Stress, lack of sleep or gloomy and dark weather: all these factors can have a negative impact on our mood and lead to mood swings. However, short-term dejection is not a cause for concern. It will pass and can be effectively banished with simple home remedies. Light and heat, as well as herbs and exercise, have proven to be extremely effective in this regard.
What helps against mood swings?
The medicinal plant St. John’s wort also has the property, for example as a tea, to be mood-lifting. As a true high time for mood swings is considered the winter with its short and lightless days. The reason for the lack of drive is, among other things, the secretion of so-called sleep hormones, which the body produces more of when there is a lack of light. A lack of light also causes a decrease in serotonin production. Serotonin, however, is urgently needed as a “mood elevator”. If not enough of it can be provided, mood swings are the result. The seasonal lack of light and its negative side effects can therefore be counteracted by plenty of outdoor exercise. Just a few minutes of sunshine are enough to put body and mind in a better mood. Moreover, exercise leads to an increased release of happiness hormones, which quickly put an end to the low mood. Targeted endurance sports such as jogging, walking or cycling are particularly effective. However, warmth and even “artificial” light are also effective. A warm bath, illuminated by pleasant candlelight, can also have a highly mood-lifting effect. Taking certain herbs also helps against a gloomy mood. Among other things, the use of St. John’s wort, which can be enjoyed as a tea, has been known for centuries. For the preparation of a St. John’s wort tea, both flowers and leaves of the plant are used. It is enough to drink one or two cups of the freshly brewed tea in the morning and in the evening. However, the mood-lifting effect of St. John’s wort does not start immediately. The tea must be drunk over several weeks before its effect becomes apparent. The same applies to St. John’s wort preparations, which are available in the pharmacy in tablet or capsule form.
Quick help
If quick help is needed against mood swings, the desired effect can be achieved with essential oils, because in addition to soothing fragrances, various scented oils are known for their markedly stimulating effect. Here, essential oils from oranges, tangerines, grapefruits or limes are considered particularly mood-lifting. Other antidepressant fragrance oils are also bergamot, jasmine, sandalwood and rose. Essential oils can be drizzled on a cloth or vaporized in a fragrance lamp. It is important that the user uses an oil that he finds pleasant. However, even ordinary foods and spices can have a positive effect on mood. This is known, among other things, from ginger, nutmeg, cereal products, cereal bars, fresh or dried fruits and nuts. All these foods contain the amino acid tryptophan, which is converted in the brain into the much-needed happiness hormone serotonin. Finally, chocolate also helps as a well-known household remedy for bad moods. The reason for this is the theobromine contained in cocoa with its stimulating effect. Whether chocolate bar, drinking chocolate or even chocolate bath – ingredients such as iron, copper, potassium and magnesium lift the mood and brighten the mind.
Alternative remedies
As alternative remedies for mood swings, Bach flowers and Schüssler salts have proven their worth. At Bach flowers are known, for example, Gentian (Bach flower number 12) and Mustard (Bach flower number 21). Both help the affected person to cope better with difficult situations and strengthen mood and soul. The same applies to the Schüssler salts number 3 (Ferrum Phosphoricum) and number 5 (Kalium Phosphoricum), which alleviate depressive mood. The best time to take them is in the early afternoon. Moreover, color light therapy is pleasant and beneficial for mood swings. In color light therapy, color stimuli are absorbed through the skin or eyes. The duration of the irradiation is about 15 to 30 minutes. If the colored light treatment is carried out in an infrared sauna, the light impulses can also be absorbed by the unclothed skin. Each color is attributed a specific effect in the context of colored light therapy.In combination with the infrared sauna, the invigorating effect of heat is added. To increase the effect, infrared sauna and color light therapy can be used together with essential fragrance oils.
