30/06/2022
Stress is the body’s response to a demand made upon it. Stress responses vary from person to person and day to day due to the perception of the stressor and the way our body responds.
Opposite of the stress response is the relaxation response. It was discovered by a Harvard cardiologist, Dr. Herbert Benson. It represents a counter balancing mechanism to the fight or flight response. We can’t coexist in both states at the same time. Just as stimulating an area of the hypothalamus can cause the stress response we can also activate other areas of the brain that will turn the stress response off and reduce its impact.
Aromatherapy can be a helpful technique to elicit a relaxation response. In addition, essential oils are incredibly complementary to other healthy stress relieving techniques (such as meditation, yoga, bubble baths, etc.)
Due to the complex constituents EOs can play a role in transforming unpleasant emotions, inducing relaxation and potentially reducing the damaging effects of stress on the mind and body.
My favorite way to use EOs for stress is to open a calming bottle, place it a few inches below my nose and slowly take some slow deep breaths. Then I pay attention to the changes I experience within my body. I notice my breathing slow, my jaw unclench, my shoulders relax, my sense of well-being increase.
What’s your favorite oil for stress? Currently I’m loving any and all tree oils, mostly spruce! ❤️❤️
