Summary
Insomnia describes a number of unusual sleep patterns
that do not allow a person to get the rest needed to
function at properly during their waking hours. This
can result from not being able to go to sleep, not being
able to stay asleep, or not being able to rest well while
asleep. If any of these conditions occurs for a number
of weeks this chronic condition becomes a serious health
concern.
Insomnia can be a primary condition or it can be a
symptom of some underlying condition. Anxiety, alcohol,
caffeine, stress are common primary causes of insomnia.
Secondary insomnia can come from physical or psychological
factors such as depression, indigestion, restless leg
syndrome, or a chronic pain condition.
Essential oils are a blessing to those who suffer from
not being able to sleep. The sedative and relaxing
properties of so many oils provide a wide range of choices.
Lavender is very highly recommended. Clary sage,
frankincense, marjoram, orange, rosemary, ylang ylang, or
blends like Balance, Serenity will also have very good
relaxing or sedative properties.
Oils, blends & products
recommended:
Oils & Blends:
clary sage, frankincense, lavender, marjoram, rosemary,
Serenity, wild orange, ylang ylang
Essential oils based
products:
Also consider:
Suggested protocols:
Many have found this simple solution effective:
• 1-3
drops of clary sage under the tongue at bedtime
A key to insomnia is
finding the best oils or blends and the best personal application technique.
Experiment with different oils/blends and with one or more
of the following application techniques:
• Baths and
body or foot massage
•
Diffuse a blend or
single oil in the bedroom or use an inhaler or cup and
inhale technique at bed time
•
Make a 5% water spritz
and spray on the pillow with lavender or other oil
•
For children, a foot massage just
prior to bedtime using a Serenity, lavender, or a
lemon/lavender/carrier blend. This will be very
relaxing and will often help them sleep deeper and awake
more refreshed. It can also be a very good bonding time
between parents and children.
Note: Some folks become "used to" one oil or technique
after a period of time and have to rotate to another for
continued results.
Experiences and Testimonials of others
Michelle - For the
past few months I have had chronic insomnia. I have tried
Lavender on my feet, as well as diffusing, but it didn't
help. I have also tried Clary Sage in a capsule, which has
helped a couple of times, but not consistently. I am both
emotionally and physically exhausted! Sleeping pills make it
worse by disrupting my sleep cycle even more and they make
me feel so miserably drugged the following day, they also
give me headaches and cause me to be irritable and
depressed. Any ideas?
Rosemary - Have you used Serenity?
Place it on one or more of these places: the back of your
neck, across your forehead, under your nose, on your feet or
around your bellybutton. I works wonders for me.
When I really stressed, I follow it with lavender.
Dian - I use clary sage under my tongue.
That way it gets to the blood stream quicker. Also I diffuse
rosemary, Serenity, frankincense, and/or vetiver.
Michelle - You could also try using
lemon along with the lavender. I've heard the two of them
combined sometimes helps.
Shannon - Insomnia is a symptom of
something deeper either physical or mental. Are you going
through menopause, pre-menopause, or feel hormonally off?
Has there been some unusual stress? Perhaps take a few
minutes to meditate and listen to what your body tells you.
Stephanie - Sleep issues can be caused
by candida overgrowth. I have had people say they are
sleeping well for the first time in a long time since
starting a candida cleanse.
Lynda - There are several oils that help
with insomnia, Lavender, Serenity, Ylang, Ylang, Vetiver.
Experiment using one for at least a few days at a time.
Also, a lot of insomnia can be due to our life style. Just
a few days ago I read an article by Dr. Mercola about this
very thing. Here is a summary that was at the end of his
article on Keeping Your Body Clock Running Smoothly:
• Use
full-spectrum light bulbs in your home and office during
daytime hours. The blue light emitted from TV's and computer
screens mimic the blue light found in daytime sunlight,
which can alter your melatonin production. Try to turn off
computers and electronic gadgets once the sun sets, and
avoid watching TV late at night.
•
Sleep in total darkness! If there is even the tiniest bit of
light in your room it can disrupt your circadian rhythm and
your pineal gland's production of the hormones melatonin and
serotonin.
• This
is the "hidden" secret that most people tend to ignore, but
which can dramatically improve the quality of your sleep.
Personally, I sleep in a room that is so dark, it's even
pitch black at noon. Liberally use blackout shades and
drapes to achieve this.
•
Sleep when it's dark outside and get up when the sun comes
up.
