Any advice on aromatherapy solutions for sleeping problems?

[Byukiumrsvfyy]

Hi, i am looking for some advice on how to help my boyfriend sleep. i am a budding, amateur aromatherapist and would love some advice from some people who know the best tricks of the trade!!

My boyfriend has been havong trouble sleeping since i had to move back home to finish my degree. He finds he is having trouble with waking during the night and waking very early in the morning and not being able to return to sleep.

I am beginning to get concerned about it as he says he can oly sleep properly when i am there and, as i am not there most of the time, i cant help him sleep.

Please help!!!

steph

 

[ceteliainty]

Lavendar Oil sprayed onto his pillow will help him sleep better. There is a wheatease pillow that its on the market, the pillow contains Camomile and Lavendar, this helped me in the past, and I slept like a new born baby.

Goodluck!!

 

[fight.trainer]

I think it is important to identify why he has trouble sleeping and as you have commented it is when you are away; it is possible that there is an anxiety/insecurity issue. Personally I would select oils which deal with this as well as insomnia. I would also encourge your boyfriend to use the oils when you are around and then continue to use them in your absense. I would also discourage using massage as a method of application, because again he will just associate the oils with you, so perhaps a bath or on his pillow would be more appropriate.

As a long-term sufferer of night waking, I know how frustrating this can be. The trick is not to force sleep or get too upset about waking. He needs to remain calm, relax and even get up until he feels tired again. There are lots of factors often assocated with insomnia so it is best that he also looks at his diet/lifestyle and sleeping environment to see if anything else is out of place.

 

[3niR]

I swear by peppermint, lavender is way too strong for my liking.

Perhaps he needs to look at his lifestyle and what he does before going to bed, goes he read or is his mind busy just before turning off the lights.. when he wakles is he dreaming.. is something on his mind.. is he worried about you whilst you're away.. could he do some exercise before bed. This is a restless time of year for most, cause the suns up and most of us sleep lighter and wake earlier.. if this is a partial factor (even if you are there) do you have any blackout blinds or curtains in the room?

Oh and another one.. if he's missing you at night and you use a particular perfume that might make him feel more at ease than aromatherapy oils..

 

[queenz11]

Thanks for the advice so far guys. I do think his diet could do with looking at but the trouble is implementing it while i'm not there to keep an eye on him. I have suggested, today infact, that he tries exercising in the evenings to try tire him out. He says he will give it a go, but as i said before, it is difficult to get him to do it if i'm not there to encourage him to do it.

He says he sleeps fine when i am there so i guess it is possible that it is an insecurity or anxiety issue, though why this is an issue i am not sure.

Anybody got any recommendations for some blends that i can give him to use in the bath? He isnt overly keen on lavender as it reminds him of his grandmothers house (which im sure is the case for many people), however when masked by other oils it doesn't seem to bother him as much.

Also, any ideas on blends to get him up and moving and motivated to make the necessary lifestyle changes he needs to help him in the long term for his sleeping problem?

Any suggestions would be of much appreciation, you've all helped tremendously so far. It is always harder to see the problem when it is so close to your heart.

Thanks again folks.

 

[Spooky1]

Hi

This suggestion may sound a bit strange, but it's tried and tested and genuinely works in many cases:

- at bedtime, briefly rub a couple of drops of neat lavender and chamomile oil into the soles of your boyfriend's feet. The oils are absorbed into the system and act as a relaxant (also, he won't be put off by the smell too much cos his feet are far enough away from his nose!!).

My other suggestion would be to invest in some Valerian oil which is renowned for its sedative properties. It smells pretty revolting neat, but blended with other oils in a carrier it's less noticeable.

For helping him get up and moving, maybe try a blend with Grapefruit oil in a diffuser. I have an electric diffuser and I set it up at night by putting a few drops of blended oils onto a cotton wool pad. Then plug the unit into a timer switch, which I then set for morning. It really helps get me started in the morning.

Also, bear in mind that your boyfriend (for all he clearly loves you) is perhaps being a little unfair by letting you know that he "ONLY SLEEPS WHEN YOU ARE THERE". You are obviously a very kind and thoughtful person, but just keep a wary eye out for any signs that he is being a touch manipulative. It might be that he is just trying to persuade you to stay with him rather than study elsewhere.

I feel pretty low suggesting something like that (I've probably just had too many boyfriends in the past who have been less than honest !! )

Anyway, I hope you get it all sorted out. Good luck!

