Essential oils have been used for centuries to treat a wide variety of ailments. Before the pharmaceutical industry acquired a stronghold over medicine, plants were one of the only sources of relief from symptoms. Despite centuries of use, scientific studies into these treatments have only recently been conducted, and they often back up the historical claims.
This shouldn’t be surprising, considering that there are 50 million smell receptors that connect to the brain’s limbic system, the area responsible for memory, emotions and even sexual arousal. It may not be coincidental that chronic stress and adrenal fatigue often affect memory, emotions and sexual arousal, and the herbs that work to alleviate the stress seem to promote well-being in these areas. The following herbal essential oils are well-known for the sense of calm they impart on the user, and they are great options for anyone who is adrenally fatigued or suffering from chronic stress.
- Lavender
Lavender is one of the most popular and perhaps best known of the essential oils. It has a calming soapy scent that’s been a favorite for hundreds of years. One of the most medicinally useful oils, it’s no surprise it’s known as the “universal oil.” It’s often used for stress relief, short-term memory enhancement, anxiety relief, restlessness, nervousness, and simply to relax. Safe to use topically, the best way to use it is to apply a few drops to the palm of your hand then inhale deeply. Some people like to rub a few drops into their temples. Studies have shown lavender essential oil positively affects hair loss, loss of appetite, nausea and pain, and can also be used as an antiseptic.
- Vanilla
The scent of vanilla often evokes a pleasant memory of home and baking cookies or other delightful treats. If the scent of warm vanilla makes you feel all warm and relaxed inside, it could be that it’s the fragrance that most closely mimics breast milk. According to a study performed at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, patients undergoing MRIs reported less anxiety when breathing in vanilla-scented air than those who didn’t. Drop a few drops into a bath, or add to vegetable oil then rub into your temples or the nape of your neck for relaxation.
- Rose
Another instantly recognizable aroma is that of the rose. Rose essential oil can be expensive because it can take up to 60,000 roses to create one ounce of rose essential oil. In a 2009 study published in Natural Product Communications, the group receiving the essential oil rather than the placebo through their skin felt greater feelings of calm and relaxation, as well as a decrease in blood pressure and breathing rate. Another study published in Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior showed that inhaling rose essential oil reduced anxiety in rats. To use, mix with a vegetable oil and apply directly to the skin or apply a few drops into bath water.
- Lemon Balm
Lemon Balm essential oil is used more often in Europe for stress and anxiety than it has been used in the U.S., but its use as a medicinal herb dates back to at least the Middle Ages. In a study conducted by Berkem, a plant extract company based in France, it was reported that there was a 72% reduction in anxiety-related symptoms after using lemon balm for 15 days. Other studies report similar results. As an added benefit, lemon balm oil has been shown to have antiseptic qualities. To use, mix with vegetable oil and rub into your hands, then breathe in the aroma.
- Chamomile
Most people know that chamomile tea is a calming drink. However, many people don’t know that there are two types of chamomile essential oils and they are used for different purposes, although both have some anxiety reducing qualities. The German type is used more for soothing skin ailments, while the Roman type is used more for anxiety, hostility and paranoia. Roman chamomile has a wonderful sweet apple scent.To use, inhale the aroma or put a few drops in bathwater.
- Rosemary
Rosemary essential oil has so many great qualities it’s difficult to focus on just one – it’s used for digestion problems, to stimulate blood circulation, to help treat dandruff, for pain relief, and as a disinfectant. As a stress reliever, rosemary essential oil was shown in a 2007 study to decrease cortisol in the saliva. Excess cortisol has been linked to decreased learning and memory and increased weight gain, as well as blood pressure, cholesterol and heart disease issues. This same study also found that the treatment, which combined inhaling the oils with oil massages, increased the strength of the immune system.
- Frankincense
This herb has been used for thousands of years and is even mentioned in the Bible. It has many medicinal uses, among them the ability to act as a sedative. It has a comforting aroma, and may be used for anxiety, anger and stress. Added benefits include calming respiratory conditions and repairing skin problems. It is also said to enhance introspection and insight. It can be applied to the skin or breathed in.
