Do Essential Oils For Depression Work?

Medically reviewed by Laura Angers Maddox
Updated March 6, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team

Essential oils are gaining popularity as remedies for many conditions, including depression. While using essential oils for depression was initially based on hearsay and folk medicine, it has gained enough popularity to attract a growing number of scientists. These researchers have studied the chemical composition of these oils and their reported effects on individuals to answer the question, "Does the use of essential oils for depression work?"

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What are essential oils?

Essential oils have existed for thousands of years. They have been used throughout Eurasia for fragrance, cleaning, and preserving food and are still used throughout the world today. Presently, there has been more of an interest in studying the efficacy of essential oils in a medicinal role to treat conditions like respiratory disorders and mood disorders.

Essential oils are concentrated extracts of different plants, including fruits, grasses, and wood. Different parts of the plants can yield oil, including seeds, fruit peels, leaves, and blossoms. In some cases, different parts of the same plant yield essential oils that are chemically different from one another.

Oils can be extracted from the plant in many ways, often using different temperatures and pressures or various solvents to extract the oils. Oils may then be used in aromatherapy, massage therapy, or at home, among other uses. Some oils that can be ingested should not be used on your skin, and vice versa. What's safe for your skin may be toxic to ingest.

Essential oil safety 

Use essential oils as intended or with the guidance of an expert. When used correctly, essential oils are not dangerous. However, many must be diluted in water or oil to avoid skin irritation or other reactions. In addition, check that you are not allergic to the essential oils you use. If you are allergic to nuts, avoid essential almond oil. You may not be allergic to the extract, but the body can react differently to different essences. 

If you aren't aware of allergies, safely check for most allergies with "the patch test." Apply a small amount of diluted essential oil to a small area of your skin to see if there is a reaction. Most essential oils, except almonds, are not taken from plants that cause life-threatening allergic reactions. However, talk to your doctor if you have a severe allergy. 

In addition, do not confuse essential oils with artificial fragrances or massage oils. These cheaper products may or may not contain essential oils and often contain artificial scents or products that cannot be ingested or put on the skin. Most essential oils cannot be ingested, so talk to your doctor before use.

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Can essential oils be researched in psychology? 

The popularity of essential oils has led to a significant body of research on the efficacy of essential oils. However, research on essential oils is often expensive, and researching an individual's emotional state can be subjective. As a result, the impact of essential oils on depression is often determined through surveys influenced by placebo effects and biases.

Essential oils come from various plants, plant parts, and extraction methods. They can also be diluted to different degrees and in different media. This range of possibilities makes a scientific consensus on the efficacy of essential oils difficult. In addition, researchers have considered that essential oils are often pleasant on their own. One might wonder whether essential oils are making people feel better or relaxing them through the scent. When essential oils are used during a massage or another relaxing treatment, it may be challenging to know whether the oils or the treatment is the culprit for improved mental health. 

What have preliminary studies found? 

In one study, 40 participants rated their feelings compared to a control group while measuring their pulse, breathing, blood pressure, and temperature. The study involved a transdermal application rather than massage therapy. The essential oils were absorbed through the skin, but the application did not involve massage.

The study found that a blend of bergamot and lavender essential oils relaxed participants and decreased blood pressure, pulse, and breath rate, suggesting that the essential oils helped the participants. However, participants in the study did not have a diagnosis of depression, so the results may not help scientists study the impacts of these oils on depressive symptoms. 

Bergamot was also used in a trial of 50 individuals in the waiting room of a mental health clinic in Utah. While these individuals may have been more accurately representative of the people who could benefit from using essential oils for depression, the study did not use any objective metrics to measure their emotions before, during, or after exposure to the essential oils. The study did find an improvement in mood overall. 

Another study looking at the use of damask rose essential oils didn't look at clients with diagnosed depression but worked with participants undergoing dialysis who may have been experiencing situational depression or mental health challenges. This study found aromatherapy beneficial for those who practiced it compared to a control group who didn't. However, the researchers relied on the participants' descriptions of their feelings, not on biological markers like a pulse.

While researchers have different opinions of essential oils, they are not often associated with harm outside of mild to moderate side effects or allergies. While some of the positive impacts of essential oils may come from the pleasant smell, the pleasures of massage, or a placebo effect, essential oils may offer mild support to people with depression. For this reason, some people may recommend using essential oils alongside other evidence-based treatments. 

What essential oils are best for depression? 

As there are different types of essential oils, there are subtypes of depression. While some doctors use essential oils alongside depression treatment, it may not be recommended in all cases. 

Depression can range from mild to severe. It can also be caused by different inciting events or risks, ranging from traumatic experiences to chemical imbalances. Some doctors recommend essential oils for mild or situational depression. However, they may recommend more conventional therapies for severe depression, such as major depressive disorder (MDD). 

Typical treatment for depression includes a combination of prescription medication and talk therapy. However, a doctor may not advise against essential oils if you want to try them. Consult your doctor before using them and let them know if you have any adverse interactions, especially if you are on medication, supplements, or vitamins. 

Essential oils used to treat depression may include lemon, other citrus fruits, bergamot, and lavender. When used for the treatment of depression, these oils may be used in aromatherapy or massage therapy rather than ingested. Do not ingest any essential oil without talking to your doctor and ensuring it is intended for that use. 

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Alternative support options 

While it hasn't been definitively proven that all essential oils help all types of depression, some people believe it works for them, and initial studies may point to positive impacts. However, despite the benefits of these oils, they aren't a replacement for professional support. If you're living with depression or believe you might have this condition, consider speaking to a therapist for further support. 

If you face barriers to face-to-face therapy, such as cost, distance, or availability, you may also try online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp. Online therapy may be more comfortable for some people, allowing them to meet with a provider from home. Online platforms allow you to be matched with a therapist trained to support you in your challenges. In addition, you can choose between phone, video, or live chat sessions with your therapist. 

Studies show that online therapy is often more effective than in-person therapy in treating depression. One meta-analysis of 17 studies found that internet-based interventions were often more effective and significantly reduced depressive symptoms in participants living with depressive disorders. 

Takeaway

If you are interested in using essential oils to treat your depression, discuss the use with your doctor. Follow your doctor's directions and the directions on the bottle to achieve the best results, and consider combining your essential oil treatment with more evidence-based treatments like talk therapy. You're not alone, and support for depression is available.
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