Fighting Depression Demon

Aromatherapy Oils for Depression - Does it Really Work?

Aromatherapy is one of the most common natural remedies in an alternative medicine. The aromatherapy products are extracted by steam distillation, expression (squeezing the oil from peel), maceration (immersing the plant in hot oil to release the essence) or enfleurage (pressing flowers between oiled glass plates). The essential oils are aromatic essences obtained from plants, flowers, trees, fruits, bark, grasses and seeds with distinctive therapeutic, psychological, and physiological properties.

Aromatherapy is known as particularly effective in relieving stress, anxiety and other depression related disorders. By helping relax and reducing stress, aromatherapy may actually help to prevent depression symptoms, such as digestive problems, insomnia, tension and fear. Many of the essential oils used for depression are made from flowers and fruits. These essences have an uplifting effect on the mind and emotions. An aromatic bath two to three times per week is really helpful for depression.

Aromatherapy Recipes for Depression.
Try using some of the following essential oils to help relieve the various symptoms of depression.
• Cedar, chamomile, frankincense, lavender and sandalwood to ease anxiety, tension and worn-out nerves.
• Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lemon and Orange for mood lift. Caution: these oils can cause sunburn when applied to the skin before sun exposure.
• Peppermint and rosemary for an energy boost and to improve mental clarity and concentration. Caution: DO NOT use rosemary if you have high blood pressure or epilepsy.
• Clary sage, geranium, lavender and rose to balance the hormone system.

You can use up to 10 drops of any oil you think smells best to the warm bath then soak in it for at least 15 minutes. Or inhale them neat, or use in a burner or vaporizer. You can also blend up to 12 drops of oil in 4 fl oz (100 ml) of carrier oil for aromatherapy massage. Massage it into your solar plexus (just between your ribs) in an anti-clockwise direction. This is very calming.

Can Aromatherapy Help to Ease Depression?
Yes, it sure can. Aromatherapy probably will not cure depression - but it can help ease the anxiety, tension, stress and fear that are often the common depression symptoms. Aromatherapy is also useful for insomnia, low energy and weak concentration.

How Does Aromatherapy Work?
Aromatherapy works by boosting the body's internal healing abilities. Inhaling essential oils stimulates the olfactory nerves (sense of smell), which send signals to the brain's limbic system, which, in turn, triggers an emotional, physiological, endocrine and immune system response.

Although aromatherapy can help ease the symptoms of depression, it's best to use aromatherapy to support the other treatments if depression is severe or unmanageable.

Make Your Own Aromatherapy Inhaler.
You can carry the bottle in your bag or keep it on your desk (keep an extra one in your car - it's working great for the road rage!) and use it whenever you need a mood lift.
Fill with a coarse sea salt a very small dark glass or plastic bottle and add:

• 5 drops of Grapefruit essential oil
• 4 drops of Sweet Orange essential oil
• 1 drop of Geranium essential oil

To use, take three slow, long, deep breaths of the aroma. If you're really feel down, take a short break, then do three more deep breaths. You can repeat this up to three times.

There are many aromatherapy natural remedies you can quickly and easily make by yourself: aromatherapy candles, bath salts and oils, massage oils and even aromatherapy perfumes. Use a few simple ingredients that will empower you with mood-lifting, stress-relieving aromatherapy benefits. Try to make some the next time you need a little something special!

Aromatherapy Safety.
Always dilute essential oils before applying to your skin (in a carrier oil, for instance.)
Pregnant women have to be careful using essential oils. For them only some essential oils are considered to be safe and should be used in small, well-diluted amounts. These oils are: geranium, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, peppermint and ylang ylang.

If you're highly allergic or have extremely sensitive skin, do a spot test before using any essential oils.