Could Your Environment Be Contributing to Your Stress?

You eat right, you avoid bad habits, you get good exercise, and you ensure you get enough sleep. You work hard and do your best to keep away from negative energy. Maybe you meditate, do yoga, or engage in some other favorite hobby to clear your mind. So, as a result, your body and mind are in constant equilibrium...right?

Well, maybe not. The above is an ideal, a lifestyle that most of us strive for, but we all know that some days just call for eating junk and binge-watching your favorite television show. Do not fret about these moments of relaxation; they likely will not be your downfall unless they occur more frequently than the healthy days. In reality, there are many other forces at play that impact your physiological balance.

Chronic stress is an affliction that is becoming more and more common with the relentless pressures of the modern era. It would be impossible to try to list all the causes because they can vary so much from one individual to another. However, there are definitely some that are universally common: a lingering personal challenge, shaky finances, family problems, and social frustration. You may be familiar with one or more of these stressors, but have you ever thought that your physical surroundings could also be causing your body to carry extra tension? As it turns out, the problem may be in the air you breathe.

What are the best essential oils for tension relief?

"The best essential oils for tension relief include frankincense, ylang-ylang, and sweet orange. These grounding and uplifting botanicals interact directly with the olfactory system to support the parasympathetic nervous system. When inhaled, these terpenes offer immediate, calming effects, helping to naturally reduce daily stress and encourage a state of balance."

When the modern environment overwhelms our senses, olfactory triggers offer one of the fastest pathways back to baseline. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health recognizes aromatherapy as a practice that uses essential oils to support emotional and physical well-being. But to truly understand why botanical scent matters so much for our equilibrium, we have to look back at human history.

Paleo Air^®: The Air You Evolved to Breathe

You have probably heard of the Paleo diet, which is named after the foods that our ancestors ate during the Paleolithic period (the most recent 2.5 million years of evolution). Just as adults enjoy eating foods similar to those they grew up with, the entire human race thrives in an environment that emulates as closely as possible the one in which they evolved. In the same vein, our ancestors breathed the air from forests, jungles, and savannas. That ancient air was full of a myriad of plant fragrances and naturally occurring compounds called terpenes. We now call this Paleo Air^®.

MONQ® has touted, for quite some time, the benefits of what we have called the Paleo Respiratory Diet, in which you intentionally breathe air similar to that of our ancestors. Today, the air you breathe is quite different from that which your ancient predecessors enjoyed. Of course, modern pollution plays a role here. But what about all the vital elements that are now absent from the air?

The Impact of the Modern Indoor Environment

Consider how much time you spend indoors. Between commuting, working in office buildings, and relaxing at home, the modern human spends upwards of 90 percent of their life inside. This shift away from nature has profound consequences on our nervous system. Environmental psychology has consistently shown that humans are deeply affected by their surroundings. Acknowledging that our environment shapes our mental health is the first step toward correcting the imbalance.

Many different beneficial terpenes exist, such as limonene, pinene, beta-caryophyllene, and linalool. While their names may sound complicated, they are actually quite fundamental to our life as humans because way back in our history, they were all around us.

In addition, research now shows that some of these compounds are in fact powerful agents that help the body manage physical and emotional stress. So with more than half of the US population living in urban centers, it is no wonder we are all so tightly wound! The plants and the natural compounds within them that our bodies expect to encounter are nowhere to be found in the concrete jungle. We have replaced the dynamic, terpene-rich air of the forest with stagnant, recycled indoor air.

Our bodies, ideally, are in a state of homeostasis, or equilibrium. This is a "home base" and every time something disturbs our balance, our bodies will react to re-establish homeostasis. However, persistent imbalance causes chronic stress - both physical and psychological. The more often our environment forces us out of this balance, the more tension we find ourselves carrying in our shoulders, our jaw, and our minds.

Bridging the Gap: Biophilia and Botanical Wisdom

The concept of "biophilia" suggests that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life. When we are deprived of these connections, our wellbeing suffers. This is why practices like forest bathing have gained such incredible popularity worldwide. Forest bathing involves immersing oneself in the forest atmosphere, mindfully experiencing the sights, sounds, and most importantly, the smells of nature.

When you walk through a pine forest, the crisp, refreshing air you breathe is literally filled with alpha-pinene and beta-pinene. These molecules are actively interacting with your body. But for those of us who cannot escape to the mountains or the woods every time the pressures of work and life begin to mount, we must find alternative ways to bring the benefits of nature into our daily routines.

Personal Terpene Replacement

MONQ Therapeutic Air^® is designed to replace many of the terpenes that modern humans are missing. Our personal aromatherapy diffusers are filled with natural essential oils and each of the blends contains a combination of three primary oils specifically created to evoke certain moods or states of being. The science of essential oils goes back thousands of years, and these diffusers are a unique way to use aromatherapy because nothing else can deliver plants and their terpenes to you this individually, anywhere, and at any time.

When it comes to relieving tension and promoting a centered mindset, we highly recommend the Zen MONQ Aromatherapy Diffuser, which contains the following main ingredients:

• Frankincense helps with visualization. In meditation practices, it allows for a deepening of the breath, increased spiritual awareness, and a restored sense of peace.
• Orange uplifts your spirits, providing for a crisp yet peaceful calm.
• Ylang-Ylang is a sweet and fruity floral oil that relaxes the heart rate and removes fear from the mind.

Zen is our most popular blend, and it will not take much time reading reviews to find out why. If stress relief is not your biggest priority or you are also looking for a boost of energy, confidence, or general wellness, you can explore all MONQ essential oil blends and their different benefits.

The connection between your environment and your stress levels is exactly why MONQ was founded. Each calming essential oil blend is filled with frankincense, orange, and ylang-ylang - botanicals historically used to restore calm and ease tension. Slipping one into your pocket means you carry a small piece of Paleo Air® wherever modern life takes you.

Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general wellness and educational purposes only. Please note that while individual essential oil ingredients may have been shown to exhibit certain independent effects when used alone, the specific blends of ingredients contained in MONQ diffusers have not been tested. No specific claims are being made that use of any MONQ diffusers will lead to any of the effects discussed above. Additionally, please note that MONQ diffusers have not been reviewed or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. MONQ diffusers are not intended to be used in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, prevention, or treatment of any disease or medical condition. If you have a health condition or concern, please consult a physician or your alternative health care provider prior to using MONQ diffusers. MONQ blends should not be inhaled into the lungs. Why? It works better that way. No Nicotine Ever in MONQ Pens. Inhale through the mouth, exhale through the nose. MONQ Diffusers are not intended for individuals under 18, or women who are pregnant or nursing.