The more I learn about health and wellness, the more I realize just how many factors contribute to our physical and emotional health. Everything from our diet, activity level, hormones, nutritional absorption, sleep patterns, genetics, and life experiences. Depression and anxiety are particularly interesting to me because of their wide range of contributing factors. For years I tried to treat my depression symptoms with anti-depressants, herbs, supplements, and energy work. They helped, but I never really felt GOOD. It wasn't until I addressed my hormones that I really started to feel a difference. Now I call my progesterone pills my happy pills!
In my opinion, it's necessary to look at all aspects of your being when addressing an issue like depression and/or anxiety. What needs to be addressed on the physical, mental, spiritual, and energetic levels? Are there nutritional deficiencies? Do you have old emotions stored in your body that are weighing you down and need to be released? Is your body producing a healthy level of hormones? And on and on.
Just as there are many factors that contribute to depression and anxiety, there are many oils to help address those factors. I encourage you to study the oils to see which ones resonate with you. Our bodies are so unique and what works for one person may not work for another.
From the book "Butterfly Miracles with Essential Oils" by LaRee Westover, the oils that are suggested for depression are (click on the name to read more about the oil): Acknowledge, Baby Me, Beloved, Believe, Cherish, Grateful Heart, HeartSong, Letting Go, Meditation, MyGraine, Sego Lily, Tranquility, Turmoil, Unity, allspice, basil, benzoin, bergamot,
chamomile Roman, geranium, howood, lavender, lemon, jasmine, neroli, orange bitter, rose geranium, rose,
ylang ylang.
In the same book, the oils that are suggested for anxiety are (click on the name to read more about the oil): Angel, Assurance, Cherish, Dreams, Faith, Inner Peace, Letting Go, QuietEssence, Synopsis, Tranquility, Whispering Hope, Vision, bergamot, chamomile Roman, frankincense, geranium, jasmine,
lavender, lime, melissa, palo santo, patchouli, rose, sandalwood, spruce, tangerine, ylang ylang.
My favorite oils for depression and anxiety are Tranquility (especially for anxiety), Heart Song, and Letting Go. I've created these images that can be printed for easy reference.
INGREDIENTS: blue tansy, geranium, chamomile German, lavender, palmarosa, patchouli, orange sweet, tangerine, ylang ylang
APPLICATION: LeTranquility can be used as a perfume or cologne. It is an excellent essential oil for a relaxing bath. This blend can be placed anywhere on the body.
AROMATIC CONSIDERATIONS: Diffuse or wear LeTranquility as a perfume. Everyone around you will get to enjoy it and reap the benefits. The aroma of LeTranquility has been known to reduce or eliminate panic attacks and other anxiety based disorders.
EMOTIONAL / SPIRITUAL / MENTAL ASPECTS: One of the best loved of the Butterfly Express, llc, blends, LeTranquility can help us develop inner strength, patience, understanding, and confidence. LeTranquility promotes relaxation, relieves anxiety, stress, tension, and depression.
LeTranquility is useful as a sleep aid, especially when the problem is "mind chatter" that just won't quit. Instead of sleeping, even though we need sleep badly, we lay there reviewing the past day in our minds or making plans for tomorrow. LeTranquility helps us take a step back from a situation so that we may come to a fuller understanding of all aspects of the situation. From this perspective we are usually able to see solutions to our dilemmas more easily.
PHYSICAL ASPECTS: Physically, LeTranquility can be useful for circulatory problems to the extremities. Stress takes a high toll on the vitamin and mineral levels of the body, especially the levels of calcium. The use of LeTranquility, which promotes calmness and quells anxiety, has been helpful in cases of osteoporosis.
LeTranquility is one of the best blends to relieve migraines and tension headaches. Since so many of our minor, but annoying physical distresses have their roots in our emotions and our thought patterns, LeTranquility has proven useful in a very wide range of physical discomforts.
LeTranquility has been used in programs to help children and adults get off Ritalin and Prozac. Of course, it is recommended that you work closely with your doctor.
GENERAL INFORMATION: This essential oil blend is the first thing you should reach for whenever someone is having a panic attack. More times than not, LeTranquility will stop the attack completely. This is a great blend for any type of anxiety disorder.
INGREDIENTS: bergamot, geranium, grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, orange sweet, rose, rose geranium, rosewood, ylang ylang
RESONANCE: LeHeartSong allows the heart to find its joy and learn to sing again. This is a very high frequency spiritual and emotional blend. LeHeartSong was created as an anti-depressant blend and is still the #1 blend for use in the treatment of grief and mild depression.
