have been used in aromatherapy for many years, and a couple of essential oils have generated a reputation for being able to help people get a better night's sleep.

But what's the evidence? Lets jump in and take a look.

Lavender oil for sleep

Lavender Essential Oil for Sleep

One of the most popular essential oils which is used to help people get a better night's sleep is lavender oil (Lavandula angustifolia). Lavender oil has a sweet, floral aroma with notes of woodiness. It is well liked by many due to its familiarity.

Many research studies have been carried out on the effectiveness of using lavender essential oil for sleep including:

A single-blinded, randomized pilot study evaluating the aroma of lavender oil as a treatment for people struggling to get enough sleep. They concluded that lavender oil helps in promoting sleep. Women and younger volunteers with a milder insomnia improved more than others. [5]

However, this was only a pilot study and more research is needed.

Another study on lavender oil and insomnia was undertaken on women college students. They concluded that lavender fragrance improved the time it took to fall asleep and sleep quality.[6]

However, it isn't clear whether the study used lavender oil, or a synthetic lavender fragrance.

Chamomile oil for sleep

Chamomile Essential Oil for Sleep

Although the general term “chamomile” is often used to describe chamomile essential oil, there is, in fact, more than one type of chamomile oil.

In general, chamomile essential oil in aromatherapy use is usually one of two chamomile species: Roman (Chamaemelum nobile) and German chamomile (Matricaria recutica). Both are used interchangeably in aromatherapy use and have a similar aroma, that is sweet and apple-like.

Research studies which support the use of chamomile for more restful sleep include:

A pilot study looked at 20 students over 2 weeks. They found that chamomile essential oil helped students get a better night's sleep.[7] However, this is only a pilot study

This study looked at the effect of a lavender, chamomile and neroli blend on sleep quality and found that this blend promotes sleep and helps in reducing anxiety. [8] 

Even though chamomile has a reputation in aromatherapy for being able to help as a sleep aid, the scientific evidence is quite low quality.

Peppermint oil for sleep

Peppermint oil

Peppermint oil has a fresh, minty aroma that is instantly recognisable. There is some evidence that it can help you get a good night's sleep.

A randomised study on 105 cardiac patients found that peppermint oil and lavender oil had similar positive effects on sleep quality. [9]

Other essential oils

There are some other oils that have been researched for improving sleep quality.

A small 2019 study found that a blend of lavandin, ylang ylang and bergamot essential oil promotes better sleep quality but not more hours of sleep. [10]

A 2017 study used a blend of lemon, eucalyptus, tea tree and peppermint oil and found that it helped improve sleep quality and reduce stress in 60 volunteers. We've given the recipe below in our inhaler blend.

How to use essential oils for sleep

So now we've been through the evidence, lets get practical. How can we use essential oils to help improve sleep?

The good news is that there's plenty of options, here's a few:

  • Using a diffuser in the bedroom
  • Using a personal inhaler stick before bed.
  • Creating a room spray with an essential oil blend for sleep
  • Massage of an aromatherapy blend around the temples, neck, and head area.

So how could you try these at home, and what essential oil blend should you use? Read on for our expert tips!

Diffuser blend for sleep

Diffuser Blend for Sleep

This blend is for use in an diffuser and it was used in one of the studies for a sleep aid.

Essential Oils:

How To Use:

  • Add 5 drops of the blend to a diffuser (or as per manufacturer's instructions).
  • Run the diffuser for 20 minutes before bed.

Inhaler essential oil blend for sleep

Inhaler Blend for Sleep

This blend uses a personal inhaler aroma stick. You can purchase these types of inexpensive inhalers from places like Amazon.

Essential Oils:

To Make:

  • Mix the essential oils together in a jug.
  • Soak the wick of the inhaler in the blend until it is fully absorbed.
  • Insert the wick into the inhaler. Secure the bottom of the inhaler firmly and cap.

To Use:

  • Inhale as needed before sleep.

Cautions:

  • For adult use only. Avoid direct contact with your nose as it may cause irritation.

