I was in a public place surrounded by people, and I could feel it starting to build. My heart was beginning to pound. I could feel a rush of heat through my chest as it was beginning to tighten, and I was feeling short of breath. Fear was engulfing me. Shaking, I immediately opened my purse and grabbed the bottle that I had tucked into the side pocket. I opened the cap and inhaled deeply from the bottle a few times. After a couple of minutes, I could feel the adrenaline beginning to slow down. Relief was coming. Calm began to sweep over me. What just happened?
This is an example of the profound effect that genuine essential oils (oils from plants) can have on the brain, particularly the limbic system when the oils are inhaled. The limbic system is a deep set of structures in the brain responsible for our emotions, memories, learning, behavior, and motivation. It is located in the mid brain and includes the:
Hypothalamus - regulates the autonomic nervous and endocrine function, houses the body's thermostat, and controls the pituitary gland which in turn releases many of the body's chemical messengers, or hormones
Hippocampus - important for short-term and long-term memory
Amygdala - involved in memory, emotion, and fear
Thalamus - relays sensory information to the cerebral cortex; serves as a connector between sensation and emotion
Cingulate Cortex - connecting hub of emotions, sensations, actions, motivational processing, executive control, working memory, and learning
The limbic system is always determining our "safety" and sparks the fight, flight, or freeze response. And, it is often referred to as the emotional or feeling and reacting part of the brain.
HOW DO ESSENTIAL OILS AFFECT THE LIMBIC SYSTEM?
The aldehydes and esters of certain essential oils are very calming and sedating to the central nervous system (both the sympathetic and the parasympathetic systems). These substances allow us to relax and release some of the anxiety that tends to build up in the body.
When we inhale an essential oil, the tiny aromatic molecules travel up into the nasal cavity to the olfactory epithelium which triggers olfactory receptor cells which in turn, sends an impulse to the olfactory bulb. The olfactory bulb then transmits the electrical impulses to other parts of the brain, including the amygdala and the rest of the limbic system. These tiny molecules activate the amygdala (the memory center for fear and trauma) and sedate and relax the sympathetic/parasympathetic systems.
Essential oils can have profound physiological and psychological effects, because the limbic system is directly connected to the parts of the brain that control heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels, and hormone balance.
By affecting both the amygdala and the pineal gland in the brain, essential oils can help the body release emotional trauma and also increase focus. For example, if you are struggling to remember information when studying, you might try breathing in peppermint or rosemary oil to stimulate the brain and memory functions for better focus and concentration.
Let's stop for a minute. Are you wondering how an oil from a plant can be that powerful? Did you know that many prescription drugs are derived from plants? And, that many drugs are synthetically designed to emulate a natural plant? So, why not try a genuine plant oil with all of its therapeutic constituents intact to support your brain and body? And interestingly, essential oil molecules are so tiny that they can cross the blood-brain barrier, unlike most drugs.
Let's continue examining the effect of essential oils on the limbic system.
We mentioned that essential oils have the ability to help the mind and body release emotional trauma. How so? Well, have you ever smelled fresh bread baking, and it immediately took you back to a childhood memory of being at your grandmother's house? As we have learned, smell accesses the limbic system of the brain which again is the seat of emotions and memories.
In 1989, Dr. Joseph LeDoux of the New York Medical University discovered that the amygdala (the gland in the limbic system of the brain) plays a major role in storing and releasing trauma. It appears that odor or fragrance stimulation has a profound effect in triggering a response in the amygdala. Dr. LeDoux suggested that this could be a major breakthrough in releasing emotional trauma through the sense of smell. Smell is the only one of the 5 senses directly linked to the limbic lobe of the brain. Anxiety, depression, anger, fear, and joy all emanate from this region. In fact, in another study, it was proven that essential oils affect brain wave activity and moods.
The limbic lobe can also directly activate the hypothalamus, which is one of the most important parts of the brain. It controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, fatigue, sleep, and circadian cycles. It also regulates our hormones. The production of growth hormones, sex hormones, thyroid hormones, and neurotransmitters such as serotonin are all governed by the hypothalamus. Essential oils can stimulate the hypothalamus as well.
According to The Therapeutic Benefits of Essential Oils, Nutrition, Well-Being, and Health, the “olfactory area of the brain (limbic system) undergoes an action triggered by the essential oil molecules and then, chemical and neurotransmitter messengers provide changes in the mental and emotional behavior of the person (Buchbauer, 1993; Johnson, 2011; Shibamoto et al, 2010)."
