How Essential Oil work?
By:
Bakhru
Dr Alan Huch, a neurologist, psychiatrist and also the director
of Smell and Taste Research Centre in Chicago says, “Smell acts
directly on the brain, like a drug.” Our nose has the capacity to
distinguish 1,00,000 different smells, (many of which) affect us
without our knowing about the same.
The aroma enters our nose and comes in contact with the cilia, the
fine hair inside the nose lining. The receptors in the cilia are
linked to the olfactory bulb which is at the end of the smell
tract. The end of the tract is in turn connected to the brain
itself Smells are converted by cilia into electrical impulses that
are transmitted to the brain through olfactory system. All the
impulses reach the limbic system. Limbic system is that part of the
brain which is associated with our moods, emotions, memory and
learning. All the smell that reaches the limbic system has a direct
chemical effect on our moods.
For example smelling lavender increases alpha waves in the brain
and it is this wave that helps us to relax. A whiff of jasmine
increases beta waves in the brain and this wave is associated with
an increased agile and alert state.
Limbic system is also a storehouse of millions of remembered
smells. That is why the mere fragrance of haystack takes us back to
childhood.
The molecular size of the essential oils is very tiny and they can
easily penetrate through the skin and get into the blood stream. It
takes anything between a few seconds to two hours for the essential
oils to enter the skin and within four hours the toxins get out of
the body through urine, perspiration and excreta.
Aroma oils work like magic for stress-related problems,
psychosomatic disorders, skin infections, hair loss, inflammations,
pains arising from muscular or skeletal disorders to name some.
Actually essential oils have innumerable applications.
In Bristol, lavender oil was used on 28 patients who had undergone
bypass surgery. 24 of them reported reduced breathing rates, lower
blood pressure and anxiety levels.
In Paris, in 1985, 28 women were given treatment for thrush using
essential oils. After 90 days the clinical examination showed that
21 of them had been cured completely.
Essential oils are safe to use. The only caution being they should
never be used directly because some oils may irritate sensitive
skin or cause photosensitivity. They should be blended, in adequate
proportion with the carrier oils. A patch test is necessary to rule
out any reactions.
Article
Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
Krishan Bakhru is the editor of Natural Home
Remedies and Aromatherapy Info
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