How Do Essential Oils Work?
Take a deep breath through your nose. What scents are you picking up right now? How are those smells affecting you? As I write this, I inhale the scent of my coffee sitting next to me, and sweet orange from the diffuser across the room. These smells combine to make me feel cozy, happy, and safe. Our nose and brain are very closely connected, as evidenced by specific smells that evoke particular memories. The smell of basil immediately transports me into my grandmother’s kitchen and the memory of chopping away at the bright green leaves as I helped to make her incredible pesto. Just like basil, there is an endless list of plants whose essences can be extracted into fragrant, healing oils.
When our nostrils receive a smell like fresh basil, there are sensors called olfactory neurons in our noses that send a direct message to our brains. There are more than a million olfactory neurons in each of your nostrils! When they receive molecules of an aroma, they set off a chain reaction that sends an electrical impulse to the smelling center of the brain, the olfactory bulb. This olfactory bulb is directly connected to the parts of the brain that store memories and handle emotions, which explains why certain aromas can transport you deeply into a memory or evoke strong emotions.
In primitive eras, humans relied on this extraordinary sense to determine what was viable to eat. In modern times, we can harness this knowledge about the nose and the brain to intentionally bring some good vibes into our lives through essential oils. Each oil has properties that make it beneficial in its own unique way, ranging from relaxation to alleviating congestion to boosting energy, and more.
At The Healing Sanctuary, you’ll find several essential oils in each treatment room. Here are a few that we regularly use in sessions and their benefits:
Calming Lavender is used to soothe anxiety, depression, inflammation, and pain.
Clearing Eucalyptus is helpful for opening sinus passages and alleviating joint pain.
Cooling Spearmint aids with nasal congestion and inflammation.
Bright Grapefruit can be used to ease fatigue, muscle aches, and low energy.
Sharp Peppermint is used as a topical analgesic for pain (great for jaw pain or headaches) and to improve focus and fatigue.
Ways you can easily incorporate essential oils into your life:
Place a few drops on a cotton ball and put it into your pillowcase (be careful, oils stain).
Use an aromatherapy diffuser and mix a few oils for a blend that has depth and multiple benefits
Make a room spray with oils, a little alcohol and a base carrier to mist your space (Shake well…oil and water don’t mix. The alcohol helps to disperse the oil into the water).
Add a few drops of essential oils directly to lotion or a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba (most essential oils must be diluted instead of used full strength. They’re more potent than you think!).
A word of caution: Do your research! While there are numerous benefits for essential oils, there are also contraindications for certain oils including age, medications, allergies, pets, pregnancy, and more. There are countless resources on the usage of oils; check your local library or the Internet for some more information before diving in to your favorite scents.
Whether it's sweet orange, crisp basil, or otherwise, a whole world of aromas exist that can be mixed and matched for whatever feeling or sensation you are looking for. Nature provides!
