Have you ever wondered how inhalation of essential oils could be beneficial for your emotional and mental health??
Read on to learn more about the science of essential oil diffusion!
EO CHEMISTRY: Essential oils are simply a mixture of volatile aromatic compounds.
The OLFACTORY SYSTEM includes all physical organs or cells relating to, or contributing to, the sense of smell. During inhalation, odor molecules travel through the nose and affect the brain through a variety of receptor sites, one of which is the limbic system, which is commonly referred to as the "emotional brain" and includes the Olfactory Bulbs, Hippocampus, & Amygdala.
The LYMBIC SYSTEM is directly connected to those parts of the brain that influence the NERVOUS SYSTEM to control heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels, and hormone balance (Higley & Higley, 1998). This relationship helps explain why smells often trigger emotions!
Knowing this, we can hypothesize how inhalation of essential oils can have some very profound physiological and psychological effects!
No comments:
Post a Comment