Looking for Ways to Reduce Your Stress? Consider Aromatherapy

15 May 2020
 Categories: , Blog

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While everyday stresses are a normal part of life, too much stress can be detrimental to your health and mental well being. Stress can contribute to headaches, irritability, depression, anxiety, and immune system suppression. It's not only important to identify your stress triggers, but learn how to manage their impact. One way to reduce stress is by incorporating aromatherapy into your life.

How Can Aromatherapy Help?

Some researchers believe that aromatherapy works by stimulating smell receptors which then send signals to the area of your brain that deals with memories and emotions. While some of the research is limited, some studies have shown that aromatherapy can help improve sleep, improve your quality of life, and provide some relief from anxiety and depression.

One study found that aromatherapy had a significant positive effect in reducing pain in participants; aromatherapy can be a safe addition to current pain management procedures. This same study also highlighted the benefit that aromatherapy is a low-cost alternative to other pain management treatments.

How Do You Start?

There are lots of ways to incorporate aromatherapy into your daily life, such as body creams, candles, oils, etc. You may want to purchase stress therapy candles as these are made with scents that are supposed to reduce stress responses.

Since therapy candles can diffuse the scents, you can light them and enjoy them in your home as you do chores, cook, watch TV, etc. If you want to really relax, you could light these scented candles during a bath or while you practice yoga or meditation.

What Scents Should You Try?

Because there are lots of scented candle options at your disposal, you may be wondering which ones to try. Many consumers enjoy lavender, lemon, rosemary, and peppermint.

Lavender is a go-to scent for stress-relief since it can help you relax right before bedtime. During daytime hours it can boost the mood, boost cognitive performance, and reduce cortisol levels. Cortisol is a hormone that aids in the fight-or-flight response. However, too much cortisol can cause inflammation, muscle weakness, weight gain, depression, and anxiety. By lowering cortisol levels, you may lower your stress and avoid negative physical responses.

Like lavender, rosemary can also help reduce your cortisol production. Lemon-scented candles can be beneficial to those whose stress causes depression, as the aroma can lift the mood. Lastly, if you are overtired and stressed from work or school, then you may want to try peppermint as it can increase your alertness and memory.

Reach out to a natural healthcare provider or look for a stress-therapy candle supplier in your area today to learn more about how you can incorporate aromatherapy into your life.