Aromatherapy for Depression

When you feel down in the dumps or a little blue, aromatherapy for depression essential oils may be just what you need to nurture your heart and lift your spirits.

Essential oils for depression, anxiety and mental stress are effective because when inhaled, the molecules in the oil quickly affect the brain.

When inhaled through your nose, the molecules stimulate the olfactory nerves. These nerves signal the emotional part of your brain, which in turn triggers a hormonal, physical, or emotional response.

When absorbed through your skin, the molecules make their way into your blood stream.

When you feel down in the dumps, these depression natural remedies can help improve your mood.

Essential oils for depression are often derived from flowers and fruit. Look for single oils or blends.

One of the most beloved of these flowers is lavender. It has a heavenly aroma known for its calming, emotionally balancing effects. Lavender is often added to essential oil blends.

Lemon and rosemary are popular oils that 'wake you up', clear your head, and lift your spirits.

A highly recommended and prized essential oils for depression, grief, and sadness is pure Bulgarian rose oil. It is also one of the most expensive oils, priced at hundreds of dollars an ounce.

Thankfully, you can purchase very small amounts of rose oil for inhaling or using a drop at a time.

Rose oil is sometimes found in aromatherapy for depression blends or as a hydrosol.

Hydrosols, or flower waters, have therapeutic value, but are milder than essential oils.

A spritz of rose hydrosol on your body after a shower or pillow before sleep will comfort you as you breathe in its heart warming essence.

Rose oil is also an ingredient in Heart Aroma Oil.

This warm, balancing perfume is formulated with pure essentail oils as an antidote for those days when you feel down and your spirits need a little lift.

It includes ylang ylang, rose, lavender, chamomile and sweet marjoram in a base of jojoba oil.

Using Essential Oils for Depression

There are several ways to benefit from these depression natural remedies. They can be massaged into the skin with a carrier oil, diffused or spritzed into the air, added to a warm bath, or inhaled directly.

Treating yourself to a massage with an essential oil depression blend provides nurturing touch, relaxes your muscles and improves circulation. Together these two therapies support your nervous system and can help alleviate mild depression.

One of my favorite ways to regain emotional balance quickly when I feel down or stressed is to rub a few drops of a blend into my hands and inhale deeply a few times. Finish this off with a hand and shoulder massage and life just feels a little better.

If you are suffering from severe depression, essential oils can be helpful as a complementary naThere are several ways to benefit from these oils. They can be massaged into the skin with a carrier oil, diffused or spritzed into the air, added to a warm bath, or inhaled directly.

Treating yourself to a massage with essential oils provides nurturing touch, relaxes your muscles and improves circulation. Together these two therapies support your nervous system and can help alleviate mild depression.

One of my favorite ways to regain emotional balance quickly when I feel a little down or stressed is to rub a few drops of a blend into my hands and inhale deeply a few times. Finish this off with a hand and shoulder massage and life just feels a little better.

If you are suffering from severe depression, essential oils can be helpful as a complementary natural therapy along with your conventional medical treatment, including prescription drugs.

It is unrealistic to think that using aromatherapy for depression as a sole therapy will be effective. Remember, depression can be a complex condition and may require holistic treatment, including medical care.

Aromatherapy for Depression Recipes

In her book Aromatherapy A Lifetime Guide to Healing with Essential Oils, Valerie Gennari Cooksley shares her favorite blend of essential oils for depression. This blend is very popular for mild depression because it works well for many people and has a heavenly scent.

Nature's Answer

In an amber bottle, mix together 4 parts clary sage, 4 parts ylang ylang, 3 parts geranium, 2 parts basil and 1 part sandalwood essential oils. Label the bottle. Use 4-6 drops in an aroma lamp, diffuser, or simmering pot. Use two or three times daily.

If you enjoy baths, add six to eight drops of the blend to a warm bath two or three times a week to help lift your spirits.

This aromatherapy for depression blend is effective because of the following qualities attributed to these oils:

Clary sage is euphoric and anti-depressant. It is calming and eases stress and fatigue.
Ylang ylang calms anger, nervous tension, and is anti-depressant.
Geranium regulates hormones and balances emotions. It helps relieve nervous tension, anxiety and depression.
Basil clears the mind, relieves mental fatigue and is anti-depressant.
Sandalwood is the base note essence. It eases nervous tension and grief, and helps concentration.

Sweet Summer Perfume

This relaxing and warming floral recipe is from Mountain Rose Herbs. It is especially useful during times of stress, anxiety, irritability, or depression.

10 drops Lavender EO (balances emotions, calming)
5 drops Chamomile EO (soothes anxiety, anger, irritability)
4 drops Cardamom EO (eases fatigue, clears the conscious mind)
1 drop Cedarwood EO (for anger, fear, nervous tension, focus)
1 drop Geranium (Rose) EO -relieves nervous tension, depression
1 tsp Jojoba Oil - carrier oil

Drip all essential oils into a glass bottle, and roll between palms to evenly mix the oils. Add Jojoba oil and roll again. Add additional essential oils if you desire a stronger perfume.

Find more recipes and purchase quality organic essential oils and carrier oils from Mountain Rose Herbs here.

In addition to the oils already mentioned, the following are also helpful essential oils for depression: bergamot, frankincense, grapefruit, jasmine, neroli, patchouli, peppermint, and pettigrain. With the help of aromatherapy and depression remedies, you may find yourself smiling a little easier.

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