You have an anxious temperament and it would do you a lot of good to find some serenity?
Do you sometimes suffer from anxiety attacks and this spoils your life? In this case, essential oils can be of great help and can help you break the vicious circle that excessive anxiety can create. Some essences, such as Ylang-Ylang, or Roman Chamomile are perfectly adapted to reduce daily tension and to manage anxiety-producing situations.

What is the difference between anxiety and anguish?

If anguish and anxiety are linked to a feeling of insecurity, anguish refers to an acute episode (crisis), while anxiety is more diffuse. In both cases, it leads to more or less intense states of stress and you lose serenity in your daily life. 

Anxiety attacks cause a number of physical symptoms in parallel, such as:

• sensation of chest discomfort,
• abdominal pain,
• increased heart rate, palpitations,
• dizziness, nausea, vomiting,
• feeling of lack of oxygen...

These symptoms are themselves stressful and maintain an exaggerated anxiety. In this context, the use of essential oils :

• d'Ylang-Ylang complète (Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook F. et T. forma genuina), 
• de Néroli, Petit Grain Bigarade (Citrus × aurantium L. ssp amara.), 
• of True Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), 
• of Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) can help soothe these symptoms. 

Indeed, these essential oils contain linalool which reduces anxiety by an action on the nervous system. Associated with the presence of linalyl acetate or other monoterpene ester, the effectiveness of linalool is increased while relaxing muscle tension. 

Which essential oils to use in case of anguish or anxiety?

• The essential oil of Ylang-Ylang

The essential oil of Ylang-Ylang complete is obtained after 10 to 20 hours of distillation of the flower of Cananga Odorata, a tree originally found in the Indo-Pacific region. Once planted as an ornamental tree in Madagascar, it is now favored to produce a range of essential oils of different grades, also for the perfume and cosmetics industries. The complete essence of Ylang-Ylang is the one used in aromatherapy, because it contains all the molecules initially present in the flower. With its ability to reduce the heart rate, associated with calming, sedative and hypotensive properties, it will be the ally of choice to soothe anxiety attacks.

Usage:
The essential oil of Ylang-Ylang can be used by skin by diluting 2 drops in vegetable oil (Apricot kernels for example), then by massaging the plexus. Applied on the inner side of the wrists, it will allow an inhalation on demand.

The essence of Ylang-Ylang must be diluted to 10 or 15 % to be used in diffusion.

Cautions:
At too high a concentration, this essence may cause headaches or nausea. For oral use, the advice of a therapist is necessary.

Note that this essential oil of Ylang-Ylang contains a large number of allergens which are also, for some, the active molecules (linalool, benzyl benzoate, geraniol, farnesol, benzyl salicylate, eugenol, benzyl alcohol, isoeugenol).

Also, irritating for the skin, it is always preferable to make a test in the hollow of the elbow before regular use.

Contra-indications:
Ylang-Ylang essential oil is not suitable for pregnant women under 3 months, nursing mothers, as well as newborns under 3 months.

• Small grain of bigarade and neroli

The essential oils of Neroli and Petit Grain Bigarade come from the same tree: the bigaradier or bitter orange tree. If the essence of Neroli comes from the distillation of the flowers, that of the leaves allows to obtain the essence called Petit Grain, with the smell a little less subtle and expensive than the first one. Note that the essence ofSweet Orange is also sometimes advised in case of anxiety. These oils are rich in linalool and linalyl acetate and are therefore indicated to manage the discomforts associated with anxiety.

Usage:
- Cutaneous way: 1 drop of essential oil of Neroli can be diluted in 4 drops ofvegetable oil. The mixture is applied in massage on the internal face of wrists and on the thorax. Repeat morning and evening.

- In diffusion, this essence must be diluted to 5 or 10%.

The essence of Petit grain Bigarade can be applied pure on the internal face of the wrists, for an inhalation up to 3 times per day.

It is used in diffusion by pouring a few drops in an adapted diffuser, during 30 minutes.

In any case, after 3 weeks of use, take a one week break.

