I had previously believed using aromatherapy to create a healing outcome was as effective as buying a lotto ticket to plan for retirement. However, research has shown that the therapeutic components of essential oils are absorbed into the bloodstream via the nasal receptors which activate chemical and healing changes in the body. Here are five ways how using aromatherapy can help you heal.
Aromatherapy can influence psychological change.
It is well established that scents can bring on buried memories, influence people’s moods and even affect people’s performance. The olfactory bulb which is responsible for processing a scent is closely linked with the limbic system which is also responsible for processing our emotions and our memories. Most of our olfactory memories are developed in childhood. So aromatherapy can produce excellent psychological benefits if you have positive associations with certain scents. Cinnamon, for example, reminds me of Christmas.
Aromatherapy can increase mental performance.
There is a lot of research currently being conducted that is showing evidence that there are a number of essential oils that can boost our brain’s performance. A study in the U.K into rosemary oil and its main active component Cineol (which is also found in sage and eucalyptus) discovered participants who had smelled this component were able to recall information and had an increased accuracy in performance-based tasks such as arithmetic.
Aromatherapy can help to relieve pain.
A lot of essential oils have antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic qualities which are in commercial pain relief medications. Chamomile and lavender oil are very effective anti-inflammatories. Eucalyptus and rosemary are excellent analgesics while thyme is known for its antispasmodic effects.
Essential Oils have more antioxidants than food.
Antioxidants are compounds that neutralise free radicals that harm our cells by oxidative damage. According to Nutritionist Ronald.L.Prior, oxidative damage is thought to be the precursor to most chronic illnesses.ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) is a test that was developed by Tufts University in Boston to measure the antioxidant capacity of foods and oils. Ningxia wolf-berries at 30,300 have the highest ORAC capacity in a food source followed by blueberries: 2400; and Kale:1770. In comparison, most essential oils have eight times that amount. ORAC was measured highest in Clove which measured: 1,098,700 [8] A compelling argument is to stop drinking those green smoothies and reach for the oil burner instead.
Essential oils may help to fight infections and help with antibiotic resistance.
Dr Cyril Gay, the senior leader of the United States Department of Agriculture has asserted that the loss of antimicrobial resistance is one of the most crucial challenges that is faced by the medical community. Research into oils such as citronella, citrus, oregano, eucalyptus, geranium and lemongrass were tested for antibacterial activity against twenty-two different bacteria. These oils were capable of destroying viruses, pathogenic bacteria and fungi. With this research, there is hope that essential oils may be used as a future replacement for antibiotics.