Room spray can help promote relaxation

Aromatherapy Room Spray for Sleep

Try making your own room spray with this sleep blend, try spraying it around your bedroom an hour before sleep.

Essential Oils:

Base for Blend:

To Make:

  • Weigh your water in a jug
  • Put gloves and safety glasses on
  • Weigh your Geogard Ultra
  • Add it to your water and mix well
  • Measure your polysorbate 80 and essential oils into a separate jug
  • Whisk these into your water mixture
  • Leave to settle before pouring into a spray bottle

Soothing effects of massage

Aromatherapy Massage Blend for Sleep

This blend is diluted in a carrier oil so that you can apply the essential oil topically. Massage gently into your temples to help you relax before sleep. [12]

Essential Oils

To Make:

  • Measure your almond oil
  • Add your essential oils
  • Mix well
  • Pour into a bottle

To Use:

Massage lightly over the neck, temples, upper back, and head area (avoiding your eyes) for a calming effect.

Cautions:

For adult use only. Discontinue use if skin irritation occurs.

Essential oils for a relaxing bath

Aromatherapy Bath Blend

Add a few drops of this blend to a warm bath to help relieve stress before sleep. This blend is mixed with polysorbate 80 because you should never add essential oils to a bath without a solubiliser.

Essential Oils:

To Use:

Add a few drops of the blend to a warm bath.

Conclusion

Certain essential oils can help promote sleep and reduce anxiety. Lavender and chamomile essential oils have the best quality evidence supporting their use as a sleep aid.

There's many ways to try and use essential oils for sleep, the easiest ways are probably to use a diffuser, or make a bath blend.

Continue reading

Now that you've learned how to use essential oils for sleep, why not continue learning?

References:

  1. National Institute for Clinical Excellence, Insomnia, accessed from: Prevalence | Background information | Insomnia | CKS | NICE
  2. Mayo Clinic, Insomnia, accessed from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/insomnia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355167
  3. Angela S. Lillehei and Linda L. Halcon. A Systematic Review of the Effect of Inhaled Essential Oils on Sleep. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Jun 2014.441-451.http://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2013.0311
  4. University of Minnesota, How Do Essential Oils Work?, accessed from: https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-do-essential-oils-work
  5. George T. Lewith, Anthony Dean Godfrey, and Philip Prescott.A Single-Blinded, Randomized Pilot Study Evaluating the Aroma of Lavandula augustifolia as a Treatment for Mild Insomnia.The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.Aug 2005.631-637.http://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2005.11.631
  6. Effects of Lavender Aromatherapy on Insomnia and Depression in Women College Students, Lee, Inn Sook, Lee, Gyung Joo, 2006/02, 2006/02/28, doi: 10.4040/jkan.2006.36.1.136, Korean Society of Nursing Science, 1598-2874,  http://dx.doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2006.36.1.136
  7. Jaroenngarmsamer, P., Pajongsaleepanya, K., Rojanabenjakun, P., Ounprasertsuk, J., Benjanirat, T., Krutchangthong, S., & Choawai, S. (2021). Efficiency of Chamomile Essential Oils on Sleeping Quality of First-year University Students. Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology15(2), 3724-3731. Efficiency of Chamomile Essential Oils on Sleeping Quality of First-year University Students | Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology (medicopublication.com)
  8. Cho et al (2013) Effects of Aromatherapy on the Anxiety, Vital Signs, and Sleep Quality of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Patients in Intensive Care Units https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3588400
  9. Mahdavikian et al (2020) Comparing the effect of aromatherapy with peppermint and lavender on the sleep quality of cardiac patients: a randomized controlled trial | SpringerLink
  10. McDonnell and Newcomb (2019) Trial of Essential Oils to Improve Sleep for Patients in Cardiac Rehabilitation | The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (liebertpub.com)
  11. Lee et al (2017) The effects of aromatherapy essential oil inhalation on stress, sleep quality and immunity in healthy adults: Randomized controlled trial https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1876382017300951
  12. The Fragrant Pharmacy Valerie Worwood 1990 p106
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