Depression is a mental condition in which the person has the feeling that everything is horrible and hopeless. Depression can be due to several reasons and its symptoms may be quite varied.

Forms of Depression:

• Reactive depression - occurs as a reaction to some type of loss like the death of a loved one, or loss of security.
• Endogenous - is caused by chemical changes in the body and in the brain. These changes can be hormonal, particularly in women during menopause.

Symptoms:

• Exhaustion
• Loss of Energy
• Lack of Enthusiasm
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Loss of appetite
• Seeing everything as horrible, hopeless, etc

Aromatic oils have quite intense effects on mood, it is therefore necessary to change the oil used as symptoms vary. The benefits of aromatherapy massage using diluted essential oils, with the caring effect of the direct contact, are the most useful way of treating someone with depression.

• Bergamot: this is one of the most uplifting oils, with a refreshing citrus fragrance.
• Clary Sage: this oil is quite relaxing, but with an uplifting, almost euphoric effect as well; good when chronic tension has led to depression or exhaustion.
• Geranium: this oil has tonic effect on the adrenal cortex, which helps to regulate stress hormone production.
• Neroli: this oil comes from the blossom of the bitter orange, is very concentrated, a little can go a long way. It relaxes muscle spasm and the irritability which often goes with a depressed condition.

Herbs are another useful treatment for depression. The traditional approach include looking at all the body systems, particularly the liver function, and often bitter herbs were prescribed to stimulate digestion and act as tonic; few drops of a tincture of a herb such as Gentian may do the trick in mild cases of depression. The herbs below can be taken as a tea, or for a stronger effect take as an infusion.

• Borage (Borago officianalis): an adrenal stimulant and general tonic, best taken as a tea and for short period only.
• Oatstraw (Avena sativa): an all-around nervous restorative; either use 20 drops of the tincture twice daily, or simply add plenty of oats to the diet.
• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officianalis): excellent where nervous exhaustion leads to depression, also good for headaches and sluggish digestion.
• Vervain (Verbena officianalis): a relaxing tonic, very useful for depression of convalescence from an illness, when everything seems a struggle.

Naturopathy

• One of the first things to do is to change your diet, make sure there is enough nourishment for the nervous system. Take plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, possibly increasing protein intake. Reduce coffee, tea, sugar and alcohol intake.
• Do regular exercise; joining group exercise will further increase your chance of relieving your depression. Exercise benefits the whole body by helping to reduce stress, promotes relaxation, improve circulation, muscle tone and increase oxygen intake.
• Take supplement like Ginkgo Biloba. This plant stimulates circulation in the brain, promoting the oxygenation and sustenance of the neurons. In case of mental disorders where there is considerable nerve cell activity, such activity consumes a substantial amount of oxygen and nutrients. If these should be lacking, the brain will not have sufficient fuel to function properly. As a consequence, this produces a loss of vitality.