Essential oils for anxiety and depression

Essential oils for anxiety and depression

Depression essential oils

Aromatherapy is a valuable alternative to allopathic treatment. Essential oils with relaxing and sedative properties are helpful for anxiety and depression.

Now it won’t come as a surprise when I say that even more people suffer from anxiety and depression these days, as we all feel uncertain and even trapped. But we can help ourselves by incorporating essential oils in our daily routines. In fact, feeling a little anxious is normal, when we wait for something and are excited what is going to happen. Anxiety may even be useful when we complete some interesting project or prepare an event.

Anxiety becomes uncomfortable when it is excessively prolonged, or when anxiety is experienced and there is no particular reason for it. Anxiety can cause digestive problems, tight muscles, migraine, allergies, insomnia and even heart condition.

So, what essential oils are commonly used for anxiety?

There are many essential oils for anxiety and depression and especially the ones with sedative activities, such as:

• Benzoin
• Bergamot
• Chamomile
• Cedarwood
• Clary sage
• Cypress
• Frankincense
• Geranium
• Jasmine
• Juniper berry
• Lavender
• Marjoram
• Neroli
• Patchouli
• Rose
• Sandalwood
• Vetivert
• Ylang ylang

The most interesting fact is that you will connect to one of these oils and it will be the best choice for you, your lifestyle, and your personality. Instinct plays here an important role.

Although, all the above-mentioned oils show sedative property, they all have some subtle differences in their activities, which make them right for a particular situation.

Aromatherapy works holistically when different techniques are applied. Massage will be probably the most effective. In between massages taking a bath with essential oils will be valuable too. Another very appropriate way is to use an essential oil as a perfume or spray to keep the treatment going longer.

Depression can manifest itself in many ways, and so the essential oils to treat depression are very diverse. It is useful to apply different oils for different days. For example, if you feel fatigued, then essential oil with sedative property will probably be not useful. If you feel irritated and restless, then sedative essential oil will be of great use. Chamomile, clary sage, lavender, patchouli, sandalwood and ylang ylang are oils showing both sedative and anti-depressant properties. Bergamot, geranium, and rose can lift the mood without sedating.

Where anxiety is associated with depression, neroli is one of the most valuable oils as well as jasmine, which is traditionally used to increase confidence in overcoming difficult situation.

As an aromatherapist I designed a few synergistic blends and body oils for massage. You can use the blends in diffusers or aromatherapy necklaces and body oils for massaging the neck and back.

For using in diffuser during the day I would recommend Day Dream or Stream of Life. For massaging or in bath Stress-relieving body oil will do the job.

And the beauty of essential oils is that they are as valuable for our mental wellbeing as for the health of our skin. Many of the oils I mentioned above are extremely skin healing and soothing. Just have a look at our skincare creams and by using them you may also alleviate the way you feel.