Do you struggle with finding the brighter side of life on most days? When you are out in public, is there a forced smile on your face? Is depression taking over every aspect of your life? If your answer to any one of these questions is ‘yes’, then I want you to think about using essential oils as an alternative form of treatment for depression.
When I find myself fighting that same war, I use essential oils for depression relief. I frequently use essential oils to decrease my fatigue, reduce my anxiety and help me get a good night of sleep.
Essential Oils Recipes for Treating Depression
I want to share two recipes that I find to be beneficial when I am fighting against depression. You may already have a collection of essential oils that are your go-to treatment options when necessary. Please feel free to incorporate those oils into each of these recipes. Doing so will make you feel more comfortable with using a new treatment approach on a frequent basis.
Mood Boosting Essential Massage Oil
You most likely have many of these oils in your home already. If not, a quick trip to your local health food store or online search can easily work to add these oils into your collection. To make this oil, start by finding the following ingredients.
- 1 Bottle, any size, of Bergamot essential oil
- 1 Bottle, any size, of Geranium essential oil
- 1 Bottle, any size, of Olive oil
- 1 Bottle, any size, of Petitgrain essential oil
- 1 Bottle, any size, of Neroli essential oil
- 1 Clear Glass Bottle, any size
- 1 Standard Size Kitchen Spoon
- 1 Medicine Dropper
By collecting all of these ingredients you are now ready to make your own massage oil that is ideal for adding to a warm bath or gently massaging into your skin to soothe the anxious feelings that depression creates at times.
Steps to Follow
Step One: Adding 6 Drops of Bergamot Essential Oil
Start by adding one drop of Bergamot essential oil from the bottle to the clear glass bottle by using the medicine dropper. Let the oil drop mix inside of the bottle for a moment before proceeding with this recipe step. Continue the act of adding a drop of bergamot essential oil to the glass bottle five more times. When the final drop of oil is inside the bottle, gently stir the oil for one minute.
Step Two: Adding 3 Drops of Geranium Essential Oil
Remove a drop of Geranium essential oil from its bottle with the medicine dropper. Add that drop to the glass bottle and let it naturally mix with the other oil ingredients already in the bottle. Repeat this process two more times until there are three drops of the oil in the bottle. Stir for up to a minute to initiate the process of combining all the oils inside.
Step Three: Adding 2 Ounces of Olive Oil
Using the standard size kitchen spoon, pour one tablespoon of Olive Oil inside the bottle. Let the Olive Oil mix with the oils that are already inside of the glass bottle. Repeat this process three more times to add a total of three tablespoons of Olive Oil to the clear glass bottle. Stir the oil mixture for one minute, allowing the Olive Oil to combine with the other oils already in the bottle.
Step Four: Adding 3 Drops of Petitgrain Essential Oil
Remove a drop of Petitgrain essential oil from the bottle using the medicine dropper. Add the oil drop to the glass bottle. Let it begin to naturally mix with the other oil ingredients. Repeat this process two more times. There should be a total of three oil drops inside the bottle. Mix the oils for one minute before moving on to the next step.
Step Five: Adding 1 Drop of Neroli Essential Oil
Using the medicine dropper, remove one drop of Neroli essential oil from the main bottle. Add the oil drop to the glass bottle. Give the oil a minute to mix with the other ingredients before proceeding with this step. Stir the oil mixture for up to a minute to finish creating this mood boosting massage oil.
The Olive Oil in this recipe serves as the glue that holds the remaining oil ingredients together. You can use the mixture by placing a few drops into the palm of your hands. Slowly rub your hands together, covering your skin with the oil mixture. Gently massage the oil mixture into any area of your body that feels tense. You may use the massage oil as often as you desire throughout the day.
Mood Boosting Essential Oils Inhaler
Inhaling soothing scents throughout your day helps to bring a sense of relaxation to an otherwise stressful moment in the day. As the scent washes over you, you instantly begin to have a more positive outlook on your day. Doing so works to keep your depression at arm’s length. The process starts as you find the following ingredients.
- 1 Bottle, any size, of Ylang-Ylang essential oil
- 1 Bottle, any size, of Clary Sage essential oil
- 1 Bottle, any size, of Basil essential oil
- 1 Bottle, any size, of Geranium essential oil
- 1 Bottle, any size, of Sandalwood essential oil
- 1 Medicine Dropper
- 1 Clear Small Glass Bottle
Use each of these ingredients in the recipe below to make an inhaler you can use throughout the day.
Steps to Follow
Step One: Adding 4 Drops of Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil
Take one drop of Ylang-Ylang oil out of the bottle using the medicine dropper. Add that drop to the clear bottle. Let it sit for a moment before proceeding to add three more drops to the bottle using the same process. Slowly mix the oil with the medicine dropper for one minute.
Step Two: Adding 4 Drops of Clary Sage Essential Oil
Using the medicine dropper, remove one drop of Clary Sage essential oil from the bottle that contains this oil. Add the drop to the bottle containing the Ylang-Ylang oil. Let the oil drop and naturally mix with the contents of the bottle. Follow this process three more times until there are four drops of oil in the bottle. Stir the contents of the bottle for up to one minute.
Step Three: Adding 2 Drops of Basil Essential Oil
Using the medicine dropper, remove one drop of Basil essential oil from the bottle containing that oil. Place the oil drop in the bottle with the other oils. Let it sit for a moment and begin naturally mixing with the current oil combination. Repeat this process one more time until there are two drops of oil in the bottle. Slowly mix the oil into the current oil mixture for one minute.
Step Four: Adding 3 Drops of Geranium Essential Oil
Remove one drop of Geranium oil from the bottle and add it to the glass bottle. Give the drop a minute to naturally mix with the other oil ingredients. Follow this procedure two more times until there are three drops of oil in the glass bottle. Gently stir the oil mixture inside of the bottle for one minute.
Step Five: Adding 1 Drop of Sandalwood Essential Oil
Using the medicine dropper, remove one drop of Sandalwood essential oil from the main bottle of that oil. Add that drop of oil to the glass bottle that holds the other oil ingredients. Allow the oil to naturally mix inside the bottle. Slowly stir the oil combination for one minute.
You now have an essential oil inhaler that you can take with you wherever you go. When feelings of nervousness, panic or despair begin to consume you, take the bottle out of your pocket or bag and slowly inhale the scent inside.
A Final Thought
Depression affects millions of Americans on a daily basis. You should not feel ashamed or embarrassed by the fact that you are battling depression. As an individual who also suffers from bouts of depression, I want to share alternative methods of treatment with you that are outside of our prescription medication options. I find essential oils to be a much better health remedy than taking pills several times a day. My guess is that you feel the same way and that is the driving force that brought you to an article on using essential oils for depression.
Give these recipes a try to see if they are beneficial in helping you fight depression. You can also use the oil combinations in a diffuser machine, a spray bottle or hair care products. Those methods of use will keep the soothing scent with you throughout the day, which works as a mood booster and helps you gain a sense of self-confidence to face the world. Lastly, make sure that you buy your oils from a high-quality source to ensure you’re getting what you pay for.
Did you find the information in this article helpful? Do you know someone who is also battling depression and could benefit from reading this article? Please share the article with your social media circles to help others find an alternative way to treat their depression.