Essential Oil Can Treat Anxiety, Stress, and Depression

Why does essential oil improve depression? In modern society, many people struggle with depression and anxiety disorders. Although there are many drugs available to treat anxiety, stress and depression, the powerful effects of the drugs are still accompanied by some side effects and dependence.

Fortunately, there are many natural ways we can help us besides medical treatment. Essential oils have grown in popularity over the past few decades, even going back to the time of the birth of Jesus, who was given gifts like frankincense and myrrh. Many studies have pointed out that aromatic molecules can quickly pass through the blood-brain barrier and directly interact with the emotional parts of the brain. Therefore, several essential oils are particularly helpful for improving mood and fighting anxiety and depression.

For example, in a recent study, 58 terminal cancer patients in palliative care were massaged on their hands every day. During the massage, they added bergamot, lavender and frankincense essential oils blended with sweet almond oil. After a week, there were patients who massaged with essential oils who felt less pain and depression.

1. Bergamot essential oil

Bergamot is a very popular choice when it comes to soothing insomnia, nervous anxiety, and other essential oils. Studies have found that blending bergamot with other essential oils is very effective against depression and anxiety. For example, blending bergamot with lavender can make the subjects feel relaxed and calm.

Compared with the placebo, the effect brought by the combination of bergamot and lavender made the subjects feel more relaxed and calm. For insomnia and nervous anxiety, bergamot has a very good effect, but because bergamot is photosensitive, if it is used on the skin, please do not expose it to sunlight for 12 hours afterwards.

2.Pure Lavender essential Oil

Because of its mildness and its properties that can be used on many levels, pure lavender has always been the essential oil of choice when dealing with emotional problems. In addition to relieving anxiety and depression, it also has a good effect on insomnia, panic, stress and anger.

Many clinical trials have proved that inhaling lavender essential oil can greatly help relieve anxiety. Some studies have also found that after taking capsules of lavender essential oil, there is a significant effect (Editor’s Note: Please do not use it without a professional aromatherapist Oral essential oils without permission.) When the subjects were arranged to watch a film that would cause tension, the group exposed to lavender essential oil had less heart rate changes.

Another study found that lavender can also reduce stress in the dentist’s office

3.Ylang Ylang essential oil

Calming and uplifting, ylang-ylang is a popular choice when you’re trying to overcome feelings of depression. It can also calm heart palpitations caused by stress and deal with some sleep problems.

In a 2006 Korean study, subjects who inhaled the scent of ylang ylang mixed with lavender and bergamot (once two days for four weeks) could help reduce blood pressure, stress and cortisol.

4.Vetiver essential oil

Vetiver has an earthy root smell and has a calming effect. It is considered very helpful for dealing with anxiety and panic.

5. Roman Chamomile essential oil

Are you familiar with the soothing sensations of chamomile tea? Roman chamomile is a very popular herb, which is often associated with dealing with stress, anxiety and insomnia, and Roman chamomile essential oil has obvious effects. Its rich and soothing aroma can calm our nerves. Likewise, research suggests that Roman chamomile may help fight depression.

6. Frankincense essential oil

Smelling the beautiful frankincense essential oil can help calm the nerves and elevate the mood. It is also a spiritual support for many aromatherapists and is often used in meditation. Studies have shown that frankincense mixed with lavender and bergamot can bring very positive help, and relieve pain and depression. The research objects are cancer patients in hospice care in Korea.

7. Rose Damascena essential oil

When you feel anxious, stressed, and depressed, Damask rose essential oil has always been a popular choice, especially when you experience sadness in life, it has a very good effect of calming panic.

Other options: Essential oils of sandalwood, basil, and geranium can also help relieve anxiety and depression.

8. Petitgrain essential oil

Extracted from the leaves of bitter orange, it soothes anxiety and helps calm and calm anger. Its antidepressant effect is excellent, it is a tranquilizer of the nervous system, and has relaxing properties that can help relieve insomnia and anxiety with a rapid heartbeat. It can also slow down the pace of the body, regulate breathing, and relax cramped muscles. It calms anger and panic best, is an antidepressant when feeling down, and refreshes the mood. Petitgrain essential oil also soothes the liver,helping to fight depression, stress and anxiety, and aid sleep.

The anti-suicide effect does not mean that if someone is about to commit suicide, take it out and “smell it, ask for it”, and it will immediately dispel the idea of suicide. It is not so magical, but prevention is better than cure. Petitgrain essential oil provides grounding when feeling down. It can treat nervous breakdowns and relieve symptoms of stress, especially anger and panic. Using petitgrain essential oil during the recovery phase after an illness can help speed up recovery. Put a few drops of petitgrain essential oil in the electric incense burner, or inhale the aroma directly with the essential oil bottle when you are anxious or depressed. It can really calm your emotions.

9. Neroli essential oil

Neroli essential oil is one of the rarest citrus essential oils. Its evocative aroma is both citrus and floral. Neroli essential oil can effectively help when adjusting stress, anxiety or depression, and bring the mood back to calm.

Sweet, citrusy and floral, Neroli essential oil is distilled from the flowers of the bitter orange tree (Citrus x aurantium, also known as Seville orange). Research shows that neroli essential oil is effective in reducing anxiety, elevating mood, and encouraging relaxation.

How to use essential oil

Smelling the aroma of essential oils will bring obvious emotional feedback, because people’s sense of smell is closely connected with emotions, memories, and moods. When you smell the smell, the aroma will enter your nose, and then stimulate emotions response to help regulate stress, heart rate, blood pressure and breathing.

Usually, you can use the method of bathing, diffuser, and water oxygen machine to sniff essential oils. It can also be blended with coconut oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil and other carrier oils and massaged on the body. When feeling stressed, it can also be massaged on the temples

Essential oils can be used in several ways: basically aromatherapy, topical application.

1. Incense

Aromatherapy for anxiety is popular, because our sense of smell can trigger powerful emotional responses. We process so much information through our sense of smell—especially near the limbic region of the brain, where emotions are processed and memories are recalled.

When the scent of an essential oil is inhaled, the molecules enter the nasal cavity, stimulating a mental response in the limbic system of the brain. These stimuli can regulate stress or calming effects such as heart rate, breathing patterns, hormone secretion and blood pressure. Aromatherapy can be used in the bath, or by direct inhalation, hot steam, diffusers or humidifiers, fans, air vents, perfume, cologne, or my favorite – through an aromatherapy machine.

1. Smear
  Many essential oils can be used topically. Topical application is the process of applying essential oils to the skin, hair, mouth, teeth, nails, or mucous membranes. When essential oils come into contact with the skin, they penetrate quickly.Since they are strong, it is important to dilute them with a base oil. You can directly apply the mixed oil to the needed parts, such as the soles of the feet, the auricles, etc., or you can use compresses, take a bath or massage