Stress! Our worlds are just full of the stuff! Daily stress begins when our eyes open each morning and never stops until we fall into our beds at night....at least we all HOPE it will stop when we fall into our beds at night after a long hard and stress filled day. However, the lingering effects of stress can also interrupt a much needed night’s rest.

Stress comes in many forms and from many different sources in our lives. Stress can take the form of anger or anxiety. It can be in the form of depression or insomnia. Or stress can manifest itself in the form of exhaustion or just nervous tension.

Some people show outward signs of stress for all the world to behold while others keep stress buried deep inside themselves and appear to be perfectly calm and in control to the rest of the world.

There is a multitude of ways in which we are told that we can regain a sense of peace and well-being and defeat the stress that fills our lives. We are told to create for ourselves an imaginary peaceful place and learn to take our minds to that peaceful place when we get stressed. That sounds pretty good but not getting all stressed out in the first place sounds like a better idea to me.

Instead of using our imaginations to restore peace and tranquility, we can use scents to MAINTAIN a sense of peace an tranquility. Of course aromatherapy can also be used for reducing stress after it happens. Scents are a wonderful thing. They are multi faceted. They can be used to prevent as well as to sooth and to cure.

The scents that are most often used in aromatherapy to relieve, reduce or to prevent stress are Lavender, Chamomile, Geranium, Clary Sage, Sandalwood, Juniper Berry, and Sweet Marjoram. Rosemary is sometimes used as a stress reducer because it stimulates the mind and mind stimulation can reduce stress.

To relax and relieve stress use Lavender.
To stimulate and sharpen the mind use Rosemary.
Chamomile and Geranium both reduce stress.
To just relax use Clary Sage.
If sleeplessness and depression are the problems use Sandalwood.
If you are angry or anxious use Juniper Berry or Sweet Marjoram.

All of these oils can be used either separately or together to relieve the problems that stress can cause. Just add a few drops of these essential oils to a base of regular massage oil then put a little on a cotton ball and inhale to promote immediate calmness.

These oils can also be added to a warm bath and you can inhale the soothing aromas as you soak in a deep warm bath.

Even Johnson and Johnson of baby-products fame has discovered the magic of aromatherapy. They are now producing a baby bath product that is lavender scented to help get babies to go to sleep easier.

Candles that contain these oils are also available. You can keep candles burning in your home or office to maintain your sense of peace and well-being and prevent stress before it begins.

*Note: Essential oils should not be used to make tea. Use the herbs rather than the oils for tea making.