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