German chamomile essential oil sedates (decreases a person’s level of arousal). For example, changes in skin potential levels (which indicate a person’s level of arousal) demonstrate that jasmine essential oil stimulates (increases a person’s level of arousal). ![]() Researched Effects of AromasĪ large body of research demonstrates that aromas positively affect stress levels, cognitive processes, brain chemistry, behavior, perception, and emotional states. Pheromones are chemical factors that trigger a social response in members of the same species. Synchronized menstruation in women is caused by an olfactory response, as are physiological changes and behaviors that arise from pheromonal cues. Likewise, the variation in the aroma of a particular food item lets us know it’s rotten and we shouldn’t eat it. For example, since early times, the smell of fire alerts us to potential danger and triggers the fight-or-flight response. It triggers parts of the endocrine system to start or stop producing certain hormones.Īromas trigger olfactory responses in these brain structures. The hypothalamus links the nervous system to the endocrine system through the pituitary gland. It is responsible for recognizing the emotional significance of events in the external world and supporting an appropriate behavioral response. 8 The amygdala, as part of the limbic system, is the integration center for emotions, emotional behavior, and motivation. The limbic system is a group of brain structures responsible for adrenaline flow, emotion, behavior, motivation, long-term memory, and olfaction. From the olfactory bulb at the base of the brain, signals travel to the limbic system triggering olfactory responses. Neurons from olfactory receptors bundle together to form the olfactory nerve, which travels to the olfactory bulb (the main organ of smell). There are approximately 400–450 different olfactory receptors that allow us to differentiate between approximately 1 trillion different odorants. Others, coordinating their findings, net the complicated chemical odorants that compose the aroma of your massage lubricant. Another receptor hooks flowers and vanilla. 6 One receptor hooks spicy aromas while piney aromas float free. 5 We literally dangle exposed nerve endings into the vast ocean of air eddying inside our nasal cavities and fish for aroma information as smells drift by on air currents.Įach olfactory receptor has a different shape that allows it to grab hold of a particular type of aroma. Though only a few centimeters wide, the olfactory epithelium contains more than 100 million olfactory receptor cells. Odor molecules dissolve into the olfactory epithelium when we inhale or pass through the throat when the tongue pushes air to the back of the nasal cavity when we chew or swallow. Before our single-celled ancient ancestors could see, hear, or touch, they could smell.Īt the top of each inner nasal cavity is a patch of mucus-covered tissue called the olfactory epithelium. When you inhale the aroma of your coffee, crush a sage leaf between your fingers to cook, or smell lilac blossoms in the spring, you are experiencing the earliest sense. 4 Other psychological effects of essential oils exist, but here we’ll focus on these primary mechanisms, understanding that psychological effects are often overlapping and complex. ![]() Mechanisms that Cause Psychological EffectsĮssential oils help us achieve psychological session goals through olfaction (the sense of smell), and the aromas’ effects on the central nervous system, 1 their influence on the amygdala, 2 their ability to change brain chemistry, 3 and their euphoric properties. ![]() In this article, we’ll sharpen our focus and discuss the use of essential oils to improve client mood, shift emotional states, and promote psychological equilibrium. ![]() Many of us use essential oils in massage lubricants for physiological effects that help us reduce muscle tension, ease musculoskeletal pain, and aid relaxation responses. Most massage therapists are familiar with aromatherapy-the art and science of using aromatic plant extracts for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Scents of the Psyche Bring the Psychological Benefits of Essential Oils Into Your Session Room By Anne Williams Massage and Bodywork Magazine for the Visually Impaired - Scents of the Psyche Back to Massage and Bodywork Issue List November/December 2021 Issue Back to November/December 2021 Article List
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