Self Improvement is just a Sniff Away!!

Researchers at Northumbria University in England recently found that 4 scents boost your mind and mood. The study leader, Mark Moss, said "Essential oils are potent and positive. We found these scents can act like therapeutic drugs." 

The 4 magical scents are:
Peppermint ~ Improves alertness, and may help you remember important facts more easily
Sage ~ people exposed to the scent of sage performed better on memory tests, AND reported feeling happier!
Lavender ~ Moss says that studies show lavender is very soothing. It calms anxiety and may help you fall asleep faster.
Rosemary ~ When tested in the lab, Moss found that rosemary improved both reaction times, and, the concentration of people within sniffing distance.
Scent is a powerful influence on mood!

Of course, these 4 scents are not the only fragrances to affect mood. Although generalizing, people usually find lemon a "clean" smell, and cinnamon and clove are commonly associated with the holidays.

Aromatherapy works in several ways: there is the chemistry behind the essential oils, a technique that eScential Wellness uses to formulate products that work. For example, alcohol is a disinfectant. When you realize that tea tree oil has a high alcohol content (perhaps as high as 40%) you can appreciate why it has such good disinfecting properties.  However, aromatherapy also works on the limbic system of the brain.  The limbic system is joined to the parts of the brain that control blood pressure, breathing, heart rate, stress levels and hormone balance. This is why smells so often conjure up emotions. In fact, the limbic system is often referred to as the "emotional brain."
Consequently, odors often have deep emotional effects...and can even affect how our bodies respond.
Helen Keller once said, "Smell is a potent wizard that transports us across thousands of miles and all the years we have lived."

Put the power of scent to work for you!