Life happens! And it gets recorded by the brain as it happens – whether good or bad. The impressions formed by events during the day which are stored by the brain resurface as dreams. If these events are disturbing, the dreams will be nightmares, disturbing sleep. Enter essential oils – their pleasing aromas soothe the brain, resulting in a restful night, and consequently, better health.
The University of California’s Centre for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (CNLM) conducted a six-month study titled “Scentful Slumbers: Enhancing Memory in Older Adults Through Nightly Aromatherapy,” which included male and female participants aged 60 to 85.
The subjects were given a diffuser and seven cartridges, each containing a different natural oil — lavender, rose, lemon, rosemary, eucalyptus, peppermint, and orange. Neuroscientists discovered a 226% increase in cognitive capacity, which could pave the way for a non-invasive method of memory enhancement and possibly dementia prevention.
“Smells have an indirect effect on the brain. Some essential oils create a positive feeling and help reduce stress. Oils like Lavender and Rose have a gentle and calming effect which bring out happy memories. Better quality sleep gives rise to better memories. Those who maintain a sleep schedule of 7 to 8 hours enjoy good quality sleep. Chronic sleep disturbance, i.e sleeping for less than 6 hours a day, increases the risk of dementia. Essential oils help increase the quality and quantity of sleep,” says Dr Sudhir Kumar, senior consultant Neurologist, Apollo hospital.
Several factors aid quality sleep, including the absence of light, a cozy atmosphere, comfortable room temperature and soothing smells. The average individual’s sleep latency is 15 to 30 minutes; therefore, the influence of these essential oils will be greatest during the first 15 minutes, aiding good sleep.
“Certain smells evoke pleasant memories and help calm a person. The limbic system in the brain is involved in behavioural and emotional responses. Smells stimulate the limbic system — a pleasant and sweet fragrance produces good memories and thoughts, while a foul smell can generate unwelcome ones,” explains Dr Charan Tej Konganti, Neuropsychiatrist, Kims hospital.
However, the threshold for stimulation of the olfactory nerves (responsible for the sense of smell) varies from person to person, so the amount of aromatic essential oils used should be finely adjusted to trigger sweet memories.
Link between Smell & Memory
Rosemary essential oil is known to help with memory, cognitive function, and blood supply to the brain.
Citrus essential oils are known for their ability to boost energy and improve moods, giving us more stamina to focus on the task at hand.
Eucalyptus is known for promoting relaxation and removing any stress or anxiety that may be interfering with our daily lives. Eucalyptus essential oil has shown promise in the treatment of dementia, insomnia, anxiety, and memory and cognitive functions.
Lavender is associated with calmness; it can help with anxiety and mood swings.
Health Benefits
Essential oils with soothing aromas are beneficial if used in waking hours too.
Stress and sleep are closely related. A stressed-out body cannot sleep well, whereas a calm body can. Essential oils work as stress relievers.
They help control anxiety and those who are prone to panic attacks – a severe form of anxiety – are often advised to use calming essential oils to help handle overwhelming emotions.
Those suffering from dementia experience difficulty in storing and retrieving memories, and essential oils are believed to help such patients trigger happy memories.
