How does Aromatherapy work?
The human body is a collection of cells that communicate with each other and send out signals continuously. These signals get transported to the body’s various organs to perform functions and respond to stimuli that are being perceived and received. When disruption of these signals happens, the outcome of that process is altered. This is where essential oils and Aromatherapy can play a part.
Essential oils are complex, lipophilic and volatile.
Essential oils
Essential oils are lipophilic. That means they like to bind to oily substances. This nature makes them readily absorbed through the body through inhalation or topical application. They attach to the different proteins and cells of the body where they can disrupt, interact or influence their communication resulting in various outcomes.
Essential oil’s structure is complex: Each oil comprises tens, if not hundreds, of different chemical constituents. Some of these form the majority of an oil. In contrast, others will barely register when analysed yet still seem to affect the overall efficiency of an oil. That synergy or entourage effect is being continuously studied. It is a source of both fascination and frustration when trying to prove the effectiveness of aromatherapy treatments.
Essential oils are volatile: Their small molecular structure makes them quickly dispersed through the air. We can smell them and have them affect our brains and emotions almost instantly.
The most common ways to use aromatherapy
There are two main methods that Aromatherapy works in the body. Pharmacological and psychological. This applies to the most common ways to use Aromatherapy, inhalation and skin application.
Knowing how essential oils work in the body can take your blends to a new level of effectiveness, way beyond just a nice-smelling product.
Psychological
The olfactory organs that detect smell due to the volatile nature of specific tiny, light molecules (present in all essential oils) are linked to the brain’s emotion, and memory-generating side called the limbic system, the only area that does not go through the “logical process” of the hypothalamus. This makes it unique among all senses.
The psychological effect of essential oils is not dosed specific, nor does it affect different people in the same way. That makes it hard to quantify but also unique and impressive in its ability to affect emotions and memories solely and subjectively based on the person receiving the aromatherapy product or treatment. Context, culture, history and personal preference and expectations all play a part in the psychological effects a scent can have on a person.
Pharmacological
When administered to different people, the chemical constituent of essential oil will work similarly to varying degrees depending on the dose. This makes the formulation of a product of the utmost importance.
Usually, when an essential oil is used, its constituents will either slow down or excite the function of the protein it is attached to. This results in a disruption of the signals that the protein sends to the cells.
Essential oils can also disrupt a cell membrane (as they can penetrate the fatty cell wall due to their lipophilic nature). This is why many effective antimicrobial essential oils can also be irritating, resulting in the safety warning of using a smaller percentage in blends when addressing skin issues.
Trigeminal nerve
The trigeminal nerve is responsible for motor functions like chewing and biting. It also makes us perceive sensations like pain and temperature. This makes it closely linked to aromas and smells. For example, we “feel” and “sense” a cooling effect when we apply peppermint essential oil in small amounts. This can significantly affect our response to a blend.
Chemical Signals
The pharmacological effect of essential oil chemical constituents affects the protein signals and causes a reaction. It does not heal or fix a problem; it simply interferes with it and allows the body to heal itself or at least take time to figure out where something is not functioning correctly and dedicate resources to fixing it.
Knowing how essential oils work in the body makes it easier to understand why aromatherapy products and treatments can work on both the physical and psychological levels. This makes it a powerful tool for dealing with issues affecting the entire body. Approaching symptoms on a holistic level and treating the individual as a whole, not as many issues that need to be “fixed”.
