7 Essential Oils for Depression -

Introduction to Depression

Depression is a prevalent medical condition that adversely impacts one’s emotions, thoughts, and actions. It can result in numerous mental and physical challenges, hindering professional and personal performance. Using essential oils are a natural way to relieve depression and boost your mood. Learn about the best essential oils, how to use them, and the risks and benefits. This article will discuss using essential oils for depression and seven great oils to elevate your mood.

Prevalence of Depression

Based on some information from the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is a mental health disorder that affects around 3.8% of people worldwide. It is more common in adults than children or adolescents, and women are about 50% more likely to experience depression than men.

Here are some relevant facts:

Prevalence: Around 3.8% of people worldwide experience depression at any given time, meaning nearly 280 million people are affected.
Gender disparities: Women are about 50% more likely to experience depression than men.
Age disparities: Older adults are also at an increased risk. Around 5.7% of adults over the age of 60 experience depression.
Perinatal Depression: Over 10% of expectant mothers and those who have recently delivered experience episodes of depression.

If you’re battling depression, it’s crucial not to face it alone. Reaching out for professional assistance is a significant first step. Depression can be managed, and numerous successful treatment options do exist.

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Common Causes of Depression

The most common causes of depression include:

Genetic factors: Depression can be hereditary, indicating a potential genetic link to the condition.
Brain chemistry: People with Depression may have an imbalance of certain chemicals, such as serotonin and norepinephrine.
Life events: Stressful incidents, like the passing of a close one, unemployment, or marital separation, can lead to depression.

Undetected Sufferers of Depression Around Us

Depression can touch people of any age, gender, ethnicity, or economic background. Recognizing signs and symptoms is crucial to getting assistance for oneself or someone close who might be facing challenges.

Symptoms of Depression

The most common symptoms of depression include:

Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
Irritability, restlessness, or feeling slowed down
Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
Fatigue and decreased energy
Difficulty sleeping or excessive sleep
Changes in appetite – Significant weight fluctuations unrelated to dieting
Thoughts of death or suicide
Reduced interest in activities you used to enjoy

Natural Remedies and the Role of Essential Oils

In a review completed by the National Institutes of Health on the efficacy of aromatherapy for depressive symptoms, essential oils may serve as a valid therapy to alleviate depressive signs in numerous individuals.

Using essential oils for depression has been observed to elevate mood and alleviate depressive feelings, mainly when used on the skin. They can address various symptoms associated with depression, including enhancing sleep quality, diminishing anxiety, and boosting overall mood.

Connection of Essential Oils with Anxiety and Depression Relief

When inhaled, essential oils activate the olfactory system, which then communicates with the limbic system, the brain region responsible for managing emotions. As a result, these oils can produce a calming impact, potentially helping to alleviate feelings of anxiety and depression.

Importance of Scent in Emotional Response Due to Limbic System

The limbic system is also responsible for memory and association so certain scents can trigger strong emotional responses. For instance, the aroma of a just-baked Apple Pie might evoke joyful memories from your youth, whereas the smell of smoke could bring about sensations of apprehension and unease.

Essential Oils to Help With Depression

Some of the most potent essential oils for combating depression are:

Bergamot (citrus bergamia): Bergamot oil has a citrusy scent known for its mood-boosting properties. Some studies show how bergamot oil helps reduce anxiety, depression, and stress.
Lavender (lavandula angustifolia): Lavender oil, with its calming and relaxing aroma, often promotes sleep and has proven effective in alleviating anxiety and depression.
Roman Chamomile (chamaemelum nobile): Roman chamomile oil has a sweet, floral scent and is known for its stress-relieving properties. Roman chamomile oil can also help to improve sleep quality and reduce anxiety and depression.
Ylang Ylang (cananga odorata var. genuina): Some excellent research has shown how Ylang Ylang has soothing, calming, and balancing properties, offering relief from depression and tension. Ylang-ylang essential oil acts on the brain’s neurotransmitters to minimize feelings of anxiety and depression.
Rose (rosa centifolia): Essential oils have the ability to enhance feelings of joy, bolster self-assurance, and alleviate symptoms of depression. Their primary component, geraniol, is renowned for its recognized antidepressant attributes.
Orange (citrus aurantium var.amara): Essential oils possess significant potential as effective antidepressants, as evidenced by a study in which participants were able to significantly decrease their reliance on antidepressant medication. A parallel investigation also revealed that the use of citrus oil fragrances may outperform traditional antidepressant treatments in terms of effectiveness.
Frankincense (boswellia carteri): It may also fortify the mind and assist with anxiety, nervous tension and stress-related conditions, infections and inflammations.

Traditional Treatment versus Essential Oils

Conventional approaches to treating depression include medication and therapy. Medications aim to enhance mood and alleviate symptoms, whereas therapy offers insights into understanding and handling depression and teaches different strategies and resilience techniques.

Essential oils can serve as a supplementary resource for treating depression. They can enhance the outcomes of conventional treatments or offer an option for those hesitant about taking medication.

Potential Side Effects of Prescription Medications

Prescription medications for depression can have some side effects, including dry mouth, drowsiness, weight gain, and sexual dysfunction. Some medicines can also cause serious side effects, such as suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Sources:

Essential Oils for Depression: A Study

A research article in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine reported that a blend of Bergamot, lavender, and chamomile essential oils could aid in alleviating depression symptoms in women.

The research split the women into two categories: one group received the essential oil mixture, while the control group provided the other women a placebo. The findings indicated that the group who received the essential oil mixture experienced a notable decrease in depression symptoms compared to those in the placebo group.

