Aromatherapy and the mind: using essential oils to balance your emotions

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Essential oils can have a potent effect on the mind as well as the body. In this article we explore how we can use aromatherapy to bring about desirable mental states. First we describe some essential oils that we can use to relieve stress, depression, anxiety, and lethary. In the second part of the article, we describe 5 methods for using essential oils in your home or place of work.

It's important to be aware of safety issues when using essential oils. If you are new to aromatherapy, we suggest you read our article Using Essential Oils Safely. As you read this article, each essential oil mentioned will be linked to safety notes for that particular oil.

Relaxation and stress relief

It's fairly common these days to have trouble winding down and relaxing. Essential oils can help to counteract the effects of stressful jobs and busy lives. A small amount of lavender oil or clary sage can help us to wind down at the end of a hectic day. Lavender is soporific and is especially good for insomniacs. Clary sage has a wonderful warm encompassing aroma, and is especially good if you are feeling emotionally wrung out or anxious.

Lifting depression

For readers prone to depression, aromatherapy can help to make you feel more positive and more able to cope. Geranium and ylang ylang are good oils to try. Geranium has a powerful effect on depressive moods - negative feelings diminish and are replaced with feelings of wellbeing. Ylang ylang helps to balance and calm emotional trauma. Geranium is quite subtle, while ylang ylang can be more euphoric in its effect.

Calming anxiety

The anxious mind is often fraught with worries and feelings of not being able to cope. Clary sage and ylang ylang will help to restore balance and soothe your mind. Clary sage has a powerful relaxing effect which banishes anxious thoughts, while ylang ylang is more gentle. Lavender and geranium can also be helpful.

Mental boosts

Sometimes we don't need calming down, we need a mental boost instead. Aromatherapy can help us with this too. Stimulating oils include eucalyptus, rosemary, and peppermint. These oils may be used to good effect to counter fatigue, lethargy, hangovers, and late nights. Peppermint and eucalyptus are invigorating and uplifting if their effect. Rosemary helps to clear the mind, so is especially useful if you are feeling tired but still have work to do.

Methods for using essential oils

When using aromatherapy to balance the mind, the diffusion methods of using essential oils are often the most effective. From the five methods described below choose the one that suits you best. Each of the diffusion methods works best if you close the windows and doors of the room you are using while releasing the oil.

Oil burner (also known as a diffuser or vaporiser)

This popular method uses heat to vaporise the oil. Fill the bowl with water and add 1-6 drops of essential oil to the water. Either light the candle or switch on the power on electric models. Heat for 10 minutes making sure that the water does not all evaporate. Clean the bowl after use.

Light bulb ring

This is a ring made from non-porous material which fits over the bulb of a standard table lamp. Place 1-5 drops of oil in the ring and carefully place it over a cold bulb. Turning the lamp on heats the ring and releases the oils into the air. Be careful not to spill oil on the bulb as essential oils are flammable. Again clean after use.

Water spray

This method allows you to spray scented water around the room. Use a plant spray filled with water, and add 4 drops of oil for every 300ml of water. Shake the mixture and spray it around the room avoiding wood.

Water bowl

Fill a bowl with hot water from the kettle. Add 1-9 drops of essential oil. Leave for 10 minutes. The heat from the water will release the aroma.

For you only

All of the above methods scent a whole room and are great for using at home or when the people around you are open to aromatherapy. Sometimes you may need a more discreet method, if you work in a shared office for example. The ideal method in this situation is to put 1-3 drops of oil on to a tissue and inhale when required.

In this article we've described how you can use aromatherapy to improve your mental wellbeing and described how to use the essential oils. When experimenting follow your instincts. If you don't like the smell of a particular oil, or it doesn't have the desired effect, try another one. (The references listed below can offer guidance in choosing oils.) Happy experimenting!

Further reading

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