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Healing the Brain: From Essential Oils to Herbal Teas
Aromatherapy has been utilized across cultures and times for health, relaxation, and spirituality (Farrar and Farrar 2020), as scents have been proven to impact holistic well being positively. It so happens that you can drink many of them, as well as diffuse them (Perry and Perry 2018). There is strong agreement that certain odors can have great potential in the treatment of mental health for ailments such as depression (Walsh 2020). These are some of my personal favorites I have benefited from:
Rose (tea or oil): For spirituality, anxiety, relaxation, healing (Hongratanaworakit 2009).
Orange/lemon/lime/lemongrass/lemon-balm (tea or oil): Happy, uplifting, energetic, for depression and low mood (Komori et al., 1995; Connor 2020, 23).
Mint (tea or oil): Mental clarity, depression, and physical health (Brazier 2022).
Lavender and Chamomile (tea or oil): For anxiety, relaxation, and sleep (Connor 2020, 29; 34).
I greatly enjoy drinking the tea of the aroma of my choice, for example rose tea with rose oil, lavender tea with lavender oil.
For clearing the energy on yourself and or in your home you can burn:
Sage, Wild Rue and or Bay Leaf: The Ancient practice of burning herbs to clear “negative energy” and increase holistic health or drinking them for various ailments such as lowering cholesterol or decreasing anxiety, is a ritual across cultures and time (Watson 2019; Hickey 2021; Çerikan 2020). In particular, studies suggest that bay leaf vapor has a significant impact on lowering anxiety (Whelan 2017). These are really strong smells, please be careful of its overuse and one must try it according to their own and medical circumstances. Please seek advice from your doctor if needed. For example, I personally love sage however found that it was a bit heavy for me and triggered allergies when I drank it.
Caution: Please follow professionals guidance on the how to use aromas and the amount to diffuse. Not everything can be good for everyone and many can cause
allergic reactions and or be toxic if misused. Final note, its important to find a brand you trusts, when using oils or herbs as medicine.
With Love,
Elif
Some Sources
Alul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project. 2022. “On Wild Rue.” Al-Islam. Accessed March 14, 2022. https://www.al-islam.org/islamic-medical-wisdom-tibb-al-aimma/wild-rue
Brazier, Yvette. 2022. “Benefits, uses, forms and precautions of peppermint.” Medical News Today, January 2, 2022, Articles. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321598#how-to-use
Çerikan, Fidan Uğur. 2020. “Consumption of fragrance from primitively up to modernity and its reflection in Turkish Culture. “ Karadeniz Uluslararası Bilimsel Dergi 48 (1): 394-408. https://doi.org/10.17498/kdeniz.802558
Connor, Nancy. 2020. A Complete Essential Oils Reference Guide. Poland: Amazon Fulfillment.
Farrar, Ashley and Francisca Farrar. 2020. “Clinical Aromatherapy.” The Nursing Clinics of North America 55(4): 489-504. doi:10.1016/j.cnur.2020.06.015
Hickey, Kristin. 2021. “Smudging 101: Burning Sage to Cleanse Your Space and Self of Negativity.” Mbgmindfulness, October 20, 2021. https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-17875/a-sage-smudging-ritual-to-cleanse-your-aura-clear-your-space.html
Hongratanaworakit, Tapanee. 2009. “Relaxing effect of rose oil on humans.” Natural Product Community 4(2): 291-296. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1934578X0900400226#:~:text=Especially%20in%20aromatherapy%2C%20rose%20essential,emotion%20%5B4a%2C4b%5D.
Komori, T, R Fujiwara, M Tanida, J Nomura and M M Yokoyama. 1995. “Effects of citrus fragrance on immune function and depressive states.” Neuroimmunomodulation(2)3: 174-80. doi:10.1159/000096889
La Toree, Mary Anne. 2003. “Aromatherapy and the use of scents in psychotherapy.” Perspectives in psychiatric care 39(1): 35-37. https://www.proquest.com/openview/651e57f9cc50d627350a9280d48e365d/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=48941
Passos, Ioannis D.and Maria Mironidou-Tzouveleki. 2016. “Perganum Harmala.” Neuropathology of drug addictions and substance misuse. 2(1): 1113-1143. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/peganum-harmala
Perry, Nicolette and Elaine Perry. 2006. “Aromatherapy in the management of psychiatric disorders: clinical and neuropharmacological perspectives.” CNS Drugs 20(4): 257-80. doi:10.2165/00023210-200620040-00001
Perry, Nicolette and Elaine Perry. 2018. Your Brain On Plants. New York: The Experiment.
Sabry, Walaa and Adarsh Vohra. 2013. “Role of Islam in the Management of Psychiatric Disorders.” Indian Journal of Psychiatry 55 (2): 205-214. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.105534
Torre, Mary. 2008. “Integrated Perspectives: Aromatherapy and the Use of Scents in Psychotherapy.” Perspectives in Psychiatric Care 39(1): 35-37. Doi: 10.1111/j.1744-6163.2003.tb00672.x.
Walsh, Colleen. 2020. “What the Nose Knows.” Harvard Staff Writer. Accessed February 28, 2021. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/02/how-scent-emotion-and-memory-are-intertwined-and-exploited/
Whelan, Corey. 2017. “5 benefits of Clary Sage Oil.” Healthline, June 20, 2017. https://www.healthline.com/health/clary-sage
Watson, Stephanie. 2019. “Are there health benefits from burning sage?” WEBMD Health News, May 21, 2022, Health and Balance. https://www.webmd.com/balance/news/20190521/are-there-health-benefits-from-burning sage#:~:text=How%20Do%20You%20Burn%20Sage,which%20you%20can%20buy%20online.
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