This is a Guest Blog from Christie of Embraced Mummas. She has two beautiful little girls and loves to share her knowledge of essential oils.
We all know how important sleep is, especially for new mothers! But unfortunately it’s the mothers who get the least sleep in the family more often than not!Obviously babies need more sleep than children and adults but at a time when we should be getting the most restorative sleep, us mothers receive less! I am sure you all can relate to this!
Even though it can be hard to put that mobile down and turn off the TV, we really should be going to bed earlier and trying to get more sleep. Firstly, because as mothers, we know we will be up again in a few hours (or minutes!). Secondly, a lack of sleep can actually cause all sorts of physical and emotional problems including:
- Adrenal fatigue
- Poor digestion
- Weight gain
- Decreased focus and concentration
- Increased frustration and irritability levels (which isn’t good when you have little ones to look after)
- Compromised immune system
- Higher likelihood of chronic or autoimmune conditions
Natural alternatives to help promote sleep
Essential oils, together with meditation or guided meditation can be a massive help if you are suffering from any of these things.
Guided mediation is such a simple and cheap solution to help you drift off into a peaceful sleep and there are a lot of apps available now which make it super easy. All you have to do is choose your mediation press play and relax! For me guided meditations are great because I have trouble clearing my mind at night. Listening to the person speak gives me something else to concentrate on and is really effective, although usually as soon as I am asleep my baby wakes up and I have to start all over again!
It’s easier to appreciate the beautiful moments when you’ve slept just a little
Essential Oils can also be used with or without meditation to assist in promoting restful sleep. They can be used aromatically, which could be in a diffuser, a spray bottle or a few drops of essential oils onto clothing or bedding before bed time. They can also be used topically on the forehead, back, shoulders, under nose and especially on the bottoms of feet. If you’re really lucky you could even get someone to give you a massage before bed time, there’s some wishful thinking! It is important to follow proper dilution ratios when applying essential oils onto the skin, especially for babies and children.
What essential oils promote sleep?
There are a number of essential oils that promote sleep as well as a range of blends made by varying companies, but these are the main ones known for this reason.
- Lavender – calms, relaxes, and sedates
- Vertiver – grounds and promotes tranquillity
- Roman Chamomile – balances hormones, sedates, calms, and relaxes.
You could also use a combination of the above. It is important to figure out what works for you and what aromas you are drawn to. If you are experiencing any of the side effects due to a lack of sleep, essential oils can help with these too! If you would like more information please check out my Facebook Page.
This is a guest blog written by a third party and does not contain views or opinions from Nature & Science.
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