Aromatherapy questions and answers

 Can you explain the benefits of aromatherapy? What sorts of things can it help?

The primary benefit of aromatherapy is that it can be used to support a variety of health and emotional concerns without the use of synthetic chemicals.  It’s a well-researched, natural option for skin care, mood support, healing and a wide variety of other issues.

Real aromatherapy uses essential oils distilled or extracted from plants and unaltered in any way. Aromatherapy can also help with prevention and treatment of a range of common ailments and conditions for example period pain or acne and eczema skin. Before the advent of modern pharmaceuticals essential oils were the mainstay of traditional pharmacies.  Here is a link to a useful professional training resource.

Aromatherapy resources A useful download from Essential Training Solutions

Human emotions, or moods, arise from a part of the brain called the limbic system. Originally, the limbic system was referred to as the rhinencephalon – meaning “nose brain.” The term rhinencephalon reflected the enormous impact that smell had on the functioning of this part of the brain.

All of our senses impact the limbic system. Any of the senses can have a positive or negative effect on our mood. For example, our sense of vision can have a positive impact. When we observe a person who is happy and smiling, this observation can lift our spirits.  When we smell rotting food, we are repelled.  When we smell tasty food cooking, we feel ourselves getting hungry and happy as we anticipate eating a satisfying meal.

Emotion plays a great part in not only what we think but the way we think and the way we remember.  For example we not only see numbers and use them, the brain allocations emotions/memories/feelings to individual numbers.

Is there scientific study backing this up?

The science behind scent and mood comes from millennia of observation, from the basic anatomy of the brain, and from decades of research.  Scientists at Warwick University England have used this study to develop mechanical noses which detect chemicals finding practical application for this for example in detecting cancer.

From a purely anatomical perspective, we know that the nerves from our nose that are receiving the scent connect directly to the limbic system.  In fact, the nerve connections between the smelling apparatus of our nose to the limbic system are faster than those for sight and sound.

Scientifically speaking, the sense of smell is called olfaction. The smelling (olfactory) apparatus is located high in our nose.  It is called the olfactory membrane. This little area contains millions of nerve cell receptors that analyze the air we inhale for odor. The olfactory membrane of humans is only about 0.8 inches square, yet contains 10-20 million olfactory receptors. It is able to identify between 2000-4000 different chemical stimuli (molecules).

The 2004 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine went to the team that finally uncovered the mechanics of identifying scent.

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2004/press.html

Essential oils have been studied extensively for decades, particularly in Europe.  Oils are analyzed using a process called Gas Chromotography/Mass Spectrometry, a test that identifies all the chemical components of an oil.  Many of those individual components have been researched in clinical studies.

How do scents work on the brain to change mood?

The limbic center holds our instinctive behaviors, drives, and automatic emotional responses.  The limbic system also plays an important role in memory and learning. The key to understanding how scents affect the brain is to remember that the information gathered in the nose from the olfactory bulb goes directly to the emotional center – the limbic system.

Because of this direct neurological connection between scent and the limbic system, we can use aromatic products to impact our moods and emotions as well as our ability to learn, remember and recall. 

Can EOs used in skin care and other beauty products be as effective in enhancing mood or does it need to be the straight oils?

It is very effective to blend essential oils in beauty products – often lotions or organic oils – for application on the body.

Mood enhancement through essential oils in any product we use on our skin is a real benefit. For example, some oils are invigorating and may help combat depression, while others are very calming and may help an individual relax, reduce anxiety and sleep more deeply.

Can anyone blend their own mood enhancing oil blends or do they have to come from someone who’s trained in how to do it?

If safe dilution guidelines are followed, anyone can begin blending.  It does take a reasonable amount of education to blend therapeutically, especially for emotional concerns.  Blending approaches are based in the chemistry of essential oils and requires education. That being said, inhaling an essential oil you love or applying that lavender lotion after your shower can bring such pleasure. Sometimes it really is that simple.

Are there oils associated with “happiness”?

Many essential oils are emotionally uplifting. We love using citrus oils in particular to create a feeling of spring and sunshine and health.  During the winter months, these oils can be especially helpful. We add them to our sponge for cleaning, in a diffuser for uplifting and to our liquid soap.

Lavender is a calming oil, but may also conjure a feeling of happiness through relaxation of the senses.  Stronger florals like Ylang Ylang or Rose have heady, sensual aromas that can create an entirely different feeling of happiness.