Beat the Winter Blahs with Aromatherapy
We've all felt it at some point- lack of motivation, boredom, and feeling cooped up inside. The winter can be a difficult time of year. I certainly haven't gotten outside as much as I'd like and it's making me feel a bit crazy. While exercise and a healthy diet are crucial to mental well-being, there are other measures we can take to help lift our spirits. I've been using essential oils a lot lately (ok, maybe obsessively) and their benefits are nothing short of amazing.Aromatherapy has been used for thousands of years and works via the limbic system, a part of the brain considered to be the seat of emotion. Whenever you smell something that evokes a flashback or memory, olfactory passageways are connecting a scent to an emotion. And so it makes sense that we can use therapeutic and uplifting scents to positively alter our mood!
Some of the key essential oils for depression are:
Grapefruit- stimulate neurotransmitters in the brain that induce feelings of euphoria
Tangerine- contains sedative properties
Rose- relieves stress
Geranium- uplifting and balancing
Bergamot- mood enhancing
Basil- energizing
Ylang-ylang- calming, combats stress and anxiety. Aphrodisiac.
Clary Sage- calms the nervous system
The most common ways to use essential oils are through inhalation and topical application. Diffusers are easy to use and widely available. You can also just simmer some water on the stove and add several drops of essential oil. Adding them to a bath is simple too. Essential oils evaporate easily, so basically any method that lifts them into the air (think steam/ mist/ vapor) is going to work. Topically, they can be incorporated into scrubs, body oils, facial toners, and so on. This is great for your skin too, as many of them stimulate circulation, aid detoxification, and have wonderful healing properties. Essential oils are very potent and concentrated, however, so do be careful. Less is more. Some essential oils are contraindicated for pregnancy.
As always, I recommend a healthy lifestyle first and foremost. Get outside, exercise, hydrate, eat well, and get adequate sleep. Our thoughts are equally important. Practice gratitude daily and open yourself to all things positive. Add in the healing power of aromatherapy and you are ready to enjoy the very best of the season! Happy winter!
xoxo
Aomi
Spa Moab
