It is estimated that more than 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. This can lead to severe health conditions if left untreated or undiagnosed.
If you are concerned that you may have sleep apnea, then you should make an appointment with your healthcare provider to set up an evaluation. I did a post on my experience with both at home and in-lab sleep studies here.
Using Essential Oils
Now for essential oils! I love using essential oils for practically everything in my home and practice. Thieves from Young Living is an excellent combination of oil for cleaning hard surfaces. I use essential oils for a variety of problems, both internally and externally, so it’s no wonder that I enjoy using them to help me sleep.
Essential oils are not a replacement for actual sleep apnea treatment, whether it’s jaw surgery (like I’m having) or a C-PAP or whatever it is that you might need.
This is simply a combination of essential oils that is helping me to get a more restful night to sleep before my jaw surgery.
Why Use Essential Oils for Sleep Apnea?
Essential oils are usually free from toxins that can be considered endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors are toxins that affect our hormones. Hormones control our sleep, our sexual reproductive organs, our metabolism, and so much more.
Essential oils come from plants, trees, roots, etc.… They are processed in a variety of ways to extract the essence of the plant in oil form. This oil can then be applied by itself or with a carrier oil such as olive oil or coconut oil to apply to hands, feet, or other body parts.
I’m only to go over what I do, which is to use certain essential oils topically.
Which Essential Oils are Best for Sleep Apnea?
Great Question! Let’s dive into the best part, which ones are we going to use for sleep apnea!
Thyme
Thyme is an herb that many people grow in their gardens.
It is known to be antibacterial, antibiotic, antifungal, antioxidant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, and disinfectant.
Grounding Blend (from DoTerra)
Includes the essential oils of blue chamomile flower, blue tansy flower, frankincense, ho wood, spruce needle/leaf in a base of fractionated coconut oil
It is known to be used to help calm the nerves.
Frankincense
My personal favorite of all time. I use frankincense every day, and I love it.
Frankincense essential oils come from the resin of the Boswellia tree.
It is known to be analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, etc..
How to Use the Essential Oils for Sleep Apnea
Combine in a bowl the following combination: 20 drops Thyme, five drops Grounding Blend, 5 drops Frankincense, 30 drops of Fractionated Coconut Oil. Apply 2-4 drops of Blend to bottoms of feet and big round toes before bedtime.
Get Healthy and Stay Healthy
I want everyone to be as healthy and happy as you can be. This means taking other measures that are within your control to help improve your sleep. Eat right, get enough exercise, drink plenty of water, and meditation are all key to helping achieve a good night’s sleep.
I find that using essential oil blends like this every night helps me to stay asleep longer, and I wake up less. Overall, I encourage you to seek medical help and try to find the root cause of your problem. Sleep apnea is a severe medical condition and takes years of your life if you aren’t careful.
