7 Essential Oils You Should Try for a Good Night’s Sleep (and 3 to Avoid)

Why you should give essential oils a try

Madeleine Steinbach/Shutterstock Since ancient times, healing herbal oils have been used to calm, relieve stress, and relax the body. And modern research continues to support the benefits of essential oils, as countless studies have shown that certain herbs can intervene in the stress response by keeping cortisol levels in check and restoring calm to the nervous system, says Susan Smith Jones, Ph.D, author, and holistic health expert. But while stress is certainly a concerning factor in America, it correlates directly with another giant problem: Americans aren’t getting enough sleep. “During high periods of stress, the one thing we’re most incapable of doing is getting a good night’s sleep,” says Dr. Jones. In fact, a survey by the American Psychological Association found that 42 percent of adults reported that their sleep quality is fair or poor and 43 percent of them reported that stress was a key factor in causing them to lie wide awake at night. Thankfully, essential oils can help treat both chronic issues plaguing many adults today. We talked to experts in the fields of integrative and herbal medicine to find out the best—and worst—essential oils for sleep.