Combating Insomnia

Getting a proper night's sleep is something that we have taken for granted at one point in time or another. Sleep is important for body and mind rejuvenation. It helps to lower blood pressure, reduces stress, and reduce injuries (sleepy drivers tend to cause alot of accidents every year).

Exercise is one of the key methods in reducing or even avoiding symptoms of insomnia. Exercise uplifts your mood, can strengthen circadian rhythms, helping to promote daytime alertness and encourage sleep at night. Insomnia is a disorder whereby a person experiences difficulty in falling asleep and/or staying asleep.

Chamomile Flowers

Besides exercise, the use of herbs and essential oils in Aromatherapy also helps to relieve symptoms of insomnia. Some of the more popular essential oils that are effective in promoting sleep are:

* Chamomile

* Lavender

* Frankincense

* Orange (sweet)

* Ylang Ylang

* Clary Sage

These essential oils can help to induce sleep through using an Aromatherapy diffuser/nebulizer (diffuse for 1 hour at most), in a bath, mist or body oil.

Aromatherapy Diffuser - lotusbloomaromas.com

Here is a sleep aid diffuser blend for at least 100ml water:

3 drops Lavender Essential Oil

2 drops Frankincense Essential Oil

1 drop Orange Essential Oil

Expel measured drops of the essential oils in the diffuser that is already filled with water. This blend is recommended to be used at nights only.

Alternatively, you can use the chamomile herb as a tea for sleep. Chamomile tea is widely manufactured in tea bags for easy preparation. It is strongly advised that essential oils should NOT be taken orally. Essential oils are highly concentrated and will damage the delicate membranes and tissue if ingested. If you want to get the benefits of natural remedies orally, acquire the actual herb (leaves, bark, flowers) to decant etc.

Before using any essential oils or herbs for ailments, please seek medical advice, especially if you are taking medication, pregnant or nursing.