Essential oils are plant extracts made from steaming or pressing various parts of flowers, plants, and trees that have been found to have therapeutic benefits. In this post, Avenues Recovery, a leading rehabilitation specialist, explains how essential oils may help with the symptoms of withdrawal from smoking, drugs, or alcohol. Many people use essential oils for addiction recovery along with medical treatment to help support them in their recovery from addiction.
How Does Aromatherapy Work for Addiction Recovery?
Aromatherapy involves inhaling essential oils through a diffuser or applying them to the skin through lotions, massage oils, and baths. Essential oils should always be diluted and kept away from the eyes, ears, and nose. Make sure to read the instructions on the package in order to use them safely.
Some benefits of using essential oils for addiction recovery include:
- Decreased stress and anxiety
- Improved sleep
- Boosted relaxation
- Alleviated nausea
- Enhanced mood
Essential Oils to Quit Smoking
The nicotine in cigarettes makes smoking one of the most difficult addictions to recover from. Many people turn to cigarettes to decrease stress, and since aromatherapy has been proven to help decrease stress, using essential oils for smoking cessation can be the first step toward quitting.
Some recommended and helpful essential oils to quit smoking include:
- Angelica oil
- Black pepper oil
- Lavender oil
- Peppermint oil
- Roman chamomile oil
- Rosemary oil
- Sweet orange oil
Essential Oils for Alcohol Withdrawal
Withdrawal from alcohol should be attempted under the close care of professionals in an alcohol detox facility like Avenues Recovery. Stopping drinking alcohol suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms which can be very difficult to manage alone. According to many sources, using essential oils can help alleviate the detox symptoms associated with withdrawal from alcohol.
The recommended essential oils for alcohol detox include:
- Ginger oil
- Lemon oil
- Lavender oil
- Black pepper oil
- Roman chamomile oil
- Fennel oil
- Grapefruit oil
- Rosemary oil
- Mandarin oil
- Peppermint oil
Essential Oils for Detox From Drugs
Stopping “cold turkey” from drugs or alcohol is not recommended. It’s recommended to be in contact with a trusted rehab center like Avenues Recovery to ensure you can detox in a safe and supportive environment. Using essential oils for withdrawal symptoms can make the entire process easier. Let’s explore how each essential oil can help with specific withdrawal symptoms:
Rosemary Oil
Rosemary oil aromatherapy benefits include detoxification, fatigue, and headaches.
Lavender Oil
Lavender oil helps calm agitation, relieve anxiety, reduce mood swings, and fight insomnia.
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil helps alleviate muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.
Roman Chamomile Oil
Roman chamomile oil is known to be calming and can help you sleep better.
Grapefruit Oil
Grapefruit oil is a type of aromatherapy used for addiction. It can also help alleviate appetite suppression, anorexia, bulimia, mental stress, and withdrawal.
Clove Oil
Clove oil is an essential oil to help you to stop smoking. Furthermore, it also helps with muscle aches and pains and regulates metabolism imbalance.
Black Pepper Oil
Black pepper oil can also help people stop smoking.
Lemon Oil
Lemon oil can help manage anxiety, stress, and depression.
Bergamot
Bergamot can help calm agitation, alleviate depression, and increase energy.
How Do I Know Which Essential Oils to Buy?
Here are some tips to guide you which essential oils to buy:
Essential Oils in Dark Containers
It is highly advisable to buy essential oils that come in dark glass containers. Those are usually higher-quality oils. Due to the high concentration of essential oils, it’s not recommended to buy oils in plastic containers as the plastic could begin to erode, whereas the glass containers will not deteriorate.
100% Essential Oil
It’s important to determine whether the oil is 100% essential oil. Some people confuse fragrance oils with essential oils, but only essential oils have the benefits described in this article. Fragrance oils that are manufactured in a laboratory instead of being extracted from plants can be damaging to the skin or people suffering from asthma.
Trusted Brands
When buying essential oils, choose brands that you trust rather than knock-off brands. Be sure to read the label as the label will contain information about the planting, picking, and extraction process to produce the oil.
How Can I Use Aromatherapy Around the House?
One way to use aromatherapy around the house is to put some essential oils in a diffuser to fill the room with a calming scent.
Another way is to put a few drops of essential oil into approximately two cups of water. Dip a washcloth into the mixture, wring it out, and gently dab it on your hands, face, or neck. (Cotton washcloths work best.) You can also store the damp washcloths in the fridge in a sealed container for later use.
Another way to benefit from aromatherapy is to sniff directly from the bottle, set out a scented stick in your house, or carry some scented sticks in your pocket or purse to use as needed.
Who Can Use Essential Oils?
Most people can use essential oils, barring those with specific medical circumstances (see below). While essential oils can be a tool to help you to alleviate the symptoms of detox and withdrawal, it’s important to note that they are not a replacement for medically assisted detox. Also, essential oils are not for everyone.
Pregnant women should consult with their obstetrician before using aromatherapy. Kids and teens should ask their doctor before using essential oils. People who are allergic to any of the ingredients should avoid using essential oils.
Additionally, people with estrogen-dependent cancer, high blood pressure, skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema, and respiratory problems like asthma should not use aromatherapy.
Herbs That Help With Withdrawal
Herbs have also been shown to have a powerful effect on addiction recovery. Valerian root and oat straw are extremely calming herbs that can be very helpful for sleep issues. They can be taken in pill form, as tinctures or tea.
Skullcap is a herb that can help with intense headaches that often occur in the early stages of recovery. It can be consumed as a tea or taken in tincture form. It is very calming on the nerves.
Lemon balm is a mild sedative. It helps to treat anxiety and has mood-enhancing properties.
Essential Oils for Addiction Recovery
Whether you're using essential oils to stop smoking or simply to aromatize your home, they offer many benefits.
Using herbs and essential oils for addiction is one of the many ways to wean yourself off drugs and away from alcohol addiction. At Avenues Recovery, our top-trained professionals will hold your hand throughout the process of withdrawal from addiction. We’ve done the same for thousands of grateful alumni. Feel free to contact us at Avenues Recovery 24/7 to hear more about how we can support you in your journey toward recovery.