The brain registers aroma twice as fast as it does pain. This is why the inhalation of
aromas can so powerfully transform ones emotions. Smell is the only sense that bypasses
the blood-barrier to the central nervous system. Through the olfactory system, essential oil
molecules have direct access to the limbic area of the brain (the center of emotions and
memory)

To better understand aromatherapy benefits, it helps to know how your body processes smells.

The sense of smell is pretty powerful. In fact, the body can distinguish around 10,000 different scents! Amazing, isn’t it?

As scents are inhaled, the smell travels across the olfactory nerves located inside the nose and then up into the part of the brain that controls our moods, our memories and our ability to learn. This area is called the Limbic System and when stimulated it releases endorphins, neurotransmitters and other 'feel-good' chemicals.

Wow! That’s pretty scientific stuff… not to worry, in a nutshell, what all of that means is that smells have a subtle way of effecting your mind and emotions.

Just think of the way you feel when you sniff the scent from a fresh bouquet of flowers versus your reaction when you smell something not so fresh like garbage or burnt toast. A big difference right?

Aromatherapy for Stress

In a study conducted at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York, patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reported 63 percent less claustrophobic after getting exposed to the aroma of vanilla. There was no change in their heart rate. Obviously, the aroma reduced their anxiety probably by the pleasant memories evoked by the vanilla aroma or by some other physiological response.

In another study, 122 patients who were in an intensive care unit, reported feeling much better when aromatherapy was administered with the oil of lavender (compared to when they were simply given a massage or allowed to rest.) No changes in the patients who were given aromatherapy was observed in the blood pressure, respiration, or heart rate. As we mentioned before, Japanese have reported less mistakes by keypunch operators when exposed to fragrance.

Return from Aromatherapy to Relieve Stress to stress Management Tips

Discover more resources:

Nine Steps to a Balanced Life

Laugh Your Stress Away

How to Reduce Stress During a Crisis

5 Ways to Reduce Stress and Eliminate Anxiety

Tips to Reducing Stress

The Relaxation Response