We’ve all heard the term “essential oil” but what does it actually mean? Essential oils are natural oils extracted from aromatic plants – the “essence” of the plant. Essential oils are highly volatile which means they vaporise (turn into a gas) easily, allowing them to travel to our brains very quickly. A tradition in ancient cultures for thousands of years, aromatherapy is the use of essential oils for remedial effect, and is widely believed to stimulate brain function and promote physical healing. The practice has had a renaissance in recent years as more people are exploring natural paths to improve their general wellness. Reported benefits of aromatherapy include enhanced emotional wellbeing, releasing stress, enriched sleep quality and supporting immune function.
The reason aromatherapy is believed to work is our strong response to smell in the limbic system of the brain which controls behavioural response, memory and emotion. After receiving olfactory stimuli – smells! – the brain can set off physical reactions in the body such as the hormonal release of endorphins (happy chemicals). Unlike with sound, touch etc. the scent nerves are the only ones directly connected to the brain. “Because of this”, aromatherapist Patricia Davis explains, “the sense of smell is the most immediate of all our senses”.
“Incredibly soothing and I love the aroma of it”
Tamsin Green, 27
Each essential oil has unique chemical properties meaning each has distinct aromatherapeutic advantages – both physiological and psychological. Plus, multiple essential oils can be combined for complementary effects. For example, almond oil is an emollient which means it prevents water loss, thus helping skin to feel soft, supple and soothed. Turning to psychological considerations, St John’s Wort, frequently used to treat emotional conditions such as Seasonal Affective Disorder, is known to have mood-lifting and mildly euphoriant effects. The essential oils of almond and St John’s Wort are both infused into our Topical Menstruation Oil to ease the tender lower abdominal area and to calm feelings of depression or anxiety around the time of our periods.