|
Psyche, Skin and Essential
Oils
HOW
ESSENTIAL OILS AFFECT THE MIND
by Susan L.
Siegenthaler
 All
the odours we consciously and
unconsciously detect can have an
influence on the way we think
and feel. Similarly, essential
oils have been shown to have
pronounced effects on various
areas of the brain resulting in
physical, psychological and/or
emotional reactions.
The sense of smell (olfactory
sense) provides the means by
which odoriferous molecules
(molecules of substances that
have an odour) reach the brain
in humans and many other
animals. Dogs are well known for
their highly developed sense of
smell, with the ability to
detect millions of different
odours. Humans, however, do not
have the same range and depth of
odour perception, able to detect
only a few thousand different
odours. It is thought that the
sense of smell of our ancient
ancestors was far superior to
ours. Our forebears were able to
consciously recognise one
another by smell, could detect
the edibility of a plant by it’s
odour and could also track
animals by the scent they left
behind on a trail.
The sense of smell forms the
greater part of our sense of
taste, with only four flavours
detectable through our taste
buds: sweet, sour, salty and
bitter. When you have a head
cold or sinus infection you tend
to lose your appetite. This is
partly due to the effect of a
cold on the olfactory organ in
the back of the nose and partly
due to the fact that air
containing odoriferous molecules
cannot pass through the blocked
nose and over the olfactory
bulb.
The acuity of the sense of smell
is also affected by pollution,
smoking and/or trauma to the
nose itself.
The sense of smell helps us to
distinguish between 'good' and
'bad' odours, telling us if food
is fit to be eaten and if
disease is present.
ODOURS & DISEASE
A couple of hundred years ago,
physicians used their sense of
smell as a diagnostic aid and
specific body odours are still
considered to indicate
particular conditions. For
example:
arthritis and rheumatism have
an acid smell
a post-partum haemorrhage can
be anticipated by the smell of
blood passed during childbirth;
diabetes gives the breath and
urine an acetone smell;
perspiration can give us clues
as to the health of the kidneys
and lymphatic system;
the smell of faeces can tell
us the type of some diseases in
the digestive tract.
Natural medicine still uses this
method of diagnosis.
When we inhale air molecules
that carry the ‘odorous’
molecules of an essential oil,
these molecules adhere to and
stimulate the Olfactory nerve
endings in the back of the nose.
Sensory stimulation of the
Olfactory centre in the brain is
accomplished by way of nerve
impulses from the sensory nerve
endings in the nose to the
brain. This is a very rapid and
direct pathway to the part of
the Brain that directs,
controls, interprets and
responds to sensory input.
Furthermore, the messages cannot
be immediately blocked by the
conscious mind.
This pathway is very different
to that taken by the sensory
nerves in the skin which is more
complex, being transmitted from
a sensory nerve ending to the
spinal cord, to the brain, back
down the spinal cord, down a
motor nerve ending and then to
the appropriate organ. For
example, when we touch a hot
object with our index finger,
the heat stimulates a
temperature receptor in the
skin.
This nerve relays a message
along the sensory nerve fibre to
its root in the spinal cord. The
impulse is carried to the brain.
The brain says “ouch !!! that’s
hot, take the finger off now”.
This message is relayed down the
spinal cord to the motor nerve
root, and then to the
appropriate muscle(s) that, when
contracted, move the finger away
from the hot object. As you will
know from your own experience of
touching something hot, there is
often a time lag between
touching the object, recognition
of the pain and removing the
finger.
The Olfactory pathway has no
relay station – the stimulus
goes straight to the Limbic
System, a ring of structures
located deep within the brain
and encircling the brain stem.
The Limbic System functions in
emotional aspects of behavior
related to survival and
‘emotional memory’ and is
sometimes referred to as the
‘emotional brain’ because of its
role in emotions such as pain,
pleasure, anger, rage, fear,
sorrow, sexuality, docility and
affection. It is interesting to
note that events that cause a
strong emotional response are
committed to memory much more
efficiently than those that do
not.
The Olfactory bulbs are part of
the Limbic System and thus the
memory of the many odours we
experience throughout life are
stored deep in our sub-conscious
minds and it is not unusual for
a particular odour to trigger a
memory of a past experience (Tisserand,
1984).
Several other structures
comprising the Limbic System are
involved in the production of
hormones that regulate and
integrate brain activity and
many body activities. Thus, it
can be seen how far reaching the
influence of essential oils on
the body, mind and emotions can
be.
It is now also known that many
small odorous molecules are
absorbed into the olfactory bulb
and into the lymphatic system
and blood stream and various
points along the respiratory
tract.
Research has been conducted for
many decades into the effects of
essential oils on brain
chemistry and electrical
activity (Gattfosse, 1993).
These findings have suggested
many interesting and exciting
uses of essential oil therapy.
Some essential oils affect the
higher thought processes in the
cerebral cortex by altering the
electrical activity in different
cortical areas, whilst others
affect the hormone producing
cells in the Limbic System.
These ‘brain hormones’ then
either affect the mental and
emotional responses or can be
released into the blood stream
from where they are carried to
distant organs to produce the
desired effect on body
chemistry.
Essential oils can be
categorized according to their
effects on key centers in the
brain and are briefly summarized
below.
