The benefits of using infrared saunas are well understood but what many buyers don’t often consider is how to increase the effects of a sauna or how to elevate the experience. For as amazing a sauna is, there are certain features one can incorporate to further emphasize the reduction in physical or mental symptoms you’re looking to tackle. It stands to reason among cheap ways to do this is through an incorporation of essential oils.
Essential oils and aromatherapy have been used in every culture and time in human history. A plethora of options exist, each oil with its unique benefits or advantages. For example, you wouldn’t want to take the same essential oil for focus and concentration as you would for insomnia. It also stands to reason that adding oils to a sauna or steam room setting is probably different from the experience of applying them direct on your skin or using a diffuser. What are the best essential oils for infrared sauna aromatherapy – here’s our list, as recommended by the experts.
Tea tree
Tea tree’s at the top of our list because it’s an unknown must-have you’ll absolutely want to maintain in your essential oil collection. Tea tree is the best essential oil for fighting infections, acclaimed for its immune system boosting properties. As an antiseptic, it can also help when you’re feeling sick with the flu. Like other essential oils on this list, ensure tea tree is thoroughly diluted prior to use.
Rosehip
Rosehip is an anti-aging essential oil that really zeroes in on treating the skin. Some of rosehip essential oil’s most well-known benefits include it being a hydrate, moisturizer, helping with exfoliation, brightening the skin, boosting collagen formation, reducing skin inflammation, protecting against sun damage, and reducing hyperpigmentation.
Citrus
Some people may strongly dislike citrus scents, like lemon and orange, because they are used in so many of our cleaning products. That said, starting off the day with an infrared sauna with orange essential oil or lemon essential oil, it really does wake you up. Get energized! Citrus also contains antidepressant properties, is known as an anti-inflammatory oil, and evidently isn’t the sort of thing you want to dig into before bed because it can really give you a zing!
Thyme
Thyme essential oil is an underrated sauna aromatherapy selection that can be used as an insect repellant, is known to treat yeast infections and some skin conditions as well as respiratory infections and coughs, and which comes with antimicrobial properties. Although you may find it utterly confusing using thyme essential oil in a sauna, smelling like a pork roast and all, the advantages are well studied and make it a reliable choice.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a strong herb-influenced essential oil that has properties associated with providing memory boosts and mental clarity, soothing headaches, alleviating muscle pain and cramps if applied topically, fighting depression, healing skin issues, and assisting with digestion. Rosemary isn’t a very common infrared sauna oil however it’s one we wanted to include because of its benefits and unique scent.
Peppermint
Peppermint is a stimulant, no question. In essential oil form, peppermint’s known to boost energy and wake a person up in the morning. If what you want is something to naturally get you on your feet come sunrise, this is it. Peppermint essential oil also has some antispasmodic properties meaning that it can be used to help remedy nausea or similar stomach ailments.
Cinnamon
Who doesn’t love a little cinnamon in the morning or afternoon? Cinnamon essential oil is a concentration or focus-related choice. It reinvigorates the body’s senses, waking them up in stimulation. You may also note that cinnamon essential oil in a sauna can soothe sore muscles and act as a decongestant. Cinnamon’s also a natural anti-inflammatory, helps to boost mood, and improves metabolism.
Frankincense
Frankincense comes from the Boswellia carterii or Boswellia sacra trees and it’s an essential oil known to support optimum immune system performance. The frankincense oil has anti-aging properties, is said to improve digestion, and is a hormone balancer. There are even some studies which demonstrate how frankincense helps to fight certain cancers while also lessening the negative effects of chemotherapy.
Birch
Birch is a classic sauna essential oil aromatherapy selection, combining a minty scent with a laundry list of health benefits including being antibacterial, anti-fungus, circulation stimulator, detoxification, and with some pain reduction properties. In application with salicylic acid and methyl salicylate through a sauna or diffuser, birch essential oil has also been used to eliminate ringworm and eczema symptoms.
Patchouli
Patchouli is Earth-y, pungent, and isn’t an essential oil everyone will appreciate. Patchouli, for some, is very closely associated with the counterculture movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Patchouli is well known to relieve anxiety, reduce bloating, provide relaxation, fight depression, reduce fatigue, and help balance hormones. It’s an essential oil for a sauna we think is worth recommending, though you’ll definitely want to give it a quick try before using.
Chamomile
What is the most relaxing essential oil to use in a sauna? The answer’s probably chamomile. Chamomile essential oil helps with digestion and nausea, wound healing, provides anxiety relief, eases skin conditions like eczema, is anti-inflammatory and provides pain relief for conditions including arthritis or nerve pain, and promotes sleep. A little bit of chamomile essential oil in a sauna after a long day’s work or right before bed provides an excellent come-down.
Juniper
Juniper essential oil comes from juniper berries which are very potent antioxidants. In the form of an essential oil, juniper is an anti-inflammatory, helps with detoxification, and supports healthy organ function. With its woody, sweet, and crisp scent, juniper oil has also been used at times to help with digestion, kidney stones, and even UTIs.
Pine
Pine is a go-to anti-headache and anti-congestion essential oil that’s perfect for a sauna. Transform your infrared sauna into a room that smells literally like a forest. You’ll feel like you’re on a whole new journey sitting in with this all-natural scent. If you’ve ever wondered the true consequence an essential oil can have on a sauna experience, pine is a great choice. Pine’s known to reduce joint pain, relieve headaches, boost mood, and even treat acne. That said, don’t use pine before bed as it has been known to perk up and give you energy – not what you want settling into sleep.
Lavender
If chamomile is the most relaxing essential oil, lavender isn’t far behind. Lavender’s a soother, winding a person down while calming headaches, improving brain function, and providing the skin with anti-aging antioxidants. Lavender’s very much a restorative essential oil and used just before bedtime, it’s a nice way to sit back and ease your way into sleep time.
Eucalyptus
The most common essential oil used in infrared saunas is eucalyptus. With its pleasant scent, eucalyptus treats mental exhaustion and also helps to clear the respiratory system. It can be applied to kill germs and bacteria that may be airborne. It’s also been used in some cultures helping wounds heal due to the antimicrobial and germicidal properties it carries.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood increase mental clarity and boosts memory, and is a common incense type. In aromatherapy, researchers have founded sandalwood works similarly to lavender however without much of the drowsiness that comes with it. Sandalwood carries properties that are anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, anti-spasmodic, and which can help lower blood pressure. Sandalwood’s one of the most popular essential oils for sauna meditation.
Did you know you can combine essential oils in a sauna?
It’s true! You can combine and mix different essential oils in an aromatherapy sauna to find a unique blend to you! Keep in mind not every oil works well with all the other ones. Citrus and peppermint, pine and birch, and lavender and sandalwood are a few of our favourite combination oils. Feel free to stoke your creativity and create your own!