Aromatherapy for depression is usually a treatment selected for those suffering from minor to medium levels of depression. When choosing an aromatherapist as your chosen therapy specialist in helping you to heal from depression it is likely you have many questions about what to expect and have some apprehension if using a therapy new to you. We at Seek a Therapy want to help answer your questions and concerns surrounding aromatherapy in order to help you select the right therapist for you and on this page we have included some of the most common questions a person may have before treatment.
What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is the practice of using natural oils to enhance psychological and physical well-being.
When essential oils are applied to the body they penetrate the skin via the hair follicles and sweat glands and are absorbed into the body fluids, where they not only help to kill bacteria and viruses but also stimulate the body’s immune system, thereby strengthening resistance to further attack.
Some essential oils increase the circulation and help with the efficient elimination of toxins, others promote new cell growth and encourage the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Each essential oil has its own character and aroma, exhibiting a varying number of properties and benefits which are unique to itself, since no two essential oils are quite the same.
The minute molecules of essential oils are readily absorbed into the bloodstream when they are inhaled as the lungs work to oxygenate the blood. This form of absorption is most efficient when inhaling essential oils from a tissue, diffusing them in a vaporizer, or adding them to your bathwater. The aroma sends a signal directly to the Limbic System in the brain which is the centre of emotions, memory and sexual arousal. This is why essential oils have such a powerful effect on our moods and general state of mind, as we will see later.
The oils are mixed with another substance (such as oil, alcohol, or lotion) and then put on the skin, sprayed in the air, or inhaled.
How Aromatherapy can help with depression and anxiety
With essential oils, it is has been scientifically proven that smells can conjure some memories from our past that in turn, influence our emotions and other oils and smells have properties that are known to create other wanted feelings. For example, lavender, sweet marjoram, clary sage, sandalwood, frankincense and ylang ylang work by stimulating a neuro-chemical called serotonin that is naturally produced by the body to help relaxation and induce sleep. It is this action that makes these oils so invaluable in helping long-term conditions such as insomnia, stress and tension.. It is this combination of memory recall through smells and known plant properties that when inhaled or applied to the body can in lifting depression, irritability, and also encourages a better state of mind.
Physical Illness that has continued over a long period of time can also be a leading . cause of depression and compromise your immune system. This situation can be devastating and can lead to further infection and the onset of further emotional despair and depression.
Aromatherapy is well documented to be able to deal with negative and positive emotions and influence the chemistry of our bodies. With regular treatment, in combination with other treatments, aromatherapy can be a great cure for depression and/or anxiety. See below as hypnotherapist discusses why he uses aromatherapy as part of his treatment.
How Can Aromatherapy Help Ease My Depression?
Regular treatments using essential oils and aromatherapy is believed to by specialists to be able to break the cycle of depression which causes immunodeficiency, whilst at the same time helping to boost the depleted immune system. There is research to suggest that there is a sense of well being produced after using essential oils in a treatment, especially in cases of stress and depression.
How Much Does A Typical Aromatherapy Session Cost?
If you are based in the UK you can ask your GP for help with a psychotherapist on the NHS but often there is a wait. If this is the case then you can go private ( and we have several psychotherapists in our directory in the UK, USA, Europe and Asia) where costs range from £40/$50 per session and sometimes can go up to £150/$200 and occasionally more depending upon the therapists experience, speciality and location.
What If Aromatherapy Doesn’t Work For Me?
First of all, don’t worry!
If you think aromatherapy is the right therapy but you have the wrong therapist then you have every right to seek a second opinion and you will not offend your therapist, they just want you to heal from your difficulty as best you can and you deserve to feel better. If, on the other hand, you don’t feel aroamtherapy is working at all then do not be disheartened, there are many, many different types of therapy to heal from depression and aromatherapy is only one. Use our therapy directory to find a different therapy, you may find hypnotherapy works better or possibly some holistic treatment or a combination of several. The key is not to think this is your only option, if you need some help choosing a therapy maybe speak to your GP or a mental health charity and they will be able to help guide you further.
Aromatherapy For Depression
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Please note : This information should not replace professional medical advice, it is purely for informational purposes . At all times when you are in crisis please first seek help from your GP or another medical professional. Thankyou