The Season of Hope, Renewal, and Rebirth

After months of cold and darkness, the sunshine and warmer weather is finding its way to the Northeast. Seasonal shifts not only impact the environment and agriculture, but they also effect human mood and consciousness. Spring has sprung and it brings with it its symbolization of rebirth, transition, hope, and renewal. (source, source, source, source)

An article in Psychology Today brings attention to this connection between the arrival of spring and its psychological and spiritual impact:

Spring and hope are intertwined in the mind, body, and soul. In spring, nature conspires with biology and psychology to spark the basic needs that underlie hope: attachment, mastery, survival, and spirituality. It is true that hope does not melt away in the summer; it is not rendered fallow in autumn nor does it perish in the deep freeze of winter. But none of these other seasons can match the bounty of hope that greets us in the spring….

Spring calls us back to nature, fills our sails with warmer winds, soothes our weary bones, and lifts our spirits. Spring is full of psychic potential because it satisfies the four basic motives that underlie hope. Perhaps this is what prompted Bern Williams to offer one of most succinct reflections on hope and spring: “The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created spring.”

The Many Healthy Delights of Spring

In an article in Mental Floss, the author expanded on the many praises of this season. It highlighted fifteen scientific reasons spring creates positive changes in the mind and body. For many, just the fact that the sun is shining is enough to create a shift in emotional tone, but there’s so much more!

The multiple benefits of spring that have been shown to impact well-being and positive outlook include:

• Moderate temperatures
• More daylight
• The homecoming of the sweet singing birds
• Baby animals, viewing cute images can be good for productivity and mental health.
• Spending time outdoors in the sun, which has many additional benefits besides improving mood. These include promoting better sleep and the release of nitric oxide, which lowers blood pressure. (source, source, source)
• More safety, crimes tend to go down in the spring
• It spurs more creativity
• The return of the leaves
• The re-emergence of plants that soak up CO2, which eases the negative impact of pollution on our health.
• Fresh, yummy produce is easier to find
• Flowers are in bloom
• Exercising outdoors with fresh air
• The moist air
• Open windows
• Getting vitamin D naturally, outside

Essential Oils That Enhance the Benefits of Spring

I have written extensively on the many advantages of using essential oils. Now, I will discuss how these plant secondary metabolites can be especially helpful in encouraging the spring’s beautiful qualities of growth, rejuvenation, and well-being.

1. Essential oils encourage that spring-feeling of happiness.

Essential oils have many emotional and mental health benefits. Not only is their aroma enticing, but their biochemical compounds also produce physiological and psychological shifts which enhance cognition and overall mood.

Check out this post to see how they impact brain chemistry, evoke calmness, ease anxiety, alter functional brain wave patterns, and more.

2. Essential oils seamlessly fit into a wellness regime for more nourishing practices.

I wrote about this topic on Saratoga.com in my post on how essential oils and naturopathic medicine make a dynamic duo:

…some oils are stimulating and invigorating and assist with exercise performance. Several studies have reported how cardamom and peppermint oils can augment workouts by increasing attention and cardiorespiratory fitness. (source, source) These same oils can also be used to help with focus during the workday.

Other essential oils are calming. They can be used after a workout, if one is over-stimulated from the day, or stressed from project deadlines looming. Various combinations of oils can be used with meditation or simply diffused to soothe the nerves, support the body’s defenses, and aid recovery from stress effects.

3. Essential oils can assist with healthier behavioral patterns and help break unwanted ones.

I have found that essential oils are key components in my mind-body medicine practice. For fourteen years, I have used them to support my clients’ brain health and provoke courage to help them make behavior shifts away from what no longer serves them.

4. Essential oils enhance gratitude, spiritual connection, and meditation.

These aspects allow one to reconnect and be true to their beliefs, intentions, and goals. They may also spur a re-birthing of something amazing!

5. Essential oils foster bonding.

As the saying goes, with spring, “love is in the air!”

Essential oils have an ability to enhance stress resiliency and hormonal balance, stimulate positive moods and behavior, evoke trust, and calm the body and brain down from stressful conflicts. All of these characteristics are important for cultivating more effective communication for healthy, fulfilling, and nurturing relationships.

A Not So Delightful Symbol of Spring That Essential Oils Can Soothe

Another symbolic representation of springtime some may not find as delightful as all of those listed above is spring cleaning. However, with the addition of essential oils and non-toxic products, not only can you clean-up with peace of mind that you are not adding to your total body burden of toxins, you will also experience physical and emotional benefits from the essential oils.

Last week, I re-released my webinar for my subscribers on using essential oils for a safer home and healthier body. You can still access the resources and summary here.

Next week, I will share with you some of my favorite oils for promoting a more cheerful spring. This is through their impact on mood, wellness, and their use in spring cleaning. Stay tuned.

Happy Spring Oiling!

Mental Health Resources

*If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and/or are suicidal, please seek professional mental health support:

• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (U.S.) — Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor
• Lifeline Crisis Chat — Chat online with a specialist who can provide emotional support, crisis intervention and suicide prevention services at www.crisischat.org

Other Helpful Links

Below are some of the highlights of the many free emotional health resources on this website:

• Four Essential Oils Blends for Supporting the Mind-Body and Easing Tension
• VIDEO: How Your Brain and Body Suffer with Too Much Stress & Naturopathic Medicine Tips for Calming the Mind and Relieving Overwhelm
• Video Recap: Essential Oils to Ease the Stress & Anxiety of Back to School
• The Importance of Fun, Music, & Play for Mental Health
• Video Recap: Essential Oils for Brain and Mental Health & Soothing Stress
• 10 Natural Ways to Relieve Stress and Calm the Mind-Body During Trying Times
• Video: A Naturopathic Doctor’s Approach to Thyroid Health Using Essential Oils: Video Recap & Additional Resources

Additional Supportive Techniques & Tools

• The Tapping Solution, A Technique to Lower Cortisol and Reduce Stress- Podcast interview by Dr. Kara Fitzgerald with Nick Ortner.
• Stress management tips and resources

If you need more individualized wellness support, please click the links for more information on essential oils or naturopathic consults.