The Healing Power of Aroma
Mascari, Brooke. July 2nd, 2024
The sense of smell is our most primitive sense. It is also, however, an incredibly healing tool we can use daily to bring balance into our body and mind.
Aromas can trigger the healing power within us. Our sense of smell connects us powerfully with our emotions, memories, and instincts.
Recall the scent of the earth after the first spring rain, the aroma of a homemade meal at your grandmother's house, the smell of an old-growth forest, or perhaps the fragrance of a newborn baby. Notice the feelings and memories that are evoked!
Now, think about the smells associated with a hospital or the odor of something old in your refrigerator, and you will probably experience a completely different response.
You can use aromas to invoke states of well-being. The linking of a particular smell to an emotional state is known as neuro-associative conditioning, a technique that can be used to increase our body’s healing response and activate our inner pharmacy.
For example, if each time you sit to meditate, you use a sandalwood fragrance, you will soon learn to associate the feeling of relaxation with the aroma. At other times, simply smelling the fragrance will trigger a sense of quiet relaxation within you.
To benefit from the healing effects of aromatherapy, identify an aroma that you are especially fond of and deeply inhale the essence whenever you are feeling relaxed, at peace, or are having a particularly good day. Gradually your body will associate the pleasurable feelings with the use of the aroma. Before long, just the smell of the essence will evoke a heightened state of well-being.
We can use the sense of smell to trigger our inner healing response and balance the mind. For each dosha mind imbalance, we need to use specific kinds of aromas.
Vata Dosha
To correct Vata mind imbalances, we need to use floral, fruity, warm, sweet, and sour smells such as basil, orange, clove, lavender, vanilla, patchouli, and geranium.
Pitta Dosha
Pitta mind imbalances can be soothed with sweet and cooling fragrances like sandalwood, mint, rose, lavender, and jasmine.
Kapha Dosha
To correct Kapha mind imbalances, we need to use spicy, stimulating, and heating smells such as eucalyptus, camphor, juniper, rosemary, marjoram, and clove.
If you have any essential oils at home or some aromatherapy, smell some of the scents and observe the reaction in your body. If you are drawn to it, it is probably a fragrance that will help to balance your current state of health.
You can use aromatherapy in a variety of ways. Some essences are formulated to be applied directly to the skin, like perfume, while others are intended to be diffused in the air.
Filling your home and office with pleasing smells will help to balance your physiology, and may even have a positive influence on your visitors or guests that enter your home and environment!
Creating a healing and enjoyable home and environment is a powerful holistic practice. Being able to experience balance and optimal health in the sanctuary of your own home can have a ripple effect on the other areas of your life; helping you to cultivate a lifestyle of health and happiness daily.
It is no secret. Scent has a powerful effect on your life!
Enjoy the healing aromas gifted to us by Earth today.
Blessings and light on your journey,
Havah Holistic Health
Sources:
Information about aromatherapy benefits have been learned at Chopra Ayurveda Health Certification Course, 2022.