In today’s fast-paced world, it’s all too easy to become overwhelmed. Whether you’re juggling work, relationships, or personal goals, stress and anxiety can quickly take their toll on both your emotional and physical well-being. Your nervous system plays a crucial role in how you manage stress and regulate emotions. A well-balanced nervous system is key to maintaining inner peace and health.
One of the most effective and natural ways to support nervous system regulation is through the use of essential oils. These potent plant extracts have been used for centuries to help calm the mind, ease tension, and support emotional healing. If you’re someone interested in healing, modernlovehealing, and self-love, understanding how essential oils can help restore balance to your nervous system is a powerful tool in your wellness journey.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best essential oils for nervous system regulation, how to use them, and additional practices that can help you achieve a balanced, calm mind. Along the way, I’ll also mention books that will inspire and guide your healing journey, including my own upcoming book, How to Heal Your Nervous System.
What Are Essential Oils and How Do They Help with Nervous System Regulation?
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts derived from flowers, leaves, roots, and other parts of plants. They contain the natural compounds that give plants their characteristic fragrance and therapeutic properties. When used properly, essential oils can affect the body on a physical, emotional, and mental level.
So, how exactly do essential oils help with nervous system regulation? The answer lies in their ability to interact with the brain and the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS controls unconscious functions like heart rate, breathing, and digestion. It has two main components: the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), which is responsible for your “fight or flight” response, and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which helps you relax and recover.
Certain essential oils can trigger the PNS, promoting relaxation and reducing the stress response. This makes them perfect for calming an overactive nervous system, relieving anxiety, and improving emotional balance. When used consistently, essential oils can become a valuable tool in supporting mental clarity, emotional stability, and physical health.
Top Essential Oils for Nervous System Healing
Now that we understand how essential oils work on the nervous system, let’s dive into some of the best oils you can use for nervous system regulation. These oils have been selected for their calming properties and ability to reduce stress and anxiety.
Lavender Essential Oil
Benefits: Lavender is perhaps the most well-known essential oil for promoting relaxation. It’s frequently used to help with sleep disorders, anxiety, and nervous tension. Its calming effects make it a staple for anyone looking to create a peaceful environment.
How it works on the nervous system: Lavender essential oil has been shown to reduce the production of stress hormones, helping to quiet the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). This makes it incredibly effective for reducing anxiety and encouraging deep relaxation.
Recommended Product: Plant Therapy Lavender Essential Oil
How to use: Add a few drops to an essential oil diffuser or mix with a carrier oil like coconut oil for a relaxing massage.
Chamomile Essential Oil
Benefits: Chamomile is known for its calming and soothing properties. It helps to reduce stress and promote better sleep, making it ideal for those struggling with insomnia or high levels of anxiety.
How it works on the nervous system: Chamomile essential oil helps to regulate the nervous system by calming overactive responses, reducing inflammation, and promoting emotional balance. It’s particularly useful when you need to unwind after a long, stressful day.
Recommended Product: Kukka Roman Chamomile Essential Oil
How to use: Diffuse chamomile oil in your bedroom to promote restful sleep, or add a few drops to your bath for a soothing soak.
Frankincense Essential Oil
Benefits: Frankincense is a powerful essential oil known for its grounding and calming effects. It’s often used to relieve anxiety and promote deep, mindful breathing.
How it works on the nervous system: Frankincense works by promoting deep relaxation and lowering stress levels. It has an ability to ground the mind, helping to regulate emotional stress and keep the nervous system calm.
Recommended Product: doTERRA Frankincense Essential Oil
How to use: Apply a few drops to your temples or wrists, or diffuse it while meditating to deepen your practice.
Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Benefits: Ylang Ylang is an uplifting essential oil that helps stabilize mood and reduce feelings of nervous tension. It’s particularly helpful for calming emotional imbalance and promoting positive feelings.
How it works on the nervous system: This oil can help balance the sympathetic nervous system by easing stress and promoting emotional stability. It can also be a great mood booster during challenging emotional times.
Recommended Product: Majestic Pure Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
How to use: Diffuse in the home or apply diluted to pulse points to help promote an uplifting mood and reduce anxiety.
Sandalwood Essential Oil
Benefits: Sandalwood has a deeply calming and grounding effect. It helps clear the mind and supports emotional clarity, making it perfect for mindfulness practices.
