Essential Oils for Better Mental Wellbeing

Stress and Mental Wellbeing with Aromatherapy

The body's physiological response to aggression and stress manifests in many ways. Most commonly, you will encounter anxiety, nervousness, tension, nervous fatigue, insomnia, spasms; long-term unresolved stress situations can even lead to burnout. With excessively intense and prolonged stress, the body becomes exhausted, and its weakness may adversely affect a person's health. Long-term unmanaged psychological strain can cause stomach ulcers, eczema and other skin diseases, hair loss, or myocardial infarction. Aromatherapy represents a good means to recharge and be prepared for everyday tasks and better coping with stressful situations. To help you be mentally as comfortable as possible, not only essential oils but also hydrolates assist.

Energising Essential Oils

It is good to divide essential oils so that they have the best effect and target specific body needs. If you need to boost your energy, definitely reach for peppermint (not suitable for epileptics, asthmatics, and children under ten years, pregnant and breastfeeding women), litsea cubeba (suitable for adults, not suitable for epileptics, pregnant and breastfeeding women, seniors, hypertensives, with mastosis and hormone-dependent pathologies), citronella (not suitable for children under ten years, pregnant and breastfeeding women), petitgrain (no contraindications, suitable from the third month of pregnancy, for children from three years).

Calming Essential Oils and Hydrolates

If you need to calm down, for example before sleep, reach for popular nervous system tonics that act mildly sedative like roman chamomile or lavender (not suitable for people taking blood thinning medication, or with low blood pressure). For children under five years, it is better to use hydrolates (true chamomile, lavender, lemon balm). Hydrolates are also appreciated by sensitive adults or seniors. If you want to try something unusual, definitely reach for Casa Mencarelli Aqua di Miele, a hydrolate from orange blossoms (neroli) with honey extract.

Clarifying Essential Oils

If you need to "clear your head", for example while studying or during creative work when you need full attention, the best allies are citrus fruits. They are also useful for people working in helping professions or working directly with people (such as sales assistants, healthcare workers or teachers). Mandarin, lemon, bergamot, orange, grapefruit. While studying, it's great to use lemon in the diffuser, if used by adults without the aforementioned contraindications, you can add a drop of peppermint; for "people fatigue" diffuse bergamot or grapefruit. Children appreciate sweet orange and mandarin.

Massage Oil Against Mental Fatigue

If you need a reliable oil for home massage that reduces nervous exhaustion, you can mix a blend depending on whether you prefer a stronger or lighter scent. We would recommend the first from petitgrain, bergamot, and pink geranium Bourbon; if you want to blend it for men, leave out geranium, you can add frankincense. For the second oil use ylang-ylang and mandarin, you can add geranium.

Dosage and Composition of Massage Oils

Dosage for the first oil is 18 drops per 30 ml in a composition of 6 drops of bergamot, 5 drops of petitgrain, 7 drops of geranium. For the version with frankincense the same number of drops for the same amount of carrier oil, specifically 5 drops of frankincense, 7 drops of geranium, 6 drops of bergamot.

If you want a more floral massage oil, mix into 30 ml of carrier oil a drop of ylang-ylang (it is very strong, more drops could "overpower" the scent composition), complement with seven drops of mandarin and seven drops of geranium. The dosage here is smaller due to the fragrance strength of essential oils. Use jojoba oil, almond oil, or apricot kernel oil as carrier oil.

How to Further Support a Tired Body

If you work mentally, take regular breaks. You can fully focus for a maximum of an hour and a half, and even that is already beyond some people's limit. If your body signals that you need to rest (you yawn, your eyelids feel heavy), go lie down for a while. Maintain balanced hydration of the body. You can add a teaspoon of peppermint hydrolate to a glass of water, mix well and drink to refresh yourself. Go to bed at a fixed time. An hour before going to bed, it's good to turn off your computer and perhaps read.

Pavlína Klaudová

graduate of the prestigious Tisserand Aromatherapy Institute