| If you've ever suffered from depression, you know | | | | Caution: DO NOT use rosemary if you have high blood |
| how debilitating it can be. It can touch every part of | | | | pressure or epilepsy. |
| your life, from eating and sleeping to your work, | | | | - Clary sage, geranium, lavender and rose to balance |
| relationships, and how you see yourself as a person. | | | | your system (including hormones.) |
| Feelings of sadness and disconnect can range from a | | | | Using Essential Oils Safely |
| mild case of the blues to clinical depression requiring | | | | Always dilute essential oils when applying them to your |
| medical treatment. | | | | skin (in a bath or massage oil, for instance.) |
| Can Aromatherapy Help? | | | | Pregnant women need to be careful about using |
| Yes, it can. This is not to say that aromatherapy can | | | | essential oils. Only some essential oils are considered |
| "cure" depression - but it can help ease the anxiety, | | | | to be safe when used in small, well-diluted amounts. |
| tension, stress and fear that are often part of the | | | | Safe oils include: geranium, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, |
| depression package. Aromatherapy is also useful for | | | | spearmint and ylang ylang. |
| insomnia, low energy and poor concentration. | | | | If you're highly allergic or have extremely sensitive skin, |
| How Does Aromatherapy Work? | | | | do a spot test before using essential oils. |
| Aromatherapy works by boosting the body's internal | | | | Make Your Own Aromatherapy Inhaler |
| healing process. Inhaling essential oils stimulates the | | | | This is great because you can carry the bottle in your |
| olfactory nerves (sense of smell), which send signals | | | | bag or keep it in your desk (keep an extra one in your |
| to the brain's limbic system, which, in turn, triggers an | | | | car - it's great for road rage!) and use it whenever you |
| emotional, physiological, endocrine and / or immune | | | | need a lift. |
| system response. Voila! You get the therapeutic | | | | Pour a teaspoon of coarse sea salt in a very small |
| effect! | | | | dark glass or PET plastic bottle and add: |
| Published clinical studies show positive results on | | | | - 10 drops Bergamot essential oil |
| (among other things) sleep problems and emotional, | | | | - 5 drops Grapefruit essential oil |
| stress-related disorders. Although aromatherapy can | | | | - 4 drops Sweet Orange essential oil |
| help ease the symptoms of depression, it's best to use | | | | - 1 drop Geranium essential oil |
| aromatherapy to support other treatments if your | | | | To use, take three long, slow, deep breaths of the |
| depression is severe or unmanageable. | | | | aroma. If you're really stressed out, take a short break, |
| Essential Oils for Depression | | | | then take three more deep breaths. You can do this |
| Try using some of the following essential oils to help | | | | up to three times. |
| ease the various symptoms of your depression. | | | | There are many more excellent aromatherapy |
| - Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lemon and Orange to lift | | | | remedies you can quickly and easily make for yourself |
| mood. Caution: these oils can cause sunburn when | | | | or someone who needs a lift. Bath salts and oils, |
| applied to your skin before sun exposure. | | | | massage oils and even aromatherapy perfumes use a |
| - Chamomile, frankincense, lavender and sandalwood | | | | few simple ingredients that pack a powerhouse of |
| for relaxation and to help you sleep. | | | | mood-lifting, stress-relieving benefits. Try making some |
| - Cedar, chamomile, frankincense, lavender and | | | | the next time you need a little something special! |
| sandalwood for anxiety, tension and frazzled nerves. | | | | Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes |
| - Peppermint and rosemary for an energy boost and | | | | only. It is not intended to treat, prevent, diagnose, or |
| to help improve mental clarity and concentration. | | | | cure any condition. |