The Best Essential Oils to Boost Your Mood
There are many people out there who can use a mood boost. Whether you are suffering from mental health issues or just a brief bout of stress, knowing techniques to help improve mood is incredibly important. There are a wide variety of things that can help people boost their mood such as exercise, yoga, and meditation. However, one solution that many people are turning to is essential oils.
Essential oils are natural compounds that are extracted from plants. They typically capture things such as the scent or flavor of the plant. They have been used for generations in alternative medicine for various healing properties. Modern research has even confirmed that certain essential oils can contribute towards alleviating different medical symptoms. With this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best essential oils for boosting your mood.
Frankincense
This essential oil has a bit of a strange name, but is one of the most all-around oils that you can find. Frankincense is produced from types of the Boswellia tree, which is primarily found in the Horn of Africa and the southern areas of the Middle East. It is initially a hardened gum-like material known as resin that is harvested from the trunk of these trees. As such, it is not surprising that it tends to have an earthy scent that many people compare to pine with hints of citrus.
In its essential oil form, frankincense is notable for many reasons. It helps to relieve stress and anxiety, boosts immunity, and has been found to reduce pain. This is because the scent transmits messages to the brain’s limbic system, which helps to ultimately affect the nervous system. Research has found that it has anti-depressant effects and can produce a sense of inner peace. While many people use frankincense as aromatherapy, it is perhaps best used topically with a carrier oil.
Orange
Nearly everyone is familiar with orange. As you might surmise, orange essential oil is harvested from the fruit of the same name. In fact, it is extracted from the rind through a method known as cold pressing which squeezes out the oil. In some occasions, leaves and flowers from the orange plant are used as well. Obviously, orange essential oil carries with it the sweet, citrusy scent associated with summertime.
Citrus-based oils are known to be quite effective at boosting your mood with orange being perhaps the most popular. The scent itself is quite refreshing and carries with it feelings of energy and cheerfulness. It also helps to calm the mind from anxiety with studies showing that it has some anti-depressant effects while also promoting improved mental clarity and temporarily boosting cognitive abilities. To use this essential oil, simply place one drop in your hand, rub your hands together, and breathe it in.
Lavender
Lavender is perhaps the most popular essential oil of all, which is not surprising given that it has many uses. Lavender essential oils come from the purple lavender plant, which can be found in many places around the world including France and California. This essential oil is harvested by a process known as steam distillation in which lavender is placed in a still and steamed with the heat serving as the catalyst for extracting the oil.
Lavender has a complex scent that can be described as simultaneously floral and evergreen. It is one of the most studied essential oils and has frequently been shown to significantly reduce levels of anxiety and help relieve stress. An added benefit of using lavender essential oil is that it helps facilitate a calm state and aids in sleep. Thus, this may be an ideal essential oil to use as part of a bedtime routine. A great way to use lavender essential oil is to simply place a few drops on your pillow before bedtime.
Chamomile
Chamomile essential oil comes from the flowering chamomile plant, a plant that looks quite similar to daisies. The oil itself is made from the plant’s flower. Like lavender, chamomile essential oil is harvested with the steam distillation process. While there are other methods of harvesting it, this method has the best results. Since chamomile is made from a flower, it is not surprising that it carries a flowery scent. It has been described as a fresh scent with the German variety having a hint of apple as well.
If you’ve ever drank chamomile tea in order to help facilitate relaxation, you already know of this plant’s strong mood boosting ability. Chamomile essential oil has a similar outcome with studies showing it to be very effective at reducing stress and helping to facilitate sleep. Thus, chamomile is quite similar to lavender in its benefits. In fact, research has shown that combining chamomile essential oil with lavender essential oil significantly reduces anxiety levels while improving overall quality of sleep.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood essential oil is harvested from the tree that it shares its name with. This is a hardwood tree that is located in India and Southeast Asia. It is also considered sacred in many cultures. Harvesting sandalwood oil involves taking chips cut from the tree and putting them through the steam distillation process. The result is an essential oil with a scent described as woody with sweet accents. Sandalwood is also used in many colognes.
In terms of boosting your mood, sandalwood essential oil is an excellent choice for enhancing mental clarity and focus. It can be particularly useful when used through the process of meditation. Many people state that it helps them balance their emotions. An effective way to use sandalwood essential oil is to pair it with a carrier oil, rub it in your palms, and cup your face while inhaling.
Final Thoughts
For those wanting an improved mood boost, we offer a Mood Boost Spray at Aculief, which combines many mood boosting essential oils including orange, lavender, frankincense, chamomile, and juniper. This spray can be found on our website, along with many other natural healing products. As always, feel free to continue reading our Natural Healing Blog for more insights.