While some methods of essential oil use are mentioned above, there are a number of other ways to use them: they can be used in a warm compress; drops can be applied to a handkerchief or pillow; or, they can be burned in a diffuser. Essential oils are potent and often blended with other type of vegetable-based oils such as almond or jojoba oil – known as a carrier oil.
Be sure to research carefully any essential oil you intend to use, or consult a professional. Some people are allergic to certain herbs; the first time they are tried they should be applied very minimally until you know what effect they have on your body. Some herbs react negatively with exposure to the sun, while others might interfere with medications. Pregnant women should avoid essential oils unless taken under a doctor’s supervision.
I’m fairly new to essential oils, but unfortunately not to Adrenal Fatigue! Where do you find the Vanilla Oil, and where can the Rose Oil be found that is AFFORDABLE?!
Great info, and I love your infographic on 17 reason to avoid STRESS! Very informative, and helpful as it probably touches more of us than we are aware of and the added blessing of your making available info on how to deal with it! What a blessing that is to us, and you have made our day!
Hi Jolie, thanks so much for your kind words! If your local health food store doesn’t stock a wide range of essential oils, you can generally find them on Amazon 🙂
You won’t find those 2 particular oils “affordable” anywhere! ! I was told it takes about 60,000 rose petals to make a small bottle of essential oil and similar with vanilla beans!!! They cost a lot because it takes a ton of it to make the oil!! I use lavender, rosemary and lemon. I put on my temples, wrists and under my nose!! Works great!!
I suffer from adrenal fatigue as well, so I order rose oil from Vitamart.ca (Canada store) the product is called NOW Rose Absolute, 30ml for around $20 (comes pre-mixed with Jojoba oil ready to apply, very convenient). It lasts FOREVER and smells so divine! For Vanilla, I go with Aura Cacia Vanilla Absolute (very rich, sweet vanilla ice cream scent) 15ml around $28 on Amazon, Vitamart.ca or Well.ca. Absolutes are solvent extracted oils so they have a longer shelf life. Hope this helps?
What is the dilution ratio?
Another essential oil that should be included is Nutmeg. I use it nearly daily, along with the adaptogenic herb, Rhodiola. I have had some significant success at improving my health with those, and Gaba Plus (pantothenic Acid).
Lisa, if you read this it would be great.
How severe was your adrenal fatigue? Mine keeps throwing out tons of cortisol surges. I want to try the nutmeg but it sounds like nutmeg would only stimulate things more
Research do the oils come from the makers own farms. The prices you are quoting, means they are no good except to smell nice. And remember your skin is the largest organ in your body, what goes on the skin goes to the liver.
You don’t want to purchase oils from your health food store. They are not pure oils. Purchase oils such as dōTERRA which are third party test and complete pure and better than organic.
I love serenity, balance, and breathe those are my favorite from Dōterra
Research do the oils come from the makers own farms. The prices you are quoting, means they are no good except to smell nice. And remember your skin is the largest organ in your body, what goes on the skin goes to the liver. My favourite are from Young Living, I know I can trust them. They have their own farms, and do not buy from Brokers where most other firms get theirs.
Young Living only grows some of their plants. It is not possible for them to grow everything. doTERRA is heavily involved in the growing, production and manufacturing of every oil. Potency is best when the plants are indigenous which is why doTERRA does not have farms. doTERRA uses 8 different tests on the oils to make sure that they have the correct chemical makeup and have not been adulterated or have pesticides or additive in them when received from the growers. They do not use brokers, they get their oils directly from the farmers.
Other pure essential oils can be purchased from Floracopia, Edens Garden, Rocky Mountain Essential Oils , Ananda Apathecary, Plant Therapy, and Butterfly Express. Also Hope Well. These are all found on the internet on their websites. Enjoy !!
