Are you getting your 8 hours of sleep every night? I’m certainly not and this idea can become an issue when it becomes more and more difficult to put into practice. The fact is that with the busyness of life and three young children I actually get around 5-6 hours and this is probably the norm for most of us. There’s nothing wrong with waking at the crack of dawn but when we start to toss and turn through the night, feel unable to function through the day and are starting to worry about it, sleep can become an issue.
As summer draws near and the nights become hot and balmy, it can become increasingly difficult to sleep. This is why I wanted to put together some of the best aromatherapy remedies to help ease you into a well deserved deep sleep during the summer months when it seems out of your reach.
Why is it more difficult to sleep in summer?
Sleep is triggered by an increase of the melatonin hormone which is responsible for regulating the circadian rhythm, our internal body clock which promotes sleep. During the summer and the lighter evenings our body actually suppresses the production of melatonin, keeping us awake.
The warmer temperatures also play a part in causing us those sleepless nights. Summer heat raises our core temperature, when usually our bodies would be cooling down in the evening, making us feel less energetic and sleepy ready for bed.
How does aromatherapy help sleep?
Aromatherapy has been used for thousands of years, for medicinal uses, religious purposes and perfume. It is becoming widely recognised for its therapeutic benefits and is brilliant when used to establish a bedtime routine. Your brain can be conditioned to associate a certain fragrance with sleep, the aroma can prompt the nervous system to transmit signals to the limbic system in the brain, that same part of the brain for memory and emotion. Choosing the right essential oil is the key to a natural remedy for sleep, try our pillow mist a beautiful blend of 100% pure essential oils, designed to help you relax and prepare for sleep.
The most popular widely recognised essential oil for sleep is Lavender essential oil, celebrated for it’s relaxing effect it actually increases slow-wave sleep (which is the deepest stage of sleep where your body physically restores itself). A less traditional sleep aid is Peppermint essential oil, great for relaxation and clearing your head. If you suffer from seasonal allergies or dust sensitivity, nothing is better than diffusing peppermint oil in the air of your bedroom leading to a satisfying sleep.
How do you stop Insomnia naturally?
To be terribly tired but unable to sleep is awful and has even been described as a sort of living death. For a natural remedy, aromatherapy has been shown to alleviate insomnia and sleep related issues.
Insomnia essential oils: Valerian, Marjoram, Chamomile Roman, Clary Sage, Sandalwood, Lemon
Method: Massage the oils into the body before having an essential oil bath. Make a blend using 30 drops to 30ml vegetable oil to use as a massage oil or put 4 drops of your chosen essential oils in the bath, get in and relax. If you have the energy, read a book, then go to bed. Try to repeat this process as often as needed.
Other natural ways to help you sleep:
Look at your evening habits in the run up to going to bed. Try to avoid any stimulants, tea and coffee after midday is a no-no, and eat your evening meal earlier. It’s also important to completely unplug one hour before bedtime, avoiding screens as the blue light interferes with your body's melatonin production. Melatonin is a hormone that your body produces when it gets dark to signal that it’s time to go to sleep. Establish a bedtime ritual, a great addition is the deepest sleep pulse point oil which combines lavender and orange oil to create a state of calm and is designed to send you off to sleep with ease.
Talk soon,
Bella x