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It’s that time of year, again. People start to feel bad,
lethargic, irritable, and depressed. Many gain weight. For
some people the winter months are merely an annoyance. For others,
it can be a major problem. Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, or
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects twice as many females as
males.
Aromatherapy can help you beat those ‘winter blues’. A growing
body of scientific research supports the fact that women react more
strongly to aromatherapy. Scent has a profound effect on the
emotions. The limbic system processes both odor and emotions,
therefore, aroma and emotions are inseparable. Essential oils can
cleanse, release, and balance our thoughts and emotions.
Aromatherapy affects the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of our
individuality.
Essential Oil of Lavender is one of the safest and most widely
used oils in aromatherapy. Lavendula officinalis is a wonderful
oil for depression. It has a steadying influence on the psyche.
Lavender’s balancing effect calms uncontrolled emotions, removes
indecisiveness and emotional conflict, and helps to bring the feelings
under conscious control. It brings a sense of rationality to the
conscious mind.
Lavender Essential Oil works to calm a variety of nervous
disorders including excitability, nervous tension, panic, and hysteria.
It emanates a mellow peacefulness and induces sleep. If you suffer
from ‘winter blues’, surrounding yourself with Lavender, can
help. Use Lavender Incense around your home. Place Lavender
candles in every room. Lavender Sachets can be placed in drawers,
closets, etc… Essential Oil of Lavender can be used in Light
Rings, Diffusers, Aroma Lamps, or Potpourri throughout the home or
office. Other ways to strategically incorporate the scent of
Lavender into your home include: Put a couple of drops of oil onto a
cotton ball and place in your vacuum cleaner bag, place a couple of
drops of oil onto a cotton ball and swab the light bulbs in your home or
office, sprinkle a couple of drops of Lavender oil onto your pillows.
Simply inhaling Lavender Essential Oil releases various
neurochemicals in the brain and you will experience a physiological
change in body, mind, and spirit. When Lavender is inhaled,
serotonin is released from the raphe nucleus of the brain, producing a
calming influence in the body.
Using Essential Oil of Lavender in a massage or bath, will
influence your psyche and work on the tissues and organs of your body.
The oil is absorbed through the skin via hair follicles and is diffused
into the bloodstream and the lymphatic system. The combination of
smell and touch causes powerful responses, physically and emotionally.
Lavender is one of the few essential oils that can safely be
applied directly to the skin, undiluted (neat). Wear a few drops
of Essential Oil of Lavender in this way as a body perfume oil.
For a massage oil, mix 5 drops Lavender Oil to ¼ oz. carrier oil
(olive, sesame, jojoba, sweet almond). Lavender Essential Oil can
be placed directly into the bath (3 – 5 drops), mixed with sea or
Epsom salts (5 drops to 1 oz.), or used in Shower Gel or soaps.
Some recommended alternative therapies for treating SAD include:
light therapy, natural sunlight, exercise, and adequate nourishment.
Remember to eat healthy, drink plenty of water, rest, and try
aromatherapy. It can make a difference in your winter prospective.
References:
The Woman’s Book of Healing Herbs
By: Sari Harrar & Sara Altshul O’Donnell
1999 Rodale Press, Inc
Aromatherapy Blends & Remedies
By: Francesca Watson
1995 Thorsons
The Essential Oils Book
By: Colleen K. Dodt
1996 Storey Books
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