How aromatherapy helps balance emotions and calm stressed patients

Photo Cred: Monicore/Pixabay

By Brittany Vargas

Aromatherapy using pure essential oils (EOs) is an effective complementary treatment for anxiety, depression, and other emotional issues, according to Valerie Cooksley, RN, OCN, AN, holistic nurse and clinical aromatherapist in Houston, and founder of the Institute of Integrative Aromatherapy.

Psycho-aromatherapy — the practice of using aromatherapy to influence moods and emotions — is an exciting field that can help patients in many ways, including reducing the anxiety and stress associated with medical procedures, she said.

“Aromatherapy is employed in many instances in a clinical setting: to calm stressed patients prior to and during test procedures, before surgery, for post-op, during chemotherapy, radiotherapy, CT, and MRI scanning procedures, and more,” she said.

She noted that when treating emotional disturbances, she recommends taking a multipronged approach that incorporates breathing exercises, positive thinking and affirmations, nutrition, and solid self-care practices alongside aromatherapy.

EOs have been widely studied and shown to be effective treatments for emotional conditions. A 2017 study in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice found that rose geranium EO improved feelings of anxiety among patients recovering from acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The study’s authors suggested that aromatherapy with rose geranium EO would be an easy and inexpensive method to lower stress among AMI patients and improve their health.

“Essential oils really shine for things like depression and anxiety because smell and emotion go hand in hand,” said Jody Pespane, clinical aromatherapist and practicing herbalist at Mindful Mixtures in Corona Del Mar, California.

They also work very quickly, she said, and have powerful yet gentle physiological effects on us.

“When you inhale [specific] essential oils, the aroma goes through the olfactory system, hits the limbic system, and gives the brain the signal to slow things down. This will happen in microseconds,” explained Sharon Falsetto, certified aromatherapist in Sedona, Arizona, who founded Sedona Aromatics and serves as director coordinator at the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy.

A 2013 paper in Current Organic Chemistry described how EOs cause changes to the limbic system when inhaled. Additionally, a 2021 study in International Journal of Molecular Sciences concluded that there may be several mechanisms through which EOs impact emotions, which largely have to do with brain chemistry, including impacting neurotransmitters, protecting neurons, and generating new ones.

The best oils for emotional balancing

Citrus oils like bergamot, lemon, orange, grapefruit, and lime are among the top EOs for emotional healing, especially when it comes to depression, said Pespane.

“They’re all very refreshing, invigorating, and uplifting, yet at the same time, they calm the system down,” she explained.

According to a 2018 paper in Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry citrus oils have anxiolytic, antistress, antidepressant, and neuroprotective qualities, which may be because they tend to have elevated levels of the terpene limonene.

Research supporting bergamot’s healing potential is particularly well supported. In a 2013 study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine researchers found that aromatherapy using bergamot significantly reduced anxiety among patients awaiting surgery, while a 2017 study in Phytotherapy Research found that inhaling the oil improved positive feelings among people in the waiting room of a mental health treatment center.

Neroli is a potent EO that is particularly good at treating shock, said Falsetto. Derived from the flowers of an orange tree, neroli combines citrus’ uplifting power with the emotionally soothing aspects of florals.

“Florals are good for emotional health, anxiety, and depression,” she explained. Florals that are frequently used in aromatherapy include Bulgarian rose, rose geranium, jasmine, lavender, and ylang ylang.

According to Falsetto, one reason floral EOs may promote emotional health is via the sedative effect of the alcohols and esters that many of them contain. But she said scientists are still discovering the exact mechanisms by which some florals are effective. Within the aromatherapy community, however, floral EOs are widely known to be emotionally healing.

“Flowers are very beautiful, and they make you feel beautiful,” said Pespane. “They’re calming. They’re soothing. The aroma is intoxicating. They make a person feel better about themselves.”

There are far too many EOs with emotional healing potential to give an exhaustive list. However, frankincense is one that really stands out for alleviating acute stress and anxiety, said Falsetto.

“It’s meditative,” she explained. “It actually helps slow the breathing down, so if somebody is having a panic attack, it’s one of the best oils you could use.”

How to safely use essential oils

The primary way many aromatherapists advise using EOs is through direct inhalation. Since diffusing EOs requires caution, including an awareness of how specific oils affect other people or pets in the environment, direct inhalation is often the safest method, said Falsetto.

She advised using aromatherapy inhalers, which are portable, easy to use, and allow you to receive the benefits whenever needed, such as at the onset of a panic attack.

Cooksley advised inhalation or topical application via lotion or massage oil blends, aromatic baths, and salt/sugar scrubs. As EOs are so highly concentrated, it’s essential to dilute them in a safe substance such as water or a carrier oil when using them topically. The dilution recommendation varies according to the oil, so it’s best to research each one.

Citrus oils also have their own contraindications. You should not use citrus oil on the skin prior to being in the sun, as it’s phototoxic and can cause sunburn, said Cooksley.

Putting undiluted EO oil directly on the skin can be harmful and ingesting an EO is dangerous.

When it doubt about how much to use, opt for less.

“You don’t need a lot to get the job done. It’s so concentrated, so small doses throughout the day are super helpful, and that’s really all you need. Less is more,” said Pespane.