The Healing Power of Oils in Aromatherapy
For many decades, I have relied on various fragrances for their psychological, medicinal, or physical benefits. When feeling stressed, a touch of lavender oil on my wrist and a lavender candle glowing in the room have been my go-to remedies. For headaches, inhaling rosemary and eucalyptus oil or bathing in Epsom salt infused with these oils has offered relief. Yet, it wasn't until I delved into research that I truly understood how these fragrances benefit the body.
Discovering the Science Behind Aromatherapy
My journey of discovery led me to a fascinating article by Kandhasamy Sowndhararajan and Songmun Kim, published in Scientia Pharmaceutica on November 29, 2016. This comprehensive 28-page publication opened my eyes to how the human body responds to natural fragrances, known as essential oils.
Sowndhararajan and Kim emphasize the profound role of our sense of smell in influencing mood, stress, and cognitive functions. They highlight how essential oils have been used for thousands of years to address psychological and physical disorders like headaches, pain, and stress-induced anxiety.
The Birth of Aromatherapy
The term "aromatherapy" was coined in the 1920s by French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé. He used this term to describe the therapeutic application of natural fragrance essential oils. These oils are highly concentrated and complex mixtures of aromatic components derived from various plant parts, making them potent therapeutic agents.
Understanding the Olfactory System
The olfactory system is crucial for identifying food, mates, and potential dangers. It provides both sensual pleasure and warnings of hazards like spoiled food. Fragrances enter our nose and bind to receptor cells' cilia, with sensory neurons then sending signals to the brain through the olfactory bulb and cortex. This system connects directly to brain structures like the hippocampus and thalamus, involved in memory and emotion.
Image Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5198031/
Measuring Fragrance Influence with EEG
Recent scientific advances have employed electroencephalography (EEG) to measure how fragrances affect brain functions. EEG signals originate from neuronal activities in the cerebral cortex, with different brain waves—delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma—reflecting various states of mind and behavior. These waves are crucial in understanding neuronal electrical activity and are visually represented as oscillations.
The EEG power spectra bands frequently applied for examining the brain activity are the delta (0–4 Hz), theta (4–8 Hz), alpha (8–13 Hz) beta (13–30 Hz) and gamma (>30 Hz) waves…brain waves naturally appear during both the active and resting states. Our thoughts, emotions and behavior are the reflection of neuronal activity within the brain. The activation of brain waves characterizes the neuronal electrical activity, particularly the voltage fluctuations from ionic flows of neurons in the brain. The EEG measures these electrical activities and represents them as waves or oscillations.” Below is a figure from the article of Brain waves and their functions.
Image Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5198031/
Integrating Essential Oils into Daily Life
Inspired by such scientific insights, I began using essential oils with specific intentions: to enhance alertness, calmness, relaxation, or focus. However, as a busy mom, I found that the oils applied to my skin often washed away during daily chores.
Creating Vibrational Energy Candles
To continually enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy, I created "Vibrational Energy Candles" for my family and myself. Made with premium-grade essential oils and 100% natural soy wax, these candles provide gentle, pleasant scents that support brain function and enrich our home environment.
In conclusion, essential oils and aromatherapy offer a natural, effective means to enhance well-being. Armed with scientific knowledge, we can harness these gifts of nature to support our physical and emotional health.
To read more about Influence of Fragrances on Human Psychophysiological Activity, visit https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5198031/
To read the full article more about an article about Lavender Aromatherapy published on International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP), visit https://iaap-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/aphw.12310