APPLICATION: LeHeartSong is very effective applied in a clockwise motion over each individual chakra, one by one. To do this, it is usually best to begin at the base chakra and work up the body to the crown chakra. This may be done on either the front or the back of the body. (I prefer the back, but that requires the help of a friend.) Can also be applied over the heart, on the ears, and to any area of poor circulation. This is a beautiful oil to diffuse, and may be worn as a perfume or as cologne.
AROMATIC CONSIDERATIONS: The aroma of LeHeartSong can be offensive if there are emotional blockages to loving and being loved. If this occurs, apply the blendLeUnity to the palms of the hands and place the hands over the navel and thymus. Hold for 20 seconds and then reverse the hand positions and hold for another 20 seconds or more. The combination of these two oils will balance all the chakras and meridians, bringing a great feeling of peace.
EMOTIONAL / SPIRITUAL / MENTAL ASPECTS: This high frequency blend reminds us that we are loved and cherished by many people, and certainly by Heaven. It has a multitude of uses. LeHeartSong has been of great benefit in treating depression. It is also useful in overcoming grief and trauma. Because it is a remedy for deep sorrow and grief, it makes a wonderful gift for anyone who has recently lost a loved one.
LeTranquility is the first line of defense against anxiety and panic attacks, but if it fails to work or needs a follow up, LeHeartSong is the blend to use. LeHeartSong is also helpful in stabilizing mood swings, relieving stress and tension, and helping one to relax.
You do not need to be suffering from depression or a recent loss to enjoy LeHeartSong. This blend is wonderful for getting through a tough time or just making it to the end of a difficult day. It is also quite effective as a protection against negative energy that you might be picking up from others at home or on the job.
Because of its effect on both the heart and the throat chakras, LeHeartSong is of benefit to those who have difficulty expressing deep emotions or tend to laugh inappropriately when trying to express themselves about these things. LeHeartSong is an excellent oil for energy work, especially in the areas of age regression or inner child therapies.
PHYSICAL ASPECTS: LeHeartSong is balancing to the electrical fields of the body and stabilizing to energy levels. Oddly enough, it brings relief from the pain and congestion of pleurisy and makes an excellent deodorant.
INGREDIENTS: blue tansy, geranium, hinoki, lavender, lemon, sandalwood, ylang ylang
APPLICATION: LeLetting Go should be applied directly over the liver, on the bottom of the feet, or behind the ears. This blend is very nice in a bath or diffused.
AROMATIC CONSIDERATIONS: LeLetting Go is a favorite blend of many people. By letting go of negative emotions, we can create feelings of tolerance and compassion towards the faults and foibles of the human race, including ourselves. Regular use of this essential oil blend can help us develop feelings of trust, safety, and security.
EMOTIONAL / SPIRITUAL / MENTAL ASPECTS: LeLetting Go is literally what the name implies, an oil to aid us in the "letting go" of negative emotions that we are holding onto in the physical tissues of our bodies. You can use LeLetting Go to aid in the release of anger, frustration, resentment, despair, grief, insecurity, or any other emotion that is not serving you well. This blend is appropriate when your forward progress in emotional or physical healing seems to be halted. This oil is beneficial when used for the rebellious spirit sometimes seen in teens and others of us from time to time.
PHYSICAL ASPECTS: Letting go of the emotional baggage that we don't need can have an energizing effect on the colon, kidneys, liver, and gall-bladder in particular. The holding on to negativity from the past can be the root cause of constipation. Fear can cause the kidneys and the bladder to function below optimum levels. Clogging in the liver and gallbladder creates a multitude of physical problems.
I also REALLY like a product called Rescue Remedy for anxiety. It's the only thing that gets me through the holidays! Just a few drops under the tongue and the anxiety and stress starts to melt away. Rescue Remedy is made from the essence of flowers, specifically the flowers Clematis, Star of Bethlehem, Rock Rose, Cherry Plum, and Impatiens. You can learn more about Rescue Remedy here: http://www.bachflower.com/rescue-remedy-information/ You can purchase Rescue Remedy at most health food stores.
I recently learned that Butterfly Express also has a Rescue Remedy product that is MUCH cheaper than buying it at the health food store. At the health food stores, a 10 ml bottle of Rescue Remedy costs $12-14. The Butterfly product is a full 1 oz for only $5! And it has a much better taste.
