Aromatherapy: A Natural Depression Remedy

0

203286_origFor nearly 6,000 years essential oils have been used for therapeutic purposes. A number of ancient civilizations including the Chinese, Indians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used them for cosmetics and perfumes as well as for rituals and spiritual reasons. Oils are documented by the Greek physician and botanist Pedanius Dioscorides in the first century in his five-volume encyclopedia about herbal medicine, De Materia Medica.

Fast forward to the early 1900s, when French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse burned his hand and treated it with lavender oil. He then started to analyze the chemical properties of essential oils and how they could be used to treat various conditions. It is commonly understood that Gattefosse founded the science of aromatherapy in 1928. Shortly after, massage therapists, beauticians, nurses, physiotherapists, doctors, and other health care professionals started to use aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy uses the essential oils and other aromatic compounds of plants for the purposes of healing. The plant materials and oils can be massaged into the skin or inhaled. Each essential oil contains concentrated extracts taken from the roots, leaves, or blossoms of plants and therefore has its own mix of active ingredients, determining unique healing faculties.

Continue reading …

Share this:

Therese Borchard
I am a writer and chaplain trying to live a simple life in Annapolis, Maryland.

More about me...


FOLLOW ME

SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER



Recent

February 23, 2024
Beloved
November 24, 2023
Everything Is Grace: Cultivating Gratitude From a Greater Altitude
June 11, 2023
Do One Thing Every Day That Scares You
May 20, 2023
Please Let Me Cry
February 16, 2023
Love Being Loving

Related Posts

7 Responses
  1. Sam Gyura

    Lavender oil is amazing. So glad you are reaping the benefits, particularly with sleep. I’ve had the eucalyptus on turbo charge for the past week as I have a cold. Another good one is Tiger Balm. Excellent decongestant and headache cure.

      1. Therese Borchard

        Hi Alice. I got my bottle from youngliving.com. I just got a very small bottle, and put just a tiny amount on my temples each night. Thanks.

        1. Alice Towery

          Thanks Therese,
          I ordered some lavender essential oils to give it a try. I may even try to grow some lavender plants. hugs, alice

        2. joy

          I too have Youngliving essential oils but I am new to them and just learning.
          I have the starter with the diffuser.

          I want to use gor depression, what are the best oils and would I diffuse or use topical or through smell?
          thank yoy

  2. MrEd

    I put a few drops of Rosemary oil in my CPAP machine, and I breathe it all night long, or as long as I can take that damn Darth Vader mask. I seem a little sharper in the morning. I wonder what lavender would do? Is there any info re the correlation of an aroma with a result or effect? A list?

  3. DM

    I love essential oils. A little bit of Lavender Oil actually helped me when I was sick with the flu once and couldn’t bear any other smells, as they’d make me more nauseated. I don’t know why it never helped with my mood though. : (

    I use a mixture of Citrus Blend and Tranquility to brighten up my mood. I mix in a few drops (4-5) of each oil in a 2 oz amber glass spray bottle already filled with half organic witch hazel and half filtered water. It’s really nice.

    Blessings!