Aromatherapy For Nervous Tension and Stress

By Lorraine Rimando, RN, BSN, RA

Spiritual Scents Aromatherapy

More Complementary & Integrative Healthcare Articles

Aromatherapy For Nervous Tension and Stress

Aromatherapy is a holistic form of treatment that utilizes pure, genuine essential oils in an appropriate carrier to enhance, promote, and illicit physical, mental and spiritual health of individuals. Although aromatherapy does not tend to focus on one particular issue, but instead takes into consideration the individual as a whole, aromatic applications can be centered on a problem that stands out the most to the person seeking treatment.

If one has a tendency to feel nervous, anxious and stressed to a point in which the experience is interfering with their ability to think straight, function with clarity and live a happy and healthy life, an aromatherapy treatment can be made to target those particular problems. However, the aromatic blend would include essential oils that may help with secondary symptoms that are related to the primary problem.

There are many essential oils that have the ability to calm the nerves and help one handle anxiety and stress effectively. The key to finding the perfect essential oils for the blend is to recognize unique qualities and symptoms of the individual seeking treatment.

One essential oil that is calming and balancing to the nerves is cardamom. Cardamom essential oil's chemical features include oxides and esters, which contribute to cardamom's ability to calm the nerves (especially for those who suffer from constant worry) and uplift or stimulate a person at the same time.

Cardamom has many therapeutic properties, but it is believed to help with digestive problems (digestive problems related to anxiety especially). Another essential oil that goes well with cardamom in a blend and helps with stress as well is sweet orange.

Orange essential oils are rich in monoterpenes, which contribute to orange's uplifting, awakening and emotionally stimulating properties. Orange is used widely in aromatherapy to help treat depressive symptoms, melancholy and stomach issues.

One more essential oil to add to this blend is atlas cedar. This essential oil has a warm and woody aroma. It is rich in sesquiterpenes, which may contribute to its anti-inflammatory and relaxing properties. Atlas cedar is used in aromatherapy as a decongestant and diuretic. It combines well with cardamom and sweet orange to help with nervous irritability and stress related anxiety.

As for a carrier, when treating emotional and psychological issues, an appropriate base could either be a vegetable oil or natural cream. These carriers for the above essential oils would enhance that self-nurturing and soothing quality of the treatment made to ease nervous tension, stress, and anxiety. However, the actual product would be custom made to fit the unique needs of the individual seeking treatment.