The Salutation | Essential Oil Blend, 10ml

The Cortisol Awakening Response

From the moment you open your eyes, the brain signals the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. This surge occurs for about 30 to 45 minutes before gradually declining as the day goes on. Scientists refer to this phenomenon as the cortisol awakening response (CAR).

Cortisol is the body’s natural alarm system. It’s essential for day-to-day functioning, but elevated levels can deplete your resilience to stress and lead to insomnia, depression, anxiety, inflammation, and even an increased risk of autoimmune disease.

While good quality sleep is important to achieving balanced cortisol, a consistent, gentle waking routine is equally important to help you feel and function at your best. This is particularly true for those prone to stress, as even the sound of the alarm or the simple act of checking your phone can send cortisol soaring, sabotaging your intentions for the day.

A morning ritual – whether that’s taking a few moments to stretch, journal or meditate with aromatherapy – can help to keep stress in check and transform your day into a productive one.

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Ylang-Ylang (Cananga odorata) has a calming effect, decreasing blood pressure and slowing the heart rate, but increasing alertness [1,2].

Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) significantly reduces stress, reducing the body's “fight or flight” stress response by 40% [3] while also releasing mood and motivation-enhancing serotonin [4].

Rosemary ct Cineole (Rosmarinus officinalis ct cineole) is especially high in 1.8 cineole, which is known to increase dopamine [5] and decrease the breakdown of acetylcholine [6], enhancing memory and mental acuity [7] and accelerating neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to adapt and learn) [8].

Lime Peel (Citrus aurantifolia) is abundant in limonene, which boosts mood and immunity [9] and has powerful neuroprotective properties that enhance memory processing and cognitive function [10].

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Diffuse: Add a few drops into one of Appellation’s stone diffusers and diffuse throughout the area where you're undertaking your morning routines.

Pulse points: Place a drop or two on your pulse points or the the palm of your hands. Rub your palms together, cup your hands, and inhale deeply.