Aromatherapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a medically recognised form of clinical depression that typically strikes during the darker winter months.

While it’s quite common for many people to get a dose of the "winter blues," SAD can be a seriously debilitating illness that totally disrupts their lives.

Most sufferers of the condition can be perfectly healthy during spring and summer, but as soon as the darker days arrive in winter, they are unable to function properly. Thankfully, when spring arrives, symptoms can disappear quite quickly with the arrival of brighter sunlight and longer daylight hours.

Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

The main symptoms of SAD are:

• anxiety

• depression

• lethargy

• changes in appetite or weight

• loss of sex drive

• mood changes

• sleep problems

• irritability

• difficulty concentrating

• social withdrawal

The causes of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

The precise cause of SAD is not fully understood, but it is believed to be linked to reduced exposure to sunlight in the shorter days of winter.

The natural light we receive through our eyes controls our moods, sleep, appetite, temperature, and sex drive. Throughout the winter months, many people travel to and from work in darkness, literally not seeing sunlight for days on end.

Research has established that a lack of sunlight can disrupt the balance of the brain's chemistry, and it is believed that the combination of long, dark winter nights, together with the colder temperature, contributes to this depressive disorder.

When seasons change, the circadian rhythm (biological clock) in your body shifts due to changes in daylight, and this can affect the body’s production of serotonin and hormones. It has been discovered that disruption to the body’s circadian rhythms, together with a decreased production of serotonin, can trigger depression.

Aromatherapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Aromatherapy can help bring relief to some symptoms by promoting relaxation, uplifting your mood, bolstering the emotional system, and boosting energy.

Essential oils influence the limbic system, which is the area of the brain responsible for controlling our moods and the body's circadian rhythm. There are essential oils to help energise and uplift you, deliver some emotional support for when you are feeling down, and some of the most relaxing oils to help you sleep better.

Calming lavender for sleep

Lavender essential oil is well known for its calming and soothing effects. It can help reduce anxiety and promote restful sleep. Fortunately, Oleo has an excellent selection of products that can help.

For example, try our lavender and chamomile-infused Soothing Bath Soak, followed by the Soothing Body Lotion, or massage the deeply relaxing Lavender & Clary Sage Massage Balm into your body.

If difficulty sleeping is affecting you, then gently massaging our Sleep Well Body Oil into your skin will leave you deeply relaxed. This is thanks to calming essential oils of lavender, chamomile, clary sage, and sweet marjoram.

Balancing ylang ylang

The calming effect of ylang ylang essential oil helps to balance emotions and soothe anxiety. You will find a therapeutic amount of this sweetly comforting oil in our Stress Less Body Oil, together with anxiety-easing geranium essential oil, relaxing but uplifting bergamot, and calming rosewood.

Grounding frankincense

Frankincense essential oil is known for its grounding effects. It helps reduce feelings of anxiety while promoting mental clarity and relaxation. Let both your skin and your emotions benefit from this beautiful oil by smoothing either our Frankincense Day Cream or the richer Frankincense Supreme into your complexion.

Floral oils for mood support

Floral oils work on the more subtle energies to help fight feelings of sadness and melancholy. Both sublime rose and exquisite neroli essential oils can be found in our delectable Replenishing Facial Moisturiser and the nourishing Dry Skin Facial Oil.

Relaxing bath soaks

Relaxing in a warm bath can be a wonderful way to help alleviate some of the symptoms of SAD. Recommended foam baths from the Oleo range would be Sensual Bath Soak, infused with geranium, ylang ylang, and patchouli essential oils. Alternatively, to help you sink into the land of slumber, try our Before Bed Bath with vetiver, lavender, and clary sage essential oils.

Hair care with essential oils

Did you know that one of the optimum places to absorb essential oils is through hair follicles? Our immensely popular Rosemary & Nettle Shampoo and Conditioner contain, apart from stimulating rosemary essential oil, relaxing lavender and feel-good geranium. What a perfect way to care for your hair.

Final thoughts

The positive effects that essential oils have on the emotional system are perfect to help combat the winter blues and re-energise you. There are, of course, conventional treatments for SAD. If you think you are suffering from SAD, you should consult your GP to eliminate the possibility of any other conditions, as well as seek advice on suitable treatment.

Roll on spring…

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