• Many natural essential oils have anxiety-inhibiting effects, including sweet orange, bergamot, and lavender

• One systematic review of aromatherapy among people with anxiety symptoms showed that most of the studies indicated positive effects to quell anxiety

• Essential oils can be inhaled indirectly using a room diffuser, massaged into your skin (diluted in a carrier oil), or inhaled directly using an individual essential oil inhaler

• Aromatherapy has also shown promise for pain relief, nausea, vomiting, memory, and migraine headaches

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to support physical health and well-being. Essential oils carry biologically active volatile compounds of flowers and plants in a highly concentrated form. They are, in many ways, the essence of the plant and can provide therapeutic benefits in very small amounts.

The particles in essential oils, which come from flowers, twigs, leaves, or bark, can be inhaled, prompting various beneficial effects. As noted by the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA):

"It [Aromatherapy] seeks to unify physiological, psychological and spiritual processes to enhance an individual's innate healing process."

There are about as many uses for aromatherapy as there are essential oils, but one of the most exciting areas of research is for anxiety, with research showing essential oils may help relieve symptoms without the side effects of anxiety drugs.