The seasonal change is tough on all systems of the body. If all of a sudden you just don’t feel “right;” it’s not in your head. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can occur anytime the season's change, but is more prevalent during the transition from fall to winter. The purpose of aromatherapy is to assist you in feeling at your best: if you’re experiencing a case of the winter blues that is affecting your work/life, get back to feeling like yourself with these little additions to your day.
The Mayo Clinic defines the following symptoms as red flags for SAD:
- Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day
- Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
- Having low energy
- Having problems with sleeping
- Experiencing changes in your appetite or weight
- Feeling sluggish or agitated
- Having difficulty concentrating
- Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty
- Having frequent thoughts of death or suicide
Every external stimulus is a source of information; from touch to food. That gathered information is turned into action by the brain or other systems in the body (like your spinal cord!); such as turning on pain to protect the body. As we spend more time in our built environment and less in nature, the purpose of aromatherapy helps to bring the forest and wildflower fields to you: information from the natural world that helps you feel at your best.
Use Essential Oils for Your Morning Ritual
My favorite way to add a bit of warmth to my day is through a strong cup of Chamomile or Lemon Balm tea, a spoonful of honey, and 5 - 10 drops of Teramune organic essential oil. The steam disperses the essential oils throughout the air; allowing the aromatic scent to tickle the olfactory organs which transmits the information to your limbic system: influencing your mood and behaviors.
Create an At-Home Spa with Essential Oils
Plug the shower drain with a washcloth and a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil or take fresh eucalyptus, slightly chopped to help release the aromatic molecules, and hang the bundle at your shower head. Eucalyptus eases tension that causes the chest to feel tight and restrictive, influences the immune system, and creates a feeling of expanse and freedom in the mind.
Sleep Hygiene
A spritz of Lavender, Grapefruit, and Ylang Ylang essential oil on the pillow and sheets before bed. Lavender essential oil is the classic soothing and calming plant, Grapefruit essential oil helps ease sadness and tension, and Ylang Ylang essential oil is a bright note that bring the wandering mind back into the physical body (it’s also an ancient aphrodisiac).
Teramune Organic Supplements
Aromatherapy essential oils provide you with easy-to-access care at home, elevating your routines from morning to night.
Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12690999