Overcome Depression with Essential Oils

Overcoming Depression for Latter Day Saints 

Do you need to gladden your heart?  Do you need to enliven your soul? It seems that there are sometimes real but hidden answers hidden in the scriptures where we least expect them. When trying to overcome issues of depression there are many factors that help; Diet, exercise, fresh air, sunshine and light, positive affirmations, forgiveness of self and others. Of course words of Jesus, worship and prayer and service are important, but many times people who are depressed are doing those things, and may find, as I did, that suggestions to the contrary can lead to even worse symptoms of depression!

LDS Teachings
D&C 59: 16-20 ... ... all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul...

This is an interesting scripture, most notably to those who understand essential oils, because this scripture, speaks of things that come of the earth, and talks specifically of smells. explaining they are to....gladden the heart... Have you thought of this, a smell which gladdens the heart, and then it says enliven the soul?  If you could have something that would gladden your heart and enliven your soul wouldn't that be wonderful?

Statistics are Depressing - Skip this Part if you are Depressed

We live in a day and age when things are really saddening the hearts of the world around us. (Doctrine and Covenants 88:91), it is the last days.  Did you know that 80% of those suffering from symptoms of depression do not receive any treatment.  The worst part of the statistics are that people with depression are four times as likely to develop a heart attack than those without a history of the illness.(National Institute of Mental Health, 1998) and it get's worse, sorry, depression is the also the cause of over two-thirds of the 30,000 reported suicides in the U.S. each year. (White House Conference on Mental Health, 1999) We need solutions.

What do the Scriptures Suggest we do? 
(Proverbs 3:13) explains Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. So, if we want gladdening of the heart we need to do some searching. Many, including those who have found Jesus, suffer from symptoms of depression...When we study things out, from the best books, words of wisdom (Doctrine and Covenants 109:7) and we study things "in the earth, and things of ancient history" (Doctrine and Covenants 88:79) we find some hints to some answers.

There are many scriptures that compare smells with gladness.

(Hebrews 1:9) Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

This isn't about oil it is about Jesus's gift to us, but for some reason, oil is used to explain this gladness, it is the comparison. People in Jesus's day seemed to associate oils with gladdening power.  They understood the metaphor, between Jesus's gift and the gift of oil to the heart. Many different oils were used in biblical times,  The bible speaks of spacific oils namely aloes (Sandlewood), Cassia, Cedarwood, Cypress, Frankinsence, Hissop, Myrrh, Myrtle, Rose, Spikenard. Onycha . I use a product called Elevation.

(Pslams 45:7-8) Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad..

The chemical constituents of cassia essential oils make it smell spicy, warm and sweet.  It is known to be a personifier as well as an enhancer. (helps enhance other oils)  It is found in the bark of a Laurel tree. It's chemical properties make it antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral.  But, it is also can lend powerful support  and personal enhancement to other oils when blended with them. Myrrh comes from  tree resin and it also can be an essential oil. It is anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumoral, astringent and tonic. Though Myrrh was used for embalming it was also used for religious rituals of ancinet Israel and is known to promote awareness and can be very uplifting.  Blended together with aloes (Sandlewood) these oils make a wonderful oil that seems to be associated with promotion of gladness of the heart.

 Oil and gladness comparisons are not few in the scriptures.  Ancient prophets obviously teach with real ideas. The relation between certain oils and happiness is, by reason of the comparisons, obvious. It seems that people of the bible understood the metaphor.

(Isaiah 61:3) To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

This is a strong conparitive , Isaiah is always filled with meaning, Isaiah often uses ideas familiar to convey deep religious truths. Here he is talking indirectly of an oil and directly of the Messiah, and planting our self in Zion in the last days  - but what oil might he have been making indirect reference to? It could have been frankincense. Frankincense is made from the resin of a tree indigenous to regions of the middle east it was the also the gift of the magi. (messanic message of the text) Frankincense, ironically, is also known for it's anti-depressant qualities, it promotes joy.

 The songs of (Solomon 4:13-14) associates fruits of Lebanon with joy as well.  He uses the fruits as a comparison with pleasantness, calling them pleasant fruits. "Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes (sandlewood), with all the chief spices:

So spices as well as fruits are associated with pleasantness.  Smells of these things of the earth are used to draw us to the point. The songs of Solomon were written so well we almost smell the garden as we read about it. It seems that in order to understand the point, we need to realize that smells, no matter which type is being referenced, are associated with helping ones pleasantness. 

The scriptures are contain much information about oils, smells and spices, that draw upon these same particular comparisons.... Smells of fruit, spice, trees flowers and oils seem to have been well understood anciently, and are beginning to be re-understood modernly.

Does Aromatherapy Help?
The answer is a definite YES!  If you have smelled homemade bread and it has brought to your mind the feeling of love from a mother or a grandmother or someone else, you already know this answer.  If someone has handed you a flower and you put your nose to it to smell it's fragrance ask yourself, what are you doing that for?  Is it not to gladden your heart. Smells stimulate our autonomic nervous system and release endorphines and other hormones into the bloodstream.  They are picked up by GABA receptors and transfered to the brain.  Our brain then interprets these hormones - this is the basic chemistry behind happiness. Aromatherapy may not be the only answer but it is a very key ingredient to overcoming depression.  Studies on oils and depression are are well documented. A study done with women and postpartum depression found that aromatherapy was a complementary therapy  helping with anxiety and postpartium depression. Similar studies have been done with Rosemary and Jasmine. (click Here to find ... Many studies with many different oils which help explain the benefits of aromatherapy in overcoming issues of depression.)  Interestingly enough many anti-depressant oils originate in the middle east; Frankincense, Bergamont, Melissa (Lemon Balm), Sandalwood, Patchouli, Cypress and Myrrh and, as Solomon hints to, citrus fruit oils have now been proven to elevate the spirit. Flowers Lavender, Rose and Jasmine are all things of the earth put there to gladden the heart through smell as well as beautify it.

Does smell have to come from an essential oil?

No, of course not, we can smell lots of things and be happy, but to get the most benefit, smell needs to be pure. Tainted chemicals can make us more depressed. I remember when a number of candles were recalled because of the lead in the wicks. If you are looking for therapeutic effect, and a true gladdening, look for a company that claims therapeutic effect, not smells for atmosphere. Make sure what we are smelling isn't doing more damage than it is good. Also, we know that effective essential oil chemicals are nullified in their therapeutic effect when over heated.  It destroys the "latch key" so to speak, that allows the chemicals to attach to GABA receptors. Using a cold air diffuser is important,  That is why there is a need for Certified, Pure, Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils, diffused in a cold air diffuser. Oils that are CPTG contain only chemical constituent that gladden our heart and nothing else.

Symptoms of depression can continue for weeks or months or even years. There are answers out there, don't give up. Depression is very real and, it can destroy.  But, oils do help.  I know this personally, I use an oil called Balance and another called Elevation, which are oils blended specifically for overcoming depression.  There is science behind the aroma There are answers, I would suggest holding onto this wisdom and this understanding, and of course use all oils with appropriate knowledge.

For trying oils and oil products: www.mydoterra.com/cherrylee I sell them because they work, and help others find them because it took me so long to find answers myself. Thank heaven's someone shared with me, so now I share with others.