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Aromatherapy and the Olfactory System
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Aromatherapy and the Olfactory System

Aromatherapy works through two main channels, the olfactory system and through topical absorption (through the skin pores).

Let us begin by looking at the olfaction response first. Our nasal cavities have thousands of olfactory nerve cells that carry scent directly to the Olfactory bulb which is located at the back of our nose. It has nerve endings that send messages directly to the brain.

This is why when you walk down the soap aisle at the supermarket or pass the perfume counter in the department store you may get a headache right between your eyes.

Our sense of smell is 10,000 times more sensitive than any other sense and recognition of smell is immediate.

Other senses like touch and taste must travel through the body via neurons and the spinal cord before reaching the brain whereas the olfactory response is immediate, extending directly to the brain.

This is the only place where our central nervous system is directly exposed to the environment. That is why inhalation directly affects the central nervous system.

The Olfaction response by passes the Neo-cortex or conscious brain and goes directly to the limbic system.

Smell is the strongest link to the subconscious and we retain memories associated with smells for very long periods of time.

It is said that our bodies can process between 10,000-100,000 different smells and remember them. That's a lot of memory retention.

Our sense of smell can be described as a lock and key. The first time we smell something, that sets the lock in our subconscious mind and the next time we smell that same aroma it is like a key that unlocks the memories of when we first smelled it.

This is why smelling fresh gingerbread, for example, can remind you of Christmas baking with mom, etc. How many times have you smelled something and remarked, "Do you know what that reminds me of?"

As mentioned earlier, the olfactory nerves are directly connected to the limbic system which houses all or our sensory experiences such as memories, emotions, sex drive, hunger, pleasure, instincts etc., It is the center of all of our emotions and therefore affects our emotional behavior.

The limbic system is involved in determining when the hypothalamus stimulates the endocrine glands and autonomic nervous system. The hypothalamus governs the pituitary gland which controls the release of hormones throughout the body and exerts decisive control over the autonomic and endocrine systems.

The autonomic system contains nerves leading to the body's glands and organs. It is referred to as the involuntary system because it controls activities that are usually thought to act independently of our choice such as heart rate, body temperature, stress levels, respiratory and digestive functions. These are all influenced by the hypothalamus .