Smell is the only one of our five senses that directly links to the emotional center of the brain, the limbic lobe. This portion of the brain is responsible for not only our emotions but it helps regulate heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, the stress response and hormonal balance.
Stress has an important effect on hormones and the immune system. When someone is chronically stressed out, our adrenal glands produce more of a hormone called cortisol. This hormone has been shown to cause blood sugar imbalances, sleep disturbances, increased inflammation and decreased sex hormone output. Due to the fact that stress is an emotional response, our nose might be the solution to our headaches!
Essential oils contain volatile molecules capable of being inhaled and therefore can instantaneously affect our mood. Due to the chemical structure of various compounds, such as sesquiterpenes, essential oils carry oxygen to the brain by crossing the blood-brain barrier. Increased oxygen has many positive effects on the body, including enabling the endocrine system to secrete hormones more effectively.
An oil that has long been studied is lavender. Lavender is known as the universal oil and contains over 800 constituents that work together. Oxford hospitals use lavender for its relaxing and sedating effects to put patients to sleep. One study proposed that lavender might actually work in a similar way as the sedating drugs but without the side effects.
Our olfactory system has a specific receptor for every type of odor making our sense of smell complex. It has been shown that the composition of the receptors in our nasal membrane is actually individualized genetically. What does this mean? Each individual will respond to different odors in a different ways. This is why it is important to try more than one oil to find the effect you are looking for. I have worked with people who use an oil blend called peace and calming to keep them awake! Still, others will use peppermint, an oil that is found to be stimulating, to calm them down.
Here is some information on two recommended essential oils.
For more information on oils, consult the Essential Oils Desk Reference by Essential Science Publishing.
Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) is the most versatile of all essential oils. Therapeutic-grade lavender has been highly regarded for the skin. The French scientist Rene Gattefosse was the first modern doctor to discover lavender's skin regenerating properties when he severely burned his hands in a laboratory explosion. Lavender has also been clinically evaluated for its relaxing effects. It may be used to cleanse cuts, bruises, and skin irritations. The fragrance is calming, relaxing, and balancing and great for stress and hormonal imbalance.
Endoflex is an essential oil blend containing Spearmint, Myrtle, Nutmeg, German Chamomile, Geranium, and Sage. These oils are associated with hormonal balance and increasing metabolism with associated weight loss. Nutmeg is especially good for adrenals making this blend great for adrenal stress conditions.
Clove oil is one of the highest antimicrobial oils available. It has been demonstrated that a solution of .05% eugenol from clove oil is sufficient to kill the tuberculosis bacillus. According to Jean Valnet, MD, clove oil can prevent contagious disease and may treat headaches, arthritis, skin disease and acne.
Its primary constituent, eugenol, is used in the dental industry for numbing gums. According to Andy Couglan (Newscientist.com), clove oil neutralizes asbestos fibers and numbs toothaches. Clove is found in the antimicrobial blends of thieves, melrose, abundance, PanAway, En-R-Gee, and Immupower.
Clove is rated the highest single oil on the ORAC (oxygen radical absorbent capacity) scale, a new test developed by the USDA researchers at Tufts University. The higher the ORAC scale score is the larger the antioxidant capacity. Antioxidants are important for the immune system and have been studied for their ability to prevent cancer. Shirman Johnson, MD, recommends that everyone at the YL clinic drink 3 drops of clove in water everyday to boost the immune system and aid the body in detoxifying harmful substances.
- Studies with Farag, RS et al. 1989- study at Cairo University