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Can Essential Oils Help with Depression? Using Aromatherapy as a Mood Regulator

By Yellowstar2000 @TherapeuticOils

Originally from my Yahoo repertoire, I decided to add this gem to my blog. Happy new year!

With this article, I’ll show you how it’s possible to employ pure therapeutic grade essential oils to help ease depression and lessen anxiety, simply and naturally.

First things first, if you’ve never used essential oils before, read a primer I wrote on essential oils, what they are and the difference between therapeutic grade and most “on the market” essential oils called “Many Helpful Suggestions on Uses of Essential Oils” before delving into this article, it will save you lots of questions.

More and more these days, plants are finding a medicinal purpose in our lives, people like natural cures rather than subjecting themselves to harsh man-made chemicals and pills.

“A depressed emotional state is a common reason for using complementary and alternative therapies today. A wide range of psychological, physical, and energetic issues can lead to feelings of depression and a pervasive outlook of negativity. Moreover, once in a state of depression, patterns can arise that make relief all the more difficult to find. The use of essential oils for uplifting the psyche and spirit is becoming more widespread because of the oils’ broad and dramatic effects. While the oils themselves may not directly affect the underlying cause of depression, they may help individuals break free from depressive cycles – they may provide the impetus to ‘get off the couch’, so to speak, and begin creating long lasting change. Many natural healers believe depression to be a result of, like many other ills, of being out of balance; being unable to ‘synch up’ with the natural state of harmony that permeates the universe. For relieving this is-harmony, aromatherapy can be a very powerful means to infuse one’s body and mind with the most concentrated, sublime botanicals nature has to offer.”- Ananda Apothecary

Can essential oils help with anxiety?

The short answer is yes. The how and why are a bit more scientific, but suffice to say that it’s true what they say, “your nose knows”. You’ve definitely experienced this before. A good example would be smelling a freshly baked apple pie and remembering Grandma’s house in the country when you were just a kid. That’s your limbic system at work. Basically, your sense of smell is the shortest and quickest way into your brain, including your memory banks, through the limbic system ( which is the seat of the emotional center and is partly responsible for our our emotional reaction to something, our fight or flight response, our hormonal secretions, motivation, pain reflex and our mood fluctuations). Some essential oils have thousands of chemicals contained within a tiny drop, and some have only a few, but they all have purposes, and can all cause strong reactions when inhaled or used on the skin.

Can essential oils help with depression?

Again, the short answer is yes they can, in the same way they can help with anxiety, essential oils can also aid in reducing melancholy and heightening happy feelings or uplifting your mood by pure science of chemistry. Just knowing what chemicals to use, and that they are pure therapeutic grade essential oils can really ‘make or break’ the deal. Essential oils are really just natural science by God, given to us as “medicine” whether it be for the body (physical), mind (mental), or spirit (emotional and spiritual).

The best therapeutic grade essential oils to use to lift your spirits and put you in a better mood are as follows:

Essential Oils that are Antidepressant/ mood regulators:

Rose or rose otto
Orange
Bergamot
Geranium
Mandarin
Lemon
Neroli (orange blossom)

Essential Oils for Anxiety or Stress

Lavender
Geranium
Rose or rose otto
Mandarin
Lemon
Bergamot
Vetiver
Neroli

How to use these essential oils for anxiety or depression

There are a variety of ways you can use these essential oils to aid in mood regulation. Two being: INHALATION AND TOPICAL APPLICATION.

Diffusers-Inhalation

One of the simplest ways is to use a diffuser for your personal or work space. Most are quite simple to use either by adding water and a few drops of essential oil, and plugging it in, or by a candle warming the water and oil mixture. You can find them just about anywhere now, from the grocery store to ebay and Amazon , aromatherapy stores or specialty stores. Click Here To Visit Diffuser World.

Nebulizers-Inhalation

There are also nebulizers which are even better at dispersing essential oils into the air.

Car Diffusers-Inhalation

These plug right into your cigarette lighter or extra power source in your dash or console of your car. Take the fresh scent with you and brighten up your day instead of complaining about traffic. After diffusing something like lemon or peppermint in your car I guarantee you’ll spark right up and have a smile on your face.

Topical Application:

Best used by adding essential oils to an unscented lotion, aloe vera gel or diluted with an oil, for example, getting a massage.

Straight application:

Although this method is not recommended often as essential oils are potent and may be too strong for some people. Many are sensitive to the extreme potency of a therapeutic grade essential oil, but if you’re feeling brave and have used essential oils before (especially Lavender, one of the safest out there) then feel free to use a couple drops in your palms and rub together to release the scent. You can dab it under your nose, rub a couple drops into your wrists or the like. I would only try this with the following oils:

Lavender, Rose, Neroli, Geranium, Lemon, Mandarin, (almost any citrus oil, but beware citrus oils are phototoxic; meaning don’t wear them in the sun)

Massage:

There is so much I could say about the wonders of massage…but I don’t want to lose you so I’ll just say that if you can get one, DO! They are the best preventative medicine available to us and with the use of essential oils added to your massage lotion, gel or oil, you won’t believe the miracles that can happen. Just ask any Massage Therapist or “Raindrop Technique Therapist” and you’ll get an ear-full of how magical a massage can be. If your loved one is giving the loving massage, use a MAXIMUM of, or no more than 8-10 drops per oz. as essential oils are very potent. It’s better to use less and add more if needed. Just choose your carrier oil, gel or unscented lotion and add your choice of therapeutic grade essential oils and mix well.

Remember, it’s always better to try than to give up, so smile and know someone is thinking of you and wishes the very best for your health and well-being!

Where to get GOOD therapeutic grade Essential Oils:

Mountain Rose Herbs

Young Living oils (my friend is also a YL distributor her sign up number is: #1071625 )

For More Information on Natural Helpers for Depression, see another AC writer- Patti Stafford’s article on

HERBS FOR DEPRESSION. It has gobs of good tips :)

Sources:

http://www.botanical.com/products/aroma/ess.html

http://www.dreamingearth.com/essentialoils4.html

http://sites.google.com/site/yellowstaressentials/Home

http://www.anandaapothecary.com/articles/essential-oils-depression.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/44866/herbs_for_depression.html?singlepage=true&cat=5

Click Here To Visit Diffuser World

http://www.abundantlifeessentials.com/essential_oil_info.htm

diffusers:

ebay and Amazon , aromatherapy stores or specialty stores

Click Here To Visit Diffuser World.

http://www.youngliving.us/

More Reading: this list of links will be updated shortly…

Essential oils for new beginnings; including:

original link: http://voices.yahoo.com/can-essential-oils-help-depression-6764552.html