Abstract:

Essential oils (EIs) have long been used in aromatherapy to positively influence mood and emotional states. Recent studies show that EIs, when inhaled and applied topically, offer significant benefits for mood enhancement, stress reduction, and emotional stability in daily life. This work examines the evidence supporting the effectiveness of various essential oils for everyday emotional and psychological well-being.

Introduction:

Mood regulation plays a crucial role in overall mental health and quality of life. Essential oils, extracted from aromatic plants, have established themselves as natural remedies that significantly influence emotional well-being through sensory and biochemical pathways. Inhalation is particularly effective due to the direct interaction with the olfactory system, thereby rapidly affecting mood and emotional states.

Mechanisms for improving mood:

Inhaling essential oils stimulates olfactory receptors, which communicate directly with the limbic system – the emotional center of the brain. This interaction modulates neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, thus directly influencing mood, stress responses, and emotional resilience.

Essential oils to improve everyday mood:

Lavender oil: Lavender oil is known for its calming properties, which significantly reduce anxiety and stress and improve mood stability. Ebrahimi et al. (2022) showed that inhalation of lavender oil significantly reduced anxiety, depression, and stress in older adults, thus promoting emotional balance in daily life.

Citrus oils (bergamot, lemon, sweet orange): Citrus oils possess mood-enhancing properties due to their fresh, invigorating scents. Inhalation of bergamot oil has improved positive feelings and reduced anxiety in clinical studies, thereby strengthening daily emotional resilience (Han et al., 2017). Inhalation of lemon oil reduces stress and improves mental clarity, which is beneficial in everyday situations requiring mental focus (Komiya et al., 2006).

Peppermint oil: Peppermint oil is widely known to improve attention and clarity, reduce mental fatigue, and elevate mood. Regular inhalation of peppermint oil has demonstrated improvements in cognitive function and attention, thereby promoting daily productivity and emotional well-being (Hall et al., 2004).

Yuzu oil: Inhalation of yuzu oil has demonstrated significant stress-reducing properties. Matsumoto et al. (2014) showed reduced stress markers and improved mood after exposure. Its unique citrus aroma promotes emotional relaxation and stability during daily activities.

Chamomile oil: Inhaling chamomile oil has pronounced calming effects and significantly alleviates anxiety, depression, and emotional tension. Studies confirm the effectiveness of chamomile in managing daily stress and significantly improve overall emotional well-being (Ebrahimi et al., 2022).

Practical applications in everyday life: Essential oils can be easily integrated into everyday life using various methods:

Diffusion at home or in the workplace to maintain emotional balance.

Personal inhalers or direct inhalation for quick stress relief or improved concentration.

Topical application, diluted with carrier oils, to support sustained mood benefits throughout the day.

Conclusion:

Essential oils offer practical and effective ways to improve mood and emotional well-being in everyday life. Their rapid action via the olfactory system makes them ideal tools for managing daily stress, anxiety, and mood swings, thus significantly improving overall quality of life.

References:

Ebrahimi, H., et al. (2022). Effects of Lavender and Chamomile essential oil inhalation aromatherapy on depression, anxiety, and stress. Explore, 18 (3), 272–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2020.12.012

Han, X., et al. (2017). Bergamot essential oil inhalation improves positive feelings in mental health treatment settings. Phytotherapy Research, 31 (5), 812-816. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5806

Hall, A.C., et al. (2004). Modulation of human GABAA receptors by menthol and related monoterpenoids. European Journal of Pharmacology, 506 (1), 9–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2004.10.026

Komiya, M., et al. (2006). Lemon oil vapor causes an anti-stress effect via modulating neurotransmitter activities. Behavioral Brain Research, 172 , 240–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2006.05.006

Matsumoto, T., et al. (2014). Effects of Yuzu essential oil on mood states and stress markers. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 20 (6), 500-506. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2013.0425

Systematic review on Lavender essential oil for anxiety reduction. (2023). Healthcare, 11 (22), 2978. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/22/2978

Citrus essential oils and mood enhancement. (2023). Journal of Integrative Medicine . https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1744388123000312