Aromatherapy to Relax and Re-energize

Aromatherapy and Essential Oils

Can scents help you relax and re-energize?

Between work, errands and chauffeuring the kids around, you probably don't have much time for yourself, and it's all you can do to fit in a massage, or workout or two. But what if you could easily de-stress and re-energize using your sense of smell? Aromatherapy has been proven to cause biochemical changes in the body through the olfactory sense. You can uplift, sedate, or boost the immune system just by sniffing. Laboratory testing identified the major properties of essential oils as having antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.

Aromatherapy is the use of fragrant, plant-derived essential oils to alter mood or achieve health benefits through topical application, spray, or diffuser. Health professionals including massage therapists, chiropractors and psychologists use aromatherapy as a complementary treatment for pain, nausea, stress and depression, as well as to improve quality of life for those with chronic health conditions.

Scientists think that receptors in the nose — upon detecting an essential oil — stimulate the brain's limbic region through the olfactory nerve. The limbic region influences physical reactions related to stress, such as emotion, heart rate and sweating. For example, lavender (a "relaxing" essential oil) is thought to affect the amygdala in a similar manner to that of a sedative.

Your choice of essential oil depends on your particular symptoms.

• For anxiety, consider lavender, chamomile, rose, or patchouli.

• Feeling fatigued? Go with lemon, peppermint, or jasmine.

• If you have a headache, try basil, cinnamon, ginger, lemongrass or ylang ylang.

• Congested? Try eucalyptus, peppermint, or tea tree.

• Orange, peppermint and lemon verbena are thought to help with indigestion.

• Treat sore muscles with eucalyptus, frankincense, lemongrass or sandalwood.