You can’t walk into an upscale boutique or visit a spa without being struck by the wonderful, gentle aromas of carefully chosen oils that have the power to invigorate and energize you (just as they also have the power to calm and relax you). You can get the same effect yourself without the high price tag by channeling the energy-boosting power of aromatherapy.
When you practice certain movements, such as those in gi gong, your energy increases.
Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils distilled forms the fragrant parts of different plants – flowers, bark, leaves, roots, of fruits – to promote physical and emotional health and well-being.
Essential oils are the highly concentrated essences of various flowers. And when I say highly concentrated, I’m not kidding. For example, you’d need 220 pounds (100 kg) of lavender flowers to make 1 pound (455 g) of essential oil! People who use aromatherapy to improve mood, well-being, and energy know that each type of essential oil has a different chemical structure, which in turn affects how it smells, how it’s absorbed, and how it’s used by the body. Because the oils are so concentrated, they’re often diluted in water or vegetable oil. Some scents act as stimulants, others have a calming effect, and some can boost your energy through the roof.
THE POWER IS IN THE PATHWAYS
We don’t know exactly how aromatherapy works, but one theory is that our smell receptors send chemical message along nerve pathways to the brain’s limbic system, which is ground zero for moods and emotions. (This is one reason why it’s standard operating procedure to use potpourri and freshly backed cookies as “bat” when you’re selling a house!)
Another slightly more granola-ish theory about why aromatherapy works suggests that because essential oils are extracted from plants, they have a life force that can affect the body in unique ways. Who knows? But you don’t have to know exactly how it works to know that aromatherapy can boost your energy*.
By measuring brain-wave activity, researchers have found that clove, basil, ylang-ylang, black pepper, and cinnamon oils act as stimulants. Other studies have shown peppermint, eucalyptus, jasmine, neroli, and rose oils are energizing, while lavender, chamomile, lemon, and sandalwood oils are relaxing.
Studies have also suggested that a little aromatherapy goes a long way toward making employees more alert and attentive. Workers in one Tokyo office building have a variety of aromas – lemon, rose, or cypress – wafting through their air-conditioning system. Another Japanese company fills the air with peppermint to fight fatigue.
*If you doubt that smells can have a powerful effect on energy, just ask anyone who’s ever passed out and then had smelling salts waved under his or her nose!
MIST, SPRITZ, OR DIFFUSE
There are several ways to reap the benefits of aromatherapy. With a few drops of essential oil, an aromatherapy diffuser will disperse a fine mist of scented steam throughout the room. 9Diffusers range in price for $60 to $120).
You can also add two or three drops of oil to a cold lightbuilb ring (a ceramic or metal ring designed to be placed directly on lightbulbs) or to a handful of potpourri. Essential oil can turn a bath into an aromatherapy session (just add a drop or two).
For a great pick-me-up while housekeeping, add two to four drops of eucalyptus oil directly into the vacuum cleaner bag (you can also mix eucalyptus with lemon oil for a refreshing, clean smell). To make you own air freshener, add a few drops of oil to a spray bottle filled with water, then shake and spritz.
To add an air of energy to a room, try eucalyptus, peppermint, rosemary, jasmine, or cinnamon. For a calming effect – which helps reduce stress and thus ultimately boosts energy, though not in the short term – go for lavender, chamomile, sandalwood, or lemon (which also happens to be really refreshing). Because essential oils can elicit different responses in different people, experiment to find the scent that works best for you.
WORTH KNOWING
A word of caution. When working with undiluted essential oils, make sure you’re I a well-ventilated room, and take frequent breaks. If the oil gets on your skin and irritates it, quickly dilute it with vegetable oil.
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