You’d think sleeping would be easy. Just lay down, close your eyes and snore (at least I admit I snore right?). But sleep is actually pretty hard for me. Some of it is pain and some of it is blindness. Many of us who don’t have much light perception struggle to keep our body clocks ticking to a steady rhythm. Sleep has been a challenge for as long as I can remember, but in the last week, I’ve month or so better than usual.
One thing contributing to the improvement in my sleep is Doterra’s upgraded Serenity Sleep System. It’s got three parts. The Serenity blend of essential oils, The Serenity Stick with Valerian and the Serenity Softgels with Tart Cherry. This post is going to discuss the collection of products and how I’m using them to sleep better.
The Serenity Blend
Serenity smells like a lullaby in a bottle. It’s like a combo of lavender, chamomile, sandalwood and vanilla. I tend to add a little spearmint, for its fresh smell, and ability to calm occasional stomach upset.
How Can I Use Serenity Oil?
All of the oils in Serenity are super calming to the mind and body. Diffusing Serenity by the bedside or putting a drop or two on the pillow can go a long way toward helping create a sleep-friendly environment. It’s also a great oil to add to a linen spray. If you want to really upgrade your bedtime routine, you can add a few drops to some carrier oil and give yourself or someone you love a bedtime massage. This can be a special time for parents and their kids. It’s a great time to talk about the day and what went well, giving you and your child a chance to reconnect. Another option is to add a few drops to some epsom salts and a little carrier oil and add that to a pre-bedtime bath.
What’s in Serenity Oil Anyway?
The oils in the Serenity blend are mostly floral and tree or root oils. Flower oils tend to be soothing and soft. Some floral oils in Serenity include Lavender, Roman Chamomile and Ylang Ylang. Lavender is the oil I hear about most because it’s so versitile, it can be soothing to the mind and body. It’s in many Doterra blends like Peace, Adaptiv (Calming blend) and the Rescuer (Kids’ Soothing blend). Tree and root oils include cedarwood, Sandalwood and Vetiver. Tree and root oils promote grounding. Grounding is kind of like resettling into yourself and reconnecting with the world around you. I find it gives me a sense of stillness. Other things that help me become more grounded include meditation and breathing just to name a few. Here’s a short description of how I use grounding to help promote a better night’s sleep. I’ve been flying around all day putting out fires emotionally and mentally all day, it’s hard to settle down. Even though my head might be on the pillow physically, my brain sure isn’t. I’m thinking about all of the stuff that went wrong or things I “should’ve done better”. When I take time to ground myself say by meditating, putting a few drops on my hands and a fidget toy, rub my hands together then cup my hands over my nose and mouth, do some deep breathing. It feels like my brain and thoughts come back into my head which is on the pillow. I’m not claiming that I sleep like a baby by doing this, but I can say that it sets me up for a better chance of sleep. Tree and root oils can do something similar.
Serenity Softgels
Let’s take care of the most important thing first: though it is definitely safe, also expected, to use the Serenity softgels internally, it is not safe to use the Serenity essential oil blend internally. Serenity SoftGels do not contain the Serenity essential oil blend we just discussed. There are some oils in the oil blend which are not marked for internal use.
So, what’s in them then? The softgels contain Lavender essential oil, tart cherry, L-Theanine, chamomile and lemon balm. Lavender oil has been researched and found to be helpful in promoting restful sleep. Tart Cherry has naturally occurring melatonin and L-Theanine which can be found in green tea, and also encourages production of gabba, which is a calming neurotransmitter.
Serenity stick with Valerian
The serenity stick is a solid stick, containing the serenity blend as well as valerian. I’ve never liked Valerian. When I taken it internally, the capsules always smelled like moldy socks. Fortunately, the serenity stick with valerian does not have anything in common with that. I think it has to do with the fact that it’s valerian essential oil. Basically, it reminds me a bit of the Serenity blend, mixed with tea or something herbal and pleasant. The stick glides on effortlessly and smoothly. It basically looks like a very large Chapstick, or if you’ve seen one, a round deodorant container. I glide it on the back of my neck, chest, wrists and bottoms of my feet. It’s very comforting and soothing.
How do I use the whole system?
When I use the whole system together, it’s most effective. First, I take the serenity softgels before going to bed, usually about a half an hour or so before I actually lay down. This seems to set me up for going to sleep more smoothly. Because of the tart cherry, which creates melatonin, it gives my body the signal that it’s time to go to sleep. Next, I diffuse serenity and, as mentioned before, any other oils I might want to diffuse. then, when I go to bed, I glide on the Serenity stick. I like to use other essential oils in roller bottles, and make it into a very luxurious bedtime routine. I always think about how the royalty in ancient times would paint their bodies with fragrant oils, anointing themselves. That luxurious bedtime routine is a way of giving myself some love. Basically, the serenity essential oil and serenity stick tend to help encourage me to stay asleep, while the serenity softgels tend to encourage me to go to sleep. It’s a great way to create a routine that supports my body and provides the most effective support for a good nights rest. Please note that it does not replace good sleep hygiene. When I have slept during the day or exercise too close to bed, or done other things that don’t encourage restful sleep, I do find that I still don’t sleep well. that said, when combined with effective sleep hygiene, I am much more likely to feel rested the next morning. As with anything, using essential oils cannot replace good habits. For example, I took a nap during the day today, because I had a bad migraine. Now, I find myself unable to sleep even even though I used the Sereniy stick and softgels. If you are using essential oils, and also using good sleep hygiene, and you still find you don’t sleep well, it’s important to see a qualified medical professional.
Links to the Serenity products
The serenity sleep system is available in a kit which saves you money, but it’s also available as separate items. If you want to try one item at a time, you certainly can. I found that using all three products is the most effective, but it’s important to figure out what works best for you. Below our links to the whole system kit as well as each of the products on their own.
Nickie’s Nook: Oils and Books 
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