Aromatherapy for Sleep

Insomnia is one of the most common health complaints addressed by aromatherapy. That's for a very good reason. Mayo Clinic states that insomnia is very common, and that many of the treatments for it aren't very safe. Prescription sleep aids in general tend to be addictive, so many people look toward safer alternatives like aromatherapy. Aromatherapy, which is the use of plant-based essentially oils for medicinal purposes, might help to ease the symptoms of insomnia and help you get a good night's sleep.

Aromatherapy for sleep can involves any of a number of heavily scented oils. Some of the most common scented sedatives include oils of lavender, clary sage, and Roman chamomile. Less commonly used aromatherapy for sleep might make use of vanilla, bergamot, vetivier, cardamom, and lemon balm. These can be used individually, or in combination with one another to enhance their properties. You may choose to use them in massage oils, warm or hot baths, or diffusors, or you might simply combine them with water and use them as a bed spray or air freshener. Always remember not to put undiluted essential oils directly on your skin.

Unfortunately, there are drawbacks to using aromatherapy for sleep. Because it hasn't been studied extensively for its use as a sleep aid, most aromatherapy for sleep is based on tradition and anecdote. No one is completely sure if aromatherapy works very well, or if it works mostly because of the placebo effect and the expectation and anticipation of relief. Because aromatherapy relies on sense of smell by nature, there's not a way to test aromatherapy against, for example, a placebo spray.

Aromatherapy isn't completely without side effects, either, as Dr. Brent A. Bower points out. In some people who are sensitive to specific oils or have medical conditions such as asthma, aromatherapy for sleep can cause difficulty breathing or skin rashes. We also don't know if aromatherapy is safe for pregnant and nursing moms, whose youngsters might be sensitive to the essential oils used in aromatherapy.

Still, if you aren't allergic to aromatherapy essential oils and have never experienced a rash or trouble breathing because of them, it's probably worth a shot, especially if you check with your doctor beforehand. Your health care provider can help to figure out if something else could be causing your insomnia, such as stress, thyroid disease, or clinical anxiety, and can help you to navigate appropriate treatments. In addition to aromatherapy, your doctor may recommend lifestyle adjustments such as exercise, meditation, and a more regular schedule, to help you get a full night's sleep without prescription drugs. If aromatherapy for sleep doesn't help you enough, don't hesitate to check in with your doctor.