Image courtesy of Pixabay/Danielam
When Spring is in the air, the flower blossoms delight by their timid bridal beauty. The magical scent of the flowers is seducing you with their sweet aroma.
As magnolias and tulips bring happiness with brighter colors, something else is waking up. Your olfactory system.
There are few other times of the year that awaken your sense of smell as much.
The day I was born, my father planted a tiny little lilac plant in front of the window. I lived in my old house for 13 years before we moved. Every year the bush was getting bigger, stunningly more beautiful and fragrant.
We rarely think of the plants in terms of their years here on this planet. This particular one is an anchor for me. It’s quite comforting to know there is a lilac bush in Ukraine that’s been around for as long as I have on this Earth.
This is probably one of the reasons I’ve always loved lilacs. They are, however, more than just a memory to me. Lilacs are a constant reminder for me of an important connection between our minds and our sense of scent.
Did you know that your nose and olfactory system are directly connected to your brain?
There are very few signals that travel as quickly to your brain as odor.
Are you familiar with the science that builds on this connection?
Aromatherapy explores how various plant-based scents and aromas can be utilized to promote health and healing. Essential oils are highly concentrated volatile compounds that are extracted from different plants.
Close your eyes and imagine the scents of peppermint, orange, and lavender. When you peel an orange or rub a mint leaf in your palm, you smell their oils on your hands.
Each of these plants use their volatile oils for protection (similar to immune system) and other functions.
Essential oils are different than the scents and smells in commercial products. Many products that you find in major markets contain synthetic or artificial scents that actually cause harm to the brain.
Essential oils, however, are beneficial to the brain. It’s wise to eliminate exposure to these artificial aromas and expose yourself to more essential oils.
Let’s begin by looking at several common essential oils that could benefit you:
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
We talked about lavender in great detail a few months back. This lovely purple flower can help you to relax, and even fall asleep.
You can also use it for concentration and focus. For these reasons I always keep some in my purse and desk drawer. There are very few oils that are as safe and effective as this one.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
This is my favorite oil for headaches and congestion. It’s considered to be useful for all things cooling – hot fever, hot flashes, hot weather.
Antiseptic on wounds, chest rub for respiratory concerns and calming to the mind; this oil is good to have in your medicine cabinet.
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)
This oil is a personal favorite. It comes from a grass pretty commonly used in Asian cooking. Known for its’ strong anti-bacterial, antifungal and antispeptic properties, it’s often used on animals to repel fleas.
Lemongrass oil can relax the nervous system and help with headaches. There are even suggestions that it could be useful for hypofunctioning thyroid gland.
I love citrus notes in essential oils, and you can smell notes of lemon in this particular oil making it a wonderful mood elevator. I love putting a few drops of diluted lemongrass oil on my wrist and neck pulse points to cheer me up even on a rainy day.
Here’s another post where I share with you three additional oils.
Some of my favorite aromatherapy books include Jeanne Rose’s The Aromatherapy Book: Applications and Inhalations, Kathy Keville’s Aromatherapy Complete Guide of Healing Art and Mindy Green’s Natural Perfumes Simple Aromatherapy Recipes.
Questions: Have you ever tried aromatherapy? What was your experience like? Do you have a favorite essential oil?