Pleasing Scents and Healing

Pleasing aromas have been shown to help promote healing. I have believed in this for a long time and due to my being so sensory, I use smells, tastes, sounds, etc to help me in times of high pain.

“By Triggering comforting memories, scents help turn on the brain’s relaxation response and lower the stress response.”

Esther M. Sternberg, MD

I was reading in the doctor’s office yesterday and did the unthinkable. I ripped out a page from a magazine. I wanted this article so badly so that I could use it today. Dr. Sternberg talks about how scents can take us back to a place in our life that is filled with comfort, safety, joy, happiness and it helps us leave the space we are in at the moment that is causing us pain, grief, etc.

Certain smells take me back in time. Old Spice Cologne reminds me of my Uncle Jack. He was the sweetest most loving man and those thoughts take me to a time of fun with him.  Juicy Fruit gum reminds me my grandmother, Mimi and the fun we had at her house.  The smell of turkey takes me to happy holiday times.

I have a “scent box” that I keep all sorts of lotions, perfumes etc in. I pull it out when I need to distract myself and start opening the bottles one by one and let my mind flow over the memories.

Certain aromas are known for relaxation. Lavendar,  for example,helps one sleep and helps lower pain. This is probably why the candle industry does so well.  According to Dr. Sternberg, Frankincense has properties in it that help the immune system and even been shown to reduce inflammation. I think I will buy some for I have autoimmune disorders.

Dr. Sternberg says:

“When odor molecules reach the olfactory organ at the top of the nose, they activate a direct nerve pathway to memory and emotion centers in the brain, so smells and tastes quickly spark memories  that can influence your mood.”

I find that when certain scents hit me, I am more relaxed and less stressed. This helps my pain to lower. I also find that memories…those joyful, pleasant memories help me when I am fighting health issues or pain is so high.

I believe in filling up our brains with wonderful memories and holding on to them for it is like this huge album when one is down or sick to help get through the moment.

For me, cologne, candles, after shave, lotions all have an effect on me. So does, the smell of food cooking. Tangerines take me to Christmas. Thanksgiving smells and Christmas smells are especially nice. Son always asks me to make the pumpkin pies ON Thanksgiving day because he loves to smell them cooking.

So, I decided to take a moment to write down smells that particularly take me to pleasant moments. The smell of baby powder takes me to when my boys were little and the joy that they brought to my life. Smells of my loved ones..their colognes, their lotions, etc bring pleasant memories. I love the smell of wood in the lumbar yard. I don’t know why but it is something that brings me comfort.

I think sometimes we have to direct ourselves to the smells and tastes and memories. I lay here sometimes and just think about good things and take a walk down the memory lane, filling my heart and soul and senses up.

Have you ever thought about smells and tastes and the memories they evoke? Too bad they don’t make a “Scent Book” for adults.