Essential oils are becoming ever more popular to treat ailments a-z.

This, because we are beginning to realize that there is no man-made synthetic medicine to which there is not already a God-made plant medicine.

We just need to understand how to utilize it, rather than focus more energy on developing things based on wanting to patent side-effect laden synthetic stuff, just to get money out of it.

We should be focusing on what gets results.

Now, it is important to match symptom with the essential oils we use, as they are potent; affecting both our mental and physical body.

It has been shown that certain oils stimulate sympathetic nervous system activity whereas others calm it.

Rose oil is an efficient remedy to target excess stress hormones.

This is important to take note of, because when we are dealing with stress-related illness, we want to target our central nervous system needs - do we need to be energized or calmed down? Do we have excess cortisol and adrenaline or too low to get out of bed in the morning?

When we know what we are dealing with health wise, we can target it accurately.

Patchouli shown to reduce the stress response in our central nervous system.

The reason most give up on plant medicine is because they are not properly matching ailments with the right treatment - or they have not diagnosed underlying cause.

Proper diagnosis of symptoms is key in order to put together a program that targets it - whether natural treatment or synthetic.

So what are the top 3 essential oils for stress?

Rose oil: A Japanese study showed that rose oil caused adrenaline to drop by 30 percent.
Lavender oil: While another study published in Phytomedicine, found that an orally administered lavender oil preparation (Silexan) was as effective as the drug Lorazepam for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.
Patchouli oil: Resulted in a 40 percent decrease in sympathetic nervous system activity.

Essential oils are easily absorbed through your skin when applied topically. In addition, the scent also affects the limbic system in your brain, which controls both memories and emotions - and our resilience to stress.

Pure essential oils can also be used therapeutically orally, but only under a health care provider's recommendations as this is potent stuff.

References:

Jpn J Pharmacol November 2002;90(3):247-53.
Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi 2006 Feb;36(1):136-43
Phytomedicine 2010 Feb;17(2):94-9