Feeling a touch of the winter blues? You’re not alone. During short, dark, wintery days, the reduced sun exposure actually kicks off a chemical change in our bodies. For some, this might result in increased feelings of moodiness or depression, sleep and appetite changes, and general fatigue.
These findings were most recently confirmed by a 2024 study by the American Psychiatric Association, which reported that two out of five Americans experience these symptoms during the winter months. Additionally, another five percent of participants also reported a diagnosis of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression related specifically to the winter season.
What Can Be Done?
In addition to affirmative activities such as daily walks, planning fun experiences, and spending time with supportive individuals, studies have shown that inhalation therapy with essential oils has therapeutic benefits for stimulating the limbic system, a part of the brain that regulates mood. In fact, in a study cited by Robert Tisserand, a leading expert in aromatherapy, it was found that the winter blues may be especially responsive to aromatherapy thanks to increased olfactory sensitivity.
What is Aromatherapy?
Practiced universally for centuries, aromatherapy involves using essential oils for therapeutic benefits. By inhaling or diffusing oils, scent molecules travel from the olfactory nerves directly to the brain and especially impact the amygdala, the emotional center of the brain. Depending on an oil’s therapeutic benefits, inhalation therapy can relieve anxiety and tension, prompt feelings of well-being, and improve a general outlook.
Oils to Relieve the “Winter Blues”
Depending on what symptoms you’re experiencing, you may want to tailor your oil selections for maximum therapeutic benefits.
Stimulating Oils
Oils with stimulating or elevating properties are helpful for those experiencing low energy, depression or fatigue. These include:
Lemon Myrtle: sourced from Australia, Inshanti lemon myrtle is both an effective germ killer and perfect for uplifting moods, especially when diffused. With a tangy, distinctive aroma, lemon myrtle is multi-purposeful – use it in cooking, in cleaning products, and blended with other oils for an invigorating massage oil.
Peppermint: energizing and refreshing, peppermint oil will refresh your spirit as it also relieves pain and reduces inflammation. It’s a great oil for combating mental fatigue, headaches, and congestion when diffused, or peppermint can be blended with a carrier oil and massaged onto the belly for digestive support.
Spearmint: a hidden gem for supporting mental health, spearmint essential oil is known to help alleviate depression and uplift moods. Additionally, dilute a few drops in a carrier oil or cream and apply to the belly for stomach issues and the face and neck for sinus congestion.
Grapefruit: zesty and light, grapefruit’s fresh aroma is perfect for inspiring cheer and motivation, especially amid winter’s darkness. Diffuse to brighten your home’s atmosphere and kill germs (thanks to its antiviral properties), or blend with a carrier oil for topical application to alleviate inflammation and water retention.
Rosemary: at Inshanti, we carry three different rosemary oils—rosemary ct camphor, rosemary ct 1,8 cineole, and rosemary ct verbenone. Rosemary 1,8 cineole (pronounced “sin-ee-ole”) is the perfect winter oil, with a bright, stimulating aroma and significant antiviral, antiseptic, and decongesting properties – great for fighting colds and the flu.
Lime: another powerhouse, lime essential oil combines a bright, sharp aroma with antiviral and anti-infectious properties, making this an excellent choice for diffusing when you’re looking to uplift and purify your home.
Calming Oils
Oils with calming properties are helpful for post-holiday and winter mood swings, or if you’re just looking to promote peace in the midst of the cold and darkness. These include:
Rose: referred to as “woman’s oil” for its ability to balance hormones, rose oil is also commonly used to cool raging emotions, banishing despair, anxiety, and grief and replacing them with calmness and feelings of hope and joy. Diffuse it with lavender for restful sleep or blend it with a carrier oil for a soothing massage experience.
Bergamot: considered by Inshanti master blender Debra Stoltzfus to be one of the most valuable oils she has ever used to support emotional health and well-being, bergamot’s light citrus scent will uplift your spirits and encourage your sunnier side during these long, dark, winter days. Additionally, its immune-supporting properties make this a great oil for diffusing during cold and flu season.
Sandalwood: sustainably and ethically produced, sourced from a cooperative effort at reforestation in New Caledonia, Inshanti’s sandalwood oil is helpful for relieving tension and promoting calmness. Gentle enough to use in its undiluted form, sandalwood is great to massage onto the skin or to diffuse into the air for restful sleep.
Fragonia™: known as the “golden oil” because its molecular structure is perfectly balanced according to the golden ratio, our Australian-sourced Fragonia™ is one of the rarest and most powerful essential oils for emotional balance and harmony. In addition to analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, Fragonia™ is useful in relieving stress and jet lag.
Lavender: with its distinctive floral aroma, lavender is a well-known and beloved oil. But more than just a pretty scent, lavender’s healing and balancing properties make it a favorite to apply to bites, stings, cuts, or abrasions. Or, diffuse it or inhale it to calm emotions and ease racing thoughts.
Clary Sage: with its fruity, floral fragrance, clary sage will warm your body and stabilize your emotions. Perfect for relieving panic attacks, put a couple of drops of clary sage on the palm of your hand, vigorously rub your hands together, cup them over your nose and mouth, and deeply inhale.
Sweet Marjoram: cultivated organically in France, Inshanti’s sweet marjoram oil has a spicy and sweet aroma and warming, antispasmodic properties, making it a great oil to ease stress and tension and promote relaxation. Add it to a bath for an extra-peaceful soak or blend it with a carrier oil to relieve headaches.
Blends
Finally, try beating the winter blues with one of Inshanti’s essential oil synergistic blends, carefully and intentionally crafted to maximize the benefits of the oils. These include:
In Perfect Peace™: a harmonizing blend of six different essential oils and organic jojoba oil, Inshanti’s signature In Perfect Peace™ diluted blend supports calming and mood stabilization. Blend master Debra Stoltzfus created this blend for her own use when she was traveling for her aromatherapy studies, and it exemplifies what Inshanti stands for; in fact, “Inshanti ”actually means “in perfect peace!”
Cloud Nine™: a calming blend of three essential oils and 100 mg of Inshanti’s high-CBD, low-THC, certified organic hemp oil, our Cloud Nine™ blend will, well…make you feel like you’re on Cloud Nine™! Contained in an easy-to-use, roll-on applicator, Cloud Nine™ can be rolled on the inner wrist and neck area, promoting a sense of peace and well-being. Please note: due to E-commerce restrictions, this product can only be ordered by phone or in store. If you wish to order by phone, please call Inshanti at (717) 587-3990.
Center™: a blend of six oils high in sesquiterpenes (known to increase oxygen around the pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus of the brain), Inshanti’s Center essential oil blend is universally helpful for mental clarity and function – perfect if the winter blues have you feeling foggy and unmotivated.
This winter, don’t let the “blues” get you down. Brighten those dark days, invigorate yourself, and invest in your peace and well-being – with the power of plants.