When people talk about health and well-being, it is often what is going on the outside that people tend to focus on, when in reality, mental health issues are sadly becoming more common with each passing day. What’s more, due to the incredibly unfair and unnecessary stigma attached with mental health disorders, many people keep their problems to themselves and suffer in silence, for fear of being mocked and ridiculed.
Aromatherapy for the mind
Mental health disorders can manifest themselves in a number of different ways, and come in many different forms. What’s more, if left untreated and unaddressed, slight issues can often act as catalysts for far more serious issues.
For example, if you find yourself regularly feeling fed up, and down in the dumps, it could get worse and worse. Thus, leading to more serious conditions such as stress, anxiety, and even depression.
Looking after our minds and taking care of ourselves mentally, is extremely important. Which is where aromatherapy comes into the fold.
A few ways in which essential oils and aromatherapy can help to lift your mood and improve your mental health and wellbeing more than ever before.
Many oils are great for stress busting. One of the great things about aromatherapy gifts, is the fact that, as there are so many different essential oils for you to choose from, there is an oil for virtually every condition you can think of.
So, if you find yourself constantly feeling stressed and wound up, breathing in scents such as: lavender, grapefruit, ylang-ylang, rose, bergamot, mandarin, and many more oils for that matter, will help feelings of calmness and tranquillity wash over you.
For the ultimate relaxation experience, why not take a warm and soapy bath, enriched with your favourite stress-busting essential oils before you settle down to relax for the night?
Certain scents can beat food cravings. Let’s face it, if you’re on a diet and are feeling hungry and craving certain foods, you can either give in to your cravings and cheat on your diet. Or you can remain strong and power through, feeling miserable in the process.
In the evening, many of us get cravings for sugary and unhealthy junk foods, which do our bodies no good at all. Not to mention the fact that they’re full of trans fats, sugars, and other undesirable ingredients.
When the cravings kick in however, instead of suffering, of breaking your diet, try using sweet scents such as vanilla, or perhaps mix and match, so vanilla with a dash of cinnamon perhaps.
The scents will help satisfy your cravings and your sweet tooth, despite the fact that you won’t have actually eaten anything bad or unhealthy at all.
Some oils can make us feel happy. You may not realize it, but there are many essential oils out there that have been proven to help promote feelings of happiness and enjoyment.
Popular examples include citrus oils such as Orange, Mandarin, Lemongrass, and Grapefruit. As well as other more aromatic scents like Ylang-Ylang and Sandalwood.
The next time you feel down in the dumps, try using some of the oils listed above with an essential oil diffuser. Your mood will quickly improve.
Life Retreat is currently stocking a wide range of essential oils. Check out our Aromatic Apothecary Silent Moments. Available for just R105.
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I would like to see a top 10 for each category..top 10 for relaxing, top 10 for stress relief, top 10 for pain killer etc…I am new to most of this
Nothing beats an essential oil bath. Add a few drops of lavender oil + bergamot, rose petals, and burn lavender incense and you will have the most amazing bath. Bonus if you use candles!
We’ll keep that in mind. I agree with you that lavender oil is awesome for relaxation. Thanks for your comment Daniel.