Essential oils can be used to increase your joy, uplift your mood, create an aromatic anchor to a positive event and be enlivening and refreshing.
I’ve been using them for many years now and my “paying job” is very much involved in doTERRA. I use and recommend dōTERRA essential oils because of their potency and purity and, well, I simply love the products and the company!
However, I must stress that smell is highly individualistic. A smell that one person may love another may detest. Even if an oil is considered “uplifting”, if it makes you feel nauseated, then uplifting is the last thing you are going to feel!
Why Consider Essential Oils?
Each essential oil is a complex composition of many different chemical constituents. This complexity means that each oil can have a multitude of uses and act on many different levels (physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually).
When we inhale the aroma of an essential oil, it can pass through several channels:
Lungs: via the mucus membranes of our lungs, into the blood stream, where the oil is transported and can affect any organ where the blood passes.
Brain: via the nasal cavity where the aromatic molecules connect to receptor cells within the nose. Transmission of a specific message is done through the olfactory bulb to a region of the brain linked to memory, feelings and emotions called the limbic brain, which can trigger memory and emotional responses.
Inhalation is the quickest and most effective route in the treatment of emotional problems. The deeper you inhale, the more aromatic molecules are carried into the brain and the stronger the response that is registered.
Application
If an oil is to be applied topically, it should be diluted with a carrier oil (such as fractionated coconut oil, almond oil etc) in a ratio of 2:1. Thus, for every 10ml of carrier oil, use 5 drops of an essential oil (or combination of oils). Even higher dilutions should be used for children and babies, with some oils not recommended for them. Consider the following information for use with adults only.
You could also use the undiluted oils in an ultrasonic diffuser or place them in a spritzer bottle with water.
The book Emotions and Essential Oils has some valuable information on how to use essential oils for emotions. I personally think that any oil could be used to help instil more joy if it is one that sings to your heart. I’ve narrowed down the list to the more typical oils to consider to help activate the joy in your soul.
Citrus Essential Oils for Joy!
Bergamot
This is the Oil for Self-Acceptance. It invites optimism, while dispelling despair and hopelessness. Useful for low self-esteem.
Lime
Lime helps to instil courage, cheer, hope, and joy into the heart and remind one to be grateful for the gift of life.
Lemon
Lemon inspires a natural playfulness and may help release feelings of depression – restoring feelings of joy and happiness. A very refreshing, summery and uplifting oil.
Tangerine
Tangerine encourages one to enjoy life and to re-experience the joy of childhood. This isn’t a standard doTERRA oil, but one worth trying to get hold of if you can.
Wild Orange
Wild Orange encourages us to connect with our inner child, bringing spontaneity, joy and fun into one’s life. It helps to support a positive mood.
More Essential Oils for Mood Management
Frankincense
No recommendation could be complete without the mention of Frankincense. It is known as the King of Oils for a reason. Incredibly versatile, Frankincense may provide a protection to move away from the darkness and to see the new perspective of light and truth.
Melissa
When you feel overwhelmed, depressed, and down, Melissa may provide the strength to keep going and find the joy in life.
Consider Peppermint if you have feelings of pessimism, heaviness and intense depression. It is known as the Oil for a Buoyant Heart to help rediscover the joy in being alive.
Ylang Ylang
A powerful oil to work on the heart, it also encourages play and a childlike nature. It helps to release bottled up anger and sadness.
Essential Oil Blends
Invigorating Blend
When you feel stifled or your creativity is blocked, the citrus oils in this blend may help to bring colour and joy into one’s life. This oil blend can encourage play and excitement and fill the heart with creativity and joy.
Joyful Blend
The name of this blend says it all!
This small selection is by no means the full answer. In fact, I had a lot of difficulty narrowing it down to the selection above. Therefore, if you have a pure essential oil and its smell brings you joy, use and diffuse it.
To learn more about essential oils, click here.
Check out this section for a lot more about Essential Oils for Mood Management
Essential Oil References
Book: Emotions and Essential Oils
Book: I am Fabulous by Desiree Mangandog
For more references on how essential oils can support emotional wellbeing, please see the link below to list of other resources.