No, you haven't been running amok through a field of wild flowers. You've been practicing a technique known widely as aromatherapy. This stress-reducing concept is the inhalation and bodily application of essential oils intended to relax, balance, rejuvenate, restore or enhance the mind, body and spirit. Certain fragrances such as rosemary can invigorate and stimulate the sense, while others such as peppermint improve concentration. More and more, people are using certain fragrances and smells to help them get started in the morning, to concentrate during the day, relax and de-stress themselves and to become sleepy after a long day of work.
Aromatherapy can take many forms.
Bath lotions, sprays and oils have become most popular in the market. Natural Healers,an organization that specializes in aromatherapy and how it affects people, said when inhaled, essential oils affect our bodies by stimulating the olfactory nerve. This sends a message to the limbic system that is the center of memory, learning and emotion. By triggering this point, a physiological response can occur that either stimulates or sedates the body. This is how fragrances, such as chamomile, can be a good way to relax and unwind.