Aromatherapy is the use of aromatic plant extracts and essential oils to enhance a feeling of well-being. Aromatherapy is also known as essential oil therapy, where studies have shown health benefits including relief from anxiety, depression and other health conditions.
The smell of essential oils has an immediate psychological effect on us. Your reaction after inhaling an essential oil is a powerful tool in choosing an essential oil for yourself or others. Our olfactory (smelling) sense will message the brain instantly. This will, in turn, affect two parts of the brain.
One is the limbic system, which directs our emotions, feeling, behaviour, learning and motivation.
The other system affected is our cortex, which is key in memory, language, consciousness and thought. What we smell immediately affects out brain and in turn penetrates our being deeply on every level.
Give thought to the aroma that you are drawn to.
Citrus - Uplifting
Earthy - Grounding
Floral - Relaxing
Spicy - Brain Power
Medicinal - Calming
By paying attention to your body's response when you inhale essential oils, you will learn which one(s) your body is telling you it needs. Even if you cannot smell, new scientific research has established that we have olfactory receptors in our skin, heart, liver and brain, not just our nose.
More studies are being conducted, but if you give thought to choosing a lotion or perfume to put on your skin, you will choose the one with the aroma you find most nourishing to your soul at that moment.