The Best Essential Oils for Adrenal Fatigue

Overworked adrenal glands can result in adrenal fatigue. Naturally ease the effect of chronic stress with the best essential oils for adrenal fatigue.

What is Adrenal Fatigue?

Adrenal fatigue is not an official medical diagnosis, however, it refers to the thought that the adrenal glands can become overworked by chronic stress and go into an adrenal imbalance. This would result in imbalanced cortisol levels or other hormonal imbalances. When the body is under constant stress, symptoms can arise, but if left untreated, imbalances in the body can lead to health conditions.

What are the Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue?

Common symptoms of adrenal fatigue are:

• Extreme fatigue
• Trouble sleeping
• Dizziness
• Unexplained weight gain or weight loss
• Changes in appetite
• Cravings for sugar or salty foods
• Hair loss
• Disruptions to your normal menstrual cycle
• Digestive issues
• Anxiety
• Body aches
• Feelings of depression or irritability

What Causes Adrenal Fatigue?

The adrenal glands are responsible for producing hormones like adrenaline, cortisol, and aldosterone. These hormones help run the body’s response to stress, as well as functions like metabolism and blood pressure (Source)

“Proponents of the adrenal fatigue diagnosis claim this is a mild form of adrenal insufficiency caused by chronic stress. The unproven theory behind adrenal fatigue is that your adrenal glands are unable to keep pace with the demands of perpetual fight-or-flight arousal. Existing blood tests, according to this theory, aren’t sensitive enough to detect such a small decline in adrenal function — but your body is.” (Source)

Adrenal fatigue symptoms can easily be connected to another medical condition. Always check with a doctor and do not self-diagnose.

How to Support the Adrenal Glands?

The good news is that we can help support our adrenal glands naturally.

In the medical world, adrenal fatigue recovery starts with lifestyle changes like improving sleep, eating a balanced diet, and eliminating alcohol and tobacco. These are important for everyone’s overall health regardless of their specific health issues.

When supporting your adrenals naturally, the goal is to help bring the body back into balance so that it can carry out regular functioning. When in a state of high stress levels, your immune system becomes compromised, your energy levels may be low, and you may experience mental fatigue. By calming all of this down, you can begin to experience healing.

Are Essential Oils Safe for Adrenal Fatigue?

Yes, the use of essential oils is safe for supporting adrenal fatigue. As long as you are using pure essential oils and at the correct dilutions, essential oils are a great way to help support the body’s stress response and help address inflammation. Be sure to use essential oils that are third-party tested, do not contain fillers, and are unadulterated. Most oils you find on the shelf at the store are nothing but perfumed oils and are not true plant extracts. I have tested different oils and have felt the best results with doTerra.

If you’d like to see the science behind doTerra’s purity, read here.

Always do a patch test on a small area of skin before using essential oils liberally.

How to Use Essential Oils for Adrenal Fatigue

Topical use: Some oils can be applied “neat”, which means you can apply a drop or two directly to your skin. Some oils will be too potent to do this and will need to be diluted. I’ve noted this on each oil below.

To dilute oils, combine your selected oil with a carrier oil, like fractioned coconut oil, jojoba oil, or even olive oil! I like to combine my oil in a roller ball bottle for easy application, but you can combine and apply as you go, too. For adults, combine 3-6 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil.

You can then apply the roller to the soles of your feet, temples, or wrists.

At the end of this post, I’ll share an essential oil blend that combines the top essential oils for adrenal fatigue.

Bath time: If you like to take baths, add 10 drops of oil to 1 cup of Epsom salts and add it to your bath water.

Pillow spray: Add a few drops of your selected essential oil to a spray bottle with water. Spray your pillow and linens at night. (Skip this step if your pets lay on your bed, as not all essential oils are safe for pets.)

Diffuse: Add your selected oil or oils to a diffuser and run day or night.

Aromatherapy Inhaler: This is a great way to benefit from essential oils aromatically. It’s a great option for on-the-go inhalation. I personally just inhale from the roller ball when on the go, but this can also be a great option.

What Essential Oils are good for Adrenal Fatigue?

The following oils are the best essential oils for adrenal support because they can have a positive effect on your cortisol levels, improve the quality of your sleep, help manage stress and anxiety, support the reduction of inflammation, and help ease symptoms of adrenal exhaustion.

