How to Use Aromatherapy for Depression

Series Summary

The complementary and alternative medicine treatment known as aromatherapy has become increasingly popular as the trend of spa treatments and particularly Western and holistic medicine has captured the attention of the American public. Using aromatic compounds made from a variety of herbs, spices, liquids and oils, many believe that aromatherapy can positively affect the state of mind, stress level, and progression of various illnesses. Aromatherapy, though commonly found in spa centers, can also be performed quite easily at home if one has the proper materials and understanding of how oils affect different parts of the brain and central nervous system. In this free video series, learn to use aromatherapy essential oils to treat common conditions, such as depression, headaches and stress. Sundae Thomas is a licensed aromatherapist and massage therapist. She has been mixing her own aromatherapy recipes for over a decade. Let her demonstrate how to mix essential oils to cure depression, headaches and sinus infections. Also, find out how to use essential oils on kids. Curious how to keep essential oils lasting? Let Thomas demonstrate the proper way to store aromatherapy essentials. So, return to nature, and learn about essential oils today!

Video Transcript

"If you suffer from bouts of depression, and are interested in how aromatherapy can help, I can give you a few tips. I'm Sundae with Natural Sundae. Now, when you're suffering with depression, there are many oils that can help you. Aromatherapy is wonderful, and usually the citrus oils work best for depression. Those are very uplifting and refreshing and balancing. And these citrus oils include lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange, and even lemongrass, even though it's not considered a citrus per se, it...the aroma is very uplifting and refreshing. And there are three ways that you can use these citrus oils for depression. Generally, what you're going to do is you want to inhale them, and the first thing you can do is use an aromatherapy room spray. And this is just some water in a little spray can. I generally use four ounces of water, and I put essential oil in here, and for four ounces, I would recommend using maybe 100 drops of any citrus oil. And you can take a nice, deep breath, and those aromatic molecules really travel up to your brain and help change your brain chemistry and really help you feel better. Another way is you can use a facial spritzer, and this is almost just like the room spray, although it's meant specifically for your face. And that's another way to really inhale those molecules. They really help. The most direct way, though, is through an aromatherapy inhaler, and these are really great because they're very portable and really easy, and you don't have to make anything. What they are is they're just like those ones that you can buy in the store that aren't natural, but these are, and they have essential oils in them. And what you do is you just hold it up to your nasal passage and breathe in really, really deeply. So citrus oils and lavender. Actually, lavender works well for everything, and lavender can definitely lift depression and sadness. So inhalation is the best way to use aromatherapy for depression. Don't forget to use those citrus oils, and also lavender. Take some nice, deep breaths, and enjoy that scent. One real quick thing I'd like to add is if you like baths -- not like baths aren't relaxing enough, not like they don't make you feel good already -- but two specific essential oils for bathing, I would recommend clary sage and geranium. Both of these oils are very, very gentle, and they help with hormonal regulation and balancing the nervous system. So those are just two very simple ways and very effective ways to help depression with aromatherapy. I'm Sundae with Natural Sundae."