Lavender for stress coping
When it comes to stress coping strategies, Lavender is my favorite essential oil. Aromatherapy is a very effective way to reduce stress – here’s why.
Have you ever caught a whiff of perfume on a breeze and suddenly been filled with memories of another time or place?
Aromas have the power to evoke distant memories of people and places because of all our senses, the sense of smell is most strongly linked to the subconscious. Scents are capable of producing immediate, intense responses because they are processed by the part of the brain that controls memory and emotion.
Just a quick whiff of lovely Lavender calms nerves, quiets anxiety and promotes relaxation. Heck, even visualizing fields of waving lavender flowers will reduce stress!
Not only is Lavender a beautiful flower used in a wide variety of products like soaps and lotions, it’s unique flavor makes it a popular addition to chocolate, cookies and jams. It’s also one of two essential oils that can be applied directly to the skin, without first being mixed into a carrier oil. I often use it as perfume, dabbing it on my wrists, behind ears and under my nose so I continuously breathe in all it’s goodness.
Lavender is so gentle you can add a drop to a baby’s bath to calm them and help them (and you!) sleep longer. For a soothing, relaxing bath, try adding eight drops of Lavender oil to a full tub, or four drops a foot bath. Spraying essential oil mixed with water adds a pleasant fragrance to the room as well as calming the nerves and promoting a sense of well-being in everyone in it.
You also may want to keep stress at bay by sleeping with a ‘dream pillow’ filled with dried lavender. Dabbing lavender on the soles of your feet will also promote deep restful sleep.
Give lavender a try, and it’s sure to become one of your ‘go to’ stress coping strategies! And if you enjoyed this excerpt from Relief Beyond Belief; Exploring the World of Natural Healing, you’ll love the book – check it out here, I have created a special package for you! This value package includes a 150 page illustrated e-book exploring 29 therapies – from Acupressure to Yoga, downloadable videos with 22 Master Healer Interviews – 11 hours of healing you won’t find anywhere else – and a Guided Chakra Meditation MP3, even a coaching session with me! Regularly $97, now just $24.97!
In Light
Alexandria