Table of contents:
- Smells, memories and emotions
- What is aromatherapy
- Benefits of aromatherapy
- What are essential oils
- Essential oils: properties
- Essential oils: listed
Rating: 5 (2 votes) 2 comments
Aromatherapy is a booming technique but one that generates a lot of controversy. Can smells improve your health? In this Psychology-Online article, we will see how aromatherapy works : its benefits and essential oils.
You may also be interested in: Home remedies for nocturnal enuresis in adults Index- Smells, memories and emotions
- What is aromatherapy
- Benefits of aromatherapy
- What are essential oils
Smells, memories and emotions
Smells offer us a huge amount of information about the environment and about people. The aroma of each person evokes us places or circumstances in which we have perceived that type of fragrance, since the smell is a powerful trigger of memories. Therefore, the choice of perfumes is such a personal matter. For example, the Olympea perfume, a floral fragrance, is reminiscent of flowers, nature and femininity. Perfumes speak for us, since smells identify us and are an invisible communication system.
What is aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a specialty of herbal medicine, which consists of using plants therapeutically. Aromatherapy is inhaling essential oils with the aim of improving physical or mental state. How does it work? Chemicals in the air are taken in by the chemoreceptors of smell and produce a response.
The information from these chemical signals is processed in the limbic system, that is, in the emotional part of the brain. Therefore, they influence emotional regulation. In addition, a structure called the hippocampus, the main memory manager, is also nearby. For this reason, smells are strongly related to emotional memory.
The materials needed to practice aromatherapy are a diffuser and essential oils. There is currently a wide range of aromatherapy courses that allow you to know the definition of aromatherapy, the benefits of aromatherapy, what are essential oils and how to use them.
Benefits of aromatherapy
What is aromatherapy for? This technique has multiple advantages. Among the benefits of aromatherapy we find:
- Positive emotions. Smells influence mood.
- Relaxation.
- Stress reduction
- Pain relief. Some odors can decrease the perception of pain.
- Increased libido. Some molecules perceived by olfactory receptors are aphrodisiac.
- Improved sleep.
- Speed. Its effect on the body occurs within a few minutes.
- Security. Essential oils are considered safe. The side effects they can produce are minor and temporary.
What are essential oils
Pure essential oils are groups of chemicals obtained from plant sources through distillation in water value. Pure essential oils are extracted from the stems, roots, leaves, and flowers of different plants and trees. Essential oils are used for aromatherapy due to their properties.
Essential oils: properties
Essential oils have properties:
- Relaxing
- Anti-cellulite
- Anti-wrinkle
- Painkillers
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antibacterial
- Antifungal
- Antiviral
Essential oils: listed
The most used essential oils and their main effect are the following:
- Basil: pain reliever.
- Jasmine: aphrodisiac.
- Lavender: relaxing.
- Sandalwood: relaxing.
- Rosemary: stimulating.
- Rosa: aphrodisiac.
If you want to know how to make essential oils or where to buy essential oils, you can consult this guide: What are essential oils.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Aromatherapy: benefits and essential oils, we recommend that you enter our category of Natural Remedies.
Bibliography- Damian, P. and Damian, K. (1997). Aromatherapy: The smell and the psyche: Use of essential oils for physical and emotional well-being . Inner Traditions / Bear & Co.
- Russell, MJ (1983). Human olfactory communications . In D. Müller-Schwarze and RM Silverstein, (Eds.), Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 3. London: Plenum Press.
- Tisserand, R. and Borges, M. (1994). The art of aromatherapy . Paidós Ibérica Editions.