As you go through life, you may notice that some scents resonate with you more than others. For example, lavender might make you feel more relaxed, while orange might invigorate you. While you can attribute these feelings to personal fragrance preferences, many scents can have powerful effects on mood and well-being.
The science of smell. Your nose detects smells because fragrant substances give off specific molecules. When inhaled, these molecules, bind to the smell-related, or olfactory, receptors in your nose. The receptors send chemical messages through the olfactory nerve to your brain. These messages talk to the brain’s limbic system, which controls emotions and stores memories. The messages also stimulate the hypothalamus, which is responsible for hormones that affect your heart rate, hunger, body temperature and mood. In response to a smell, your brain releases hormones such as:
• Serotonin: Influences mood, sleep, digestion, nausea, wound healing, bone health and blood clotting.
• Dopamine: Regulates attention, learning, memory, mood and movement.
• Endorphins: Relieve pain, reduce stress and improve mood.
This hormonal response can alleviate anxiety or reduce your perception of pain. Aromatherapy draws on this science to support the body and mind in facing physical and mental challenges.
Healing scents
Aromatherapy involves inhaling essential oils or applying them in a diluted form to the skin. Essential oils are highly concentrated and fragrant plant extracts from flowers, leaves and stems. Some essential oils possess antimicrobial properties and can kill certain bacteria, fungi,and viruses.
Due to their concentration, use caution if applying essential oils directly to the skin. They must be diluted in carrier or base oils, which are also made from plants but don’t have a strong smell and don’t give off the fragrant molecules. Base oils often contain antioxidants and essential fatty acids, nourishing your skin while delivering essential oils.
Recent studies illustrate how inhaling chemicals in essential oils work on the brain and body. For example:
• Lavender and bergamot: Contain linalool, which eases anxiety and depression.
• Cinnamon: May reduce anxiety by inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
• Sweet orange, rose and lavender: Act as natural sedatives, reducing cortisol, the stress hormone. Rose also boosts serotonin while decreasing cortisol.
• Rosemary and clary sage: Serve as cognitive stimulants and memory enhancers. A combination of scents may produce a wide range of therapeutic effects.
To inhale the oils’ scents, you can use a nasal inhaler, a vapor diffuser, vapor balm, air spray or a cotton ball scented with a few drops of oil. Aromatherapy is often combined with a massage to enhance relaxation and overall wellness.
Finding a qualified aromatherapy practitioner: To find a certified aromatherapist, consult the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) website. Another useful resource is the Alliance of International Aromatherapists.
IMPORTANT: If you choose to use aromatherapy, keep your healthcare team informed in case you develop any kind of reactions or side effects.
Source: MayoClinic.org
