The sense of smell is the only one of the five senses directly linked to the limbic lobe of the brain, our emotional control center.  Scent stimulates nerves to fire in the emotional center of the brain, but it also stimulates the master gland to release hormones.  Because the limbic system is directly connected to the parts of the brain that control heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels, and hormone balance, therapeutic-grade essential oils can have profound physiological and psychological effects.

Hormones affect the fight or flight response, as well as digestion and heart rate. In this way, essential oils can affect us in many ways all at once, just through their fragrance. Anxiety, depression, fear, anger, and joy all emanate from this region. The scent of a special fragrance can evoke memories and emotions before we are even consciously aware of it. When smells are concerned, we react first and think later. All other senses (touch, taste, hearing, and sight) are routed through the thalamus, which acts as the switchboard for the brain, passing stimuli onto the cerebral cortex (the conscious thought center) and other parts of the brain.

Not only can the inhalation of essential oils be used to combat stress and emotional trauma, but it can also stimulate the production of hormones from the hypothalamus. This results in increased thyroid hormones (our energy hormone) and growth hormones (our youth and longevity hormone).
So, really and truly, if you’re not including essential oils in your
regimen, you're probably missing one of Nature’s most powerful,
holistic means to enhance your health and the sheer enjoyment of being
alive!

To find out more about which Essential Oils are effective at supporting certain human conditions please click here to download the file.

 

Scent & the Brain