You have a comfortable bed laden with silk pillows and soft duvets. The dimmer is on, and you are freshly showered and clad in the comfiest pyjamas. All you need is to close your eyes and fall asleep after a tiring day.
But sleep alludes to you. The whole night becomes a struggle just to get a wink of sleep. Despite going to bed on time, you wake up tired and groggy.
While there are various remedies for insomnia on the market, using essential oils is considered one of the best natural remedies for this condition.
Aromatherapy With Cedarwood Oil To Help People With Insomnia Fall Asleep
Essential oils have been used for centuries by ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans to relax and balance their moods. While lavender is one of the more popular essential oils for insomnia, this floral scent will only help you drift to sleep.
A more powerful alternative for insomnia is, hands down, the cedarwood oil. Let’s see the benefits of cedarwood essential oil on your sleeping routine and how you can use it at night to fall asleep.
What Is Cedarwood Essential Oil?
The cedarwood oil is extracted from the leaves, berries, and needles of the cedar tree through cold pressing, steam distillation, or carbon dioxide distillation (less used than the other two methods).
The oil is known for its rich, earthy, warm, and woody scent. Cedarwood oil is common in many household products like deodorants, colognes, insect repellents, and shampoos.
Which Cedarwood Oil Is Best For Insomnia?
There are different varieties of cedarwood oil, each with its unique scent profile and properties, depending on the cedar tree species from which it is extracted.
When using cedarwood essential oil for sleep, choosing the best type depends on personal preference and the specific properties of different cedarwood varieties.
However, the following types of cedarwood oil are often recommended for promoting relaxation and better sleep:
- Cedrus Atlantica (Atlas Cedarwood): This oil is extracted from the Atlas Cedar and is highly valued for its calming and grounding properties. It has a warm, woody, and slightly sweet aroma, which is quite soothing and helps reduce stress and anxiety.
- Juniperus Virginiana (Virginia Cedarwood): This is also known as Eastern Red Cedar and has a more balsamic scent. It has strong sedative properties, helpful for those struggling with insomnia or restlessness.
- Cedrus Deodara (Himalayan Cedarwood): Himalayan Cedarwood is known for its rich and earthy scent. It is thought to have calming effects on the mind, which can help reduce stress and anxiety, thereby promoting a more peaceful sleep.
Each type of cedarwood oil has its unique aroma and slightly different properties, so you may want to experiment to see which one works best for you.
Always use high-quality, pure essential oils and consult a healthcare professional if pregnant or have health conditions.
How Does Cedarwood Oil Counter Insomnia?
The effectiveness of cedarwood oil for insomnia is not just a popular trend but a fact supported by scientific studies. Cedarwood oil contains a strong natural sedative called cedrol, which has been proven effective for insomnia.
These natural sedatives help improve sleep quality by activating serotonin release in the brain, which then converts into melatonin, helping the body to fall asleep.
A 2003 study on rodents found that cedrol inhalation successfully impacted their restless motor activity. This leads to suggestions that the same could also happen for humans.
Another study that took place in 2018 also confirmed that cedrol was quite effective against anxiety, which is a common cause of wakefulness. Inhaling cedarwood oil was found to relax the body and mind and reduce stress, facilitating better sleeping patterns.
How To Use Cedarwood Oil For Curing Insomnia?
Using cedarwood oil for insomnia involves methods primarily centred around aromatherapy. Here’s how you can use cedarwood essential oil to improve sleep quality:
- Diffusion: One of the most effective ways to use cedarwood oil for insomnia is through diffusion.
Pour a few drops of cedarwood essential oil into a diffuser and let it run in your bedroom for about 30 minutes before bed. The aroma can help create a calming atmosphere conducive to sleep.
- Topical Application: Dilute cedarwood oil with a carrier oil (like coconut, jojoba, or almond oil) at a safe concentration (typically 2-5% essential oil in the carrier oil).
Apply this blend to pulse points like your wrists, temples, or behind the ears before bedtime. Always do a patch test first to ensure you don’t have an allergic reaction.
- Pillow Spray: Create a relaxing pillow spray by mixing a couple of drops of cedarwood oil with water and a bit of alcohol (like vodka) to help disperse the oil. Spray lightly onto your pillow and bed linens before you sleep.
- Bath Additive: Add a few drops of cedarwood essential oil to your bathwater before bed. Combining warm water and aromatic oils can help relax your body and mind, promoting better sleep.
- Inhalation: Simply inhaling the oil can also be effective. You can add a drop or two to a handkerchief or cotton ball and keep it by your bedside, or inhale directly from the bottle for a few minutes before bed.
Final Words
The popularity of cedarwood oil is growing rapidly thanks to its potent benefits as an insomnia curer and pleasing, earthy smell.
If you’re new to using essential oils, start with a small amount to see how your body reacts, and discontinue use if you experience any adverse reactions. Always buy cedarwood oil from reputed brands, and you are good to go.
Use it today to get the restful sleep you deserve.