Essential Oils for Fatigue
Essential Oils for Fatigue
Fatigue can be a common problem. New studies are coming out all the time for the benefits of essential oils. Here are a few on essential oils that have helped with fatigue.
Studies of Essential Oils for Fatigue
Study #1:
Studied 48 male rats in a “swimming exhaustion study”.
They found that the rats that inhaled equal amounts of sweet orange essential oil, peppermint essential oil, clove essential oil and rosemary essential oil tired out last when swimming compared to those rats that just inhaled peppermint essential oil or no essential oil at all.
Study #2:
Studied 72 moms in Valiasr and Shariati hospitals from 2022 to 2023 who delivered premature babies. They experienced fatigue and stress. The mothers inhaled 2 drops of lavender essential oil for a half an hour every other day for 4 weeks. They found that the moms who inhaled the lavender essential oil showed less fatigue and stress than the others.
Study #3:
Studied 105 cardiac patients admitted to the coronary care unit in Imam Ali Hospital in Iran in 2021. The patients had 20 minute aromatherapy sessions with lavender and peppermint essential oils for 7 nights. The study concluded that inhaling lavender and peppermint oil can reduce the amount of fatigue in cardiac patients.
How to Use Essential Oils to Combat Fatigue
1) Use an Essential Oil Diffuser
Follow the directions on your diffuser.
Usually, the directions will say, “Fill the diffuser with water and usually add 5 to 10 drops of essential oils”.
Note: Based on the studies above, you might want to add one of the following to the water in the diffuser:
5-10 drops of lavender oil or
5-10 drops of peppermint oil or
5-10 drops of equal parts of sweet orange essential oil, peppermint essential oil, clove essential oil and rosemary essential oil (making the total amount of essential oils 4 to 8 drops).
2) Make an Essential Oil Roll-on
These are a great idea because you can keep them in your purse and have easy access to them when you need them.
Products/Supplies Needed:
Carrier Oil (10 ml) such as fractionated coconut oil, sweet almond oil, or jojoba oil (light and skin-friendly).
Lavender Essential Oil (10-12 drops): Known for its calming properties. (My experience is you get about 200 drops per 1/3 oz essential oil bottle.)
Roll-On Bottle (10 ml): A glass bottle with a rollerball top. (You can buy these roller bottles on amazon. They often come with caps, funnel, dropper and labels to label bottles.)
Equipment Needed
Small funnel or dropper which helps for precision.
Clean workspace to avoid contamination.
Instructions
Clean the Bottle:
Ensure the roll-on bottle is clean and dry before use.
Add Essential Oil:
Using a dropper, add 10–12 drops of lavender essential oil to the bottle.
Fill with Carrier Oil:
Use a funnel to fill the rest of the bottle with your chosen carrier oil, leaving a small gap to reattach the rollerball.
Attach the Rollerball:
Secure the rollerball top firmly onto the bottle.
Shake Well:
Shake the bottle gently to mix the essential oil with the carrier oil thoroughly.
How to Use the Roll-On
Apply to Pulse Points:
Roll onto wrists, temples, behind the ears, or the back of your neck.
Deep Breathing:
After application, inhale deeply from your wrists to enhance the calming effect.
Reapply as Needed:
Use the roll-on throughout the day during stressful moments or before bedtime.
Tips for Safety and Effectiveness
Patch Test:
Before using lavender essential oil, perform a patch test on a small area of skin to ensure you’re not allergic.
Use High-Quality Oils:
Ensure you’re using 100% pure, therapeutic-grade lavender essential oil for best results.
References
Li, Zhiyue & Wu, Fengzhi & Shao, Haozhen & Zhang, Yu & Fan, Angran & Li, Feng. (2017). Does the Fragrance of Essential Oils Alleviate the Fatigue Induced by Exercise? A Biochemical Indicator Test in Rats. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2017. 1-7.
Azita Ghorbani, Maryam Shirdel, Batool Pouraboli, Mona Mansouri, Mamak Shariat, Setareh Sagheb, Shima Haghani, The impact of lavender essential oil inhalation on fatigue and stress of mothers of premature infants, Journal of Neonatal Nursing, Volume 31, Issue 1, 2025, Pages 259-266, ISSN 1355-1841.
Mahdavikian, Somayeh, Fallahi, Masoud, Khatony, Alireza, Comparing the Effect of Aromatherapy with Peppermint and Lavender Essential Oils on Fatigue of Cardiac Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2021, 9925945, 7 pages, 2021.