Essential Oils for Mental Health

Author: Allyssa Dziurlaj

More than 40 million adults in the United States suffer from anxiety. Unfortunately, our everyday stressors are often out of our control. However, we can do small things to make our daily stressors a little more manageable. Aromatherapy has long been known for its stress-relieving properties. Those of us who are already immersed in the world of essential oils deeply understand how valuable aromatherapy is in reducing stress. With the growing popularity of essential oils the research surrounding the effectiveness of aromatherapy has also grown.

In a 2011 study published in the US National Library of Medicine researchers found that inhalation of aromatherapy was effective in reducing stress levels of patients about to go into surgery. A 2013 Korean study found that aromatherapy helped reduce stress, increase sleep and decrease blood pressure in patients in an intensive care unit.

Understanding how essential oils can help decrease stress starts with the olfactory sense. According to the Mayo Clinic, aromatherapy works by stimulating the smell receptors in the nose, which then send messages through the nervous system to the limbic system, which is the part of the brain that controls emotions.

If you are new to essential oils it is easy to feel overwhelmed by how much information is out there. The bottom line is that oils can be used topically (put on the body with a carrier oil such a coconut oil) or they can be used aromatically with an essential oil diffuser. It is up to you how you want to use them.

You can also use single oils or use a premade  blend. You want to make sure that when you are buying essential oils that they are 100% pure therapeutic grade essential oils (like the ones I have linked below)!

Here are my recommendations for single oils and synergy blends to help with mental health struggles from my favorite affordable brand, Edens Garden.

Single Oils for Mental Health
Bergamot: Extracted from the rind of a bitter orange tree, bergamot restores emotional balance and wellbeing.
Geranium: Its floral aroma helps settle nervousness and usher in calm.
Lavender: One of the most popular oils, Lavender is emotionally and physically healing.
Mandarin: Not only is it great for reducing nausea, Mandarin can help uplift your emotions.
Sandalwood: Its musky aroma helps soothe the nervous system and promote grounding.


Synergy Blends for Mental Health
Anxiety Ease: Formulated to help calm the tension of stress and anxiousness. We can steal back those moments of clarity and confidence by slowing down and inhaling a few drops of Anxiety Ease.
Balance: With a strikingly soft and supple aroma, Balance can help calm the mind so evenness and harmony can enter in.
Hope: Through its citrusy and earthy aroma, Hope can inspire us to believe that things can always get better and life truly is an adventure.

Taken with permission from my blog at Crooked River Counseling Services.