Though having a new born baby should be the happiest time of your life, for many women, postpartum depression takes away some of the joy and takes a toll on what should be a joyful time of life. Fortunately, there’s safe and simple help. And it smells good!
Bergamot essential oil is extracted mostly from the rind of bergamot oranges. One of its major components, bergapten, is reported to boost melatonin. Other components, like linalool, have antianxiety and antidepressant effects.
This new double-blind study of 60 women with postpartum depression found that aromatherapy with bergamot essential oil is significantly more effective than placebo at improving mood scores on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.
J Nurs Res. April 2022;30(2):e201