Precautions:
The essence of Neroli requires more precautions than that of Petit Grain Bigarade which is very well tolerated. In the case of Neroli, people with asthma should seek advice from a specialist. In Ingestion, it can be toxic for the kidneys, if it is used in too great quantity or on a long duration. Irritating for the skin, it will have to be diluted in 20 % before any application. Finally, it has a "cortison-like" action.

Note that this essential oil contains several allergens (linalool, limonene, farnesol, geraniol, neral and geranial).

It is always best to do a test in the crook of the elbow before regular use.

Contra-indications:
The essential oil of Petit Grain Bigarade is not suitable for pregnant women under 3 months, breastfeeding women, as well as newborns under 3 months, while that of Neroli, richer in linalool is usable only from 6 years.

• The essential oil of lavender

La True Lavender is a very useful essential oil in case of anxiety disorder. Its calming and sedative virtues will bring appeasement. This essential oil is reputed to help you fall asleep and is a precious ally. Richer in linalool than bitter orange oils, it also has a very high content of linalyl acetate.

Use:
The essential oil of Lavender can be used in inhalation by depositing 1 drop of essence in 4 drops ofvegetable oil to be applied on the inside of the wrists, for an inhalation up to 3 times a day. After 3 weeks of use, take a one week break.

This essence will also be very effective in diffusion during 15 to 30 minutes.

Precautions:
The use of True Lavender essential oil, requires medical advice for people with asthma. In too large quantities, it will cause opposite effects, such as excitement. Also be careful not to confuse with the essential oil of Lavender Aspic which does not have the same composition and which has very different precautions for use.

Note that this essential oil contains several allergens (linalool, limonene, coumarin, geraniol).

It is always best to do a test in the crook of the elbow before regular use.

Contra-indications:
The whole family can use this essential oil, with the exception of pregnant women under three months and newborns under 3 months. Nevertheless, Lavender essence is not recommended for people prone to high hypotension.

• Chamomile and its calming properties

The distillation of Roman chamomile flowers produces an essential oil containing monoterpene esters, molecules which, like linalool and linalyl acetate, have calming, relaxing, sedative and spasmolytic properties.

Utilisation:
- By skin : put on the forearms 1 drop of Roman chamomile in 19 drops ofvegetable oil. Renewable up to 3 times a day.

- In diffusion: dilution to 10 or even 15 % in other essences

- Inhalation: The essence of Roman chamomile can be inhaled directly above the bottle.

- The essential oil of Roman chamomile can be used orally, by placing 1 drop under the tongue.

Precautions:
The use of the essence of Roman chamomile for the people epileptic must be done under medical control. At too strong a dose, it could cause dizziness or a state of drowsiness.

The only allergen present in this essential oil is limonene, but in small quantities. The risk of allergy is also present for people allergic to asteraceae.

It is always best to do a test in the crook of the elbow before regular use.

Contra-indications:
Roman Chamomile Essence is suitable for the entire family, with the exception of pregnant women under three months, nursing mothers, and newborns under 3 months.

What synergies are effective against anxiety?    

• The serenity diffusion: Place the same number of drops ofYlang-Ylang, True LavenderPetit Grain Bigarade andSweet orange in an adapted diffuser. Note that True Lavender can be replaced by Roman Chamomile essential oil.
• The absolute relaxation massage: place 1 drop of essential oil of Neroli, 3 drops of Roman chamomile, 10 of true lavender in 10 mL of vegetable oil (e.g.sweet almond). Use a few drops of the mixture in massage on the plexus and on the arches of the feet.
• Skin application to manage an anxiety attack: In 5 mL (100 drops) of vegetable oil (for example argan) place 20 drops ofYlang-Ylang essence 60 of Roman Chamomile, 20 of Sweet Orange and 10 drops of Exotic Verbena.
• The ideal massage for pregnant women (over 3 months): Place 1 mL of Petit Grain Bigarade essential oil, 1 mL of Roman Chamomile and 1mL of Ylang-Ylang in 2 mL ofvegetable oil (for example calophylle). Massage in the evening, along the spine. Note that by removing theYlang-Ylang essenceThis recipe is suitable for children over 3 years old.