Frankincense
Frankincense is great for treating depression and anxiety because it provides a calming and tranquil energy as well as spiritual grounding. In aromatherapy, it helps deepen meditation and quiet the mind.
Ylang Ylang
Ylang Ylang is a floral-scented essential oil used to promote relaxation and a sense of calm. It is particularly helpful in mitigating stress, as ylang-ylang brings immediate peace and calm.
A 2006 study revealed that inhaling a blend of ylang-ylang, frankincense, and lavender helped to lower stress and anxiety levels, heart rate, and serum cortisol.
Lavender
Considered the most common essential oil, lavender oil benefits include having a calming, relaxing effect. It’s considered a nervous system restorative and helps with inner peace, sleep, restlessness, irritability, panic attacks, nervous stomach and general nervous tension.
“The Handbook of Essential Oils: Science, Technology, and Applications, Second Edition” states that there have been a number of clinical trials involving the inhalation of lavender essential oil that indicate a reduction in stress and anxiety. One study using oral lavender essential oil via capsules found that heart rate variation significantly increased compared to the placebo while watching an anxiety-provoking film.This suggested that lavender had anxiolytic effects.
Further research demonstrates lavender’s ability to lower anxiety in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery and in people visiting the dentist.