Aromatherapy may not be top of mind when it comes to boosting productivity, reviving your lagging energy or the complete opposite – helping you sleep. And with good reason. Experts believe our sense of smell is our strongest, most influential sense. Did you know scent receptors are 10,000 times more accurate than taste buds?
When you sniff something, millions of smell receptors ping your olfactory bulbs, a pea-sized cluster in your brain. From there, scent is sorted and your limbic system is kicked into action, which is where basic human behaviors (as well as learning and emotions) are controlled. Ever associated a memory with a smell? Now you know why. Simply inhaling a scent sets off a chain reaction in the brain and body, activating the immune system, altering blood pressure and stimulating digestion.
If you think about it, you can literally sniff your way healthy or to sleep or to being more productive.
Imagine having the power to heal what ails you without taking a pill. Study after study shows how exposure to different scents can protect long-term health and relieve stress, pain, nausea, insomnia and improve mood. Combining scents and essential oils – aromatherapy – have even show to kill flu, E. coli, and cancer cells.
A report issued by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, stated that the number of people taking Ambien for sleep-related issues and ending up in hospital emergency departments increased by nearly 220% between 2005 and 2010. We can’t help but wonder how much quieter emergency rooms would be with a little aromatherapy.
But where do you start? The aromatherapy business is unregulated and more research on side effects is needed. For example, there is some indication that while moderate exposure to essential oils can be heart-healthy, prolonged exposure can pose cardiac risks.
Experts suggest keeping your exposure to short time periods – less than an hour a day – and following instructions on the bottle. It’s always a good idea to let your doctor know – especially if you take medication on a regular basis or suffer from a chronic health condition. Just as with any medicine, exercise caution and monitor your progress.
A diffuser is an effective way to release essential oils into the atmosphere (ranging in price from $25 to $200) but you can also drip oil into a bowl of steaming hot water for a less expensive solution. If you want to practice aromatherapy in your car or at work, simply drop oil onto a cotton ball, put it under your nose, and inhale normally for one to two minutes.
If you’re thinking of trying aromatherapy, check out our favorite scents:
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