Depression and anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting tens of millions of adults aged 18 and over according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

The ADAA points out that is it not uncommon for those who suffer from one of these disorders to also suffer from the other. And the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates 16 million adults in America suffer from at least one major depressive episode every year.

“Depression can be a dangerous health condition which can lead to severe consequences, including suicide, if not addressed correctly,” says Dr. Ellen Kamhi, Ph.D., author of “Cycles of Life, Herbs for Women.”

“Therefore it is a health concern that should be evaluated by a licensed professional. However, there are times when self care is appropriate. For example, if the depression is mild, seems to be a passing phase within a short period of time, caused by a specific event such as moving, retiring or some other life change or linked to SAD [Seasonal Affective Disorder], natural therapies can be helpful.”

Among the most powerful antidepressant therapies are pure essential oils.

Kamhi tells Newsmax Health that aromatherapy – the use of essential oils as inhalants – engages the olfactory system that connects the nasal cavity to the brain. The natural constituents of the oils help bring the brain back into balance and relieve stress and mild depression.

“Do not confuse essential oils with herbal extracts,” she says. “While herbal extracts are prepared by soaking herbs in water or alcohol, the production of essential oils requires a more sophisticated process of distillation, which yields a highly concentrate product.

“Using essential oils as an inhalant is a safe way to experiment with these scentsational, powerful products.”

Kamhi recommends placing a few drops of oil on a cotton ball and placing it near your nose. You can also make a refreshing mist by filling spray bottle with 3 ounces of pure spring water and adding 10-12 drops of essential oil or place the oils in a diffuser, carefully following the directions.

Some of the essential oils that can be useful in staving off depression are:

Naturopathic approaches to mood disorders and depression was the topic of discussion when host, Dr. Eugene Zampierion, ND, interviewed Dr. Peter Bongiorno, ND. This is an encore radio show that was originally aired on June 3, 2014.

Who is Dr. Bongiorno?

Dr. Peter Bongiorno is co-medical director of InnerSource Natural Health and Acupuncture , a thriving practice with two clinics in New York. Dr. Bongiorno was a pre-doctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Health, at the National Institute of Mental Health’s department of Clinical Neuroendocrinolgy, and he also researched at Yale University in the department of pharmacology before training at Bastyr University in naturopathic medicine and acupuncture. Dr. Bongiorno teaches integrative medicine elective at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and at the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York City. He is an expert blogger for Psychology Today, and has appeared multiple times on national FOX news programs. He is President of the NY Association of Naturopathic Physicians and was chosen naturopathic physician of the year in New YorkState in 2008.

Dr. Bongiorno is a major contributor to the Textbook of Natural Medicine and authored the textbook Healing Depression: Integrated Naturopathic and Conventional Therapies for Depression . His latest book is How Come They’re Happy and I’m Not – The Complete Natural Program for Healing Depression for Good (Red Wheel / Conari) which can be found on Amazon. Dr. Bongiorno’s naturopathic approaches to mood disorders and depression will give you a different perspective from the conventional therapies and provide you with a road map to healing depression using natural methods.

Contact: www.InnerSourceHealth.com and www.drpeterbongiorno.com.

To listen to the interview, click the player below. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestion, please use the comment section under this post or contact Ellen Kamhi here.