Aromatherapy for the Spirit and Essential Oils for Depression

It has been cited throughout history that most illness is rooted in the seat of the soul, or spirit. Plato and Socrates believed in this concept as well as many modern medicine men and holistic therapists and healers.

If this is true, which I believe it to be, as I've seen and experienced myself the power of essential oils, and how they can aid healing with many emotional and spiritual issues time and time again, then we too, can heal ourselves, our minds, bodies, and spirits with forgiveness, a willingness to take responsibility for our own health and well being, and the highest intentions of our soul.

Correctly using nature's finest and most exquisite gifts, pure essential oils; which are the life-blood of it's plant host, or root, resin, bark, seed or flower given to us by God, can indeed assist in healing the spirit of many types of ailments if properly administered.

Essential oils can be very helpful in dealing with depression as the limbic center (sense of smell) is closely related and seems connected with the spiritual and emotional centers in the pituitary, so it's no wonder they can do so much good for our minds, bodies and spirits.

So many of us seem to be experiencing major ups and downs in our lives, whether we are dealing with older children still living at home, raising our children's children, taking care of our parents or siblings, work expectations clashing with our home lives, or just the everyday stresses of our daily routines. These things can cause us to feel overwhelmed, depressed, or off-balance.

So how can we become energized, fulfilled and excited about life? We can just change our minds, ("mind over matter" works) and then do something about it. Sometimes that means taking a time out and connecting with our angels (click the link to learn how), or having a talk with God, or maybe just taking a look at our lives up to this point and try to find negative patterns that can be changed into positive patterns.

Well, I'm no guru, or even qualified to answer that, but I do know that essential oils have helped me, and those I love with whom I've shared their secrets with, become healthier, happier and aware of how things affect us, and how to go about changing negative outcomes into wonderful learning experiences and a purpose-filled life with many more ups than downs.

Citrus essential oils come to the rescue and are the very best essential oils for raising the spirits with their bright and sparkly personalities. Find your favorite and carry some with you wherever you go and you'll always have a little sunshine in your pocket for those rainy days.

Some of my favorite citrus essential oils are:

• Pink Grapefruit
• Tangerine
• Bergamot
• Yuzu
• Mandarin
• Lemon

Here are a few other uplifting essential oils great for treating depression;

~ Bergamot (Citrus aurantium)
~ Cedarwood, Atlas (Cedrus atlantica)
~ Chamomile, Roman (Chamaemelum nobile)
~ Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
~ Helichrysum or Immortelle (Helichrysum agusifolium)
~ Jasmine (Jasminum officinale)
~ Lavender (Lavandula augustifolia)
~ Neroli (Citrus aurantium bigaradia)
~ Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
~ Rose (Rosa damascena)
~ Sandalwood (Santalum album)
~ Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata)

Also Frankincense, Lemon, Angelica, Orange, Grapefruit, or citrus oils of any kind.

Young Living oil blends that are helpful in fighting depression are; Valor, Motivation, Passion, Hope, Joy, Brain Power, Present Time, Envision, Sacred Mountain, Harmony, Highest Potential

Also see natural depression strategies for more essential oils that are helpful with emotional and spiritual issues.

Essential oils are without a doubt one of the most precious resources we have in our modern world to aid in so many aspects of our health. Whether we encounter mental, physical, emotional or spiritual imbalances or maladies, aromatherapy and the use of essential oils can aid us in our quest for happiness, health and balance.

More and more authors are writing of the roles essential oils play in helping us to regain homeostasis and the long lost art of aromatherapy is making a big comeback.

Here are a few of my favorite books on healing the spirit with essential oils in no particular order:

'Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit'

A Guide to Restoring Emotional and Mental Balance
through Essential Oils

by Gabriel Mojay FIFPA,MBAcC,MRSS

Gabriel Mojay is the principal of the Institute of Traditional Herbal Medicine and Aromatherapy in London. In this beautifully illustrated book, he presents the healing properties of 40 essential oils. The author relates the dynamics of aromatherapy to traditional Chinese medicine, astrology, and acupuncture. There are chapters on oils that regulate and relax, settle the mind, boost morale, help one achieve clarity, uplift the spirit, and enhance love.

Mojay begins with a look at the different methods of applying these oils including massage, ointments and creams, bath, and vaporization. He goes on to provide helpful overviews of the therapeutic properties of each oil. For example, benzoin is recommended for those who are going on a spiritual journey as it helps steady and focus the mind for meditation, contemplation, and prayer. Caraway and cedar are ideal for restoring a sense of spiritual certainty. Those in need of inspiration and insight can turn to peppermint, clary sage, or laurel. Jasmine is just right for anyone working on a creative project. Rosemary is an ideal oil to use for rituals of remembrance, and sandalwood provides a fine accompaniment to meditation, prayer, and spiritual practice.

Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit is an excellent resource for anyone interested in expanding his or her devotional life through the senses.

Aromatherapy for the Soul: Healing the Spirit with Fragrance and Essential Oils

Author: Valerie Ann Worwood
Publisher: New World Library
Copyright: 2006
ISBN: 1-57731-562-2 / 978-1577315629

Fragrances contain unique properties which can not only heal, but evoke emotions memories and even visions: while much discussion revolves around healing, Aromatherapy for the Soul: Healing the Spirit with Fragrance and Essential Oils focuses more on the psyche, with chapters exploring links between spirituality and aromatherapy. It previously appeared as THE FRAGRANT HEAVENS: its new title promises a wider audience.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Excerpt from the Back Cover of Aromatherapy for the Soul:

"Fragrances possess a unique ability to evoke emotions, memories, and visions. Since the dawn of time spiritual traditions as diverse as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Shinto, and Buddhism have used fragrances to enhance the experience of the Divine. With Aromatherapy for the Soul, world-renowned aromatherapist Valerie Ann Worwood has created a comprehensive guide to the use of essential oils and aromas to enhance spiritual practice."

Aromatherapy for the Soul offers a broad and enticing look at the spiritual application for essential oils in ancient and present times.

This isn't a "recipe" style book, so don't look to it if you're looking for ready-made recipes. Instead, choose this book if you're looking for a deeper introduction into the role that aromatherapy and aromatic botanicals play within spirituality in general and within your own personal spiritual practices.

Advanced Aromatherapy: The Science of Essential Oil Therapy

~ Kurt Schnaubelt Ph.D

In a field where so many books are filled with unproven claims, outright falsehoods, and just plain fluff, Kurt Schnaubelt's books stand out as serious, well researched works that accord aromatherapy the respect it deserves.

By focusing on the chemistry of essential oils, we learn *why* an essential oil works the way it does and how different chemotypes of the same EO can have vastly different effects (an important issue that is completely ignored by many aromatherapy books). We also learn why some EOs must be used with great caution. Dozens of oils are profiled with diagrams, lists of primary effects and contraindications, etc. There is also a chapter with proven recipes for a variety of physical, psychological, and cosmetic conditions. All methods of application are covered (including those well established in Europe but rarely used in the U.S., e.g., suppositories), and Dr. Schnaubelt candidly states where essential oil therapy is most effective (e.g., infectious diseases, hormonal imbalances, and problems affecting the psyche and nervous system) as well as where aromatherapy has relatively little to offer (allergic and autoimmune conditions as well as chronic metabolic and degenerative conditions).

What makes Advanced Aromatherapy even more of a gem is that Dr. Schnaubelt integrates the science of aromatherapy into a holistic rather than an allopathic framework and gives pointers on selecting the appropriate EOs by taking into account the totality of the patient's symptoms.