Aromatherapy and aromachology: natural care

Aromatherapy: the use of natural aromas

Let's start with a definition of aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is a natural medicine that uses the therapeutic and fragrant properties of aromatic plants to treat or prevent illness. It focuses on physical and psychological symptoms. Essential oils have recognized beauty and well-being properties. They are studied in pharmacy and medical theses and in scientific articles. There is a lot of research, including in hospitals: for example, thesoothing effect of sweet orange has been documented and demonstrated on patients.

Aromachology: understanding the links between the olfactory message and the reactions of our brain

Aromachology is different from aromatherapy. Aromachology is defined as the science that studies the relationship between odors and the behavior, mood and psyche of individuals. It is interested in the positive effects of aromas and olfaction on the psychology of individuals: emotions, mood, behavior, etc.

Indeed, the sense of smell is the most mysterious of our five senses. Unlike the other four senses, what is received by our olfactory receptors first passes through the part of the brain that manages emotions. Then the olfactory message continues to be transmitted to trigger physiological reactions. Today, researchers are interested in emotional aroma, as a new dimension of the olfactory function to improve our well-being.

Two neuroscientists, Dr. Linda Buck and Dr. Richard Axel, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine (2004 ) for their work on olfactory receptors and the organization of the olfactory system. Their work is fundamental to begin to better understand how the brain translates odors and can, for example, produce serotonin or endorphins, often called happiness molecules, through olfactory stimuli.