I have purchased pure oils from health food stores. Your blanket statement is untrue. There are many sources of pure oils at more reasonable prices. It takes research.
Not true. Oils from stores can say 100% pure essential oil, and all it means is that there is SOME pure essential oil in it. The rest can be alcohol, or any other kind of filler. it is a labeling loophole they can use. Only buy those you know are pure. Trust me, if it seems very affordable, there is a reason!
I get my oils from Appalachian valley they are therapeutic grade. Unfortunately vanilla & rose still pricey but worth it!
Rose oil that is affordable is diluted. Think about how much roses sell for–and it takes bushelfuls of the petals. And many are diluted with with chemicals–you can distill your own using vodka to make a tincture–or buy the good stuff and use sparingly
Affordable rose oil is not something I would want to inhale! Unfortunately it’s only the pure stuff that will work and it’s expensive cause it’s takes so many roses to get a few drops of oil. :(:(
If you ever get the real stuff it’s AMAZING and very powerful.
Eden’s Garden offers therapeutic grade essential oils at a very affordable price. They cost less because there’s no multi-level marketing scheme involved like doterra and young living. They are pure essential oils and also offer blends as well.
Agreed, I try to stay away from multilevel marketing companies. Eden Gardens is good as are many you can purchase affordably on Amazon. You just have to thoroughly read the labels to make sure what you are getting. I like NOW essential oils also.
I would never buy my oils on Amazon.
Sceme. Really. They are tryintrying to help your health. I don’t sell them. But I have friend that do
Edensgarden.com yes some of them can be expensive as one person mentioned the amount it takes to make rose oil. But save up ,its well worth it! This site is bdget friendly! 🙂 I purchase all my oils through there. Haven’t saved for rose yet or chamomile, but one day I will have them! Also, it is not recommended to purchasesandalwood oil because of the poachers cutting them down as immature trees. It takes up to 30 years for a sandalwood tree to grow and be able to produce the oil of them! Also, please research the contraindications of each oils. I.e. rosemary is not recommended for use of people with high blood pressure and neither is eucalyptus. I am currently doing my courses to become a registered aromatherapist 🙂 I suggest always consulting a certified or registered aromatherapist if you have questions!
Honestly it is unsafe to use take any essential oils internally or topically unless they are synthetic and faux fragrance free. Two purest on the market are Swiss Aromatics and Young Living. I trust these brands for my family, children included and my pets! Safe internal,tooical and aromatic. The ones at drug stores and specialty shops like whole foods are cut with synthetics and have unnatural additives. A true test of a pure, therapeutic grade essential oil is to drop on skin, if leaves an oily residue it’s been “supplemented”. A true pure oil will quickly absorb into skin with no oily residue. As well, lavender and peppermint oils should have a more “earthy” smell to them rather than really flowery smell. If real flowery it’s a synthetic fragrance in which you shouldn’t ingest OR put on your skin since your skin absorbs it into blood stream.
Please use doterra or young living, the other brands are not as good.
Great article! Essential oils have been amazing for my adrenals, sleep and stress in general. thanks for putting this out there!
What essentials are you using for your adrenals? I have a family member who can barely get out of bed due to adrenal fatigue. They have been to a number of doctors, but are still suffering from the condition.
Thank you.
JJP
Hi JJP, if they are struggling that badly then essential oils will not be the answer. You should be looking at dietary and lifestyle changes, along with testing for various hormone and neurotransmitter levels. My book contains much more detailed information on what you need to do.
Hi Fawne, I an interested in getting your book. I have no thyroid due to cancer and have low cortisol found from taking a saliva test. Does your book talk specifically about what to do for low cortisol
Hi Nanci, yes the book does address low cortisol.
I am new to essential oils? Can you combine the oils together or no? And do you use an infused to have the aroma in your house
Yes you can combine them, and a diffuser is the perfect way to spread the aromas around your house 🙂
I am confused. You refer to a 2007 study, Rosemary was shown to decrease cortisol. Excess cortisol has been linked to decreased learning and memory and increased weight gain, as well as blood pressure, cholesterol and heart disease issues.
