Often, the waning winter months can bring on dull emotions, a lack of motivation and sometimes even depressive thoughts. Getting through the gloomy days can be difficult, to say the least! It’s so encouraging that we have God’s gifts of the earth, essential oils to help us conquer the winter blues though.

Essential Oils and Our Body Chemistry

I still think it is absolutely amazing that a single drop of essential oil can literally improve our cell health. I mean think about it, the intricacies of our cells are something that can only be seen with a powerful microscope, yet the intuitive essential oil actually knows which cells to enter, where and why! That’s pretty incredible.

There are several essential oils that impart positive change on mood-boosting chemical processes in our body.

Notably, the citrus essential oils can have a profound impact on boosting moods through the chemical processes that occur in our body. Other remarkable mood-boosting oils are Jasmine, Clary Sage and Rosemary.

Let’s Examine a Few Scientific Studies on These Oils:

Clary Sage Essential Oil has been found to increase dopamine and serotonin in our bodies (1) which stimulates the brain and gives the good feeling we look for.

Lemon Essential Oil has been found to act as a natural way to redue feelings of self-doubt and sadness. (2)

Jasmine Essential Oil has been found to stimulate the autonomic nervous system which increases alertness and vigor. (3)

Rosemary Essential Oil work positively on our serotonin receptors which regulate mood, appetite, digestion and more! (4)

Bergamot Essential Oil can help to increase GABA which also helps a person feel good. (5)

What are the Essential Oils Like That Helps Conquer the Winter Blues?

Clary Sage Essential Oil

Clary Sage in Chinese medicine sage is used to strengthen the kidneys, adrenals and female reproductive organs. It is excellent at dealing with hormonal imbalances and relaxing anxious thoughts and reducing tension. It is comprised mostly of esters (Linalyl Acetate) which are ultra-calming to the body.

*Do not use during pregnancy during the first trimester on abdomen because it can cause uterine contractions.

Lemon Essential Oil

Lemon being a citrus essential oil, comprised mostly of d-limonene, this oil is extremely uplifting for the thoughts, mood and overall outlook on life. Furthermore, lemon essential oil contains another monoterpene called ß-pinene which has been studied to help reduce depressive thoughts.

*Due to this oil being photo-sensitive, avoid putting the skin with this oil on it, in the sunlight for 12 hours after application.

Jasmine Essential Oil

Jasmine is a wonderful essential oil to use for emotional stress. This oil contains the ester Benzyl Acetate which has notable antioxidant effects on the body. This oil helps for alertness and feeling less depressive thoughts.

*Do not use Jasmine during pregnancy as it is an emmenagogue which stimulates blood flow in the pelvic area.

Rosemary Essential Oil

Rosemary is a member of the mint family and is a natural health booster. It has a profound influence on cognitive performance and mood when diffusing. It can also be beneficial to help regulate hormones that are imbalanced thus creating mood swings.

*Only use this oil minimally during pregnancy and do not use this oil if you have been diagnosed with epilepsy or high blood pressure.

Bergamot Essential Oil

Bergamot is unique in that it is both uplifting and calming at the same time. It is ideal to help with anxious or sad feelings and is noted to ease agitation. Prized for its combination of the monoterpene D-Limonene and its ester Linaly Acetate, it is actually capable of helping maintain healthy blood pressure, relaxing blood vessels and inducing healthy circulation.

*Due to this oil being photo-sensitive, avoid putting the skin with this oil on it, in the sunlight for 12 hours after application. If you use this oil and have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar levels regularly, as it may affect blood sugar control.

Essential Oil Recipes to Beat Your Winter Blues

Now that you know the specific essential oils to use to beat conquer your winter blues, it’s important to know exactly how to use these essential oils for maximum effectiveness.

Here are some of my favorite recipes that I use during the winter to boost my mood and stave off those depressive thoughts.

Remember, you can use essential oils aromatically, topically and internally* (there is only one brand I recommend that is safe for internal use. If you want an education about how to safely use oils all three ways, then joint the FOJO VIPS for continuing mentorsip and live education from Jennifer, a Certified Essential Oil Coach.)

Recipe 1

Diffuse 3 drops each Lemon, Bergamot and Rosemary every day for eight hours for a two week time period for mood-boosting benefits.

Recipe 2

Diffuse 1 drop Jasmine*, 3 drops Wild Orange and 2 drops Rosemary on a day you need to be uplifted. *Note this link is to Jasmine Touch which has fractionated coconut oil in it and isn’t meant for diffusing. If this is all you have, just swipe the roller ball on your temples and inside of wrists, then do the diffuser blend with Wild Orange and Rosemary. If you do have Jasmine essential oil (which in it’s purest form is VERY rare), then use it for diffusing.

Recipe 3

Make a mood boost spray using an 8 oz. glass spray bottle filled with water, add 4 drops each, Lemon, Wild Orange and Bergamot along with 2 drops Clary Sage. Spray in the air multiple times for a quick mood boost.

Recipe 4

Apply 2 drops Rosemary, one drop Wild Orange and 1 drop Bergamot with 5 drops fractionated coconut oil to the bottoms of the feet to help quell depressive thoughts.

Other lifestyle areas to examine if you are feeling low during the winter months

In tandem with using essential oils, there are important lifestyle changes to make that can help lessen the winter blues and sometimes even get rid of them altogether. Here are a few lifestyle changes to prioritize.

Are you getting purposeful movement daily? Even a walk if the weather is good or treadmill in the house is fine.

Are you eating whole-foods that nourish your body and give it the vitamin and minerals it needs? Deficiencies can cause severe mood disorders. Conversely, are you ditching all processed foods? Chemicals and preservatives can wreak havoc on our mood-regulating hormones.

Is your sugar consumption reduced or eliminated? If not, it’s a good idea to either eliminate sugar or reduce it drastically as sugar affects our neurotransmitters and causes severe mood imbalances and other health problems.

Are you chronically stressed out? Might be time to get rid of a commitment or two? If you need help with overhauling your stress, you’re going to want to read this post and download the free workbook.

Are you getting at least 8 hours of sleep a night and not allowing yourself screen time at least an hour before bed? Sleep helps the body restore itself and “take out the trash” and if you are getting blue light from the screen before bed the balance of your melatonin and serotonin will be wonky. This post and sleep tracker can help you improve the amount and quality of sleep you get.

My Favorite Place to Get Glass Bottles and DIY Essential Oil Containers

I really enjoy going to Got Oil Supplies for my essential oils container needs. Not only do they have glass containers for rollerballs and spray bottles and everything in between, but they have REALLY cute purses and display cases that hold essential oils.

You can check them out here.

Which Essential Oils are you Going to use to Conquer Your Winter Blues?

Now that you’ve gotten educated as to which essential oils are great for mood-boosting, learned why they’re effective, and exactly how to use them, which ones are you going to try? Let me know in the comments!

Also, don’t forget, if you aren’t already using the best essential oils and you want to start a wholesale account AND get mentorship and education from me through the FOJO VIP’s then click here.

I can’t wait to meet you and help you!