#1) Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender is known for its calming and relaxing properties.  It can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety and has a calming effect on the body.  Lavender can also help calm energy levels when trying to get to sleep by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system (Source)

How to Use:

• To apply topically: Lavender can be applied neat.  Apply to the temples, back of the neck, bottoms of feet, or pulse points to experience its calming, grounding effects.
• Roll On: Roll the Lavender Touch roller pulse points, like wrists and temples to promote feelings of balance.
• Diffuse: Add 3-5 drops to a diffuser to enjoy aromatic benefits.  You can adjust the number of drops once you know how strong you like the aroma.  This is a great oil to diffuse at night.
• Put a drop in the palms of your hand, rub them together, and take a few deep breaths.

Get the pre-mixed Lavender Touch roller here!

#2) Rosemary Essential Oil

Rosemary oil is effective at relieving nervous tension and occasional fatigue. Rosemary oil can trigger the production and secretion of dopamine, which is known as the “feel-good” hormone. (Source)

How to Use: Apply Rosemary oil to the temples, back of the neck, bottoms of feet, or pulse points to experience its calming, grounding effects.

#3) Clary Sage Essential Oil

Clary Sage Essential Oil helps reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.  It’s one of the most relaxing, soothing, and balancing essential oils.  Clary Sage can promote a better night’s sleep by helping calm your mind, making it another great option for diffusing at bedtime.

How to Use: Apply the Clary Sage Essential Oil to the temples, back of the neck, bottoms of feet, or pulse points to experience its calming, soothing effects.

#4) Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil

Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil is known for supporting a healthy metabolic function and helps maintain a healthy immune system. Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil also helps support the adrenal glands because it can help with inflammation and can help reduce free radicals.

How to Use: Cinnamon Bark cannot be applied neat.  It must be diluted.  Add 3-6 drops per teaspoon of carrier oil.  If you’re mixing in a roller ball, you would add 6-12 drops of cinnamon bark and top with a carrier oil like fractioned coconut oil, jojoba oil, or olive oil.

#5) Copaiba Essential Oil

Copaiba Essential Oil is often compared to CBD.  There are claims that it has similar calming effects.  Copaiba can help soothe anxious feelings.  It can also support the cardiovascular, immune, digestive, and nervous systems.  It is a powerful antioxidant, which helps reduce free radicals and eases up the stress load on the body.  While Copaiba Essential Oil doesn’t have psychoactive cannabinoids, it does contain β-caryophyllene, which promotes a relaxed mood that is associated with varieties of cannabis. (Source)

How to Use:

• To apply topically: Dilute for sensitive skin.  In a roller ball, add 6-12 drops of Copaiba and top off with a carrier oil.  Apply to the temples, back of the neck, bottoms of feet, or pulse points to experience its calming, grounding effects.
• Copaiba Essential Oil is very beneficial to the skin so you can also add a drop to your skincare routine.  It will absorb through the skin and you will enjoy relaxing benefits while doing your skin a favor.
• Diffuse: Add 3-5 drops to a diffuser to enjoy aromatic benefits.  You can adjust the number of drops once you know how strong you like the aroma.  This is a great oil to diffuse at night.

If you prefer a pre-mixed roller bottle, you can grab it here: Get the Copaiba Touch Roller Bottle here.

#6) Adaptiv Essential Oil Blend

Adaptiv Essential Oil Blend combines essential oils that are stress relieving, energizing, and uplifting.  Lavender, Magnolia, Neroli, and Sweetgum provide stress-relieving benefits.  Spearmint and Wild Orange help energize and promote an uplifted mood.  Rosemary and Copaiba help relieve anxious feelings.  

The Adaptiv Calming Blend is the perfect combination of oils for balance.  It helps promote relaxation while also uplifting the mood.

Adaptiv is available in a pre-diluted roller blend.

How to Use:

• To apply topically: Dilute for sensitive skin.  In a roller ball, add 6-12 drops of Copaiba and top off with a carrier oil.  Apply to the temples, back of the neck, bottoms of feet, or pulse points to experience its calming, grounding effects.
• Roll on:  Apply to pulse points like wrists and temples to promote feelings of balance.
• Diffuse: Add 3-5 drops to a diffuser to enjoy aromatic benefits.  You can adjust the number of drops once you know how strong you like the aroma.  This is a great oil to diffuse at night.
• Put a drop in the palms of your hand, rub them together, and take a few deep breaths.

If you prefer a pre-mixed roller bottle, you can grab it here:  Get the Adaptiv Touch Roller HERE.