Olfactory Journey or Aromatherapy

How important is our nose? For scientists Richard Axel and Linda Buck, the mystery of olfactory (pertaining to the sense of smell) has been an important subject of research. From their years of effort, they have solved the mystery of how our olfactory system works by identifying genes and the process of smelling. Their endeavors have made them this year's Nobel Prize Laureates in the field of physiology or medicine.

But for the majority of us this all remains an obscurity, and most of us have little or no knowledge about genes, DNA and all that complicated genetic stuff. Let alone the particular genes that work to smell the scents around us. It is a mystery, especially when we think about the effect of smell on our emotions, our feelings, and our other senses. When was the last time that you suffered with hunger as the unbelievably nice aroma of your favorite food touched your senses? You felt the sensation move down to your intestine; suddenly you were salivating, remembering your mother back home and the feeling of homesickness crawling beneath your skin.

We are always worried about our sight, hearing, taste, and touch, but what about our wonderful sense of smell? How can certain odors be so strong that they influence our feeling, our taste and our energy?

So much a mystery it is, that some authors have imaginatively created works based on the power of odor, flavor and aroma. Remember "Scent of a Woman", a movie starring Al Pacino, which reveals the energetic effect of a womanly odor on a blind man? It is not a new thing if you are aware about your own sense, of how you as a heterosexual woman (or man) reacts to the scent of the opposite sex. Odor indeed plays its role as the magical turn-on (or turn-off) to all of us.

The omnipotence of odor has also been beautifully and horrifyingly explored in Patrick Suskind's popular novel "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer". The book tells the tale of a murderer in his search for the ‘ultimate perfume' that could drive people crazy into whatever state of feeling that the perfume-maker-cum-murderer wants them to be. Superbly researched and written, the book explores, speculatively and imaginatively, our humane scent-related subconscious mind and feeling. Actually I am led to believe that a movie based on this novel has been produced.

The role of smell is as important to our well-being and to our life as any other part of our body and is equally important as all of our other senses. We get a feel of our surroundings, our happiness, and our lives in general by using all of our senses. For us, smell plays an intricate part of our live, of our sensory world, in the way we act. The process of recognition of a place is accomplished by our sense of smell. Smell evokes emotions such as fear, contentment, even sexuality. Strong smells affect us physically, giving us a headache or making us nauseous. Our sense of smell can influence mood, physical well-being, memory, emotions, sexual desire, our hormones, and our immune system.

Many gift boutiques have taken to marketing scented candles, pomanders, and potpourri as "aromatherapy," genuine treatments rely on the use of highly concentrated essential oils extracted from various healing herbs. In most cases, these oils are produced by steam distillation or cold pressing from a plant's flowers, leaves, branches, bark, rind, or roots. The volatile, flammable oils are then mixed with a "carrier"-usually a vegetable oil such as soy, evening primrose, or almond-or diluted in alcohol before being applied to the skin, sprayed in the air, or inhaled.

Although you can pursue treatments under the supervision of a certified aromatherapist, many people simply use the oils as a form of home remedy. There is a notable lack of agreement on such issues as the amount of oil necessary to achieve a desired effect, the most effective method of administration, and the length of time necessary to continue treatment.

However, some of the more typical approaches are as follows:

Inhalation: For problems with respiration, try adding 6 to 12 drops of essential oil to a bowl of steaming water. Place a towel over your head, and deeply breathe the scented vapors.

Diffusion: Aromatherapists often suggest spraying oil-containing compounds into the air. This technique is said to calm the nerves, enhance a feeling of well-being, and even to improve respiratory conditions. In any case, it freshens the air. Commercially available spray units can be used. Add 10 drops of an essence to 7 tablespoonfuls of water. If you will not be using the entire amount at one time, add 1 tablespoonful of vodka or pure alcohol as a preservative. Shake the mixture and fill the sprayer.

Massage: Rubbing aromatic oil into the skin may be either calming or stimulating, depending on the type of oil used. Some people use it as a remedy for muscles sprains and soreness. Most preparations contain 5 drops of essential oil blended with a light base oil. A higher concentration could irritate the skin.

Bathing: Use no more than 8 drops in a bath. Add the oil to a tubful of water. You can also add 10 to 15 drops to a Jacuzzi or hot tub, 4 to 5 drops to a foot bath, or 3 to 4 drops to a hand bath (for chapped skin). If you shower, after washing yourself, dip a wet sponge or cloth in an oil-water mixture and apply to your skin while you are under the spray. Do not use this technique if you have any skin allergies.

Hot and cold compresses: For muscle aches or pains, bruises, or headaches add 5 to 10 drops of oil to approximately 4 ounces of water. Soak a cloth in the solution and apply to the sore area.

Other aromatherapy techniques include placing 2 or 3 drops of essential oil on a pillow or shoe rack, heating the essential oil in a ring burner, or sprinkling the oil over the logs in a fireplace.