Inhalation of Citrus Oils Lift Depression
February 09, 2024
🍋 Inhalation of Citrus EOs can reduce or replace antidepressants -
Anti-depressants, like Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil,and Zoloft, are “selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors” or SSRIs, which means they increase the availability of the happy neurotransmitter serotonin in your brain.
Essential oils can work in the same way, which can help calm the intensity of painful emotions. Research has found that “inhalation of essential oils can communicate signals to the olfactory system and stimulate the brain to exert neurotransmitters - serotonin and dopamine - thereby further regulating mood.
Essential oils have been shown to help calm depression, in part due to their ability to access, and balance, the brain. Essential oils are able to travel directly to the area of the brain that impact mood.
"The treatment with citrus fragrance normalized neuroendocrine hormone levels and immune function and was rather more effective than antidepressants.
Since a dysregulation of the neuroendocrine and immune function is thought to be associated with psychosomatic or psychiatric disorders an attempt was made to restore their mental health by stimulation of one of the sensory systems. Fragrance (citrus was our choice) which comforts through stimulation of the olfactory system was applied to depressive patients. It was given to 12 depressive subjects and the results indicated that the doses of antidepressants necessary for the treatment of depression could be markedly reduced."
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8646568/
