Doterra Oils for Depression

If you have depression, finding the best medication, in the right dosage, and with the least side effects can be tricky. So, many people turn to natural methods, including essential oils, to fight depression.

Evidence for the Use of Essential Oils for Depression:

A robust body of evidence supports that essential oils are effective in treating depression, as well as stress and anxiety.

The National Library of Medicine has nearly 20,000 references to research involving essential oils — 178 of them about essential oils for depression, 229 for anxiety, and 53 for both depression and anxiety.

The Mayo Clinic says that aromatherapy might have health benefits, including relief from depression and anxiety.

How Essential Oils Work for Depression:

So let’s take a look at exactly how essential oils are thought to work in the brain to help with depression.

There is a connection between the sense of smell and other brain functions.

Smells travel as chemical messages via sense receptors and the olfactory nerve to the limbic area of the brain, and particularly to the amygdala and the hippo-campus. These are the areas of the brain associated with emotions (fear, happiness, etc), mood, pain, pleasure, and also with memories.

Smells become associated with emotions, even memories of emotions. So, for example, if you use an essential oil while meditating, you learn to associate the fragrance with the state of deep relaxation.

Over time, the same relaxation occurs with just the smell of the oil, without the meditation.Studies have shown that the link between smell and mood can be measured in physiological changes such as blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature.

Sweet smells have been shown to reduce pain by activating the opioid receptors in the brain. It’s been found that the molecules in essential oils are small enough to cross the blood-brain barrier.

They, therefore, have a direct impact on areas of the brain that help to control emotions and, as a result, can play an important role in fighting depression.There is such a strong connection between smell and emotions that people who lose their sense of smell often develop depression.Conversely, people who are depressed may have low sensitivity to odors.

The Best Essential Oils for Depression:

There is a surprisingly long list of essential oils recommended for relief from depression and/or stress and anxiety. These include, in alphabetical order by common name:

• Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

• Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)

• Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica)

• Clary sage (Salvia sclarea)

• Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)

• Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)

• Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi)

• Jasmine (Jasminum officinale)

• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia is the best variety for anxiety)

• Lemon (Citrus limon)

• Lime (Citrus latifolia)

• Neroli (Citrus aurantium)

• Orange (Citrus sinensis)

• Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)

• Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

• Roman chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

• Rose (Rosa damascena)

• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

• Sandalwood (Santalum album)

• Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides)

• Wild orange (Capparis mitchellii)

• Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata)