Recently, national news headlines reported on the findings of a poll conducted by Norwich Union Healthcare into the prescribing of common anti-depressants such as Prozac Out of 250 GPs taking part, more than three-quarters admitted they were too ready to prescribe such drugs.

Another pertinent finding to emerge was that almost as many GPs (72%) said they wrote more prescriptions for the drugs now than they did five years ago, and that this was not helped by a lack of options, such as social care and psychological therapies, which I referred to as 'talking therapies' in my last article.

The apt timing of part 2 of this article does not escape me today, as I put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard!) in order to complete it. I closed part 1 by saying that part 2 would consider "... the uses of aromatherapy for counteracting the side-effects of commonly prescribed medication."

The affordability of such drugs and the lack of alternative options open to GPs (something that I became aware of whilst working within Clinical Psychology) are reflected in an increase in the frequency with which they are prescribed. Whilst the government has recommended that for mild depression, counselling be the first treatment offered, GPs choices are determined in part by resources and financial constraints, and I would therefore speculate that until more talking therapies are funded it is unlikely that we will see a reduction in the prescription of anti-depressants.

In light of this report, it seems more appropriate than ever to be writing about the ways in which aromatherapy can counteract the side-effects of anti-depressants.

The modern family of anti-depressants to which Prozac and Seroxat (amongst others) belong are known as SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), and like the majority of antidepressants, they are often accompanied by a range of undesirable side-effects. This can be especially pronounced during the first week or two of taking the medication, where it is building up in the system.

Some of the most common symptoms associated with SSRIs are lethargy, low energy, poor concentration, sleep disturbance, nausea and headaches, although it must be stressed that individuals usually report experiencing one or two of these symptoms rather than all of them, and such symptoms usually subside significantly if not altogether after this initial period. Below I have listed a few of the oils which I have found to be most the helpful for alleviating some of these side-effects.

Lethargy & low energy: Jasmine, Citrus oils, Bergamot

Poor concentration: Rosemary

Sleep disturbances: Clarysage, Lavender, Chamomile, Ylang Ylang

Nausea: Ginger, Spearmint, Peppermint

Low libido: Jasmine, Rose

For mild depression where the individual is not taking medication or wishes to use aromatherapy alongside the medication there are a wide range of oils which are of potential value, and the preferences of the client should, once again, be a determining factor in which essential oils are selected.

Some of the oils I have found to be the most useful (based purely on anecdotal evidence) I have come to think of as falling into two categories: 'sunny' oils and 'comfort' oils. These are, of course, simply words which I feel best denote the general characteristics of the oils, rather any serious attempt at classification.

Sunny oils are uplifting and commonly associated with summertime; this group includes Geranium, Mandarin, Tangerine, Bergamot, Lime, Orange, and Lemon.

Comfort oils are just that! They are the oils which are often used for their soothing and calming properties; this group includes Lavender, Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, Melissa, Neroli, Rose, Jasmine.

I often find that initially, it is good to select an essential oil (or two) from each category. Some of the combinations that I have found to be popular choices are Lime & Rose, Orange & Neroli or Orange & Jasmine, although there are many possibilities. You must also be guided by the particular needs of the client at that point in time, since there is little point in selecting one of the more 'sedative' oil, such as Clarysage, if the client is feeling particularly lethargic that day, for example.

Treatments for depression should include a variety of methods, these being body massage, baths and inhalations. Regular massage treatments incorporating the client's personal blend (PB) of oils should be backed-up by use of this PB in aromatic baths at home. Inhalations can also be introduced as a means of using the PB whilst 'on-the-go'; this can be unblended/neat essential oils mixed together in one bottle, ready to be dropped directly onto a tissue and inhaled when necessary.

In broad terms, one of the best things about using essential oils to counteract low mood is that their use provides a pleasurable experience in itself, irrespective of the mood altering qualities of the oils. Furthermore, since many people experience a 'numbing/flattening' of the senses when they are depressed, aromatherapy is a superb way of reawakening and reconnecting the client with the sense of smell, and helping to form positive odour associations.

© Lisa Basso BSc (HONS) Psych, MIFPA, MICHT, AC
Zamya Ltd

Our thanks to Todays Therapist for allowing us to reproduce this past article