However, I see elsewhere that” when cortisol levels drop, energy drops as well – and in many cases the body will produce adrenaline as a way of providing the energy to get through the day. When this happens it is not a sustainable, solid energy, but a frantic, anxious and jittery energy produced from adrenaline. Although this can allow the person with adrenal fatigue to function, it is actually worsening the adrenal fatigue situation. What adrenaline can also do is prevent restful sleep – insomnia due to adrenaline production is a symptom of adrenal fatigue.”
So is Rosemary good for cortisol imbalance or not. Anyone?
Rosemary can be useful to reduce your cortisol levels if you are under chronic stress. We all need cortisol to survive, but when our cortisol levels are elevated for long periods of time the body becomes less able to produce it when needed. This results in the feelings of lethargy and fatigue that characterize adrenal fatigue. Too little cortisol is definitely a bad thing, but insufficient cortisol is often the result of chronically overproducing cortisol for long periods. So to prevent cortisol levels from dropping, you need to prevent them from getting too high (and for too long) in the first place. It might sound slightly counter-intuitive at first, but I hope that helps!
Are rose EO and rosehip EO the same? I have looked everywhere for rose and can’t find it.
Thanx,
Tracy
Actually rose oil comes from the petals and rosehip comes from the seeds. You can find Rose Oil at mountainroseherbs.com. I hope that helps!
I crave salt constantly….and have heard that may be part of adrenal issues. Am I on the right track or will essential oils help? If so which ones (I’ve read nutmeg), how many drops or how do I apply safely? Please and thanks in advance.
Hi Pam, a craving for salt can suggest an imbalance in your aldosterone level. If it started after a long period of stress, there may be some dysfunction in your adrenals and/or HPA axis. Essential oils can help to relieve stress, but you will also want to look at changes in your diet, lifestyle, and perhaps supplementation too.
Can you elaborate on what supplementation for adrenals?
This should help: http://adrenalfatiguesolution.com/adrenal-fatigue-supplements/
Hi, I’ve been suffering from hormonal issues, and adrenal issues. I have alot of flank pain, which oils would be best to try. My doctor doesn’t want me taking supplements, so I was hoping oils might be the way to go. Thanks in advance.
How can I find out how to make house oils?
Please help. I can’t eat and I can’t sleep I’m constantly in a state of panic especially in am and pm. I have no energy the smallest tasks take so much energy. I’m not hungry at all. I have lost 30lbs and everything has gone down hill since August of 2015. It’s like a fell off a cliff. No one seems to help. My husband telling me I need meds. But I was never depressed or anxious until August. I was told my hormone progesterone is low so I started taking that a week ago.
I’m doing saliva test but I have to survive in the mean time. What can’t I do about the panic and anxiety now. I don’t know if cortisol low or high. But I constantly feel terrified
EFT or meridian tapping should help with anxiety immediately. Google search, there are hundreds of videos on how to.
I’m sorry to hear what you’re going through. I had a baby recently and went through many days of terrible anxiety & panic and didn’t know what to do. I knew I didn’t want to take medication so I started seeing a chiropractor. I am feeling so much better. I started taking a cortisol supplement which helps reduce stress, along with lots of B vitamins, vitamin D, and fish oil. I also use young living progessence plus essential oil plus lavender and cedarwood to help sleep. I took a salvia test and found out I also have adrenal fatigue, but I do not want to go on a hormone she suggested for that so I am trying to eat protein right away in the morning which is supposed to help. I hope this helps you in any way.
WoW … I am so happy to have stumbled onto this site!!! This will be a daily visit. So many thanks!!!
I recommend Ved Aroma, All of their oils are of a high quality, very rich and potent. I am happy with this brand, it never disappointed me. Available on Amazon and they are wild or organic. There is also Amrita Aromatherapy, some of the oils are nice quality and more affordable. Aura Cacia has a few that are OK, but a number of them seem kinda weak.