Using essential oils for anxiety and depression offers a natural and effective way to deal with these life-changing conditions. In this article, I will look at what are the best essential oils for anxiety and depression.
It’s estimated that more than 350 million people worldwide deal with some form of depression or anxiety. If you’re one of this ever-growing statistic I hope the information in this article offers some kind of help.
Depression is something I’ve seen affect friends and family members, as I’m sure most people reading this can also say. So it’s a topic close to my heart. With the ever-increasing amount of pressure and stressful forces in day-to-day life, a lot of people are looking for ways to manage the stress.
Meditation, positive lifestyle changes, and essential oils are all natural ways to manage stress. I’m not suggesting they are alternatives to medication. But they do help and you should try them if you’re suffering with stress.
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How Can Essential Oils Help with Anxiety and Depression?
Like I mentioned above, using essential oils is not a magic cure for depression. They are used to lessen the effects of the symptoms and help you lift your mood. Clinical depression does need to be treated at the core with the help of a professional.
Back on track with using essential oils, if you are new to oils there is a lot of information to take in and it may seem confusing at first. It doesn’t need to be however, and I will break down exactly which oils to use and how to use them.
One of the biggest positives to oils is that they don’t have any side effects. There are some rare cases of allergic reactions, but it’s rare. You do need to use them properly too, but with these things in mind they are much safer than traditional medicines. Oils are a holistic approach to healing.
What Are the Best Essential Oils for Anxiety and Depression
Rose Oil
Rose oil is commonly used in aromatherapy and massage with the goal of relaxing the person’s mind and reducing anxiety. It’s also one of the oils of choice to help women in labor relax. Talk with any women who has been in labor, it must be a pretty potent oil.
Chamomile Oil
The essence of chamomile is commonly found in teas due to its calming effects. You can use this oil in a number of ways and will feel a lot calmer while doing so. It’s also effective at reducing pain.
Lavender Oil
I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve spoken about lavender oil. It’s a versatile oil that does wonders for relaxing your mind and body. A couple of drops on your pillow will give you a better night’s sleep and help you forget about a lot of the daily stresses.
Frankincense Oil
Frankincense is an interesting oil with a long history of being used to help patients manage pain and depression. Its scent is calming on its own, and when inhaled the properties work into your repertory system and help you maintain calmer breathing.
Bergamot Oil
Bergamot oil is a citrus oil with sedative, antidepressant, analgesic, and antispasmodic properties. I personally love this oil. It’s been put to the test against placebos numerous times and studies have shown it’s very effective at reducing stress and anxiety.
How Are Essential Oils Helping with Depression and Anxiety?
You’re right to ask this if you are new to oils. The alternative health community is huge, but it’s still very much a separate circle to the traditional medicine route. There are still some unknowns around how oils work, but there are some things we do know. Oils carry compounds and properties that find their way to our brains through their scents.
Changing the chemical balances in the brain is a powerful way to change mood and emotion. It’s the same result as a lot of prescription medications.
Ways to Use Essential Oils
Aromatherapy is probably the best way to use oils when you’re treating anxiety and depression. To get the best from oils you need to set the complete scene to relax. Try and set aside a decent amount of quiet time, light some candles, and use the oils.
Diffusers, oil burners, and other methods that give you the scent while you’re relaxing is the best place to start. Set up the diffuser in your bedroom and diffuse some oil while you drift off to sleep. You can even put a few drops directly on your pillow, this has worked wonders for me before.
If you’re planning to have a relaxing massage make sure you mix a few drops with a carrier oil before applying directly to the skin. Alternately, adding a few drops to a warm bath is another incredibly relaxing experience.
Precautions and Safety Advice When Using Essential Oils
As I discussed earlier, essential oils should be used to complement medication and not as a replacement. Depression and anxiety are serious mental health conditions and should not be ignored.
Always act on the advice of your doctor or other healthcare professional. Oils are incredibly powerful and easily accessible. Experiment with them and see how you feel. Use them as directed, and you will absolutely feel some positive benefits.
For further reading on essential oils and their uses please read:
Best essential oils to stop snoring.
Best essential oils for sensitive and acne prone skin.
Best essential oils for eczema and skin conditions.
I’m a MA, (CMT) Certified Massage Therapist, Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT), and Reiki Master — I’m a licensed massage therapist with over 10 years of experience in the industry.