Brenda – I heard
someone mention that if you take clary sage internally you
will 'sleep like the dead'--wow! Do you have to take it in
a capsule to have that affect or would you take it under
your tongue? How much would you put in a capsule for
that?
JRW – I recently took it in a capsule
with 5 to 8 drops. I had been sick for nearly a month and
nothing seemed to be helping and clary sage was one of the
ones I hadn't tried yet so I figured I would see if that
would help. I mixed it with a couple of other oils too. I
didn't know it would knock me out like that. It’s honestly
not something I would recommend. Do you have insomnia or
something? I would try something a little less invasive if
you can. But then again, not being a clary sage expert I
might be completely off my rocker.
Dian - After hearing about clary sage I
put a couple of drops under my tongue and I slept like a
baby. I have only used it the one night. But am going to
use it again tonight. I want to see just what amount i need
to use for it to be effect for me. I am over 50 so the
hormonally issues have taken over my sleep. Hope this
helps.
Dian, a day later - I put a couple of
drops under my tongue again and slept like a baby again.
Mardi - Wow, I had
no idea clary sage would be great for someone with sleeping
difficulties. Does it last well into the next morning or
can you get up and go like as if you just had a good nights
sleep?
JRW – When I took 5 – 8 drops I slept
clear through the night without waking once. Keep in mind
that I was sick so that grogginess could have been the cold.
Taking as many drops as I did in a capsule was more like a
sedative you get at the dentist office than it was to help
in the aid of sleep.
Melissa - But did
it make you drag at all this morning? Or did you feel more
refreshed?
Melissa - Well I tried it for myself
last night. 2 drops under my tongue. (It is even less
taste-bud-friendly than I anticipated! Yuck!) But I slept
well and honestly, I think my mind is more clear than usual
this morning! I've only been up a couple hours but so far,
no dragging. Awesome:)
Mardi - I am so glad I know this about
Clary Sage. Sleeping is a big thing for me and if I don't
get enough of it I am a "bear" to be around. So far with
the LLV and a number of oils I do take regularly, I have not
had an issue with sleep. But this is a good go to if needed
for myself or someone else.
Paula - I am so
glad I read this! There is about one evening every month
that I feel like just curling up and crying. Okay, I do
curl up and cry. But I always put my clary sage, white fir
and cypress on my abdomen and use my heating pad. And
within just a few minutes I feel like I will live again. A
strange thing that has been puzzling to me is that once I'm
feeling better I fall asleep and rest so well. In the
morning the cramping is gone and I feel great. Not sleepy
at all. If the clary sage has this effect on people that
explains why I'm able to rest so well. I have no sleeping
problems but I will put some on tonight and see if it works.
Laura - Paula, one of the reasons behind
clary sage helping in this mixture could be its strength
with mellowing hormones and hormonal issues. One
evening a month I used to do what you do, too. Since I
got my first bottle of clary sage and used it every day, I
haven't had PMS.
Julie - On this
subject, do we know if there are any issues with taking
clary sage when taking medications for high blood pressure?
My father has horrible sleeping issues (he doesn't sleep)
and I had him using Serenity on his feet and it worked for a
while but now he's not seeing results so I wanted to try
something different and this might be a good solution.
Anyway, any advice on using clary sage for sleeping when on
high blood pressure meds would be great.
Pat - I have done some research on clary
sage and saw nowhere any danger signals regarding
medications or HBP. More than anything it talks about
relaxing, resting, hormone balancing. Men have hormones
also, I really do not think it would hurt your dad at all
and maybe even help him relax.
A drop under the tongue is what this forum is suggesting.
You haven't a thing to lose and all your Dad will get is a
good nights sleep.
Protocols
folks recommend for children
Stephanie - Would
you recommend any oils to help a newborn sleep? My son
is 8 weeks old and he is a very poor sleeper. He
rarely sleeps more than 1-2 hours, even at night. He
is also very colicky and fussy. Any suggestions are
appreciated. Thanks
Brooke - Have you tried a little Wild
Orange? I know that may sound crazy, but it is good for
digestive issues - and insomnia - especially in kids. A
little drop before bedtime on his feet may help?
Rob - For my children, who were a little older, I found a
foot massage just prior to bedtime using lavender, or I made a
blend of lemon and lavender with coconut oil was good.
This helped them sleep through the night and was very relaxing
(for them and me) and seemed to help them awake more refreshed.
It was also be a very good bonding time between the children and
me.
Ready, Set, Grow