EUPHORICS
Oils that stimulate the
secretion of ENKEPHALINS from
the THALAMUS to produce a
euphoric effect and to lift or
enhance the mood.
Examples: Clary Sage,
Grapefruit, Jasmine, Rose Otto.
APHRODISIACS
Oils that stimulate the
secretion of ENDORPHINS from the
PITUITARY GLAND to produce
emotional warmth, and sex
hormone activity.
Examples: Clary Sage, Jasmine,
Patchouli, Ylang-Ylang.
REGULATORS
Oils that stimulate the
secretion of VARIOUS HORMONAL
SUBSTANCES from the HYPOTHALAMUS
to regulate 'moods' and hormonal
secretions.
Examples: Bergamot,
Frankincense, Geranium,
Rosewood.
MEMORY/MENTAL STIMULANTS
Oils that stimulate the AMYGDALA
and HIPPOCAMPUS in the brain
which are associated with
'higher' brain functions of
thought and memory.
Examples: Black Pepper, Lemon,
Peppermint, Rosemary.
SEDATIVES
Oils that aid sleep, relax and
lower hyper-function in the body
by stimulating the secretion of
SERATONIN from the RAPHE NUCLEUS
in the brain.
Examples: Chamomile, Lavender,
Marjoram, Orange Blossom.
INVIGORATORS
Oils that increase energy and
body functions by stimulating
the secretion of NORADRENALINE
from the LOCUS CERULEUS of the
brain.
Examples: Cardamom, Juniper,
Lemongrass, Rosemary.
AROMATHERAPY & THE MIND
Maury (1952), Gattefosse (1993),
Valnet (1964), Tisserand (1984)
and others have written
extensively on the efficacy of
essential oils in the relief of
a wide range of psychological
imbalances and mental health
problems. These are summarised
below:
ANXIETY:
Benzoin, Chamomile, Cypress,
Geranium, Jasmine, Lavender,
Marjoram, Melissa, Neroli, Rose,
Sandalwood, Ylang-Ylang.
DEPRESSION:
Basil, Bergamot, Chamomile,
Frankincense, Geranium, Jasmine,
Lavender, Neroli, Patchouli,
Peppermint, Rose, Sandalwood,
Ylang-Ylang.
ANGER:
Chamomile, Melissa, Rose,
Ylang-Ylang.
APATHY:
Jasmine, Juniper, Patchouli,
Rosemary.
CONFUSION:
Basil, Cypress, Frankincense,
Peppermint, Patchouli.
DWELLING ON THE PAST:
Benzoin, Frankincense.
FEAR:
Basil, Clary Sage, Jasmine,
Juniper.
GRIEF:
Hyssop, Marjoram, Rose.
HYPERSENSITIVE:
Chamomile, Jasmine, Melissa,
IMPATIENCE/IRRITABILITY:
Chamomile, Camphor, Marjoram,
Frankincense.
JEALOUSY/ SUSPICION :
Rose, Ylang Ylang, Lavender.
PANIC:
Chamomile, Clary, Jasmine,
Lavender, Marjoram, Melissa,
Neroli, Ylang-Ylang.
SHOCK:
Camphor, Melissa, Neroli
THE EFFECT OF THE MIND AND
EMOTIONS ON THE SKIN
Whilst the existence of
psychosomatic illness is most
often acknowledged today, very
little detailed knowledge and
understanding of the mind-body
relationship is available.
Most people accept that feelings
of tension, anxiety and anger
can give rise to high blood
pressure, rapid heart rate,
tight and painful muscles,
headaches and digestive
problems; however, some
difficulty may arise when trying
to visualize the connections
between state of mind and its
manifestation in the physical
body. It is possibly even more
difficult to imagine the
connection between a state of
mind and a nervous skin rash or
an outbreak of pimples before an
important dinner date!
However, as we have seen, the
brain plays an important role in
the production of a range of
hormones that are not only mood
altering but also have direct
effects on body chemistry and
physiological reactions at a
cellular level (Tortora and
Grabowski, 1993). Taking these
facts into consideration, it
does not require a leap of faith
to realize that our state of
mind, emotional well-being and
the level of stress under which
we operate on a daily basis can
have a dramatic influence on
skin health and function. Whilst
too lengthy to include in this
article, the skin undergoes
considerable physiological
changes at a cellular level in
reaction to even ‘minor’
stressors.
In addition, there is a
developmental connection between
the skin and the nervous system
in that both arise from the same
type of stem cells during
embryological development. This
embryological connection is
often referred to as the reason
for the occurrence of similar
types of tumors in both the skin
and the nervous system.
Finally, we know that events and
stresses produce
psychological/emotional
responses that are themselves
related to changes in brain
chemistry and electrical
activity. The release of
hormones into the blood stream
that accompany these changes
have a number of influences
throughout the body and the
hormones themselves (or their
by-products) are often excreted
through the skin.
The general approach taken in
complementary therapies to the
treatment of skin problems is to
take note, not only of the
physical symptoms but also the
accompanying thoughts and
feelings experienced by the
patient. Therefore, the patient
who experiences anger and
frustration on a regular basis
and also has a tendency to hot,
dry skin rashes such as eczema,
may benefit from cool chamomile
compresses and steam inhalations
Frankincense and Rose oils.
|
 |
|
Related
Products
