Today, we live in a society of emotional turmoil. Increasing evidence suggests a profound connection between emotional and physical health, as well as the therapeutic benefits of aromatherapy. More than ever before, researchers are probing the impact that emotional states have on the body’s physical condition.

Many diseases may be caused by emotional problems that link back to infancy and childhood-and perhaps even to the womb. These emotional problems can compromise bodily systems and even genetic structure through a process that creates a molecular “memory” in key organs and physical structures.

The idea that memories and traumas can be embedded in the deep recesses of the “emotional” brain is not new, but scientists are now saying that these brain imprints may extend throughout the body.

Well-known author and Georgetown University research professor Candace Pert states, “Repressed traumas caused by overwhelming emotion can be stored in a body part, thereafter, affecting our ability to feel that part or even move it. 

“To some degree, all of the organ systems in the human body have ‘memory,” agrees Bruce D. Perry, MD, PhD.

“All nerve cells ‘store’ information in a fashion that is contingent upon previous patterns of activity,” he noted. 

Scientists have discovered that the brain’s limbic system plays a vital role in interpreting and channelling intense experiences, particularly memories of fear and trauma.

Interestingly, the two parts of the limbic system that play a significant role in emotional processing—the amygdala and the hippocampus-are located within less than an inch of the olfactory nerve (see diagram).

Olfaction, or smell, is the sense that is physically closest to the limbic system structures, including the amygdala, which is involved in experiencing emotions and emotional memory, and the hippocampus, which encompasses both working memory and short-term memory. This gives you an idea of how closely the sense of smell is linked to emotion and memory.

In 1989, researchers agreed that the amygdala—one of several structures in the cerebral cortex—plays a significant role in storing and releasing emotional trauma and that aromas have a profound effect in triggering those responses.

Joseph Ledoux, MD, of the New York Medical University, was one of the first to suggest that the use of aromatherapy could be a significant breakthrough in helping to release hidden and suppressed feelings and memories of emotional bondage.

Fear and trauma can produce conditioned emotional responses that—unless released—will not only hamper our ability to live and enjoy life fully but can also limit the ability of some body systems to function correctly, particularly the immune system. This can result in unexplained pain and illness, as well as depression and other psychological issues.

Combining the aroma of essential oils with focus and intent may be effective in resolving unexplained physical problems rooted in past emotional trauma. Suppose essential oils clean the receptor sites within the body, allowing the synaptic endings to fire and connect. In that case, it stands to reason that emotional problems could be acknowledged and released through that electrical connection.

Find more about aromatherapy at the NHS website.

For more information about mental health and wellbeing support, visit our iMetaWellness Library for Mental Health, Wellness, and Wellbeing.

@Victoria Godzin