Best Essential Oils to Help with Depression
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Scientifically, smells are emotional triggers. They have the power to induce emotion and influence sensors. This is because smells are passed to the brain, from which the limbic system can run an assessment of the stimuli to give off a pleasant, unpleasant, pleasurable, painful, dangerous, or safety signal. Procedurally, this directs the emotional response, which could be happiness, sadness, anger, and many more.
Depression feeds on emotions. And as primary emotions partially depend on smells, we cannot ignore the correlation that pleasant scents have with happiness.
Thus, using essential oils can greatly help in improving symptoms of depression and anxiety. It can also boost mood, lower heart rate, and make you feel relaxed and calm.Â
Best Essential Oils For Depression
Lavender
In 2012, Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice published a study of 28 mothers who were very likely to suffer from postpartum depression. However, upon the usage of lavender essential oil in their homes, each woman posted an impressive recovery from postnatal depression.
According to research conducted by the International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice, 80-milligram capsules of lavender oil can help overcome anxiety and weaken depression. Furthermore, the research impressed that there were no negative consequences to the application of lavender oil to battle depression. This is a favorable difference to the side effects suffered from psychotropic medications.
Another instance was the discovery that lavender aromatherapy elevated moods and reduced depression by a remarkable 32.7%. Ultimately, it caused improved sleep performance, elevated moods, and positive health status.Â
How To Use
Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to your diffuser. After, place them in strategic positions in your home, particularly your bed and any other room in which you spend considerable time. In the evening when you are getting ready for bed, diffuse lavender oil again to have a good night's rest and a calm disposition.
As an alternative, the oil can be rubbed behind the ears three times a day. You can place it neatly or you may mix a few drops in your favorite carrier oil.Â
Bergamot
Bergamot Essential Oil is a powerful stimulant, hence making it an effective antidepressant. As has been proven, bergamot essential oil can, through enhanced blood circulation, give a rush of energy, and create positive emotions, such as joy, confidence, and happiness. In 2011, a study posed that the mix of bergamot oil with other essential oils helped to decrease symptoms of depression. A blend of lavender and bergamot essential oils showed better pulse and breathing rates and lowered blood pressure.
In addition, test patients were required to measure their emotions, using relaxation, vigor, calmness, attentiveness, mood, and alertness so as to evaluate behaviors. The results proved that the subjects were of more composure and comfort than other patients who had been subjected to the same situations but weren't tested with the mixture of essential oils.Â
The usefulness of bergamot essential oil shouldn't come as a surprise given that it smells very nice. In fact, there's a joke that this oil would pass as perfume on a first date.Â
How to Use
Moisten your palms with two to three drops of bergamot essential oil and place them over your mouth and nose for an average of 2 minutes. You may apply the oil on your stomach and feet as well.
Ylang ylang
Ylang Ylang is similar to cannabidiol as it possesses slight sedative abilities. It is, therefore, a proven remedy to lift dampen spirits and elevate moods making it an ideal essential oil for your mental health. Owing to this attribute, anyone would agree that Ylang Ylang essential oil is an excellent combatant of depression and causative emotions.
Inhaling this oil will produce instant mood-lifting results making it one of the best oils for anxiety and depression. Research has shown that negative emotions, such as anger, poor esteem, sadness, and even jealousy, are immediately dispelled as soon as Ylang Ylang is applied.
As you might have known, the sedative power of Ylang Ylang essential oil helps to regulate and reduce stress responses, consequently causing the mind to relax. And, not to forget, Ylang Ylang is great for inducing confidence as well.Â
How to Use
Diffuse into your home. Spread throughout the rooms and ensure you're wrapped in the tingly aroma at all times. You may also massage it into your skin if you wish. Always make sure to do a skin test first or mix it with a career oil like almond oil as some essential oils are known to cause an allergic reaction. Â
Roman Chamomile
Do you wonder why spas and therapists put on special candles while a session is ongoing? And, especially in the case of a spa, do you wonder why you gradually find your worries ebb away as you relax? Well, it's Roman Chamomile Essential Oil. This medicinal herb is a remarkable ingredient in aromatherapy remedies, whether as tincture, tea, or its oil form.
A study published in the Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine and Pharmacognosy Review recommended the use of inhalation of chamomile vapors through chamomile oil as the process was found to alleviate anxiety and tackle depression. This was attributed to its ability to provide a soothing sense of warmth and assurance when taken.Â
How to Use
Place in strategic points across the home in a diffuser or rub on the body.Â
Conclusion
Many different essential oils have properties that will help boost your emotional and physical state. Strong, calming smells are linked to improving your mood, your mental state, and your sense of well-being.
As a takeaway, please use only 100% pure essential oils. Avoid adulterated or uncertified products. Please also make sure to seek medical advice from your doctor first before using any essential oils for your depression and anxiety.Â