Smell is one of the five senses we often take for granted. But it’s a powerful avenue to improve your health.

If you ask me about smells I remember in life, there is one smell that takes me back to childhood. The smell of the styrofoam when I slowly pulled my Nintendo out of the box is etched in my memory forever. When I smell that same kind of fresh styrofoam today in some form of packaging, I transport back in time to being a kid on that Christmas morning. How is smell so powerful? They say it’s because your olfactory bulb runs from your nose to the base of your brain and has direct connections to your amygdala (the area of the brain responsible for processing emotion) and to your hippocampus - an area linked to memory and cognition. But I’m happy to say there are more powerful and health-benefiting smells than styrofoam - so let’s jump in.

Here are a few studies on how powerful the aroma of plants can be to our overall health.

• Stress Reduction: Essential oils such as lavender and bergamot have been proven to reduce stress and anxiety levels. A 2020 study found that inhaling lavender oil significantly lowers cortisol levels, which are often elevated during stress[1].

• Improved Sleep Quality: Incorporating aromatherapy into your bedtime routine can lead to better sleep. Research indicates that scents like lavender and chamomile help in soothing the nervous system, thereby improving sleep quality[2].

• Enhanced Cognitive Function: Aromatherapy can positively impact mental clarity and energy. Peppermint oil, for instance, is lauded for its ability to enhance cognitive performance and reduce mental fatigue in adults[3].

• Pain Management: Eucalyptus oil is another example, known for its efficacy in reducing pain. A study showed that inhaling eucalyptus oil helped decrease pain and blood pressure in patients after knee replacement surgery[4].

A Closer Look

While the benefits are compelling, is this some kind of fad or voodoo? There is an amazing amount of research coming out about the benefits of essential oils in so many different ways. Have you ever wondered why the three gifts given to Jesus were gold, frankincense, and myrrh? I remember reading this study a few years ago about the amazing benefits of the essential oils of frankincense and myrrh - but something entirely new happens when they are mixed.

After the combination of frankincense and myrrh forms a blend, a series of changes take place in their chemical composition… the pharmacological effects of the combination seem magically powerful, such as synergistic anti-inflammation, synergistic anticancer, synergistic analgesic, synergistic antibacterial, synergistic blood-activation, and more.

There are also some new studies looking at the anti-cancer properties of certain essential oils.

Questions and Concerns

Here are a few common concerns along with a few solutions:

1. "It's too complicated to start."

   • Solution: Begin simply by adding a few drops of essential oil to your bath or using a diffuser, which requires minimal setup and maintenance.

2. "Essential oils are expensive."

   • Solution: Start with basic oils like lavender or peppermint, which are versatile and available at a reasonable cost. Considering their multipurpose use, they provide great value for money.

3. "I'm not sure it will work for me."

   • Solution: Aromatherapy offers personalized experiences; what works for one might not work for another. Experiment with different oils to discover what suits you best.

Takeaways: How to integrate aromatherapy into your routine

• Morning Routine: Start your day by diffusing an invigorating scent like citrus or peppermint to boost your energy and alertness.

• Work Environment: Keep a rollerball of essential oil at your desk or a small diffuser for moments when you need to relieve stress or enhance focus.

• Evening Relaxation: Establish a calming pre-sleep ritual with oils like lavender or sandalwood to improve your sleep quality.

• Physical Activity: Apply diluted eucalyptus oil to your skin before exercise to enhance breath capacity and reduce pain.

What topic would you like for me to cover?

I’m always looking for ideas. What would you like for me to cover? Anything in the newsletter you like or want to see more or less of?

Hit reply - I’d love to hear from you.

-Jared

P.S. - This newsletter does not provide medical advice. The content, such as graphics, images, text, and all other materials, is provided for reference and educational purposes only. The content is not meant to be complete or exhaustive or to be applicable to any specific individual's medical condition.

1. Koulivand, P. H., Khaleghi Ghadiri, M., & Gorji, A. (2020). Lavender and the Nervous System. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

2. Srivastava, J. K., Shankar, E., & Gupta, S. (2010). Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future. Molecular Medicine Reports.

3. Moss, M., & Oliver, L. (2012). Plasma 1,8-cineole correlates with cognitive performance following exposure to rosemary essential oil aroma. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology.

4. Kim, S. Y., & Lee, G. (2013). Eucalyptus Oil Inhalation Effects on Pain and Blood Pressure. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.