The Costco Connection - December 2018

Scents
and
sensibility
The scents from some
essential oils can help
calm the mind and
relax the body

by SUJA NATARAJAN

cent a;ects emotions, moods and
memories. The olfactory sensory
neurons, which register smell, are
connected to the limbic system
and amygdala-brain structures that regulate
emotions, memories and moods. Aroma-
therapy draws on the therapeutic properties
of scents derived from plants to harmonize
the body and mind.

Essential oils have long been used as
a holistic treatment to improve mental,
physical and emotional health. New York–
based Costco member Rupinder Mangat,
an aromatherapy specialist, explains,
“[While] the smell of certain essential oils
can quicken the breath [and the] heart rate
and raise blood pressure, it can also turn on
the parasympathetic nervous system and
relax the body.”
The following essential oils are among
those said to relieve anxiety and stress, and
relax the body.

Eucalyptus. Strong-scented eucalyptus essential oil can help improve mental clarity.

A study that followed a group of patients
during continuous passive motion after total
knee surgery, published in Evidence-Based
Complementary and Alternative Medicine

(June ;;;;), showed that eucalyptus oil activates the parasympathetic nervous system of the body to boost relaxation. “Eucalyptus oil works great if I am overly stressed or [my] immune system is weak,” says Claudia Matles, a Southampton, New York–based, yoga, Pilates and wellness instructor.

Geranium. A gentle ;oral scent, along with antimicrobial and analgesic properties, helps geranium essential oil lighten the mood at home or o;ce. “Geranium is a great nerve tonic and may calm blood pressure if you su;er from stress-induced hypertension and heart-racing attacks,” says Ontario, Canada– based Costco member Nadine Artemis, an aromatherapy expert. Matles says she uses a few droplets of geranium and rose oils in her daily bath, along with a carrier oil (vegetable oil used to dilute essential oils) and Epsom salts, to feel rejuvenated and peaceful.