We all know how fragrances make us feel. Some scents make us euphoric, others have a more calming effect, and certain familiar scents can transport us back in time and trigger feelings of nostalgia. The psychological and emotional effects of fragrance and the extreme importance of our sense of smell are evident. But did you know that these same fragrances can also be used to heal your body and create wellness in your life? Aromatherapy is a well-known technique among healers from all over the world and from all civilizations.

What do they know that you don’t?

As with Color Therapy, Sound Healing, Crystal Healing and Energy Therapy, the goal of Aromatherapy, within the realm of healing, is to activate the body’s senses. The goal is to eliminate the conditioned, logical and analytical mind, thus activating the wonderful reality of “feeling” and experiencing life in its most empirical and pure form. It is in this empirical state that we are able to break illusions of separation and connect on a deeper level with the energies around us. Dr. Richard Gerber MD, author of Vibrational Medicine, tells us that one of the best ways we can change dysfunctional patterns in our energy bodies is to administer therapeutic doses of specific frequency energy. We do this through the use of herbs, crystals, sound and energy, also called vibrational medicines.

It is common knowledge and practice that smell can affect physical and psychological changes in living beings. We experience it regularly in our daily lives. When we smell a fragrance, it triggers an immediate emotion or feeling, making us happy, excited, calm, or even nostalgic. Aromatherapy, practiced for thousands of years, dates back to the ancient Egyptians and the Vedic culture of India, where plant extracts and medicinal plants are still widely used.

The term aromatherapy was coined in 1937 by a French perfumer and chemist named Rene-Maurice Gatterfosee. Aromatherapy is the holistic science of using essences naturally extracted from plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of the body, mind and spirit. Through the informed and controlled use of essential oils, we can achieve physical and emotional health and general well-being. As with other holistic practices, Aromatherapy is always used to treat the “whole” person and not just the symptom or disease. The application of essential oils is mentioned historically on countless occasions and throughout various civilizations ( Egyptian, Greek, Roman, etc.) for a variety of health-related applications. Today, there are thousands of studies on essential oils. We know that its effectiveness is justly merited by its composition of very small molecules, which are capable of penetrating deep and quickly into our cells (Transdermal delivery).

The sense of smell is the most neglected of all the senses in humans. This is amazing when you consider that seventy to seventy-five percent of what we perceive as taste actually comes from our sense of smell. Neurons that perceive odor molecules are found deep in the nasal cavity, in a patch of cells called the olfactory epithelium. To understand how human odor is perceived, it is important to know why the limbic system allows us to behave differently when we experience different odors. The limbic system is a complex system of nerves and networks in the brain, involving several areas near the edge of the cortex, related to our instinct and mood. It also controls our most basic emotions (fear, pleasure, anger) and drives (hunger, sex, dominance, caring for offspring). A very important aspect of smell is that the olfactory neurons are the only sensory pathway that is in direct contact with the brain. Due to the close connection with the limbic center, feelings and emotions can be naturally regulated, as well as memory.

The application and uses of Aromatherapy in healing obey the same Universal Law that everything vibrates in different and specific frequencies. Every atom in the universe has a specific vibrational or periodic motion. Most plants (and animals) use enzymes to break down molecular components during their life processes. And, each of these enzymes has a unique crystal form with a specific vibrational frequency. The vibrational frequency of an oil reflects the innate integrity of these elements and the intrinsic enzymes built into its substance.

The process of using aromatherapy in healing treatments involves applying plant-derived oils at the appropriate frequency. Therefore, allowing the physical body to absorb these energetic vibrations and return the body to a state of well-being and balance. Essential oils do not resonate with toxins in our bodies; they also do not resonate with negative emotions. This incompatibility is what naturally helps remove toxins and toxic energy from our systems. Aromatherapy, energetically speaking, can help dislodge forgotten traumas by making them emerge in our consciousness. Because it is in a state of consciousness that we can face them, deal with them and let them go. The therapeutic properties of this method create exceptional vibrational remedies, capable of healing or rebalancing the body/mind/soul/spirit. Essential oils can be used regularly in massage body oils, facial/body oils and lotions, baths, inhalation, diffusion, and at the energy points on your body.

It is quite simple to integrate aromatherapy into your daily life. It is not necessary to be a master of plants and herbs. Pick a few. Know its energetic properties. Smell each oil. How do they make you feel? Once you’ve narrowed down your list and handpicked your favorites, here are some DIY ideas:

• Put a few drops on a tissue and place it on the vents in your car. Enjoy aromatherapy wherever you go. There is no need to schedule additional time to enjoy the benefits of essential oils.

• You can mix your favorite oils with coconut or jojoba oil (my favorites) and use them instead of your usual perfume.

• Mix your essential oil in distilled water. Then, using a spray bottle, spray it like an air freshener around the house. You can also sprinkle it on your favorite pillows and blankets.

Be creative! You are unique!