The Best Essential Oils for Adrenal System Support: Soothe, Relax, and Energize

By Caryn Gehlmann, Clinical Aromatherapist

Your adrenal glands might be small, but they play a big role in keeping you healthy. These two triangular glands sit on top of your kidneys and are made up of two main parts: the outer cortex and the inner medulla. Each part has its own important job, working together to produce hormones that help your body stay balanced, maintaining your overall health, sex drive, mental well-being, and emotional balance. So don’t leave your adrenal system support to chance!

Signs Your Adrenals Might Need Some Love

If your adrenal glands are out of balance, you might notice symptoms like:

• Overwhelming fatigue
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Weight gain
• Trouble sleeping
• A weakened immune system

When your adrenals are overworked, it can lead to something called adrenal fatigue,  burnout, or exhaustion. This can happen due to chronic stress, poor diet, too much caffeine or sugar, or other health issues. If you think your adrenals might be out of balance, it’s a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider to explore your options.

How Essential Oils Can Give Adrenal System Support

Essential oils can be a gentle, natural way to support your adrenal health. By reducing stress, promoting relaxation, and helping your body find its natural balance, essential oils can help keep your endocrine system happy. To get the most out of essential oils, try combining them with other wellness practices like massage, acupuncture, meditation, mindfulness, and a healthy lifestyle.

Some Essential Oils for Adrenal Support

Our number one option is e3’s pre-mixed blend, Adrenal Support. Our clinical aromatherapists carefully designed this blend for its therapeutic uses. The balancing essential oils used in this blend are especially helpful when you combine them with relaxation strategies.

How effective is it? When the people on Maui were trying to recover after a devastating wildfire, Dr. Valerie Simonsen used Adrenal Support and she said, “As I drove into town, I reached for e3’s Adrenal Support blend and applied it to my left wrist. I experienced immediate relief. My vagus nerve reset instantly. A deep breath assured me I was ok and I could do this.” 

Here are additional essential oils that can be helpful for adrenal support:

Photo by Kelly Sikkema

Bergamot: Antidepressant, appetite balancer.

Black Spruce: Fatigue, immune support, adrenal support, stress, anxiety, feelings of burn out.

Cardamom: Anxiety, mental fatigue, mild depression, indigestion, nausea, heartburn, stomach ache, poor circulation,

Cedarwood Atlas: Immune Support, stress, tension, anxiety, emotional exhaustion.

Clary Sage: Relax and strengthen nervous system

Frankincense: Insomnia and mental concentration difficulties.

Geranium: Poor circulation, immune support, general overall tonic, stress, anxiety, mild depression.

Ginger: Nervous exhaustion, mental fatigue, mental fog.

Lavender: Adaptogenic, promotes relaxation

Peppermint: Sluggishness, immune support, nervous stress, mild depression, shock.

Pine: Poor circulation, fatigue, immune support, adrenal support.

Rosemary: Good strengthening tonic for the whole body often used for clients who are tired, run down and may be helpful for exhaustion.

Vetiver: Poor circulation, immune support, nervous tension, mild depression, mental exhaustion.

You can mix and match these essential oils according to what smells best to you because that is what will relax, soothe, and refresh you. To get you started, here’s a sample recipe:

Revitalizing Adrenal System Support
Recipe from Practical Aromatherapy for Self Care, by Joni Keim
4 drops Pine
4 drops Black Spruce
2 drops Lavender

Now that you have the base recipe, what do you do with it? Rub it on neet? No! It needs to be properly diluted for safe usage, see the tips below on the best way to use essential oils.

How to Use Essential Oils for Adrenal System Support

Inhalation: Put 1-3 drops of essential oil on a tissue and inhale the aroma through your nose. Pause and inhale again. (Avoid touching your nose with the tissue.)

Bath: Mix 4-8 drops of essential oil in 1 teaspoon of carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil. (You can also add the essential oil to 1/2 cup of whole milk or heavy cream.) Set aside. If you have muscle or joint aches, add Epsom Salt (pure magnesium sulfate), Magnesium Flakes (pure magnesium chloride) or Dead Sea salts. Fill the tub with warm water and immerse yourself. Add the essential oil mixture and swirl the water around you. Massage your skin and breathe in the aroma. Remain in the tub for 10-15 minutes.

Bath, Foot: Mix 1-3 drops of essential oil in 1/2 teaspoon of carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil. Set aside. Fill a tub (deep enough to cover your feet and ankles) with warm water. Add the essential oil mixture, stir well, and immerse your feet for 10-15 minutes.

Massage: Mix 6-30 drops of essential oil in 1 ounce of carrier oil or fragrance-free, natural lotion and use to massage lower back every morning and evening.

Since there’s such a long list of essential oils for adrenal system support, do you wonder which will work best for you? Download a copy of our free ebook, Listen to Your Nose – An Introduction to Aromatherapy and then you’ll know how to make an informed choice. You’ll also receive a coupon for 20% off your first order.