AROMATHERAPY

Aromatherapy and Weight Loss

Our sense of smell is directly linked to our survival and directly linked to our emotional center not our rational or cerebral cortex. Without having to intellectually respond to scent, we can react very quickly or unconsciously. Sense of smell can help us control appetite and all those irrational responses we have to food. Perhaps our sense of smell used consciously can give us control where our will power failed. Perhaps using scent can control cravings.

The Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Institute of Chicago found that inhaling a culinary scent (Basil, Oregano, Lemon, etc.) regularly throughout the day, especially when hungry can suppress the desire to taste and therefore eat. By inhaling an aroma six times in each nostril, the desire to eat is inhibited. Dr. Hirsch in his research found that sniffing three times in each nostril was sufficient. If the scent is not adequately smelled, it can increase the desire to eat so it is important to smell the oil deeply and as many times as suggested. They also found that the oils should be changed daily for the best effect. We are naturally attracted to different smells and tastes each day and eating the same foods again and again leads to feelings of deprivation which is the most important cause of failure of most diets. Cheating on a diet could just be another way to increase variety in the diet. Dr. Hirsch in his study also found that you could not smell too much. In fact, the more people that used scent to control their appetite, the more weight they lost in his study.

Which scents to use

Most people tend to prefer sweet smells. Chocolate fragrance creates serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is linked with cravings for sweets. Smelling chocolate can reduce the desire for sweets. Banana, green apples, and peppermint were found to be most successful. The flower and medicinal smelling oils were least effective. The oils associated with cooking or culinary herbs were best.

Fragrances are not essential oils and some people do not like using synthetic products such as fragrances as they can create allergic reactions. Essential oils are natural products usually steam distilled from plant material. Most people seem to handle natural essential oils more easily, but people can have allergic reactions to essential oils too. See what works for you.

How to use the essential oils and/or fragrances to control appetite

Choose three or more essential oils to use through out your day. Make sure that you carry them on you or keep them close by. The more you use them; the more effective they will be. Each day change the oils you used previously with three new ones. When you find you are tempted, you feel hungry, or beginning to eat a meal, just open the bottle and take at least three whiffs in each nostril. Breath as deeply as you can especially with the one nostril that is partially closed. Put the cap back on. You do not want to diffuse or use in the space constantly as you become used to the smell and it is not as effective. The goal here is not to eat, but to eat when you want and how much you want easily and comfortably.

Caution

People with asthma or migraine headaches may find that sniffing a variety of smells can aggravate their conditions so they need to be very careful.

Toxicity of the liver has been reported when people use extreme amounts of oil. Essential oils are not water-soluble. The liver must break them down the oil into a more soluble form by the use of enzymes. If the oil is introduced into the body at a rate faster than the liver can convert it, toxicity can result. Primarily this has been noted in skin application, but it is worth noting so that one is respectful in using the oils. Inhaling as instructed here should not cause a problem.

Information provided courtesy of Gritman Essential Oils. For more information, visit: www.gritman.com