The Power of Smell
Smell, Taste, Touch, Sound, and Sight are our God given gifts to help heal our bodies. How we use our senses measures the degree of healing power we have. Don’t underestimate the power of smell! Our sense of smell is estimated to be 10,000 times more acute than our other senses and sensitive to some 10,000 chemical compounds. Once registered, scent travels faster to the brain than either sight or sound.
Smell is the only one of the five physical senses that is directly linked to the limbic lobe of the brain – our emotional control center. Anxiety, depression, fear, anger, and joy all physically originate from this region. A certain fragrance can evoke memories and emotions before we are even consciously aware of it. How amazing is this!
The limbic system is the oldest part of our brain. Two important parts of the limbic system are triggered by the nerve impulses, the amygdala and hippocampus. The area of the brain known as the amygdala plays a major role in storing and releasing emotional trauma. Our sense of smell links directly to emotional states and behaviors often stored since childhood. The only way to stimulate this gland is with fragrance or through the sense of smell. So essential oils can be a powerful key to help unlock this trauma.
Specialized sensory cells, called olfactory sensory neurons, are found in a small patch of tissue high inside the nose. These cells connect directly to the brain. Each olfactory neuron expresses one odor receptor. Microscopic molecules released by substances around us — whether it’s coffee brewing or fresh flowers — stimulate these receptors. Once the neurons detect the molecules, they send messages to our brain, which identifies the smell. Without the olfactory sensory neurons, familiar flavors such as chocolate or oranges would be hard to distinguish. Thank you olfactory sensory neurons! I hope this blog gives you a new sense of appreciation for your amazing body!
