If you're 60 years of age or older, you might be looking for ways to stay active, healthy, and independent for as long as possible. That's why we've put together this list of the eight health benefits of using essential oils if you're 60+ years old!
Essential oils have been used for thousands of years to treat various ailments. They're especially helpful in easing symptoms that come with ageing.
How Essential Oils Can Improve Your Lifestyle
Here are just a few of our favourite ways essential oils can help you maintain your independence as you get older:
Improve your mood
Essential oils can help relieve stress and anxiety and promote feelings of happiness and well-being, according to "Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art" (Storey Publishing, 2008). The smell of lavender has been shown to reduce stress levels in people with Alzheimer's. Research also suggests that inhaling the scent of rosemary oil may increase focus and concentration.
Here are some essentials oils that can help with improving your mood
Frankincense essential oil is also known to have a calming mental effect. It helps to improve brain function and memory.
Peppermint essential oil is excellent for relieving stress-related headaches and boosting your energy levels.
Rosemary essential oil helps to relieve muscle tension, soreness and fatigue.
Geranium essential oil is known to reduce anxiety and depression and stress levels, and irritability.
Improve your sleep
If you're 60 and over, essential oils can help you get a better night's sleep. They can help in the following ways:
Improve your sleep. Essential oils may help you sleep better because they can reduce stress, relax the body, and make it easier to fall asleep. Some studies have even shown that certain scents can improve memory recall and concentration levels in older adults with trouble sleeping.
Help relieve anxiety or depression symptoms associated with menopause or ageing. Essential oils can be used as part of a holistic approach to treating mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, both of which are common among older adults who live alone or deal with chronic pain issues such as arthritis or back pain (which are often associated with ageing).
Here are some essentials oils that can help with sleep:
Lavender: This is one of the most popular essential oils for helping you sleep better. It has a calming effect on the mind and body, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep through the night. It also helps reduce anxiety which can interfere with your ability to fall asleep easily.
Frankincense: Frankincense is another essential oil that can help you sleep better by reducing anxiety and stress while improving your mood at the same time. It also promotes healthy cellular regeneration, which will help you feel more rested when you wake up in the morning.
Basil: Basil is an excellent essential oil for helping with mental clarity and physical detoxification in the body, making it great for promoting restful sleep at night time! It also improves concentration, so you don't have to worry about being distracted while sleeping!
Help with chronic depression
Essential oils have long been used for their medicinal properties. While there's no scientific proof that they work, many people who use them report positive results. And that's all that matters when it comes to essential oils — if you feel better after using them, they work for you!
So how can essential oils help with chronic depression?
Essential oils help with chronic depression by positively altering your brain chemistry. They contain chemical compounds called terpenes and phenols which produce positive effects on the brain by activating specific receptors in the brain. These receptors are the same ones that respond to prescription medications like antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs.
Essential oils also have a soothing effect on the nervous system, which helps reduce stress and anxiety in those suffering from chronic depression. They're also useful for helping you relax so you can fall asleep at night without having to take sleeping pills every night!
Here are some essentials oils that can help with chronic depression:
Bergamot: Bergamot is an antidepressant and anti-anxiety essential oil that is as effective as Prozac (fluoxetine) for treating depression and anxiety.
Chamomile: Chamomile is known for its ability to soothe and calm the body, mind and emotions. It's also suitable for insomnia, which can often occur alongside depression or anxiety disorders.
Clary sage: Clary sage has properties similar to those of valerian root, which helps people who have trouble sleeping due to stress or anxiety. It's also been shown to be beneficial for those suffering from chronic headaches like migraines.
Help you become happy and relaxed.
Some essential oils help promote a sense of calm, which can be especially beneficial if you're prone to anxiety or stress. The scent of lavender oil can help relieve tension, while a few drops of chamomile or lemon balm have been shown to help people fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
Improve your concentration levels.
Aromatherapy can help improve your concentration by clearing your mind from distractions such as work stress or personal problems. It can also help you focus on one task at a time instead of multitasking, which is impossible for most people anyway!
Here are some essentials oils that can improve your concentration levels:
Lavender oil is one of the most popular essential oils. It's often used to reduce stress and anxiety, soothe headaches and migraines, improve sleep quality, and more.
The Orange essential oil has an uplifting scent that helps you stay positive and motivated throughout the day. It also has antibacterial properties that can help keep your immune system healthy.
Rosemary essential oil may help improve memory function and decrease inflammation throughout the body. While it might not be as effective at treating cognitive decline as some other supplements, it's still a good option for improving memory function.
Give you energy and keep you alert.
Essential oils are a natural way to get the energy you need throughout the day. The best part? You don't have to worry about getting an energy drink or taking caffeine pills, which can cause negative side effects or addiction.
Here are some ways essential oils can help boost your energy:
Basil is a great oil to use on days when you are feeling tired and low on energy. It has been shown to increase mental clarity and focus, helping you stay alert during the day.
Cypress essential oil helps to relieve nervous exhaustion, stress and depression.
Geranium essential oil is known for calming nerves and stimulating the mind for clear thinking. It is an excellent choice for people who struggle with brain fog during the day due to ageing or other factors.
Reduce symptoms of headaches.
Headaches are one of the most common health issues for people over 60. They are often caused by stress and can be treated with essential oils. You can use a diffuser, add them to your bathwater or massage them into your skin to help relieve symptoms such as pain, migraines, and tension.
Essential oils can also be inhaled to help alleviate the symptoms of a headache. Simply open up the bottle and take a few deep breaths to access their healing powers immediately!
Here are some ways essential oils can help with headaches:
Peppermint oil: Peppermint oil is known for its ability to relieve headaches, muscle pain and joint aches. It also has antibacterial properties that can help reduce inflammation in the body and fight infection.
Lavender oil: Lavender oil has a calming effect on the nervous system, which may be why it's useful for stress-related headaches. It also has antispasmodic properties that can relax the head and neck muscles.
Rosemary oil: Rosemary oil is an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent that can help relieve sinus pressure and reduce swelling in other body areas, such as joints or muscles.
Help relieve muscle pain, sprains and other injuries
Essential oils can help relieve muscle pain, sprains and other injuries. They can also be used to help with joint pain and discomfort. They can promote healthy blood circulation, which enables you to get rid of fatigue and exhaustion.
Here are some ways essential oils can help with pains:
Arnica oil is great for bruises and swelling. It's also good for helping reduce the appearance of scars.
Helichrysum is effective in reducing bruising, swelling and pain after surgery.
Bergamot oil is a natural anti-inflammatory, making it perfect for joint pain, muscle soreness and back aches.
In Summary
We think it's important to always keep in mind that there are no quick fixes regarding health. While essential oils can help you feel better and happier, they are not a magic pill or cure-all solution. However, if you feel like you need more energy or want to try something new and exciting, then maybe it's time for you to explore the world of essential oils!
References
https://www.walkermethodist.org/blog/senior-selfcare-health-benefits
https://www.everydayhealth.com/wellness/potential-health-benefits-of-essential-oils/
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