YOUR MIND IS YOUR BODY
Did you know that many of your physical pains can be caused by repressed emotions? You may even be suffering from limbic system impairment which is caused by a trauma, toxin, or a virus or other infection. All of these can have a profound effect on the brain and limbic system function. This can lead to a cascade of physical symptoms and chronic illness that is often labeled as mysterious. We will discuss more about limbic system impairment in the future, but for now, let's just examine how repressed emotions affect the body. Repressed emotions can manifest as neck and shoulder pain, headaches/migraines, fatigue, weak immune system, anxiety, panic attacks, hypoglycemia, etc.
Chemicals called neuropeptides (molecules of emotion) have a connection with specific receptors, like a key and a lock. Receptors exist for feelings of rage, joy, hunger, pain, pleasure, grief, and for all emotions, as well as for body reactions like appetite, sexual behavior, and water balance. The amygdala and the hypothalamus are particularly rich in neuropeptide receptors.
According to Dr. Candace Pert (scientist who discovered the opiate receptor), "The striking pattern of neuropeptide distribution in mood-regulating areas of the brain, as well as their role in mediating communication throughout the whole organism, makes neuropeptides the obvious candidate for the biochemical mediation of emotion."
Neuropeptides (or these molecules of emotion) have been found not just in the brain, but in many locations in the body such as the spleen and the spinal cord. They have even been found in cancer tumors. Monocytes, cells of the body's immune system, carry neuropeptide receptors and travel throughout the body.
This means there is no real distinction between the mind and the body. The mind is your body. Our emotions send out messages to all the systems and organs in the body. Cells are constantly signaling other cells through the release of neuropeptides which bind with receptors. The signaled cells respond by making physiologic changes. These changes then feed back information to the peptide-secreting cells, telling them how much less or how much of the peptide to produce.
Your cells are literally talking to each other, and your brain is in on the conversation! So, what does this mean? It means that you may not heal physically until you allow yourself to heal emotionally. You must intervene in the unconscious emotions your body may be experiencing and manifesting through physical symptoms.
As we have learned, emotional issues compromise body systems and even genetic structuring through a process that creates the equivalent of a molecular "memory" in key organs and structures of the body. While the idea that memories and traumas can be embedded in the brain is not new, scientists are now saying that these brain imprints may extend throughout the body. Dr. Candace Pert states: "Repressed traumas caused by overwhelming emotion can be stored in a body part, thereafter affecting our ability to feel that part or even move it."
RELEASING EMOTIONS WITH ESSENTIAL OILS
This is where essential oils come into play in helping you release damaging, hurtful emotions that may be plaguing your subconscious and causing you physical pain. As we discussed, the amygdala - one of the several structures in the cerebral cortex - plays a major role in storing and releasing emotional trauma, and aromas have a powerful effect in triggering those responses.
Many of the biochemicals in essential oils - particularly sesquiterpenes - can increase blood oxygen levels in the brain. The stimulation of both aroma and oxygenation seems to affect the amygdala in ways that facilitate the release of stored emotional blocks, both in the subconscious and in various body systems.
Many essential oil blends have been created precisely for the purpose of helping to release emotional patterns in a gentle manner. For more information on how to release emotions using essential oils, check out the book Releasing Emotional Patterns with Essential Oils by Carolyn L. Mein, D.C.
HOW TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS FOR LIMBIC SYSTEM SUPPORT
Different plant oils have different effects on the limbic system. For example, as I am writing this, I am diffusing a blend for focus, clarity, and concentration. When I am feeling blue, I often reach for a blend called Joy that immediately lifts my spirits when I breathe it in or put a drop over my heart. I have oils and blends that I keep handy for when I am feeling anxious or stressed, want to spark motivation and creativity, help me deal with grief and sadness, or make me feel calm and sleepy.
You can inhale essential oils straight from the bottle which is quick and effective. Or, put a drop in your hands, rub them together and cup your hands over your nose and breathe in deeply. Other ways to support the brain are to apply oils topically over the crown, forehead, temples, or at the back of the neck over the brain stem. And, of course, diffusing oils can benefit everyone in your home or office.
The science is intriguing, and more and more people around the globe are experiencing the benefits of using essential oils for mind/body health. A word of caution: don't expect results from cheap, store-bought oils. And, "pure" doesn't always mean effective. You need to make sure your oils are genuine and of the highest quality to benefit from the highest level of therapeutic constituents for maximum effectiveness. Know the source of your oils. Visit the company's farms. Know exactly how your oils are produced to get the most benefits. Here is what I use and recommend.
I look forward to discussing limbic system impairment, neuroplasticity, and a program for recovery in a future article.
References:
Essential Oils Desk Reference, 7th Edition, Life Science Publishing
Molecules of Emotion, Candace B. Pert, Ph.D.
The Mindbody Prescription, John E. Sarno, M.D.
Essential Oils Integrative Medical Guide, D. Gary Young
Aromatherapy - The Essential Beginning, D. Gary Young