5 Benefits of Aromatherapy: Why Your Sense of Smell is Paramount

Aromatherapy is a common enough word these days in the cosmetic and body care industry. What many people don't know, though, is that the practice has more to offer than just a pleasing fragrance. Aromatherapy has significant psychological and physiological effects that anyone can access with something as simple as an aromatic massage (or, perhaps, the use of a personal essential oil diffuser from MONQ. The balancing effects of aromatherapy on the mind and body make it a perfect adjunct to your daily wellness routine.

Here are 5 key body and mind benefits that we think you'll find very appealing:

Natural Stress Reduction

Research supports the fact that most Americans are suffering from moderate to high-stress levels. 44% have reported that their stress levels have increased over the past 5 years. The most common physical symptoms of stress include mood changes, fatigue, and changes in sleep. While essential oils can't take away the stresses of modern day living, aromatherapy has been shown to relieve symptoms of stress when used regularly. Essential oils have been shown to improve not only our mental perception of stress but also our physiological response to those stressors (things like heart rate reduction).

Mood Boost

With the increased stressors in our daily routine come mood changes, such as irritability, nervousness, and feelings of sadness. When it comes to needing an emotional boost aromatherapy may be a quick and efficacious way to brighten your mood. Some of the aromatherapy's effectiveness on emotions occurs in the limbic system (the emotional region of the brain). When essential oils bind to receptors in the limbic system there can be significant psychological effects such as decreased stress and negative thoughts.

Energy Boost

With all the pressures of life these days, more and more of us are suffering from tiredness. This may take the form of physical fatigue, mental exhaustion, or what some even call burn out. Rather than reaching for a sixth cup of coffee, try aromatherapy as a simple tool to help on sluggish days. Certain essential oils have a history of use for stimulation and can help with energizing the body and mind. In more recent years there has even been interesting in studying the effects of these energizing aromatherapy blends on their ability to decrease mental exhaustion/burnout and decrease fatigue in various states.

Calming Potential

Sleep is one of the first things to go when stress levels get high. With up to 30% of Americans suffering from symptoms of sleepless nights, it's clear that there is a need for something besides a pill to help ease us into sleep. Research supports the use of aromatherapy in helping to improve the quality of sleep. This makes it a wonderful adjunct to the average person's nighttime ritual. One of the most common essential oils utilized for helping to promote better sleep is Lavender ( Lavendula Angustifolia). Lavender contains multiple chemical constituents, some of which have been shown to have a sedative effect which can help to calm the nervous system. Some combinations of essential oils also result in wonderful synergies that can boost the benefits of the individual oils.

Mental Focus

With the myriad of distractions in our day to day lives it's a wonder that we can follow through with any task to its completion. Recent research has shown that our impulse to multi-task and our inability to focus on completing one task at a time actually makes us less productive. While many people reach for stimulants (pharmaceutical or others) to help them concentrate, aromatherapy offers a more safe, natural alternative. And, when used correctly, aromatherapy is far less likely to lead to undesired side effects.

So whether you're tired, wired, stressed or sluggish, aromatherapy may be another important aspect of your daily wellness routine!