How it works on the nervous system: Sandalwood essential oil can help soothe the nervous system by calming mental chatter, improving focus, and promoting relaxation. It’s ideal for those who struggle with racing thoughts or emotional stress.
Recommended Product: Plant Therapy Sandalwood Essential Oil
How to use: Add a few drops to your diffuser for a relaxing atmosphere or apply diluted to your chest to help deepen your breath and calm your mind.
How to Use Essential Oils for Nervous System Regulation
Now that you know which essential oils can benefit your nervous system, let’s explore how to incorporate them into your routine.
Aromatherapy Diffuser
An essential oil diffuser is an excellent way to continuously release the therapeutic benefits of essential oils into the air. This method is ideal for promoting calm throughout your home or office. Simply add a few drops of your chosen essential oil to the diffuser and let it run for a relaxing atmosphere.
Topical Application
When you want a more direct approach, topical application is highly effective. Always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil like coconut oil or jojoba oil before applying them to your skin. A safe dilution ratio is generally 3-5 drops of essential oil per tablespoon of carrier oil.
You can apply diluted oils to pulse points, such as your wrists, temples, or the back of your neck, for quick stress relief.
Bath Soaks
A warm bath infused with essential oils is a wonderful way to promote relaxation. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to a warm bath and allow the steam to help you unwind. This method is especially effective for emotional healing and stress relief.
Massage
If you prefer a more hands-on approach, consider adding essential oils to your massage routine. By mixing your chosen oil with a carrier oil, you can enjoy the therapeutic benefits of both the massage and the calming effects of essential oils.
Additional Healing Practices for Nervous System Regulation
While essential oils are a powerful tool for nervous system regulation, they work best when combined with other healing practices. Below are a few additional methods to help support your overall nervous system health.
Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation is an excellent practice for calming the nervous system. By focusing on the present moment and regulating your breath, you activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for relaxation.
Meditation also helps to reduce the impact of stress on the body and mind, allowing you to cultivate a deeper sense of peace and emotional stability.
Physical Exercise
Exercise is another key way to regulate your nervous system. Whether it’s yoga, walking, or strength training, moving your body helps release pent-up stress and tension. Physical activity also stimulates the release of endorphins, which are natural mood boosters.
Breathing Techniques
Certain breathing exercises, such as diaphragmatic breathing or box breathing, can help calm the nervous system by activating the vagus nerve. This nerve plays a critical role in reducing heart rate and promoting relaxation.
Books for Nervous System Healing
Books are an invaluable resource for understanding and healing the nervous system. Here are a few that I highly recommend:
- “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk: This book explores how trauma affects the nervous system and offers valuable insight into healing emotional wounds.
- “The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy” by Deb Dana: Deb Dana provides practical tools and techniques for soothing the nervous system and healing trauma.
- “How to Heal Your Nervous System”: I am currently working on my own book, How to Heal Your Nervous System, which will dive deeper into various techniques to regulate your nervous system, including essential oils, mindfulness practices, and more.
Conclusion: Creating Your Own Nervous System Healing Routine
Incorporating essential oils into your daily routine is a simple yet effective way to regulate your nervous system and support emotional well-being. Whether you use them in a diffuser, during meditation, or in a relaxing bath, the calming properties of essential oils can help soothe an overactive mind and body.
Remember that nervous system healing is a journey, and consistency is key. Along with essential oils, be sure to explore other practices like mindfulness meditation, physical exercise, and deep breathing. Over time, these tools will help you find emotional balance, improve your mental clarity, and cultivate a deeper sense of inner peace.
As you embark on this healing journey, I encourage you to explore the products I’ve mentioned and see how they work for you. Stay tuned for my upcoming book, How to Heal Your Nervous System, where I’ll dive deeper into these techniques and help you on your path to self-love and nervous system health.
If you’re ready to start your healing journey today, I invite you to check out the essential oils I’ve recommended:
- Plant Therapy Lavender Essential Oil
- Kukka Roman Chamomile Essential Oil
- doTERRA Frankincense Essential Oil
- Majestic Pure Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
- Plant Therapy Sandalwood Essential Oil
Feel free to share your experiences with these oils or ask any questions in the comments. I’d love to hear.