Sometimes it’s difficult coping in this complex, fast-paced world. Couldn’t you use a hand in getting past the murky parts—naturally?

Essential oils provide a clean, safe pick-me-up. These plant-based babies do wonders in helping your body create its own natural balance. Essential oils are derived from the part of the plant that gives it a scent, contain hormone-like properties, and act as infection police, protecting the plant from disease and fungus. They also contain ingredients similar to human blood and tissue, making them compatible with our own physiology.

Our olfactory sense is highly attuned to our emotions. Notice that sometimes when you smell something, you are instantly brought back to another time. This could be a survival method that carried humans from long ago to the present day. It could be a way for us to tune into our sense of emotion, our own well-being. The bottom line is, our sense of smell elicits definite feelings and thoughts—it is a total immersion, an immediate reaction.

According to the Ananda Apothecary in Boulder, Colorado, researchers found that essential oils give a boost to various brain functions, including the limbic, or emotional, function. In a Korean study, it was found that by using essential oils in massage, patients experienced positive effects in mental aspects of wellness. While essential oils do not cure depression, they do provide a valuable get-out-of-bed-and-look-at-the-day attitude, which then enables you to concentrate on the source of your depression. Many naturopaths believe that, by using essential oils to help combat your depression, you are creating a balance within your body that allows you to heal quickly and more effectively.

Some essential oils for depression are:

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  Jasmine.

  
  


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  Lavender.

  
  


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  Neroli.

  
  


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  Bergamot.

  
  


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  Rose otto.

  
  


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  Rose absolute.

  
  


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  Chamomile.

  
  

Make sure you use carrier oils—mild oils used to dilute the essential oils. Essential oils are strong and should generally not be used full strength, since they might irritate your skin. Try different amounts of each, to see what combination works for your skin.

Here are some carrier oils to try:

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  Sweet almond.

  
  


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  Jojoba.

  
  


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  Rosehip seed.

  
  


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  Grapeseed.

  
  


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  Sesame.

  
  


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  Hazelnut.

  
  


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  Sunflower.

  
  


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  Avocado.

  
  

You can try treating your depression with essential oils in a few different ways.

Soak in the Tub

Plop about 10 drops into your bathtub and soak for 15 minutes. Maybe light some candles and put on soothing music, while you’re at it. Why not?

Massage

If you know someone who will massage you, add a few drops to your carrier oil and slip away into oblivion as you relax the hour away. (Well, maybe not an hour, but you never know!)

Inhale

You can always simply inhale the oils, breathing them in as if you were sniffing a flower.

Remember that essential oils are only to be used as an initial approach for clinical depression—not as a complete antidote. If you are clinically depressed, you should seek a doctor’s advice. But do remember that these oils will help restore your balance, no matter what your condition, so that you can start on your path to feeling better and whole again.

Here’s to a healthy lifetime of olfactory delight!

—Mary Duquette