Kitten
xxx

 

[hrcheshe]

Try taking Passiflora capsules, take a nightly dose of Passiflora capsules for five consecutive nights to try to re-establish your pattern. Passiflora is a herb that has a long traditional use in sleep disorders. I recommend it for sleep problems caused by a range of things including stress, jet lag and recurrent waking problems.

The essential oil Vetivert aka old stinky- add a couple of drops to a hanky with maybe two drops of Lavender or Chamomile(to mask smoky smell) and then stuff this hanky inside the pillow case.
This will gradually re-educate his sleep, Vetivert subtle and gentle but stronger than Lavender and Chamomile if sleeping is really bad.

Use Vetivert with caution as this is a very strong oil.

Hope this adds to all the other good advice already given.

aromaboy

 

[angel_ika]

I keep a blend of clary sage, neroli and ylang ylang by the bed as I sometimes get anxious and twitchy at night and this calms it and helps me sleep.

Lesley

 

[wredeGesY]

thats interesting, lesley... i made a blend today for an anxious client (who didnt turn up as it happens... hmmm) of clary sage, marjoram and ylang ylang + one drop of lavender for good measure! but now i wont know if it was a good choice of oils or not!

 

[jhhpdhsm]

Thanks again for the advice guys, you're all so helpful!!

I mentioned to my boyfriend (Michael) about the exercising thing, he has taken note and did a little last night ( to build himself up to it ), and it seems to be working. He said he slept all the way through last night after a little exercies and a aroma bath. So hopefully if he keeps it up his sleeping pattern will return to normal.

Thanks again for the advice folks.

Anyone know of any good, reputable courses in or around the South Yorkshire area which would lead to professional practise? I am having a nightmare of a time finding a course near to me. Help!!!!

Cheers guys and gals.xxx

 

[Young Mills / Milla]

Hi Kitten,

thanks for the tips. and yes it does make me a tad on the guilty side but i do feel he just genuinely misses me, he's a good man and i know im lucky to have him. so im just trying my best to help him, anyway he knows i have to finish my degree and he wont let me quit so its all good!!!!

Thanks again for your advice, i'll give the boosting one a go for sure!!!!

STeph.xxx

 

[Benjamin!]

Thanks Gill for your help,

your quite right it does sound confusing. im not really sure where to start. I've looked on Learn Direct before and they list a school in Worksop, which would be ideal as my boyfriend lives very near there. However, the website link they have with it doesnt seem to work so i am dubious at to how cotia it is. Its a tough game finding somewhere up north i think. ho hum, the search continues.

Thanks again for your help, it is really really appreciated.

Steph

 

[Marilyn]

Here are a few places that you could search for a suitable local course:

[link]http://www.itecworld.co.uk[/link]

[link]http://www.vtct.org.uk[/link]

[link]http://www.ifparoma.org[/link]

[link]http://www.ifaroma.org[/link]

I think there are plenty of local colleges and private colleges in the north - you should be able to find a good course.

Be aware that you may need an A&P and massage qualification before you're accepted onto an aromatherapy course.

Hope that helps a bit!

 

[keep it classic]

Last time I tried to look up colleges on the ITEC site it didn't work, so it would be worth calling them. Also if you are having problems with learn direct listings maybe it is just the website is out of date, they normally cover reputable colleges & schools, but if at all concerned check with the governing body that they are infact registered.


I don't know if you have tried them but North Nottinghamshire college run VTCT courses
http://www.nnotts-col.ac.uk/

Chesterfield college do VTCT/IIHHT courses in aroma and EDXCEL/BTEC HNC in Body Massage
www.chesterfield.ac.uk

Good luck!

 

[FleskBusfus]

Aaah, Angelfish, you have just become my new hero!!! The North Nottinghamshire College not only offer all courses necessary but it is in Worksop too!!! Yay, that is so close to where i'll be living in a years time. I feel so relieved to know that I can do this without having to travel miles and miles. Phew!!

Thanks so much for you help, you've been a star!!
Steph.x

 

[Jason D]

Brilliant news, I hope all goes will for you Steph.

 

[Negeshia]

Hi Steph,

Back to sleeping... Glad that exercise helped.
Sweet orange oil can also be very helpful. It can be blended with lavender. Don't overdose on the lavender as it can become a stimulant in high doses. Valerian is great for sleeping, but maybe the capsule/tablet form is more conveneint? No bad smell!

Artemis