Category: Internal Medicine

Essential Oils to Care for Your Changing Moods

Life can feel like a rollercoaster ride at times, and so too can changing moods. One moment you’re freaking out, then you’ll feel calm and relaxed, and before you know it, you’re dealing with the freaking out stage all over again. If you’ve noticed your moods have been up and down lately, it’s probably time to re-evaluate and start practicing some self-care.

You know that self-care is important so that you can be productive, healthy, and mentally strong. When you take care of yourself, you are happier, more motivated, and better able to deal with life’s curveballs.

One of the better ways to manage your moods is by using essential oils. Essential oils are used in aromatherapy as a natural remedy for stress and anxiety, wherein the scent that you smell sends positive signals to your nervous system.

Here are some essential oils that you should try to level-up your self-care and better manage your changing moods.

To Calm You Down

” Pure Rose

Rose essential oil can calm your nerves, decreasing your fight or flight emotions. It is known to relieve headaches, balance your emotions, and strengthen your heart amid grief or depression. It can be used in a warm bath or applied directly onto the skin after diluting it.

” Lavender

Lavender essential oil can affect the brain’s limbic system, which is responsible for controlling emotions. It can also lower blood pressure and heart rate. That’s why using lavender is effective in calming you down and relieving your anxiety. It can also reduce depression and PTSD symptoms, as well as induce sleep, especially when you have insomnia. You can put a few drops on your pillow, which will help you sleep faster, or mix it with a carrier massage oil.

” Chamomile

Chamomile essential oil can calm your anger and depression with its sedating properties. It also calms in chamomile tea. So, when you’re feeling stressed, drink a cup of warm chamomile tea or take a warm bath with chamomile essential oil.

Other essential oils that have calming effects include:

” Valerian
” Sandalwood
” Ylang Ylang
” Basil
” Sage
” Vanilla
” Frankincense

To Boost Your Mood

” Bergamot

Bergamot essential oil has a refreshing citrus scent, which stimulates feelings of happiness. It can influence positive feelings and energy. It is part of traditional Chinese medicine and is proven to promote blood circulation and hormonal balance in the body. Studies have shown that bergamot is an effective antidepressant.

” Rosemary

Rosemary can help reduce the production of cortisol, a stress hormone. It is also effective in improving mental awareness and memory. When you’re feeling down, this will lift up your mood, helping you stay focused.

” Peppermint

Peppermint essential oil is one of the best to use to pick you up from a gloomy mood. Its refreshing scent can wake you up and put in you in a good mood and shake off the bad vibes. Peppermint is effective in preventing fatigue.
Other essential oils that can boost your moods are:

” Eucalyptus
” Cinnamon
” Ginger root
” Grapefruit
” Juniper berry
” Lime
” Wild orange

A Few Reminders

Essential oils are an effective natural remedy that can help you care for yourself when you’re experiencing erratic moods. However, because they are concentrated and often in the purest form, they require careful and safe use. Most essential oils need to be diluted first before they can be applied directly to the skin, usually with a carrier oil.

You can do a skin patch test first to ensure that you will not have an allergic reaction to your chosen essential oil. Otherwise, it would be safer to inhale it or use indirect inhalation methods, such as through an essential oil diffuser. Another important thing to remember is to get your essential oils only from reputable brands to ensure quality and purity.

Essential oils are often toxic and are not to be taken orally unless otherwise prescribed by a healthcare professional. Finally, if you have a serious health condition, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, you must consult your doctor first about the possible adverse effects of essential oils.

Used properly, essential oils are beneficial in managing your mood swings and are an excellent adjunct to your self-care practice.

Eat Healthy Every Day – Make Your Diet Part of Your Self Care Routine

Self-care is about paying attention to your physical and mental needs. Some would think that it’s better to be selfless and do things for others first, but it is essential to prioritize caring for yourself. That way, you can ensure that you are full of energy, motivated, and equipped to do things that will benefit other people.

Many people tend to put self-care aside because they are ‘too busy.’ However, prioritizing self-care can actually power you up, increasing your productivity and improving your mental agility.

There are many ways to practice self-care. For example, getting enough sleep, staying physically active, engaging in a new hobby, doing something you have been wanting to do, and staying socially connected with others.

One self-care routine you should never neglect is your diet.

Self-Care And Nutrition

Part of self-care is eating healthy and making sure that your body gets the nutrition that it needs. Food gives you energy and makes you feel good. How many times has a good meal picked you up from a negative mood?

Poor diet is associated with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and all manner of health issues. When you eat healthy foods, you help avoid getting sick and reduce the risks of developing chronic illnesses. A healthy diet is also associated with decreased depression and anxiety symptoms.

Here are ways to make your diet central to your self-care routine.

” Eat More Fruits And Vegetables

Make every meal more colorful by adding fruits and vegetables to your plate. Not only do they make your meal look interesting and enticing, but fruits and vegetables are also packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The presence of colors can boost your mood and your appetite, while the essential nutrients that your body absorbs will strengthen your immunity.

” Avoid Eating Sugary Foods and Drinks

Sugar is one of the top culprits for unwanted weight gain and increased risks of chronic diseases, particularly diabetes and cardiovascular problems. In addition, sugar can also increase your skin’s aging. Banish the foods and drinks that are high in sugar content to avoid these issues and keep your body healthy.

” Eat Foods That Are Good For Your Gut and Digestive Health

The gut is responsible for breaking down the foods that you eat, absorbing the nutrients to be distributed to the rest of the body, and flushing the wastes out of your system. It is also where you’ll find 90 percent of the serotonin hormone that helps improve mood, sleep, and appetite. For these reasons, your diet must include foods that are good for your gut health, such as yogurt, nuts, and probiotics.

” Consume Healthy Fats

It’s a common misconception that you must avoid fats if you don’t want to get fat. However, you must not skip healthy fats, which are essential for your brain, heart health, and bone strength. When planning your meals, make sure that you have foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fats. Include oily fish like salmon and tuna, avocados, and nuts in your diet.

” Eat Regularly and Mindfully

Eating healthy is also about enjoying your food and savoring its taste. No matter how nutritious the foods are, if they are going to give you indigestion because you ate too fast or you were multitasking, you are missing out on much of its benefits.

Practice mindful eating. Put down your gadgets, turn off the TV, and focus on your plate. Eat slowly, enjoy every bite, and savor the flavors. Also, try to eat your meals regularly to boost metabolism and regulate your blood sugar levels. Have set mealtimes to avoid mindless snacking and grazing, which can be a real temptation when confined to quarters.

A healthy diet should be part of your self-care routine because it has a great impact on your physical and mental well-being. Nutritious whole foods can supply your body’s needs for essential vitamins and minerals so that you won’t have to rely on synthetic multivitamins.

When you incorporate eating healthy into your routine, you’ll notice how more energized and happier you are. One more thing – don’t forget to drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated and support the effectiveness of your healthy meals.