We already talked about how to use essential oils for a healthy body, so today I want to focus on how you can use essential oils for a healthy mind. This might be a little more far fetched for some of you, and if you’re skeptical I recommend reading more about essential oils. The more I educate myself about the perks of essential oils, and the evidence backing it up, the more into them I become. Keep in mind people have been using essential oils to better themselves since ancient times!
Also remember a lot of these oils have multiple uses, but today we are focusing on a healthy mind. Here are five popular oils:
1. Peppermint
We already talked about how peppermint can help your health, but it can also benefit your mind. The smell of peppermint is known to increase your alertness and boost your mood pretty much instantly. To get these benefits, you won’t need to use peppermint topically. I use my essential oil diffuser when working on homework to help me concentrate. Others drink peppermint tea, which doesn’t have caffeine, to get the quick boost!
2. Lavender
Lavender is best known for being able to help people relax. It can be used to help decrease anxiety, tame PMS symptoms, and help you sleep. The best part of using lavender, aside from the benefits, is that it actually smells really good. I like to put it in my diffuser every night about an hour before I go to bed. Alternatively, you can put the oil on your pulse points—just enough to keep the smell close!
3. Sweet Orange
Orange oil is another mind-benefiting essential oil that smells great! I typically use orange oil when I am feeling extra tense, as its known for its ability to help with anger and depression. I would say that orange oils are more commonly used for skin benefits than the mind, so you don’t need to worry if you can apply it topically if that is your preference. However, I definitely recommend aromatherapy because the smell is so pleasant, which I think aids in lifting my mood.
4. Rosemary
Rosemary helps to bring mental clarity and can enhance your memory! That makes rosemary perfect for when I am overwhelmed—it can calm me down and help me keep track of everything I need to do. It is said that rosemary can also improve your speed or accuracy while working on mental tasks. Diffusing the oil or rubbing it on your temple can both be effective. It smells kind of like pine, so if you aren’t a fan of the smell I recommend mixing it with lavender.
5. Lemongrass
Lemongrass helps boost your self esteem and I am sure we could all use that once or twice! It basically works as an anti-depressant and helps to drive away the negative thoughts and anxiety associated with depression. Lemongrass unfortunately is notorious for causing skin irritation, so I would steer clear of applying it topically and stick to aromatherapy with this one. Don’t view that as a bad thing though, the smell is really similar to lemons but milder and sweeter!
Again, this is just a brief overview of five essential oils that can help benefit your mind and mood—there are plenty of others that I didn’t mention! The best way to be more comfortable with the effects of essential oils is to (after the proper research) use them more often. While each individual oil has its own properties, they can also be mixed together to create your own concoction. I usually do this to either further the benefits or create a more pleasant smell.
So, are there any special blends of essential oils that you guys use? Share with me in the comments!
Feeling lost? Check out my Introduction to Essential Oils for tips, tricks, and basic info to get you started!
A long time ago I used a recipe from a wellness magazine from a local natural grocery store to make a a rub to relieve symptoms of sever colds and flu. For the life of me I do not know what I did with that recipe. I know it involved the following oils: patchouli, cinnamon bark, geranium, peppermint, sweet orange, lavender, clove, red thyme, and eucalyptus. I know they suggested coconut or almond oil as a carrier. That was the most awful smelling stuff to un-sick people but worked fabulously for the common cold. I was wondering if you had a recipe, or by chance know of the one I’m talking about?
Hey Jessica! I’m not familiar with the particular remedy you are talking about, but the possibilities with essential oils are endless. It sounds like they probably came up with this mixture themselves- which is awesome!
This sounds like it’s a salve, to be used topically, which is why there is a carrier oil in it. The carrier oil, in this case coconut or almond oil, is really just used to dilute the essential oils before applying. So, I would just choose whichever one you think smells/feels best!
I tend to prefer to diffuse my essential oils rather than applying them, and that means I can use water instead of a carrier oil to dilute my essential oils. For colds, I typically use peppermint and eucalyptus, but all of the other oils you listed have great healing properties as well!