Lavender Oil helps fight Seasonal Affective Disorder (also known as "SAD", or "The Winter Blues")

When the first snowflakes start to fall and most people are making their holiday plans, we are thinking about lavender & sunshine! Every year, we welcome thousands of visitors to our Annual Lavender Festival, (in July) and begin preparing for that event as early as November. We strongly believe that surrounding ourselves with lavender all the time has truly helped us to combat the syndrome known as “The Winter Blues”.

We would like to share an article written by a fellow aromatherapist talking specifically about how to overcome the stagnant days of winter with…you guessed it... Lavender! If you or anyone you know happens to suffer from this bit of winder doldrum, we hope that you will benefit from this article.  Lavender Dreams!

It's that time of year, again. People start to feel bad, lethargic, irritable, and depressed. Many gain weight. For some people the winter months are merely an annoyance. For others, it can be a major problem. Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects twice as many females as males. 

Aromatherapy can help you beat those 'winter blues'. A growing body of scientific research supports the fact that women react more strongly to aromatherapy. Scent has a profound effect on the emotions. The limbic system processes both odor and emotions, therefore, aroma and emotions are inseparable. Essential oils can cleanse, release, and balance our thoughts and emotions. Aromatherapy affects the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of our individuality.

Essential Oil of Lavender is one of the safest and most widely used oils in aroma- therapy. Lavendula officinalis is a wonderful oil for depression. It has a steadying influence on the psyche. Lavender's balancing effect calms uncontrolled emotions, removes indecisiveness and emotional conflict, and helps to bring the feelings under conscious control. It brings a sense of rationality to the conscious mind.

Lavender Essential Oil works to calm a variety of nervous disorders including excitability, nervous tension, panic, and hysteria. It emanates a mellow peacefulness and induces sleep.

If you suffer from 'winter blues', surrounding yourself with Lavender can help. Use Lavender Diffusers around your home. Place Lavender candles in every room. Lavender Sachets can be placed in drawers, closets, etc. Essential Oil of Lavender can be used in Light Rings, Diffusers, Aroma Lamps, or Potpourri throughout the home or office. Other ways to strategically incorporate the scent of Lavender into your home include: Put a couple of drops of oil onto a cotton ball and place in your vacuum cleaner bag, place a couple of drops of oil onto a cotton ball and swab the light bulbs in your home or office, sprinkle a couple of drops of Lavender oil onto your pillows.

Simply inhaling Lavender Essential Oil releases various neurochemicals in the brain and you will experience a physiological change in body, mind, and spirit. When Lavender is inhaled, serotonin is released from the raphe nucleus of the brain, producing a calming influence in the body.

Using Essential Oil of Lavender in a massage or bath will influence your psyche and work on the tissues and organs of your body. The oil is absorbed through the skin via hair follicles and is diffused into the bloodstream and the lymphatic system. The combination of smell and touch causes powerful responses, physically and emotionally.

Lavender is an essential oil that can safely be applied directly to the skin, undiluted (neat). Wear a few drops of Essential Oil of Lavender in this way as a body perfume oil. 

Some recommended alternative therapies for treating SAD include: light therapy, natural sunlight, exercise, and adequate nourishment. Remember to eat healthy, drink plenty of water, rest, and try aromatherapy. It can make a difference in your winter prospective.

Written by: Debra Mauldin, certified aromatherapist

References:

The Woman's Book of Healing Herbs,
Harrar & Altshul O'Donnell, 1999 Rodale Press, Inc

Aromatherapy Blends & Remedies,
Francesca Watson, 1995 Thorsons

The Essential Oils Book,
Colleen K. Dodt, 1996 Storey Books

EDITORS NOTE: My all-time favorite lavender essential oil is from doTERRA! To receive a FREE E-book with more information on essential oils, send Jennifer an email!