How to Use Essential Oils for Depression

There are several ways to use essential oils for depression. One popular method is aromatherapy. Aromatherapy involves:

Inhaling the essential oils by using a diffuser.
Adding essential oils to a bath.
Inhale the oils directly from the bottle.

Another way to use essential oils for depression is to apply them topically to the skin by adding them to a carrier oil, such as almond or jojoba oil, and massaging the mixture into the skin.

Essential Oils for Depression: Risks

While essential oils are typically safe when used properly, some potential safety concerns exist.

Sensitivity and reactions: Certain individuals might have sensitivities to essential oils, leading to skin issues or allergic responses. Conducting a patch test before using any essential oil is recommended.
Potential interactions with medications and health conditions: Essential oils can interact with certain medications and health conditions. Talking with a doctor or therapist before using essential oils is important, particularly if you’re taking a prescription or have any pre-existing health issues or ailments.
Importance of purity and consultation: Purchasing essential oils from a reputable source ensures they are pure and high-quality. It is also a good idea to consult with a qualified aromatherapist before using essential oils for depression, especially if you have any health concerns.

Takeaways

While some deal with depression daily, please know it can be a severe medical illness and is affecting millions worldwide.
Essential oils in published studies have been shown to be valuable in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Effective essential oils for helping with depression include Bergamot, Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Rose, Frankinsense, and Ylang Ylang.
Essential oils can be supportive in treating depression or a standalone treatment for people who do not want to take medication.
It is important to use essential oils properly and consult with a doctor or qualified aromatherapist before using them for depression, especially if you have any health concerns.

Application Methods for Essential Oils

Here are some specific application methods for essential oils for depression:

Diffusion: Place a couple of oil drops into a diffuser, and the aroma will permeate the space, allowing you to experience the advantages of essential oils without directly applying them to the skin.
Topical application: Combine some drops of essential oil with a base oil and rub it onto your skin. You can apply this blend to your chest, back, neck, or hands.
Bath: Adding essential oil to your bath water is a great way to relax and de-stress before bed. However, since water and oil do not mix, please add into a carrier oil or an Epsom salt blend.
Shower: Use essential oil with a shower steamer or diffuser. Inhaling the essential oils in the steam may improve your mood and help reduce stress.
Foot bath: One of my favorites is using a few drops of essential oil in a container of warm water and soaking your feet, which helps me relax and reduce stress before bed.

Remember, you shouldn’t take essential oils internally and avoid them during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Additional Tips for Using Essential Oils for Depression

Use essential oils consistently for the best results. It may take a few weeks to see and feel the full benefits of essential oils.
No one path fits all—experiment using a different combination of essential oils and application methods.
If you are topically using essential oils, do a patch test first to rule out allergic reactions.
Know the expiration date of the essential oils that you are using, and store your oils in a cool, dark place.
Keep essential oils out of the reach of children and pets.

Here are some specific essential oil blends that you can use for depression:

Uplift: Composed of invigorating oils such as Frankincense, Blue Tansy, Roman Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, Lime, Mandarin, Lavender, and Rose, Uplift™ aims to counteract depression, foster feelings of bravery, resilience, and security, and reintroduce tranquility, happiness, and harmony into our lives. Notably, a 2006 study suggests that Ylang Ylang might aid in alleviating human depression and tension. For usage, apply 2-3 drops of Uplift™ to the vagal nerve (located behind the earlobe, on the mastoid bone) and over the heart, wrists, temples, and forehead.
Parasympathetic: Recent studies indicate that stimulating the vagus nerve can notably decrease various depression symptoms, including anxiety, sleep issues, and feelings of despair. Essential oils, such as Parasympathetic™, present a natural, non-invasive means to activate this nerve. Parasympathetic™ crafted from a blend of Clove, known for its stimulating properties, and Lime oil, renowned for its fine molecular structure. Together, they form a potent mix readily absorbed by the skin and olfactory systems, offering a gentler way to stimulate the vagus nerve. Furthermore, research shows that citrus oils like Lime can balance “neuroendocrine hormone levels and immune function,” even outperforming some antidepressants. Place this blend behind the earlobe on the mastoid bone, which helps to trigger the parasympathetic rest.
Lung: The essential oil blend by design is to aid in alleviating emotional grief and combat depression. The lungs play a pivotal role in our vitality, facilitating oxygen transfer from the environment to our capillaries enriching the blood. Concurrently, they expel carbon dioxide from our bloodstream. Emotional burdens like grief or depression can hamper the lungs’ dual role of assimilation and release, thus affecting their core functions of “ingesting” and “expelling.” Lung Support™, containing oils such as Geranium and Bergamot, known for their anti-depressive properties, assists in navigating past grief and depressive states, enabling the release of negative emotions. Notably, in recent research, Bergamot has findings suggesting it enhances mood and fosters relaxation and calmness. Apply 2- 3 drops over the lungs.

Conclusion:

While the therapeutic potential of essential oils is increasingly recognized, it’s crucial to approach their use with caution and knowledge. Whether seeking natural remedies or complementing traditional treatments, always prioritize safety. Avoiding internal consumption and being mindful of specific situations, such as pregnancy, underscores the importance of informed choices. As with any health-related decision, consulting with professionals and conducting thorough research will ensure that you harness the benefits of essential oils effectively and responsibly.

If you are struggling with depression, please know you are not alone. There are many resources available to help you. While essential oils can be a helpful way to manage symptoms of depression, they should not be used as a substitute for professional medical or health care. If you are experiencing any concerns about your depression, please talk to your doctor.

Disclaimer:These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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Disclaimer: The content provided on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.