06/13

Essential Oils are Essential

Of the five senses, our sense of smell is the most evocative.  A single whiff and we are instantly taken back to our Sr. Prom, bday party or girls weekend.  The therapeutic aspects of scent and aroma have been known to healers  worldwide for thousands of years. Leveraging the connection between scent and the mind to address, prevent, and reduce disease or illness is anything but a fad.  Indeed, I would argue, it is most essential.

Essential oils are concentrated, scent-producing compounds that are extracted from plants. They are also known as ethereal oils but the fact that they each have particular scents and medicinal properties is what makes them “essential”.  They are used in medicine to treat skin ailments and to augment cancer treatments. Their calming nature also makes them excellent tools for massage and other forms of alternative medicine – and you know they’re natural and chemical free because they are extracted from plants!

So next time you’re at Whole Foods try picking up a few little vials of lavender and enjoy the calming presence and yummy smell!