| Research centered around aromatherapy shows that smell, the most acute of our senses, has a powerful influence on our bodies and minds. The scents from essential oils are believed to activate olfactory nerve cells in the nasal cavity, which then send impulses to the limbic system, the area of the brain associated with emotions and memory. Proponents of aromatherapy believe that the aromatic oils work both emotionally and physically. Emotionally, they may make you feel better and more relaxed by evoking a pleasant memory. Physically, they may help to relieve certain conditions by stimulating the immune, circulatory, or nervous systems. Aromatherapists stress that only pure, natural, unadulterated essential oils have true medicinal properties. Perfumes, shampoos, and bath oils scented with herbs may smell wonderful, but they are not designed to be therapeutic. Advocates of aromatherapy believe on the preventive aspect to it. The balance generated from the inhalation of the aromas on the body and mind decreases the likelihood that disease will develop.
|
