There are various sources that can be found online that talk about the mental health benefits of aromatherapy with certain essential oils. I started using aromatherapy daily almost a year ago. Mostly I use a diffuser but I also have a few topical roll-ons. It’s hard to say if there’s any therapeutic benefit aside from the very real benefit of a regular practice of engaging in self-care, but if nothing else it smells really nice.
An article by Dr. Axe lists a top 4 of essential oils for depression:
- Bergamot: calming, works well in combination with lavender
- Lavender: useful for stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD
- Chamomile: soothing, calming
- Ylang ylang: boosts mood, mild sedative
Other essential oils that may be helpful are rose, geranium, clary sage, jasmine, sandalwood, sweet marjoram, frankincense, wild orange, lemon, patchouli, grapefruit, and neroli.
I get most of my essential oil blends from Saje Natural Wellness. I specifically pick blends that contain mental health-boosting oils. My favourites are Embrace (which includes ylang ylang, patchouli, and geranium, among others), Stress Release (with lavender, clary sage, geranium, and roman chamomile), Tranquility (with lavender, ylang ylang, and roman chamomile), and Unwind (with lavender, bergamot, and geranium).
I subscribe to a sort of the more the merrier holistic approach to mental health. My treatment-resistant depression doesn’t seem to be inclined to budge, so I throw at it whatever I can come up with in the hope that any little bit helps. And if what I’m throwing at it happens to smell nice, so much the better, meaning I will keep taking care of myself with aromatherapy.
To read about whether aromatherapy is the real deal or just very pleasant placebo, check out Are Essential Oils a Placebo or Something More?
My new book, Managing the Depression Puzzle takes a holistic, everything up to and including the kitchen sink look at how to put together the pieces of your unique depression puzzle. It’s available on Amazon and other online retailers, as well as the MH@H Store.
I love the smell of ylang ylang.
I actually don’t know what it smells like on its own because I’ve only gotten it blended with other oils.
It’s possible I don’t either, because I know it from a shampoo from a hotel that’s rosemary and ylang ylang, I think, but I know rosemary and it is the best thing I’ve ever smelled, so…
Makes sense 🙂
I love lavender. I feel like it definitely calms me.
Aromatherapy is the best! The smell of rain, the ocean, cut grass. Orange to lift my spirits. Lavender to calm me down. Perhaps sandalwood or geranium, grapefruit so fresh mixed with vanilla. 😇🕊🎶🎶
Mmmm, so nice
That’s such a good idea … I’m throwing everything at my anxiety and depression too and yet aromatherapy simply hadn’t crossed my mind. Thanks for the inspiration! Katie 🌼🌼
You’re welcome 🙂
I love my essential oils!
I use lavender quite often. We diffuse in my house also. My mother has done quite a bit of research on the oils and we use them frequently.
What a lovely post – I always unwind with an oil diffuser full of lavender or bergamot – it calms me down straight away and smells absolutely amazing!
If you ever want to contribute a post on holistic approaches to managing mental health, we’d love to invite you to submit something to our site – we appreciate a wide range of techniques that may be completely foreign to those without any experience.
All the best, and thanks for the great read!
Fred
Off Your Chest blog
I agree–treatment resistant depression is a BITCH, but it’s always a good idea to find ways to be kind to yourself. Often when my depression is the worst, I can’t bring myself to do these things anymore, but when I feel a little better, maybe only mildly depressed, then I think self-care is very helpful. Thanks for sharing your recommendations.
One of the things I like about aromatherapy is that it doesn’t take any effort, which makes it easier to stick for self-care with when the depression is really bad.
I’d never really considered this as a mental health approach, so interesting to read about it in this way! I’ve always found lavender calming, might give it more of a presence in my life after reading this. Thanks for sharing x
Alys
https://alysjournals.wordpress.com/
Yes lavender is really nice that way.
I wonder if the bergamot in Earl Grey tea is helpful…?
A helpful post, thank you 🙂
Hmm, that’s a really interesting question. I don’t actually know.
I have a very weak sense of smell. (I don’t know why, but my vision is also horrible, and I’ve been half-deaf since birth.) But I still love the concept of alternative treatments!!
In theory the essential oil would still be getting absorbed into your body and so could still be beneficial even though it’s not as pleasant an experience. Or it could all be mumbo-jumbo – who really knows!
Wow Ashley, I once knew some guy in Arusha Tanzania who had this big case of those oils, and treated me to a massage and bath twice with some. Do I need to add I fell head over nuts with him? Yet to find some here but love the lavender in anything home thing I can get like the air fresher and etc
Sounds lovely!
I can’t remember for the life of me to stock any essential oils when I run out, but I generally feel the same way. The placebo effect is statistically real, so why not enjoy a nice smelling placebo effect if you can get one?
Exactly!
I am a firm believer in aromatherapy, one of my favorites is lavender extract
Mine too.
Thanks for this! I use lavender all the time to calm myself and relax, I’ll definitely try some of the others too now!
This post just hit the spot as I have finally received my aroma diffuser today! So stoked about it and can’t wait to use it. Will definitely take into account the essential oils you mentioned x thanks so much!
Thats great! I hope you enjoy yours as much as I enjoy mine 🙂