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AROMAS IMPACT MOOD:
Aromas effect mood and evoke memories.
For example, Frankincense and Cypress have been
said to aid in dispelling grief, while Ylang Ylang
and Juniper are claimed to aid in coping with guilt....
Aromas can effect mood and
evoke memories. If the smell of baking cookies, a smoky campfire, or a lover’s
favorite perfume have ever transported you back in time, calling up
long-forgotten events and feelings, then you have experienced the powerful
association between aromas, emotions, and memories. Long before modern
scientists began the study of the physiological processes that underlie this
association, human beings were exploring and utilizing the power of fragrant
substances in their daily lives. Many ancient cultures, including those of
India, China, and Persia have left records that document their use of
fragrance for its effect on mental states and feelings. The Egyptians, in
particular, made extensive use of incense and fragrant oils in their religious
rituals. Kyphi, an incense containing at least 16 herbs and other fragrant
plants such as Juniper, Cinnamon, and Myrrh, was used by Egyptian priests to
facilitate the attainment of ecstatic states during religious rites. Virtually
every culture has reported aphrodisiacal properties for various fragrances. In
the harems, Sandalwood and Rose were prized for enhancing sexual desire and
the essential oils of Vetiver, Patchouli, Ylang Ylang, Jasmine, Ginger, and
Clary Sage have all been used for this purpose. Many ancient peoples, such as
the Romans, became very skilled at utilizing certain fragrant plants for
evoking specific mental states and aromatherapy lore reports highly selective
effects for specific essential oils. For example, Frankincense and Cypress
have been said to aid in dispelling grief, while Ylang Ylang and Juniper are
claimed to aid in coping with guilt.
Today, we continue to be aware
of the impact of aromas on moods and other aspects of our states of mind, such
as alertness, sexual drive, and aggressiveness. Retailers have even attempted
to “cash in” on our innate responsiveness to scents by impregnating the air in
their stores with fragrances which they believe will stimulate shoppers to
make purchases. Their efforts often go awry, however, because those attempting
to utilize aromas in this way frequently fail to distinguish between the
beneficial effects of natural plant aromas and the deleterious effects of
synthetic fragrances, which cause headaches and other unpleasant symptoms in
many people.
Modern research supports our
intuitive recognition of the impact of aromas on mood and other mental states.
Different essential oils have been shown to produce consistently different
brain wave patterns on EEG, even when experimental subjects have reported
little perceived difference between the odors and have not noticed changes in
mood or alertness. Findings such as these suggest that aromas can have
subliminal, or unconscious, effects on our mental states and it is precisely
this subliminal effect that aromatherapists hope to capitalize upon when they
suggest diffusing specific essential oils into environments where people are
likely to feel anxious or agitated. In her book, The Fragrant Mind,
Valerie Ann Worwood, a well known aromatherapist, suggests diffusing essential
oils, such as Lavender, in prisons and holding cells to help keep inmates calm
and less aggressive. She suggests that in addition to having specific relaxing
and calming effects, some essential oils may help to bring out the more
positive aspects of peoples, personalities and attitudes.
Aromas may also be utilized in
a conscious, intentional way to effect mood and mental states. Citrus oils,
for example, are described in aromatherapy lore as being uplifting, gently
stimulating, and conducive to alertness and concentration, while the essential
oils of Lavender, Clary Sage, and Roman Chamomile are described as relaxing
and soothing. With this knowledge, you might choose to diffuse a small amount
( 3 or 4 drops) of Grapefruit oil in your work space in order to support your
efforts on an important project, or, you might similarly use essential oil of
Clary Sage when you want to relax and feel comforted after a stressful event.
Any odor may acquire the
ability to elicit a memory of a specific event, and the feelings associated
with that event, if the odor was present during the persons’ original
experience. This can have positive or negative consequences. One of my former
aromatherapy instructors, Jane Buckle, author of the book Clinical Aromatherapy in Nursing (Arnold Press, London), reports that because
essential oil of Lavender was used as a disinfectant in morgues and on injury
wards in England during WWII, the smell of this oil can elicit very painful
memories and feelings of grief in some British people. This example
illustrates very well why a persons’ individual experience with an aroma must
be considered before one tries to utilize it for beneficial purposes. However,
by taking individual experience into account, very effective use can be made
of the strong associations that are formed between memories and aromas.
Students can utilize this association in a very practical way by diffusing a
small amount of any personally pleasing, uplifting essential oil into the room
while they study and then later inhaling a little bit of the same aroma from a
bottle while taking their test. There is a good chance that recall will be
stimulated, at least to some extent, by inhaling the same aroma that was used
while studying. Don’t assume that you can study less, however!
The bond between odor and
memory also provides a potential tool in psychotherapeutic settings, where
practitioners may be able to facilitate recall of events by presenting aromas
that were linked with those events. In addition, therapists may utilize
classical conditioning techniques to ‘pair’ specific odors with desirable
mental states (such as ‘relaxation’) so that the odor may later be used to
elicit the state. It is even possible that some complex physiological
reactions could be classically conditioned by pairing specific odors with the
administration of certain drugs by a physician.
There are many ways to enjoy
the subtle effects of aromas at home. First, use only aromatic substances that
are completely natural, as synthetic fragrances do not have the beneficial
actions of natural ones and can cause headaches, palpitations, and other
unpleasant symptoms. Consider your personal experiences and try to determine
from these experiences which odors may have beneficial associations and which
may have been associated with distressing events. For personal use at home,
stick with aromas that have pleasing associations and effects. Fresh or dried
herbs, flowers, or even some foods (such as apple pie) may be placed about the
home so that their scents disperse into the air. In the spring and summer, a
trip to the garden can provide a magical aromatic experience that is enhanced
by the sight and feel of the plants and the sounds of chirping birds, rustling
foliage and flowing water. Weeding and working for thirty minutes in a patch
of basil, lavender, mint, or other aromatic plant is a wonderful way to relax
and lift the spirits. Or, plant something fragrant next to a window. Plants
that release their fragrance at night, such as nicotiana, are wonderful
planted outside a bedroom window.
Essential oils offer perhaps
the most convenient and powerful way to experience the beneficial effects of
aromas. Essential oils are highly concentrated, fragrant plant extracts that
are obtained by distillation or cold pressing of plant material. Essential
oils can be utilized by diffusing them into the air, applying them diluted in
a massage oil, or by adding a few drops to a warm bath. Because essential
oils are so concentrated, only a very small amount is needed - usually just
one to four drops depending on the method of use. The practice of using
essential oils, and other aromatic plant substances, is known as Aromatherapy.
Many good reference books on Aromatherapy and essential oils are now available
and should be consulted for guidelines on proper use.
*This information is provided for
educational interest and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any
disease.
Joie Power, Ph.D. practices as a
Wellness Consultant, Healer, Reiki Master, and Personal Development
coach. She is a retired neurobehavioral specialist with training in
the neurological aspects of olfaction (smell) and emotional
functioning, as well as psychoneuroimmunology, mind/body approaches,
dreamwork, and aromatherapy. She provides consultation to individuals,
physicians and holistic practitioners.
For information on contacting Dr.
Power,
click here.
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